Kingdom of Deilen

The Kingdom of Deilen rules over the Deilen Forest – a woodland in central western High Rock. Its kings claim the boundaries of the forest as their domain, and so the size of the realm has waxed and waned throughout the ages.

The kingdom is ruled from a stout castle built above the south-western fringe of forest, guarding a crossing of the Deilen River. Beside the small city adjacent to this fortress, the realm boasts few large settlements. The forest is dotted with hamlets, homesteads, sawmills, hunting lodges and small castles.

Recent History
The unpopular Emperor Uriel Septim IV (r. 3E 202–247) counted the King of Deilen, Onfroy XIII, as one of his few supporters. On the former's death, the king's loyalty passed to the emperor's son, Andorak, in the ensuing civil war. Following the cessation of conflict in 3E 256, Emperor Cephorus II deigned to pardon the traitorous King of Deilen.

By the beginning of 3E 267, the horde of Haymon Camoran had reached the Deilen Forest. The Camoran Usurper had laid waste to Valenwood, Colovia and Hammerfell; his undead host was indomitable. Nevertheless, the gallant King Onfroy XIII would not countenance the destruction of his kingdom. Alongside the Knight Commander Eric Talais, the king led the Knights of the Ivy to meet the Usurper's forces in battle. In the ensuing massacre, the king and most of his knights were slain. The Knight Commander's final order was to Sir {Knight}: the knight was to spirit the fallen king's heir, Prince Amaury, to safety.

Unhindered, the Usurper's host burned the Deilen Forest and sacked its settlements, including the castle town of Deilen itself. The survivors of this onslaught, escorted by Sir {Knight}, sought refuge in the hidden caves of {Caves}. Only after the Usurper was defeated at the Battle of Firewaves several months later did they emerge to a scorched and barren wasteland.

Owing to the sober stewardship of King Amaury II the kingdom rose – quite literally – from the ashes. The forest was nurtured back to health by restorative spells of mages in the king's employ, and by the prayers of Y'ffre's priesthood. Yet no measure of magicka or piety could restore the ancient rural communities destroyed by the Hart-King. Many refugees settled on the site of the ravaged Deilen Castle. Within fifteen years the former quaint castle town had been reconstructed into a prosperous small city; its population quintupling its pre-sacking size.