Vaalsebossen

Vaalsebossen, also known as the Vaalse, is a Dwaerkar freehold and Region of Borost. As the name implies, it is heavily forested, and the majority of the hold consists of gentle hills and mountains rising between thickly-wooded valleys.

History
During the Ascendance of the Dwaerkar, a large army of Dwaerkar attacked and routed a force of Borostím in the Battle of Pineen, where Scheveningen now stands. Present in the battle was Jurig Gorthoadum, then-Patriarch of his Clan. The hill became heavily-fortified, gradually becoming the principal defence of the westerly approach towards Ouwestad.

Armed forces
The freehold possesses a standing army of 6,000 soldiers in peacetime. Of these, 4,000 are the Iron Guard, an elite, professional force that forms the core of the hold's army. 1,200 are artillerists, who utilize cannons, mortars, and howitzers. Finally, the remaining 800 are the Mounted Guard, a cavalry regiment that patrols the forests, serving the roles of scouts. The freehold possesses a number of airships, the flagship of which is the Jiggenhem.

Dwaerkar farmsteads across the freehold have largely formed their own militias, mainly composed of mounted riflemen.