Havrathen is nestled between Nathavan and Maihen, two countries that were fairly aggressive in their early years. Havrathen has always been the buffer between them, and unfortunately was ravaged for their expanding from both sides. The elvaan of Havrathen were not prepared for war, and were driven to the center of the country. They weren’t planning on so much aggression, and had not been anywhere near able to stand up to either army. Most fled further and further to the center of their dwindling country, but an unfortunate amount (which is to say any) were captured as slaves on both sides. It’s been said that Nathavan captured elvaan were treated better, but being enslaved is being enslaved.
At one point Maihen had total control of Havrathen, and got fairly far building another castle near the sheer cliff face with the labor of the elvaan who lived there. Havrathen was no match for the massive army that plowed through the forests. They weren’t even concerned with the elvaan other than to exploit them, and as such were not watching for signs of rebellion. Their main concern was getting the walls around the castle built.
They were eventually pushed out by Nathavan, who captured the city that would be known as Vaen, and finished the castle with their own stolen elvaan. They were only able to capture half of Havrathen for themselves. Maihen held a major chunk still, and that included just outside of Vaen. Nathavan built more walls while both countries were recovering from the battle to claim the castle, further into the Maihen-Havrathen territory. There was very little to be done to expand any more, as the mountains that shielded Maihen were too much to get over, and it was more important to build their defense anyway.
The elvaan of Havrathen in Nathavan hands took this pause in fighting to assemble themselves where they could. Mostly the dungeons under the castle, it was the biggest place they had where no one would get suspicious. Many of them agreed upon building secret places underground while the Maihenian’s weren’t looking when they were in control. Where they could find peace, and more importantly, channel their magic.
Elvaan magic, at least Havrathen elvaan magic was very deeply connected to nature at the time, and the dirt walls of their hidey holes were just about enough to bring some power back to them. But not enough for any one person to do anything about it. For three years they built their powers in secret as much as they could, before Maihen attacked again.
In all the confusion the second, bloodier battle of Vaen caused, no one really noticed the elvaan on both sides fleeing to what forest was left around the area. After Maihen won their castle city back, there was only a brief moment to breathe before the elvaan exploded (literally, and figuratively) out of nowhere to reclaim the land they’d been forced to destroy for 40+ years. Had Maihen not been weakened by Nathavan, and so fearful of keeping mages in their ranks Havrathen wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Some historians forget to mention that what was left of the Nathavan soldiers fought along side the Havrathen elvaan, along with the young Queen of Nathavan herself. Not that it was for any noble reason, of course. Maihen would have taken Nathavan next, and there was a much better chance of negotiating peace with Havrathen after this was over than Maihen.
The most prominent leader in Havrathen’s rebellion was First Crowned Aashain, a young man of presumably his late twenties, that gave his fellow captured elvaan hope that they would retake their homeland, even as young as he was. All others are said to have perished in the fighting.
Aashain landed the last, war ending blow on the Maihen’s king on top of the castle balcony, in full view of the entirety of what would become his nation to rule. Ancient historians (those who claim to have been there) insist that it was an incredible sight to behold.
As of today, Nathavan and Havrathen keep friendly, but Maihen is rarely heard from. It works mostly in shadow, and doesn’t have much land or any royalty that’s presented itself. This is concerning to both Havrathen and Nathavan, but as long as peace reigns, there is no use digging into them much. For the time being.