Ostagar

Fact Sheet
Name: Ostagar

Location within Thedas: Southern Ferelden, on the border with the wild lands.

Population (approx.): 2,500 elves

Form of governance: Five elders hold influence over the Dalish. Five representatives form a council for the city elves. All ten form a loose government.

Alliances: Diplomatic ties with Denerim and Redcliffe. Trade ties with Kal'Hirol and Gwaren. Informal ties with the clans in the Brescillian forest.

Timeline
Pre-9:37DA


 * The fort is built by the Tevinter Imperium some time pre-800 TE and quickly grows into a city.


 * The city is abandoned as the Imperium withdraws between 800 TE and 830 TE. Much of it is swiftly destroyed by native people as they battle over ownership.


 * The Clayne eventually take ownership of it but it is soon abandoned by even those people.

''Hundreds of years pass. . .''


 * 9:30 - Ferelden is defeated at the Battle of Ostagar by the darkspawn; the battle is lost when Teyrn Loghain deserts, resulting in the destruction of the Fereldan army, the near-destruction and exile of the Grey Warden order, and the deaths of King Cailan Theirin and Warden-Commander Duncan. The Warden and Alistair are saved by Flemeth.


 * 9:31 - King Alistair Therin gave ownership of the city to the Dalish elves. Two clans settle there almost immediately.


 * 9:32 - City elves formerly of Denerim arrive at Ostagar and upon aiding the Dalish in fighting off darkspawn and Chasind are allowed the Tower of Ishal and the Highway-entrance side of the city for residence.


 * 9:35 - The elves come to an agreement with the Chasind to join forces against the darkspawn.

Post-9:37DA


 * 9:42 - Dwarves from Kal'Hirol appear at the Chasind-entrance side of the city and within months an alliance is formed. The dwarves help repair the subterranean city below the tower of Ishal and seal the city off from darkspawn.


 * 9:43 - Agreements between elf, dwarf and Chasind are made official. The city begins to prosper.


 * 9:44 - Arlathvhen is called. All clans are invited to the city, with messages sent out providing details of how the gathering shall commence.


 * 9:51 - Arlathvhen begins.

Post-Blight
In the wake of the battle of Denerim and with the crowning of Alistair Therin the fort of Ostagar was declared a Dalish settlement, partly as a reward for their efforts in holding back the Blight but also because the new King saw it as important in his effort to rejuvenate Ferelden. The Halla lead two Dalish clans there, and so they accepted the King’s offer. Following them only months later was an exodus from Denerim’s alienage – the Blight wrought devastation upon the city’s elves, with only three thousand surviving. In the face of freedom offered by the King over four hundred stayed to rebuild the alienage as an elven quarter of the city. The other twenty-six hundred left, however, with the vast majority choosing to follow their Dalish brethren to Ostagar.

By the time the city elves arrived they found the Dalish in trouble, with lingering darkspawn on one side and Chasind humans on the other who were angry with what they perceived as trespassing and a slight by the Ferelden king. The Dalish welcomed their city brethren with joy as both sides found a bond which neither could have possibly imagined as they fought off the Chasind and darkspawn. Thus Ostagar was founded upon the union of Dalish and city elves, with the latter taking the Tower of Ishal and it’s grounds as home due to the similarity it held with the city structures they were so used to, and the Dalish taking the other side of the bridge where they could create their own mini Dalish city.

Changing attitudes and a flourishing community . ..
The elves thrived enough for a few short years but found the darkspawn and the Chasind still made their existence more torturous than they had wanted when previously putting aside their respective ways of life. Both problems were eased in one, burden-relieving stroke thanks to the sudden appearance of dwarves outside the fort walls in the Chasind wilds. It had occurred that there was an entrance to the Deep Roads less than a mile from the fort’s walls and the dwarves of Kal’Hirol had discovered it. As the dwarves of that city were growing rapidly themselves they brought trade and, vitally, protection from the Chasind as well as aiding in the destruction of what darkspawn were left underneath the Tower of Ishal; the darkspawn entrances were blocked whilst the subterranean level that had been discovered by the city elves was given a boost in terms of technology and maintenance. A new alliance had been formed between elves and dwarves.

Soon after came two more clans and, later, a fifth. A treaty known as the Ishal Accord was signed in 9:37 with the Chasind and soon trade increased exponentially as the Southern trade route connected Dalish, city elf, Chasind and dwarf to the humans of Ferelden. A further boon came by way of the Imperial Highway as Ostagar’s trade - and tourism – was made available to Lothering, Calenhad and so the rest of Ferelden.

The people here have flourished and although the elves’ relationship with the Chasind is still more complex than most people would know it is safe to say that Ostagar has become a bright success of post-Blight Ferelden.

The Tower of Ishal and surrounding grounds
This side of the bridge is home to those who were once city elves. Familiarity breeds comfort in this case, with nearly eighteen hundred elves making a home of the tower and it's grounds. The subterranean entrance used by the darkspawn during the events of the Battle of Ostagar involving King Calian was further investigated by the elves to reveal an odd, albeit perfectly functional village of sorts. Over the past twenty years the underground area has been cleaned up and put into use as residence by the former city elves. Uses include an efficient sewerage system and storage for certain food and drink stock.

Across the bridge to where King Calian once set up camp
Here is where the heart of the settled Dalish clans live, where the Halla have settled. Integrating what little stonework was left with their well learned and used camp infrastructure the Dalish have created a unique environment which has evolved over time and now even includes some minor versions of the human-inspired mechanisms that are used by their city elf brethren.

The fields below the fort
The very place where King Cailan was slain is now restored as a throughway that connects the Southern wildlands to the Northern plains. This is connected both to some of the entrances to Ostagar as well as the border of Chasind territory. The border lies five miles into the forestry and so the Dalish have woodland now and some reside there still, though it can be a dangerous place to live. The fields are often left clear but in times of celebration they will be used for festivities and it is planned to be the location for the vast majority of clans to settle for Arlathvhen.

The wilds outside of Ostagar
At the walls upon the side which the Dalish reside lies Chasind territory but it was ever far from secure. So it is that this has become neutral land that is used for trade between elves and Chasind. An annual celebration of the Ishal accord is held here. Less than a mile from the fort there is also an entrance to the Deep Roads, which was discovered not long after the Dalish settled here; this is used mainly by the dwarves of Kal’Hirol to trade with elves and on occasion even Chasind.

Outsiders
Outsiders are not trusted. Ostagar is well guarded, by patrols - the Chasind territory needs little actual patrolling as there simply aren't any outsiders that would dare go into that place, and so the more open sides of Ostagar are better covered by decent enough numbers. During Arlathvhen these numbers are increased even more, naturally.

Any non elves arriving are treated with immediate suspicion, stopped from entering Ostagar by guards and questioned to verify their intentions and so on. Any alliances, trade agreements and the like that are made for non-elves to come to Arlathvhen will be known to the heads of the guards - these elves are stationed at the two main entry points, which are at the Ferleden end of the natural thoroughfare which runs through Ostagar and the Highway entrance where you enter in Origins - who will keep the identity of those with such arrangements recorded and thus known to the guards.

If you are a not an elf and you behave aggressively upon attempting to pass through or into Ostagar then you will be shot, contained where you were discovered and kept watch upon until a head of the guard arrives to interrogate you.