Nor'hold

SOCIETY Utaran society is organized into three classes: freepeople, who are landowners; jarls, who were wealthy nobles tasked with maintaining the well being of their subjects; and thralls, who are bondspeople, the latter having to work for other Utaran’s until they could pay their debts. The Kingdom of Utara is made up of landowning chieftains and clan heads, their retainers, freepeople, and any energetic young clan members who sought adventure and booty overseas. At home these people were independent farmers, but at sea they were raiders and pillagers. During the early raiding period the Utaran tribes and clans seem to have possessed a practically inexhaustible surplus of manpower, and leaders of ability, who could organize groups of warriors into conquering bands and armies, were seldom lacking. These bands would negotiate the seas in their longships and mount hit-and-run raids at cities and towns along the coasts of Alteria and Pallidon. Now, the people are very much focused (for now) on trade and exploration.
ETYMOLOGY The Chronicon Ultara mentions Norpardus as father to the utterly cruel King Gnut and his brothers, Inguar, Ibbi, Byorn and Tulf, who ruled the northern peoples. As petty kings, they were leading their people to ruin the realm of the North. To bring his people out of servitude, Norpardus is said to have broken the legendary spear Ice Fang over his knee and rallied the people to his war cry. The spear pieces were said to have been thrown into a near frozen lake at the Norpardus war-camp and the Nor’hold settlement was formed from the camp itself. It has since been the ancestral home of the Utara people.

Government

Monarchy

Industry & Trade

IMPORTS Livestock, grain, silks, linens, and alchemy/medicines.
EXPORTS Furs, various metal ores, pottery, weapons, armor
TRADE AND COMMERCE Each household produces most of what its members need to sustain themselves, and the average person possessed few luxury items. Even before the Raider Age, however, a limited degree of domestic trade existed as well, primarily in the form of seasonal rural markets. Now, bought goods and materials such as silver, silk, spices, wine, jewelry, glass and pottery are given to the Great Hall as a tribute to the High King Regnerus Skåne. Vendors around the massive building and city sell a variety of items like honey, tin, wheat, wool, wood, iron, fur, leather, fish and walrus ivory.
Utara traders tend to carry a set of folding scales which they used to weigh coins to make sure they got a fair deal. Cheating any Utaran is a good way to be violently assaulted.

Districts

• Old Market • Water District • Lake Ward • Noble’s District • New Market Ward • Dale Village • Noble District • Wyrm Warm • Tiber Square

Guilds and Factions

Tibers – Are members of a high-ranking class in Utaran cultures. Tibers are societal leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Their name may have come from an ancient phrase meaning “knower of the oak tree.” The Tibers generally leave no written accounts. While many are literate, they are believed to show preference toward a spoken history compared to recording their knowledge in written form. All Tibers can cast Earth Magic and strive to better their abilities for the betterment of those around them. Elder Tibers are considered som of the most powerful users of Earth magic on the shard. They also tend to an active role in the development of many young people, who go to them for instruction. If difficult situations or matters, Utaran leaders with go to Tibers and request they judge public and private quarrels, to include the decree penalties.

History

Nor’hold is the center of commerce and a gathering place for the many tribes in Utara. Because of its strategic location and economic importance, the Utara seat of power here. High King Regnerus Skåne is the current ruler of Nor’hold. He has been able to make the city one of the few places in Utara that is safe for for all lineages. A large amount of wealth travels to the city from the surrounding tribes and clans, as it has now has expanded to fill the valley of massive fjord and is now able to host the many ships. The wealth of the city pours into Kattegat and feeds the flourishing trade. The city has many extensive fortifications, including thick 20-foot high stone walls. Two sets of these walls protect the residents from outside forces and also help organize several districts and wards within the city.

Points of interest

The Great Hall - An ornate stone-walled building, once an inn house and open-air market. It contains a massive meeting hall and several smaller rooms, and is shared amongst several local merchant guilds.
The Stone Serpent - A colossal stone sea serpent statue positioned over the Trade Road. It is said that the serpent will be made flesh if any descendant of the scholar who imprisoned it passes by without leaving a coin.
The Broken Dagger - A grand commoner's inn, said to be haunted by the ghost of an wizard king.

Geography

Nor’hold is situated in the northern region of mistshard, being the situated between both the continents of Pallidon and Alteria. The city itself is located near to the center and slightly east in the Utaran continent and is north of Nordlog. The city rests at the western base of the White Spine mountain range. It normally maintains frigid temperatures throughout the year.

Type

Capital

Population

2180

Inhabitant Demonym

Mixed - Majority Human, Oathsworn, and Wylderkin

Owner/Ruler

High King Regnerus Skåne

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Shield- Queen Ladgerda

Ruling/Owning Rank

High King of Utara

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Utara

Characters in Location

• High King Regnerus Skåne