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Sihndar Holds

The Sihndar people are divided over so-called Holds, which are largely autonomous super-fortresses which house city-size populations of Sihndar all dedicated to the defense against Spirit Sovereigns that attempt to conquer parts of Aloria. The first 8 Holds mentioned on this page are native to Drowda, meaning they are all somewhat united under the Hold Council where representatives meet and discuss domestic matters. The 10 that follow are not native to Drowda and are often part of other countries, but still maintain strong ties to the Drowda Homeland. They should however not be considered colonies or external territories like the Qadir have, these Holds were built with the permission and support of the local state, and are often (tax-exempt) parts of those local states.

Torama Hold The Torama Hold sits on the far west of Drowda, where it fights against the Spirit Sovereign Torama which twists trees into shambling horrors of twisted bark and root. Despite the heavy corruption of Torama on local nature, the locals excel at cleansing soil and plant-based corruption, and this is subsequently also the region where most of the agriculture occurs that supports the other Drowda Holds. Sihndar from the Torama Hold tend to be good nature tenders and plant cultivators, thriving with their produce even in harsh conditions.

Lirayna Hold The Lirayna Hold is the largest southern Drowda region, where it fights against the Spirit Sovereign Lirayna which has taken a liking to shaping its Demons like horrific spiders. Lirayna's Spiders come in many forms, from minuscule to tower-sized, posing a massive challenge for the locals. Sihndar from this Hold face an extremely low life expectancy due to the very high mortality rate when fighting Lirayna Demons, leading to many of the locals having a very morbid sense of humor, and a very no-nonsense and no-delay attitude to life.

Qamta Hold The Qamta Hold is found in the northern swamp regions of Drowda, where they fight against the Spirit Sovereign Qamta of the fogs. Qamta inhabits the fogs in this swampland, seeping into the mind of any who wander in, and making them forget. Qamta Sihndar are very training and self-awareness oriented because Qamta's mists create duplicates of the warriors sent in to slay Demons, making anyone fight themselves. Qamta Sihndar are exceptionally mistrusting of anything that is unknown or unfamiliar, thinking it a Demon plot.

Alta Hold The Alta Hold is found in the mild southern plains of Drowda, where Alta's relatively pacifist nature causes the environment to be exceptionally peaceful. Alta is a Spirit Sovereign of corruption, who lures the locals to give in to their vices, and in doing so sell their soul to its will and become Demons themselves. Alta Sihnda are considered hardliners among the Sihndar who refuse to accept any bargaining or indeterminate use of Spirits. They consider any consorting with Spirits or refusing to kill them outright, treason.

Milai Hold The Milai Hold found in the densely forested northern regions of Drowda, fights against the Spirit Sovereign Milai who creates amalgam horrors of animals and wildlife to beset upon mortals. Most common are the great Colossi, massive beasts similar to the Akula in the east, who roam the forests and take whole detachments of Sihndar climbing them to take down. Due to the intense need for cooperation among the Sihndar of this hold, Milai Sihndar tend to be kindest and most socially adapted to others, seeking genuine alliances.

Lost Alamat Hold The Alamat Hold was once found on the eastern side of Drowda in the mountains. It fought against the great Fire Spirit Sovereign Alamat. The Hold was destroyed in 253 AC when Alamat plunged its sword into the ground, erupting all volcanoes and fire-blasting the province along with all inhabitants and the Hold. Few Alamat Sihndar survived while abroad or in other Holds on work trips. Alamat Sihndar were famed for their skill in metallurgy and forging, producing the majority of Melcarite weapons and armor for the Drowda at large.

Zarak Hold The Zarak Hold is found in the easternmost plains of Drowda, where the frost Spirit Sovereign Zarak attempts to create eternal winter and darkness. While magic is usually shunned among other Holds, Zarak Hold Sihndar are almost exclusively Mages, and use many Artifacts in their struggle against Zarak who sends forth legions of flowing-snow and ice Demons to attack their fortress. Zarak Sihndar have a close working relation with the Aelrrigans, but are generally more disliked by the other Holds because of their callous Magic usage.

Tazman Hold The Tazman Hold is located on the southern islands of Drowda, which are mostly submerged. The Hold is unique in that it does not have a Superfortress, but a large collection of ships nailed together into a vast floating city. The Tazman Hold is also predominantly inhabited by ex-Fin'ullen Sihndar, who continue the fight against Tazman the Spirit Sovereign of Drowning, after it submerged the province in 179 AC. Unlike the Alamat Hold destruction which is seen as a collective trauma, Tazman's hold largely survived as they saw it coming, boarding the fleets.

Mutani Hold The Mutani Hold is located in Farah'deen where once the Sariyd fought the Dragons before the Great Storm at Kouriyasui. The Mutani Hold is predominantly inhabited by ex-Songaskian Sihndar, who battle against the Ordial Spirit Sovereign Ishitan that serves the Machinist, and attempts to create hordes of machine monsters from the wreckages of Sariyd clockwork colossi. Mutani Sihndar are the only Sihndar that are positively disposed to Shades that have broken free, and even consider some Ordial Shades are brothers in arms in the fight against Ishitan.

Lost Usimaar Hold The Usimaar Hold was located in the Sundered Lands on the south-east of the Allorn Empire. The Usimaar Hold, like Tazman, was built on a large fleet of ships fighting the Demon-horrors of the deep who served the Spirit Sovereign Zzaric. The Hold was created in 189 AC, but suddenly lost in 289 AC when the world wasn't paying attention to this Region at the height of the Chrysant War. Of the loss, there were no survivors, not even abroad. It is as if all the Sindar belonging to this Hold, along with their fleet, all disappeared all at once.

Lost Konarot Hold The Konarot Hold was once located where now the Dorkarthi State stands on the western point of Ellador. The Sihndar, many of whom were Velheim Ailor become Sihndar, fought the Spirit Sovereign Konarot, who had escaped Drowda in 12 AC and arrived in Ellador. The Konarot Hold was not able to fully construct its fortress, and was destroyed in 67 AC when the Spirit Sovereign allied with the local Vampires that would later form the Dorkarthi State. Some descendants from the Konarot Hold still survive as bred Blood Cattle bound in slavery in the Dorkarthi blood pens.

Wanli Hold The Wanli Hold is a Superfortress built into the Jade Wall on a more northward stretch of the wall. The Wanli Hold specializes in its defense of the wall against Akula, making it the only Hold not formally defending against a specific Spirit Sovereign but more a wide spectrum of Spirits. Wanli Hold Sihndar are taught the Sihai combat arts, and practice in particular combat without the use of weapons through strength and belief in one's own raw power. There are concerns of this hold collapsing if the Jade Wall crumbles, with the fortress falling into the sea.

Montaro Hold The Montaro hold is found on the northern most edge of Ithania, where the Spirit Sovereign Morian escaped Drowda and tried to corrupt the locals. The Montaro Hold is predominantly filled with ex-Ithanian Ailor Sihndar, many of whom were ex-convicts who chose service among the Sihndar as a preferred alternative to life imprisonment. The Montaro Hold is commonly believed to be the most well funded and supplied Hold, as it has vast support from the Ithanian Government. Montaro Hold Sihndar tend to be more rogueish and favor ranged weapons as well as cutthroat tactics.

Ulman Hold The Ulman Hold is found drifting in among the Drifting Isles between Guldar and the Allorn Empire, where the locals hunt the escaping Spirit Sovereign Ulman. Ulman is considered weakened after a fight with Lirayna, and attempting to reach Guldar, but the Sihndar of this Hold keep thwarting its crossing while battling it across the many Drifting Isles. Ulman Sihndar are excellent sailors, and their Hold is mostly comprised of ex-Maquixtl and Eronidas who also have a hobby and inclination towards archeology and spelunking due to the nature of the Drifting Isles.

Razu Hold The Razu Hold is positioned in the mountains of Kezzeret Shubasha, an Eronidas state north of the Allorn Empire. The local Sihndar who are mostly ex-Eronidas and ex-Dwarves, fight the Spirit Sovereign Razu, who escaped Drowda around 60 AC and inhabited these islands. This Spirit Sovereign relishes in the suffering of an endless maze, having colonized the mountains with massive sprawling networks of hellish tunnels with monsters. Razu Sihndar are considered the most glory-seeking and careless Sihndar, with a nack for brewing and feasting, and arena duelling.

Helburg Hold The Helburg Hold is spread across the small islands between Hvit and Middeskag, and Drowda. Despite its proximity to Drowda, it belongs to the Velheim states, explaining the high ex-Velheim Ailor Sihndar population. The Helburg hold fights the Spirit Sovereign Helby who escaped Drowda and settled these islands. Helby is the Spirit Sovereign of meaningless tasks, capturing those that fall under its influence to build pointless cairns of stacked stones until they perish from the cold or hunger. Sihndar from this region are excellent mentors.

Kitalos Hold The Kitalos Hold is built on the tall cliff overlooking the bone pit in Maartasil, a Regalian subject state that was once the gateway for all Slaves to be brought into the Allorn Empire. The Spirit Sovereign Kitalos resides in the misery and pain of this bone pit where sick and dead slaves were dumped for thousands of years, with the remnants trying to claw their way back out. Kitalos Hold Sihndar specializes in the use of artillery and siege weapons, with the edge of the bone pit having many such installations built to push back waves of bone horrors trying to crawl up along the cliffsides.

Lost Ferian Hold The Ferian Hold was once found in the north of the Farador Kingdom (north of Arlora and Torse). This hold was lost during the Bone Horror Crisis in 304 AC when the sudden eruption of the Bone Horrors overwhelmed the hold which was already battling the Spirit Sovereign Ferian's cannibalist glen beasts. A few survivors of the Ferian Hold happened to be in Regalia at the time of its demise. Due to their old connections with the Ailor Kingdoms, most of the survivors became diplomats in Regalia, having no home to return to, and campaigning for more finances to the Sihndar cause.