Solitude

Solitude Capital of the Ithilien Empire, built on a natural arch and sits on the path between two land masses. The jewel of the south envy of kings he who holds it holds the loyalty of southern nobility. Parts of the city were designed by Solomon the Wise including the palace, but the most of it was built by the rulers that lived there and governed the place.

Origins
Solitude was originally the center of trade used by the great men before their migration, it served as a dock where ships were harbored and restocked, merchants and travelers flocked from all directions to lay their hand on long forgotten wonders. But after the Long winter the city was mostly abandoned like most of the northern region, tribes and small bands of men and great men wandered the area before eventually settling back down 13 years later. In 213 AD people began to move to solitude once more, to live in its' stone halls and under its' high walls, but soon a dispute of whether it belonged to the South Kingdom or its inhabitants (that was mostly made up of normal men) a long siege took place and then a great battle that had ruined the city.

Now it was useless to the South Kingdom and then abandoned, but none in the north dared claim it for themselves as they feared the wrath and the might of the South Kingdom. In the years between 224 AD and 311 AD it stayed abandoned with the South Kingdom encroaching ever north wards. But on the year 327 AD its' King had died and left seven heirs to the throne. Each one lead their own faction and tore the once great and splendorous kingdom into seven different ones. Now people began once more, but now mostly great men and a minority of middle men came to Solitude to once more dwell their.

The palace and castle were designed and built by Solomon the Wise and his disciples when they traveled there around 432 AD not only that but they had repaired the wall, its' gates and most of the buildings it housed. Originally meant for training and studying the castle contains a vast armoury of all the weapons made by Solomon and his disciples. Not only that but the palace has a library that stores a vast quantity of books much like the Eyrie maybe even rivaling it, but before long its name had spread and soon all sorts of people flocked to see what the city was like, great engineers, mathematicians, military commanders and blacksmiths even dwarves from the misty mountains came to see and visit. When more people came they started to build and develop the land with the permission of Solomon, and soon it was a flourishing city with two walls a stone keep and a palace.

Soon the surrounding villages went to Solomon to ask for his protection, and that if there be a need the men of Solitude would take up arms and fight along side them against a common foe. The sudden growth and increase of land attracted many people including the nobles of the south lands who all wanted control over Solitude. And so ever since the creation of the city word had spread so far that even those of the Nordic empire heard of its grandeur. It was truly the envy of all.

Kingdom of Solitude
The Kingdom of Solitude was first created when southern lords came to Solomon for protection or to form an alliance against other Nobles but non the less it was made. First fighting with other nobles than after proving its worth and battle tactics the men of the south knew who there king was and so many flocked to the King Solomon and joined his side.

But after Solitude had become a city and the capital no less surrounded by nobles and knights Solomon decided to leave and return to the misty mountains to live there for the rest of his days, leaving his students in charge of the city with an appointed king, his best and finest disciple John Whitestrake. He a brilliant man who came from Cyrodill a city near the misty mountains, was from the house Whitestrake also the first ruling dynasty of the Kingodm of Solitude.

They stood strong in the face of foreign invaders and other southern lords and kings did not recognize The Kingdom of Solitude and so they remained independent and fought with them. But southern lords were not all of John's concerns there were the elves to the north and east of them, harassing caravans and conducting border raids killing soldiers and looting towns. They were a menace that had to be dealt with, but also the lords of the lands north of him they had yet to join him in his conquest to unite the land.