Dwaerkar freeholds

Dwaerkar freeholds are independently-run Dwaerkar realms, and usually Regions of Borost.

The Dwaerkar realm is often incorrectly considered to be a singular nation-state -- it is, in fact, a constellation of wholly-independent states, who have on occasions even entered conflict with each other.

The sundering of the former Dwaerkar Chiefdom occurred after the death of Molgart Ÿphergund in combat with Elven Borost, during Ÿphergund's War, when the present freeholds secured independence from Tielsland, which itself is the successor-state of the Chiefdom.

All of the freeholds which secured independence remain free, with the exception of Terbrug, which was infamously subjugated and annexed by Tielsland.

Etymology
The terms Dwaerkar and freehold are of clear and obvious meaning.

Annexation of Terbrug and outcry
Ouwestad mounted a surprise-attack on Terbrug and succeeded in occupying the entire territory in less than three weeks. The armies of Terbrug were rapidly crushed, and its leadership captured and forced to accept subjugation. The leadership was replaced with a cadet branch of Clan Ÿzerhand, who became known as Clan Ÿzerhand of Terbrug.

Pact of the Three
Helderen, Hyrost, and Vaalsebossen freeholds have allied to stand against the expansionistic interests of Tielsland, the most powerful freehold. The Pact of the Three was signed immediately after Tielsland invaded and annexed Terbrug, a former freehold, in +532.

Demographics
It is estimated that the Dwaerkar freeholds are the home of about 60 million persons. This includes 6.31 million Dwaerkar, more than 49 million Borostím, and some 3 million humans. Population figures for the Dwaerkar, regularly tallied via census, are well-documented; however, it has proven more difficult to survey the elven and human members of the freeholds, as many willfully elude the authorities.

Distribution of the Dwaerkar population
The Dwaerkar population primarily resides in the freehold of Tielsland, which contains 51.9% of the entire Dwaerkar population of Borost. During the last 100 years, the population of Tielsland has rapidly fallen, as young and industrious Dwaerkar have migrated in millions to the other freeholds in search of opportunity.

The Dwaerkar are primarily concentrated in the great cities, such as Ouwestad, Neudenaald, Bahyrst, and such. Various factors have brought about such population distributions. Primarily, the Dwaerkar prefer work in industry, which can only be achieved in the Great Cities. In addition, the constitution of a Dwaer is in its nature in cold to temperate hills and mountains, away from the hot tropics and lowlands, and the humid and expansive forests of Borost.

Furthermore, recent events have also influenced this unbalanced Dwaerkar population distribution. In recent years, many farmsteads and hamlets of Dwaerkar in the countryside have been evacuated due to Borostím radical activists, who terrorized them by exploiting the overextension of the Dwaerkar soldiery and police forces over a vast land. These unprotected civilians represented low-hanging fruit for the dastardly and evil criminal activities of these terrorists, such as those of the New Covenant.

In more centric and developed freeholds, however, such as Tielsland, there is a considerable rural population of Dwaerkar. This expansion has been mostly facilitated by the Dwaerkar railroads, a transportation network that means that Dwaerkar authorities can more closely defend the civilian Dwaerkar population.

Distribution of other populations
Borost is primarily populated by the Borostím, the "people of Borost", the Dark Elves. They represent more than 80% of the population. Political power, however, is maintained by the Dwaerkar, who are only 10.4% of the population. There are significant Human and Tirsosím minorities, but altogether they represent less than 7% of the population.

The table below charts the distribution of populations according to the jurisdiction of the freeholds, according to the year +545:

Dwaerkar figures are purely derived of census information, and of extreme accuracy. Borostím figures are almost entirely theoretical. Outside of Tielsland and Helderen, where routine surveys lead to accurate estimations of the local population, the figures should be considered gross underestimates. Likewise, the human population is not well-recorded in the southern freeholds, where they are mostly concentrated. Tirsosím figures should be considered accurate, as their population is almost entirely urban.

Pact of the Three
Helderen, Hyrost, and Vaalsebossen freeholds have allied to stand against the expansionistic interests of Tielsland, the most powerful freehold. The Pact of the Three was signed immediately after Tielsland invaded and annexed Terbrug, a former freehold, in +532.