Galtarland
The Kingdom of Galtarland is located in the exact north of the Sea of Winters between Viddleland and Hammerdeep. Most of it is a large peninsula with the Warm Sea nestled to the North East of the nation. It is a fair land with geothermal activity giving it great farm land and a booming agricultural industry.
The capital city is Isafjoror where the council of Jarls rule from. The kingdom is ruled by eight jarls who split up the managing of the kingdom with the title of king being split between each jarl. Only when all of them agree on something can the powers of the king be used.
This system came into place when King Burgun The Black schemed and murdered his way to the title. He launched a series of wars that required a temporary alliance between recently split up Rikis as well as the help of Hammerdeep and Viddleland to stop. After that disaster the jarls decided to do away with the position of king and create the current system.
The people of Galtarland, the Galts, are largely the same as the Viddles. But if you say that to either of them you will get punched in the face and/or stabbed repeatedly. Galtarland and Viddleland have fought over a hundred wars with each other, more than any other two nations. Both sides still hold a deep animosity with each other. They do however get along for trade and the odd combined effort against the Jotuns expansion. So their rivalry can be described as semi-friendly competition on a national scale.
One of the most notable things about Galtarland is the geothermal vents that dot the land heating the fields and fueling the growth of plants. Because of this Galtarland is one of the largest producers of crops in Útgarðar, contrary to its latitude. There are a few problems though. The geothermal vents causes fire based elementals to enter the plane and allows monsters and creatures that would not be able to survive lower temperatures thrive in the Vent Flats.
The other problem is the Volcano. Mt. Drekafjall is the only volcano in Útgarðar and its a big one. Since its creation during the fall of Sætar Rúllur the volcano has destroyed a countless number of farming settlements around it and belches constant smoke and lava into the landscape. The natural instinct to not settle near an active volcano is tempered by the fact that the soil there is so rich that a annual harvest from the lava flats is double that of another farm from elsewhere in Galtarland. The second problem of settling near the volcano is much simpler. Dragons. Mt. Drekafjall is a historical breeding ground for red dragons with the caldera acting as the perfect incubator.
These dragons have ravaged the countryside and destroyed many a farm and settlement. Many great heroes have risen to slay these beasts, but another group of drakes always come to take their place. Ammisdyrth Smoke-Wing, the current elder dragon ruling the mountain, has kept a rather cordial relationship with the farmers of the land around the mountain. He only asks for a annual tax payment equal to that of which the local jarl asks. However this does mean that the farmers are paying their taxes twice. This causes about as much resentment as to be expected.
The Kingdom of Galtarland is a agricultural wonderland in a frigid wasteland with no short score of problems. No wonder the jarls hire so many heroes and mercenaries.
The capital city is Isafjoror where the council of Jarls rule from. The kingdom is ruled by eight jarls who split up the managing of the kingdom with the title of king being split between each jarl. Only when all of them agree on something can the powers of the king be used.
This system came into place when King Burgun The Black schemed and murdered his way to the title. He launched a series of wars that required a temporary alliance between recently split up Rikis as well as the help of Hammerdeep and Viddleland to stop. After that disaster the jarls decided to do away with the position of king and create the current system.
The people of Galtarland, the Galts, are largely the same as the Viddles. But if you say that to either of them you will get punched in the face and/or stabbed repeatedly. Galtarland and Viddleland have fought over a hundred wars with each other, more than any other two nations. Both sides still hold a deep animosity with each other. They do however get along for trade and the odd combined effort against the Jotuns expansion. So their rivalry can be described as semi-friendly competition on a national scale.
One of the most notable things about Galtarland is the geothermal vents that dot the land heating the fields and fueling the growth of plants. Because of this Galtarland is one of the largest producers of crops in Útgarðar, contrary to its latitude. There are a few problems though. The geothermal vents causes fire based elementals to enter the plane and allows monsters and creatures that would not be able to survive lower temperatures thrive in the Vent Flats.
The other problem is the Volcano. Mt. Drekafjall is the only volcano in Útgarðar and its a big one. Since its creation during the fall of Sætar Rúllur the volcano has destroyed a countless number of farming settlements around it and belches constant smoke and lava into the landscape. The natural instinct to not settle near an active volcano is tempered by the fact that the soil there is so rich that a annual harvest from the lava flats is double that of another farm from elsewhere in Galtarland. The second problem of settling near the volcano is much simpler. Dragons. Mt. Drekafjall is a historical breeding ground for red dragons with the caldera acting as the perfect incubator.
These dragons have ravaged the countryside and destroyed many a farm and settlement. Many great heroes have risen to slay these beasts, but another group of drakes always come to take their place. Ammisdyrth Smoke-Wing, the current elder dragon ruling the mountain, has kept a rather cordial relationship with the farmers of the land around the mountain. He only asks for a annual tax payment equal to that of which the local jarl asks. However this does mean that the farmers are paying their taxes twice. This causes about as much resentment as to be expected.
The Kingdom of Galtarland is a agricultural wonderland in a frigid wasteland with no short score of problems. No wonder the jarls hire so many heroes and mercenaries.
Trivia
Coat of Arms: Azure, upper a volcano gules beplumed with smoke argent, center a tree vert, lower a knörr sable.
Simplified: Azure, a knörr sable with branches extending from its mast instead of sails.
- A few people have capitalized on the hot springs and made natural saunas catering to travelers.
- The local red dragon lord has a seat on the Jarls Council so they can work out ways to not piss him off.
- The Vent Flats are one of the few places cavalry can function in Útgarðar. This is the main reason why the Kingdom has not fallen to monsters. A well placed cavalry charge can down just about anything, save dragons of course.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Contentious Rivals
Frequent wars, raiding, and other acts of aggression have led the populations of both kingdoms to a fierce rivalry with each other. They still do trade though, and it is assured that if another power threatens one of the pair, the other will come to their aid. Mostly out of a "only I get to destroy you feeling."
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