Holvika (Huell-Vika)
The largest settlement in Iola and the seat of the powerful Jarldom of Holvik
Government
Holvika is the capital of the Holvik Jarldom and is where the Jarl himself resides
Defences
Holvika's defenses are few, its walls protect it from its land side and little stands in the way port side. However Holvika's location inside a large fjord gives her a great deterrence for would be attackers as they must choose to engage the city from either the water or by land which each have their own defenses built up.
Industry & Trade
Holvika began as a port town with access to nearby lumberyards that shipped Iolan timber across the sea to the mainland in places like Areul, Galukia, and even to Kwalakkad. Over time, lumber was supplanted as the main export of the town by tools and minted coins as both became common in the town as the mint of Holvika began producing the most coins in the region leading to it becoming a financial center and destination for distant traders to get their hands on Iolan tools and weapons which became more and more demanded as time went on.
Infrastructure
Situated in the mouth of a fjord leading to the open sea, Holvika is a great location of settlement as its trading season is much longer than that of other Iolan towns due to its southern location. Built partly on the bay itself, Holvika's wharfs and port is supported by an interesting construction where log planks are planted into the ground and laid as foundation and eventually the log is frozen and becomes almost as strong as stone. This expanded the city and led to its development as a trading paradise for the Iolans.
Assets
Like many places in Iola, Holvika does not rely on its stellar array of dazzling natural resources, mainly a lumber town before trading and guilds built it up into the shining pillar of Iolan culture it is today. Today Holvika stands as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of her people who built the city from nothing and into a city rivaling any further south.
Guilds and Factions
Holvika reached prominence as it became the center for numerous Iolan trading guilds, prime among them the Hausan Trading Guild which dominates trade in the region to this day. The Hausan has grown extremely lucrative from their port taxes which are cheaper than other leagues and used by the majority of long-term traders in the port. The influence of the Hausan is so deep that a member of the trade league sits as a permanent advisor of the Jarl since the taking of the city by future Jarl Hialtr Sturmhjǫr in 567 A.E
History
Supposedly, Holvika has always had a special place in the minds of Iolans going back thousands of years to the age of gods and giants. Supposedly the settlement of Holvika was founded on a fallen chunk of the god Rymr's hammer Magan and was a site of worship for a very long time. Holvika is mentioned in another name in the Rasennan scholar Agricolus Justus' work The Herodinia where he mentions it under the name "Sionisa" and says that it is from here that the Siones, a term used for the Iolans, come from and that they engage in devilry and unholy worship at the base of an alter of a antlered god. While Agricolus does not seem to have actually had much in the way of sources inside Holvika, he does mention that it is a prominent town in the north and his mention of an alter to an antlered god may be a Herodi figure, the huntress Herna who is mentioned in the story of the Grimmingr. Holvika appears to have been one of many trading towns along the Iolan coast when it was taken by siege by a notorious duo of Jarl brothers named Skardi and Sardr Hjodssen who used it as a base to launch inland raids and become very wealthy by stealing merchants good in the sea. Eventually, their rule was challenged by the returning Hialtr Canuteseen who rallied nearby villages to overthrow the Hjodssen brothers. In the siege of Holvika, Hialtr and his allies attacked the town in the midst of a hurricane and Hialtr personally slew both brothers and proclaimed himself the Jarl of Holvik with Holvika as his seat. Marking his victory, Hialtr ordered the construction of a great feasting hall and oversaw great expansion for the city. Hialtr's dynasty was then established and the Sturmhjori have ruled the city as Jarls ever since.
Architecture
Built on the coast, the city has been building newer and newer sections of the city sport stunning pattern work and dedicated construction such as Hjaltr's great hall which dominates the landscape of the city as it's nearly four stories tall and can be seen for miles in the area.
Geography
In the southern region of Holvik, Holvika itself is one of the southern most Iolan settlements and benefits from warmer temperatures when compared to towns further north. Holvika's southern location lends itself well to trade to the mainland in the south and grants it access to markets that aren't available to many Iolan settlements.
Founding Date
122 B.E
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
Holvik
Type
Large town
Population
15,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Holvikan
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments