Verbergen

Verbergen (フェアベルゲン) is the nation of Beastmen located deep within the Sea of Trees of Tortus.

Layout
Verbergen is surrounded by a barrier of living trees, each one at least thirty meters tall. Its entrance is a massive gate with thick trunks interlocked together to form an arch, and the double doors enshrined within were also made of wood.

Numerous massive trees dotted the landscape, a dwelling carved into each one. Warm lamplight poured out of the windows that had been cut into the trunks. Thick branches, wide enough for dozens of people to walk across abreast, link the treetops together into one big aerial highway. Vines serve as pulleys, allowing for huge elevators big enough to pull up carts. There are even wooden aqueducts, carrying water from tree to tree.

Verbergen and the neighboring villages are surrounded by verdren crystals that are used to ward off the fog that was produced by the forest. They are also somewhat effective at warding off certain Monsters.

Ideology
Verbergen is a republic of various beastman races, with each of their leaders serving as a member of council of elders that acted as the governing body.

The citizens of Verbergen initially did not follow any religion. This was due to most religions imprinting the philosophy that Beastmen are an inferior species to all other races. When Verbergen is restored by Kaori Shirasaki after it was destroyed by a demon invasion, the beastmen worshipped her as a goddess and began a new following unofficially knoown as "Kaorism".

Since beastmen were incapable of using magic, they viewed anyone of their own that was born mana as "cursed", and would have them executed, as well as anyone that was found guilty of harbouring them.

All beastmen respect the circle of life and death. It is customary in Verbergen to bury the dead under the roots of trees, so they could once again become one with nature. Having fulfilled their purpose in life, Beastmen are returned to the forest in death, so that they could create new life and ensure the continued prosperity of the woods.

History
Verbergen was established long after one of the Liberators, Lyutillis Haltina, created her Labyrinth in the Sea of Trees. She explained to a Beastman elder that they should not oppose those that managed to have completed the Great Labyrinths.

Since then, Verbergen held a vague law that simply stated if anyone bearing a crest belonging to one of the Great Labyrinths were to appear in the Sea of Trees, the Beastmen were not to oppose that person regardless of who they were, and to guide them wherever they wished to go if they seemed nice.

The elders of Verbergen came into contact with Hajime Nagumo and Yue after they were guided by the exiled Haulia Tribe. They learned the truth about the Liberators and the God of Tortus from Hajime and offered to guide him to the Grand Tree, but he refused since he already made a deal with the Haulia for their help.

Verbergen later came under attack by the Demons after one of them conquered another of the Labyrinths and used the magic he obtained from it to control Monsters. Their objective was to get the Beastmen to lead them to the Labyrinth that resided in the Sea of Trees. When they refused, Verbergen was damaged as a result and many of its people were killed, but the Demons were defeated thanks to the efforts of the reborn Haulia Tribe.

Unfortunately, many of the surviving Beastmen were captured by the Hoelscher Empire and taken to the Empire to be turned into slaves. When Hajime's Party arrived in Verbergen,it was soon restored by Kaori Shirasaki using restoration magic, and the enslaved Beastmen were later freed from the Empire and be able to return home thanks to the combined efforts of Hajime's Party and the Haulia Tribe.

Elders

 * Ulfric Heipyst (Chief Elder)
 * Guze
 * Jin Vanton
 * Lua
 * Mao
 * Zel

Others

 * Altina Heipyst
 * Regin Vanton
 * Gil
 * Gouto (Deceased)
 * Tonto Vanton (Deceased)
 * Zam