Fæstning

Orrian Capital of Blood and Steel

Faæstning, or the Fortress in the Orrian tongue, is the capital of Fånga Clan's territory and is the northernmost city in Orri. Home to some of Orri's most ferocious and ruthless warriors, Fæstning has a reputation for savagery and barbarianism that surpasses that of any other settlement. This is reinforced by their rejection of foreign influence, such as currency or language, and their continued practice of raiding and pillaging nearby foreign villages.

The Nordvæg

The Nordvæg.

The Nordvæg, or the North Wall in the Orrian, is a defensive barrier made by Skapa builders and patrolled by Fånga warriors. Dangerous creatures from beyond the Nordvæg pose a constant threat to the country of Orri, and if the original Orrian settlers hadn't built it as soon as they did, it's possible that the northern clans may have been killed off within mere decades by the wildlife on the other side.

Demographics

• Humans, Orrian: 90%
• Humans, foreign: 8%
• Other: 2%

Government

As the capital of Fånga Clan's territory, Fæstning hosts the jarl's seat of power. Unlike the other clans, Fånga villages are not run by lendmenn; since they are little more than supply outposts for reavers, residents don't typically stay there for long, and when they do, they still answer to the jarl in Fæstning.
An Orrian jarl rules until they die, or until they abdicate their throne voluntarily. The latter scenario rarely ever occurs in Fånga Clan. More than any other clan, Fånga jarls tend to die by combat, although the challenges are typically made publicly and without much scheming. To win leadership over Fånga Clan, you need only prove that no one can stop you from claiming it.

Defences

Fæstning earned its name by being something of an unsquashable bug in the harsh north of Orri. The original Fånga settlers fought tooth and nail to defend their home from predators, and against all odds, they survived until they were well-enough established to become the predators themselves. In this way, the best defence Fæstning has in its arsenal is its own population.
In addition to this, however, Fæstning now boasts a tall, sturdy wall that encloses it completely—a gift from Skapa Clan when they agreed to join forces in repelling the dangerous north. Now, attacks on the capital itself are rare.

Industry & Trade

The mountainous landscape of Fånga territory is rich with ore and minerals. Fånga Clan quickly established themselves as competent smiths and metalworkers, and they are happy to trade their steel equipment to the southern clans for other necessities. To present, Fæstning has never adopted the use of currency, instead relying purely on Orri's traditional barter system.
Steel is not all that Fånga has to offer, however. Since they began raiding foreign communities, they continue to acquire new and sometimes valuable trinkets and items from their conquests. Most Orrians have no qualms about trading for these ill-gotten goods. This technically makes Fæstning the very, very distantly second-largest exporter of foreign goods in the country, behind Åbenhamn.

Infrastructure

Fånga territory is wild and untamed, and Fæstning isn't much of a departure. There are no roads linking the few Fång villages back to the capital, and within the walls of Fæstning, constant snowfalls render paved roads unhelpful. The city is surrounded by a sturdy perimeter wall built by early Skapa settlers; a gift of good faith between the two clans as they entered into their partnership.
The nearby Tannfjell mountains are rich in metals and minerals, prompting Fånga clan to adopt a secondary trade of mining ores and smelting metal goods. To ease the transportation of their goods, a crude pathway to and up the Tannfjell mountains is maintained and kept lit.

Assets

A typical Fång would tell you that their greatest asset is their dominance in combat and their willingness to take whatever they need or like. Because of this, Fæstning is something of a wealthy city, though its treasures are ill-gotten. Fånga reavers began by stealing food and supplies from neighbouring nations in order to survive, but they quickly realized how much they enjoyed preying upon those lesser than themselves. Before long, Fång raiders began stealing just for fun, and started taking home shiny and expensive trinkets and baubles, soft luxurious silks and fragrant spices. However, since Fånga Clan doesn't deal in currencies and only trades for what they need, the act of taking the items is far more cherished by Fånga reavers than the items themselves, and an expensive dish is just as likely to be used as a chamber pot as for serving food.

Architecture

Fæstning is built simply and practically, with function far more in mind than form. Even before Skapa Clan built the fortified wall around the city, the Fång buildings within were sturdy enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and attacks from wild fauna. The Fånga construct their dwellings using both wood and stone, making them among the most durable of all structures in the country, even if they are also the least attractive.

Geography

The first Fång settlers chose the location of Faæstning because of its central location between several promising ore quarries. The Kväva River just south of the city provides easy means of transportation to the sea, and fresh water from melting snow streams down from the mountains to the north. The capital is located right at the base of the mountainous regions; the ground inclines steeply to the north and reaches up to the peaks of the Tannfjell.

Natural Resources

The region surrounding Fæstning doesn't offer much, but the Fånga are adept at making due with what is available. They harvest ore and minerals for the crafting of weapons and equipment, and also for trading with other clans. There is sufficient lumber form nearby forests for the construction of their homes and boats, and there is plenty of wild game to hunt and eat. Anything to which Fånga Clan does not have access is either obtained by trading with the other clans, or looting foreign settlements.

Fæstning

Alternative Name(s)

The Fortress

Type

City

Population

2,500

Inhabitant Demonym

Fangs

Location under

Orri

Owning Organization

Fånga Clan

The Fånga capital Fæstning.

South Orri

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The southern region of Orri, inhabited by the mostly-human Orrians and their Great Clans.

South Orri, before The Impact.