Free Fjords

A land of autonomous sea fairing tribes that makes up the southern edge of the Great Roda Sea famed for its piracy.

Structure

Tee Free Fjords or less one nation and one culture. The peoples here have no king, though some settlements on the river are dated to the first Empire and may claim to be Edren fishing villages. Most however are Snow Orcish and some Human tribes dotting the geothermal vents and low points of the deep Fjords of the land. Most Tribes are lead by local Freyr's or lords. These Orcs usually claim lineage from some old hero or settler, power is maintained by success in battle, loot captured, or some great achievement. Sometimes there is one strong enough to be King or a Freyr of Freyr which lords over many villages and long ships but this is rare and decided by Moots or gatherings of Freyrs. Loose agreements and alliances instead maintain power. Among a village the Freyrs family holds power along with their personal household warriors with a Skald or a warrior bard who keeps their stories and tests boasts and claims of others as a sort of informal judge for the Freyr. Below are the peoples themselves of all classes, freedom is valued and even the Freyr can be challenged. Below them are a kind of slave called a Thrall. One taken as loot to serve. Snow Orcs are quick to note they are not Slaves as they are still people and have rights in court. They can not be abused or killed, their children can not be enslaved, they can not be sold against their will, and can not be denied right to marry or divorce, however they can not refuse work.

Culture

The culture of the Free Fjords outside the rare Edren or Republic settlement, is unique from the Northern Orcs style. Formed by sea fairing orcs separated from the mainland, they formed a rich culture tied to the waters of their land, where art is expressed in ship making and beautiful wood architecture. Sails and shields are often colored and carved with masterful arts and to many their simple wood work is some of the best in the world. Battle prowess to defense the Fjords from foreigners and to take the supplies their land can not provide is celebrated, as is skill with barter and long sea voyages. Those who remain close to the village almost always fish on the side and it is rare to find a one that can not manage a simple longboat. Reputation matters to the Snow Orcs and what Skalds say about you whether your craft with wood working, fishing, fair trade, martial worthiness, or skill at dice can be almost its own currency. Often authority and wealth is more about your reputation than material gold. Orcs do not believe in concepts of racial purity, any can live in their tribes if they learn the way and prove their honor. Children of thralls from other races are considered Orcs by the Snow Orcs so long as they were raised among the tribe and seen as kinsmen of no less than a pure blooded Orc. Orcish drumming and sea shanties are also deeply popular and spread their unique mythology and faith, and even is believed to have influence the Tiefling Sea Shanty tradition.

Public Agenda

There is no one government and thus no one public Agenda, it can be said they often demand seas to plunder ports to trade, and their waters to fish without interruption, even when these are mutually exclusive.

Assets

The natural value of the Fjords are sparing though rich in their limited ways. The timber of the land is hardy and dense though dangerous to cut. The grassy patches between permafrost is rich with iron fragments one can burn down for material. The waters are filled with fish year round and the deep year long frozen mountains have silver to their core. Most profitable however is the way the winds force ships either through its waters or The Desolation, enabling limitless chance for piracy.

History

The Free Fjords were once the dominion of a great chiefdom of Frost Giants with Dwarven slaves that mined halls of silver, so say the legends about great fortresses and ice halls, however, the Giants destroyed themselves, and the Dwarven civilization, mysterious as it was, fell to ruin sometime during the height of the Sea Elf Empire, and since then was noted as little more than a frosty hellscape. The Free Fjords would become noteworthy again as Orcs, pushed out of the carcass of the Sea Elf Empire, began moving into the only land no one was willing or able to inhabit, building their rich culture and subrace, the snow Orcs, in the glacial ravines. Some human tribes would follow, most fusing into their local cultures, however this would not become a noted issue until the first Edren Empire and the rise of Orcish piracy. The first empire would attempt to resolve this with colonization, dotting the area with fishing towns and forts. How effective this would have been is lost to us as The Second Calamity would break the Empire mid colonization. Those settlements would be separated and form semi-autonomous relationships with the sea powers that rose and fell courting those who could or might have protected them, each trying most of all to make out a meagre existence. The Orcs fell off the record for several hundred years until popping up again as pirates once more harassing the newly independent The Sea Kingdoms and The Republic of Dobruja. The two great naval rivals would even make peace and attempt to "pacify" these "Southern Barbarians" sometime in the 500s, however this campaign which saw quick successes would be whittled down into nothing and the piracy would continue. In 792 another Snow Orc Armada under a Freyr of Freyrs would even attempt to colonize the Island Kingdom of Silla, but would also see themselves brought to ruin. On and on this back and forth would continue with little of note until Hell's Landing. The Republic of Hell's Landing managed to build a powerful city state out of unused geothermal vents and a hidden Dwarven mine suddenly propelling themselves a local naval power with no real ill will to the Orcs. Starting off with bribes of tribute to the Orcs then alliances and gifts to trade goods, a sort of tribe by tribe league would be formed. The Orcs found it more profitable to let the Republic extort ships for them then actually raid them, and many Freyr's enjoyed the wonders and Hells Landing, and value in the raiding the Republics enemies. However with more and more Tieflings colonizing the Fjords and pressuring Orc culture to change and Thralls as a system to be abandoned, some tribes are turning hostile to their recent Allies.

Demography and Population

Mostly Orcs with some being Human, Half Orc, and Tiefling.

Territories

The lands of the Fjord are covered in snow most of the year though around of Fjords of their namesake the soil may be warm enough for basic planting and goat raising. Originally caves were the home of of people here however the forests atop the mountains provide plenty of lumber. Beyond the water however, the land turns to vast endless tracks of snow dotted with silver rich mountains and haunted Dwarven ruins.

Military

Oath Warriors to the Freyr and levy raiders make up the most of the fighting forces of the Free Fjords. Longboats and longboat crews make up most of their war parties as the Free Fjords do not host true formal armies. Great Owl riders make up some of their most legendary fighters, and priests to the Orcish mystery cults provide magic casters when in need.

Technological Level

The steam age has not hit the Free Fjords nor much gunpowder outside of stolen muskets and canons, even steel is a luxury over reliable iron. However few can boast to have out designed the simple and versatile construction of an Orcish longboat when it comes to river and sea travel with single mast ships, Especially one a team of sailors can carry over land. Their langauge also has a unique runic structure allowing for simplistic characters that can dictate long sagas that while clearly inspired by the Giant Runes found in the Fjords are unique to their language and Skald traditions.

Religion

The Orcish gods are many, though most worship a more traditional form of Grummesh the god of offensive war and death in the Edren faith. To Orcs Grummesh is a more all inclusive force and takes on a more winter themed war, the white cloaked rider, the defender, the master of Seas. However he is not the only god. Orcs keep mystery cults of specialized priests with specialized rituals. Luthric is one, a mother goddess whose rituals are secret and known only to the orcs. Their temples are hidden, usually deep in caves and meant to be separate from the outside world.

Foreign Relations

The Free Fjords have no real foreign policy in a consistent manner, tribes are not unified in one particular foreign position. Mostly tribes break up into those who are part of the Landing's League and those who strike out on their own. They have hostile relationships with the major sea trading nations of the world.

Agriculture & Industry

The Tribes have limited animal husbandry due to the poor agricultural value to the region. Industrially most goods are hand crafted, Shipwrights can assemble a longboat at enormous speed and most know how to work and repair one. Wood crafts like wood statues and totems, specialized and artistic shield patterns and ship designs.

Trade & Transport

Almost all transport takes place on boat as it is safer than most land routes at any given time. When its winter almost all trade and movement ceases and the population huddles in until the waters are safe for movement. Trade on the season are major but almost random. Orc longboats have been seen in almost any port transporting any good. Orcish trades swap and trade almost any sort of good buying when low selling when high at times being gone for entire seasons before returning just before winter.

Education

Almost all orcs are formally trained together in the basics of survival, wood working, sailing, and fighting. Some are taught leadership or special craft skills, or more advanced raiding tactics. Some are trained to be Skalds and taught the stories, tests of honor, and how to spot the lies in boasts. Some are taken to be priests, but these systems of education are not formal.

Infrastructure

None besides well remembered sailing charts, limited Giant roads, and basic Runic signage.

Type

Geopolitical, Nomadic tribe

Alternative Names

The Frozen South, the Ice Barrens

Demonym

Free Peoples, Southern Barbarians, Snow Orcs

Government System

Tribalism

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Economic System

Barter system

Currency

Uses other states currency, gems are considered ideal

Major Exports

Some times wood ships, crafts, and food, but more often than not Orc traders simply sell what they bought in another port, acting as middle sailors to the movement of goods throughout the Great Roda Sea and even up to the ends of all the great rivers of the world.

Major Imports

The Free Fjords import mostly luxury items and necessities, at times more advanced tools or weapons, sometimes just food and supplies for winter.

Legislative Body

Freyr's Moot, rarely if ever called.

Judicial Body

Freyr's and their Skalds.

Deities