Simmern

Before the  High Kingdom of Idar-Morbach , the  Men of the Forest  to the north of the Alvyrnian peninsula simply did not have kings, nor dukes, nor lords. They lived simple lives, deep in their forests, worshipping the same goddess as the  Cyleis  to their south. After the High Kingdom conquered the region, they became the westernmost duchy in the realm; considered to be mad men who consorted with pointed ears and forest sprites. After the fall of Idar-Morbach, the men of Simmern simply went back to their routine lives, living peaceably in the hilly woods as they had done since time immemorial. And yet, they could not live that way for long, for Simmern had become the crossroads between an Empire and its desired territories.

For the second time, the  Imperial Army  invaded Simmern, and this time, the country didn’t have the forces of the High Kingdom to defend them. Simmern fell easily, and they were forced to swear fealty to the budding  Empire . Because they accepted defeat and vassalization with grace, they were designated as the first provincial archduchy, and their old ducal family was raised to the status of archdukes. This process would be repeated with many of the other old provinces of the High Kingdom, including Ernhalt,  Leipa , and  Idar-Morbach  itself.