Skultberg

SKULTBERG

Skultberg is named after the fortress it is built around. The Skult fortress was built around 30 years ago by Yngvar Erinsson after a failed challenge (soft coup attempt) to Thunor’s Eye King Asbjørn the Red . Defeated, but still rich and powerful, Yngvar used her resources to build a fortress halfway between Sigil Peaks and Frostlake, thus controlling one of the most important economic routes for the Thunor’s Eye.
Slultberg is strategically located on the shore of the river Dinneshere that connects Sigil Peaks with Frostlake. Sigil Peaks was already very important economically because of the traffic that would bring the gold, silver and iron mined by the dwarves to the Thunor’s eye territory, but it has gained even more importance after Arfast Snjarllrson moved the The Bear Clan Clan capital to Skogahrefi (in Sigil Peaks)
Travelers from Sigil Peaks to Heil Hofn and Holfjola have to follow the rough and rocky road running parallel to the Dinneshere for days, even weeks to make the trip. By building the fortress halfway, Yngvar not only provided the only safe spot to stop, rest, and trade between the two points, but also a great degree of control over the road.
Furthermore, about 20 years ago Yngvar hired a Tinkerer from the south to build her a ship that was able to safely navigate the river year-round (on water and ice), thus making that route even more profitable and giving her even more control over it.
The ferry out of Holfjola made the arduous land trek unnecessary for merchants and other travelers, but the ferry was discontinued two months ago, cutting off Skultberg from the rest of Finnarland except by the overland route. Town residents are furious that the ferry service has stopped, not only commerce has slowed down significantly, but most importantly they have not received deliveries of the famous mead from the town of Bjornland, and the taverns have run dry.
As if things weren’t bad enough, the town’s harbor has frozen over, and the town’s Jarl has taken to her bed and is apparently too sick to make public appearances or press the Council of Speakers to get the ferry from Dufansarl running again.

Skultberg in a Nutshell

Friendliness ❄❄ Services ❄ Comfort ❄
Population. 150.
Jarl. Yngvar Erinsson (female Thunor’s Eye). Known as a bully who shouts and uses theatrics to make her point, she has reportedly been ill for months and rarely makes public appearances nowadays. Sacrifice to Hellfrost: Food
Whether arriving “by land or by river,” visitors are immediately confronted by the fortifications for which the town is famous: its clifftop fortress, known as The Skult, and the ruined watchtower at the mouth of the frozen harbor. Most of the town’s buildings line the path that winds down the steep slope from the fortress to the harbor, whose docks are perched on the rocky shore.

The Skult

Castle residence of the town speaker

Before this small castle was built around thirty years ago by Yngvar Erinsson and her family, there was nothing more than a few scattered camps of explorers living off the land.
When the castle, was completed, the workers and their families settled in the outbuildings they had constructed farther down the cliff, along with the families of the retainers the Erinssons had brought with them. Over the next few years, many traders and adventurers in the region came to see the fortress for themselves, and some built cottages in the shadow of its walls. No sooner had the small town taken hold than marauding orcs swept down from the tundra to put it to the torch. The town’s residents tried to take refuge in the castle, and the Erinssons despite the size of the orc horde, opened the gates and let everyone in despite the huge risk.
Over the siege that followed, Yngvar shared everything she had to feed everyone and in the end, the orcs, unprepared for a long siege, left without the biggest price.
Because of her generosity and commitment to her people, Yngvar and her family has the respect and loyalty of the town (despite her, at times, challenging, personality)

Erin’s Rest

Closed inn
At the south end of town is Skultberg inn, a drafty old building with boarded-up windows and a crooked weathervane shaped like a rearing dragon. The place has been out of business for almost a year.

The Uphill Climb

Tavern
This tavern is situated northwest of the fortress, where it offers a spectacular view of the river and the frozen docks. The Climb serves hot chowder but is all out of beer and spirits, which might explain why locals don’t frequent the place as much as they used to. The proprietor, a rugged middle-aged man named Roark (Human, Thunor’s Eye), blames the cursed winter and the closing of the ferry for his business woes.