Welcome to Útgarðar
Útgarðar is a vast varied virtuous and vexing land. It is primarily centered around the Sea of Winters with many coastal based kingdoms. The land is generally cold but areas lower South get warmer Summers and Spring and are, in general, less covered in ice. Fjords and mountains are synonymous with the region. As is danger.
Monsters, bandits, orcs, evil wizards, evil clerics, and all manor of nasties make Útgarðar home. It is not uncommon for a village to be raided by goblins who turn over a large share of the loot to an orc tribe who then get raided by hobgoblins who then make their home in a haunted castle and get killed. Then a necromancer moves in and uses the hoard amassed over the years to fund an undead raid on that same town. But a band of adventurers are in town, repel the invasion, invade the castle, kill the necromancer, and take the remaining loot.
The political climate of the lands is best described as friendly, but deadly, competition. The various kingdoms, the jarldoms in them, and the towns within those all have rivalries with one another. This manifests in showmanship between lords or between towns trying one up eachother. For instance one jarl may fund the construction of a large amphitheater to stick it to another jarl who is a self professed thespian.
On the topic of the kingdoms themselves there are many. In the north is Viddleland and Galtarland as well as the dwarven kingdom of Hammerdeep and a number of small orc tribes that occasionally unite and try to fight everyone. It doesn't work out well. Viddleland and Galtarland are two of the largest kingdoms in Útgarðar. This is why they are constantly at war with eachother. They have fought the most wars between each other. More than any other two nations.
Hammerdeep is the great dwarf hold of the north. It is crafted into a large mountain range known as Orv urngorr. The kingdom spans many underground levels and towns full of industry. It primarily exports weaponry, jewelry, and raw resources like ingots.
In the south are the kingdoms of Heynland, Marsir Eyjariki. As well as the bitter rivalry between the kingdoms of Riki Jorgon, Riki Alric, and Riki Björn. The Rikis were once the kingdom of Dallerland before a Succession War split it apart around a hundred years ago. Most skalds use its breakup as a start date for calendars. Riki Erik is an entirely unrelated kingdom that the other Rikis don't like.
Both Heynland and Marsir Eyjariki are island nations with Heynland being one island wile Marsir Eyjariki is an archipelago. Marsir Eyjariki does however have a large chunk of mainland and is the larger of the two. The small elvish realm of Hollow Oak is located in the Dökkur Skógur woods to the South East. It is primarily composed of wood elves and has bad relations with Araqar, OK relations with everyone else.
The last two nations, both incidentally being islands, are that of Araqar and Jotunhvid. Araqar is a isolationist elvish island nation in the western sea. They distrust outsiders and generally dislike visitors, though they are not adverse to trade as their island lacks some resources. Jotunhvid is a pair of mountainous islands founded by a group of giants attempting to preserve the Ordning. It is usually ignored unless it causes trouble.
"The stage is set, the monsters have not been fed for a few weeks, lets venture into Útgarðar and see what heroes and villains will arise. So says ᛟ .
Monsters, bandits, orcs, evil wizards, evil clerics, and all manor of nasties make Útgarðar home. It is not uncommon for a village to be raided by goblins who turn over a large share of the loot to an orc tribe who then get raided by hobgoblins who then make their home in a haunted castle and get killed. Then a necromancer moves in and uses the hoard amassed over the years to fund an undead raid on that same town. But a band of adventurers are in town, repel the invasion, invade the castle, kill the necromancer, and take the remaining loot.
The political climate of the lands is best described as friendly, but deadly, competition. The various kingdoms, the jarldoms in them, and the towns within those all have rivalries with one another. This manifests in showmanship between lords or between towns trying one up eachother. For instance one jarl may fund the construction of a large amphitheater to stick it to another jarl who is a self professed thespian.
On the topic of the kingdoms themselves there are many. In the north is Viddleland and Galtarland as well as the dwarven kingdom of Hammerdeep and a number of small orc tribes that occasionally unite and try to fight everyone. It doesn't work out well. Viddleland and Galtarland are two of the largest kingdoms in Útgarðar. This is why they are constantly at war with eachother. They have fought the most wars between each other. More than any other two nations.
Hammerdeep is the great dwarf hold of the north. It is crafted into a large mountain range known as Orv urngorr. The kingdom spans many underground levels and towns full of industry. It primarily exports weaponry, jewelry, and raw resources like ingots.
In the south are the kingdoms of Heynland, Marsir Eyjariki. As well as the bitter rivalry between the kingdoms of Riki Jorgon, Riki Alric, and Riki Björn. The Rikis were once the kingdom of Dallerland before a Succession War split it apart around a hundred years ago. Most skalds use its breakup as a start date for calendars. Riki Erik is an entirely unrelated kingdom that the other Rikis don't like.
Both Heynland and Marsir Eyjariki are island nations with Heynland being one island wile Marsir Eyjariki is an archipelago. Marsir Eyjariki does however have a large chunk of mainland and is the larger of the two. The small elvish realm of Hollow Oak is located in the Dökkur Skógur woods to the South East. It is primarily composed of wood elves and has bad relations with Araqar, OK relations with everyone else.
The last two nations, both incidentally being islands, are that of Araqar and Jotunhvid. Araqar is a isolationist elvish island nation in the western sea. They distrust outsiders and generally dislike visitors, though they are not adverse to trade as their island lacks some resources. Jotunhvid is a pair of mountainous islands founded by a group of giants attempting to preserve the Ordning. It is usually ignored unless it causes trouble.
"The stage is set, the monsters have not been fed for a few weeks, lets venture into Útgarðar and see what heroes and villains will arise. So says ᛟ .
Advice for a Traveler
- The sea monsters on the maps you find are not to fill in space.
- Wars have been fought over cheesecake be careful with your words.
- The jarls may be eccentric but they are still master of state craft and the battle field.
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