Kingdom of Bresklin

Life and Society:

Bresklin is the most populated kingdom in Jotunar. While it is not as diverse as Longpine, or as rich as Nornall, it more than makes up for it in number of people living in its borders. Most of the people living in Beskling make their livelihoods from the water. The rivers and lakes that crisscross the kingdom feed, clothe, and enrich the lives of the people there. Thanks to southern reaches, and the easy ports of Lakeholt it is also one of the wealthier kingdoms. Though it doesn’t do as much trade as Brekt the markets of Lakeholt are always rich with goods from Jornur, when the two kingdoms are not at war, as well as great works from the grey elves and goliaths of the Wailing peaks. Bern and Halkbard are two of the rare cities that not only make enough to feed themselves but also to export and trade not only within Bresklin but to other kingdoms.

Three Rivers was for many years the northern defensive outpost of the kingdom, but since the conquering of Aunaar, it has been seeking a new identity. King Ragrarn Thembooke moved his court to Aunaar only a few years ago, leaving his second Jarl Deepwater in charge of the ancestral clan holds in Lakeholt. The Deepwater clan is still feared and respected throughout Bresklin and controls almost anything that happens throughout Deep Lake as well as the eastern portions of the Bay of Wyrms. Years of close work and many generations of association between the Deepwater clan and the sea elves of the Seaspirit and Wyrmwhispers have resulted in the Deepwater clan being more than half half-elven.

While many dwarves are living throughout the mountains and hills of Bresklin they aren’t as unified as the great cities of Longpine and Nornall. The Wailing Peaks are, however, the home of both the city of High Air the cultural and historical home of the Goliaths, and Mynydd Uchel the great home of the Grey Elves. These cultural centers give Bresklin's mountains a rich and potent magic.

Major Geographical Features:

Deep Lake:

The largest of all the lakes in Jotunar, Deep Lake certainly earns its name. It is a brackish lake made from both the Swiftwater and Meltflow rivers. It is believed that a giant piece of sky iron fell long ago and left the enormous crater that has become Deep Lake. Some believe that there is a whole nation of children of Loki at the dark bottom, others believe the palace of Aegir and Ran can be found at the bottom of the lake by those brave enough to delve it. What is known is that the lake and its islands are treacherous for those unfamiliar with its waters.

Wailing Peaks:

The Wailing Peaks, named for the numerous tunnels and caves that dot the peaks, causing a moaning or wailing to emit from them whenever the wind blows, are a dreary and ancient mountain range. Not as ore or mineral-rich as the Oreveins or Glitterpeaks, these mountains are inhabited more by Goliaths and Grey Elves than dwarves. Both make their ancestral homes there. Some believe that the wailing is not the wind but the cries of the dishonored dead crying in Niffleheim. Still, others believe that the sounds are whispers or calls from the gods or prophecies of the future. The caves are also home to many clans and peoples banished from or unable to live in society, making them an unsafe place for those who do not know the guarded and patrolled routes.

Swiftwater:

To some, the Swiftwater is just an extension of the Deepwater farther north. Those who live on its banks, however, know that the river has its unique soul and energy. It certainly lives up to its name, being relatively narrow and flanked by cliffs on both sides making for a fast-flowing and often treacherous waterway, especially in the early spring and late summer. It is too fast-flowing, much of the year for all but the strongest fish, and it is not easily navigable against the current. Most prefer to go up the coast. The clans that do make their living along its banks are regarded as some of the boldest and bravest river travelers in Jotunar. Its swift and dangerous current has claimed many a ship, most still waiting to be rediscovered on its bottom.

Swordbreaker Island:

There are hundreds of islands throughout Jotunar but none as large or fought over as Swordbreaker. It is home to two clans, a clan of Sea Elves called the Wyrm Callers, who have lived there since before Odin's great ritual, and a clan of humans called the Wyrmslayers who are relative newcomers. The Wyrmcallers pledge their allegiances to Lakeholt and have always had a strong relationship with the city, whereas the Wyrmslayers are Thane's of Brekt. This has made the island, and indeed all of the Bay of Wyrms contested territory for the past fifty years.

Important Sites:

Aunaar:

The northernmost of the human cities in Bresklin, Aunaar is a city that has been under siege, or at war for most of its existence. Sitting on the border of the two eastern kingdoms and in an area called the Battle Plains for a reason, this city is a fortress first and a cultural center second. Despite that, it is the main meeting place for the humans, grey elves, and goliaths that call the Wailing Peaks and its surrounding area their home. Aunaar is now the capital city of Bresklin and has brought the city some much-deserved prestige. It is a well-fortified city, with both the goliaths and the grey elves lending to its defenses. Some believe that Aunaar is cursed for no one clan to control it for more than ten years.

Mynydd Uchel:

The "city of stars", "city of twinkling" and "the court of prophecies", are all titles for the home of the Grey Elves. Situated on top of, and within Mount Noswsyl, Mynydd Uchel has been the home of the high court of the Grey Elves for as long as anyone remembers. It is made out of a stone only found in the Wailing Peaks called Disglerio which is believed to have magic powers. The stone is dark grey with flakes of shining minerals throughout it that twinkle like stars. The whole city shimmers in the day and twinkles in the night. From this lofty perch, the Grey Elves watch the stars and track the movement of all the celestial bodies, and use those to cast predictions and divinations. They keep all these prophecies and predictions stored in great halls within the mountain called the House of Prophecy. Many visitors travel to Mynydd Uchel seeking answers to questions great and small. These pilgrims often find the city strange. Beautiful, certainly, but also eerie and often unsettling. This doesn’t seem to affect those who make the city their home.

High Air:

In the northern reaches of the Wailing Peaks, atop the highest mountain and in the thinnest air is the great and ancient home of the goliaths, High Air. This city, more a collection of stone longhouses surrounded by a wall of bones, is the largest Goliath city in Jotunar, possibly in all of Arnareth. A full six clans make their homes within its walls and decisions made here affect all goliaths throughout Jotunar. It is a rare occurrence but on occasion a clan can be removed from High Air, and another put in its place. High Air is said to be a truly mystical place where one’s soul can with practice travel across the nine realms. There are shamans there who teach and hone this practice. For 'low-landers' as the goliaths call them, who can manage to breathe that high up and gain the admiration of the Council of Six are allowed to study this art.

Lakeholt:

This city, both a militarily significant stronghold, as well as a trading hub Lakeholt, has long been an important city throughout the history of Jotunar. It has been the capital and home to the rulers of the eastern arm of Jotunar for generations, until recently when King Thembooke moved his court up to Aunaar. The city is now under the control of his Jarl, Jarl Deepwater. She is an ambitious raider and fighter who sees this as an opportunity to expand her control, and maybe make a run at the throne herself. Lakeholt has many traditions, almost all of which center around Deepwater Lake, and many a brave person have made a name for themselves by delving into its dark, cold depths. The trade of trinkets, treasures, and magics brought out of the lake has made the city powerful and wealthy with a greater than average presence of peoples from the continent.

Halkbard and Bern:

Halkbard and Bern are sister cities on either side of the Swift Water. One of the few points where the mighty river isn’t flowing between towering cliffs these cities sit on the floodplains of the river giving them incredibly rich soil. Though the cities are distinct they share a history and identity that has left them very close with their ruling clans even connected by marriage. These cities are mostly known for their farming and food production, but they also produce some of the best halfling archers in the land. These clans hone their skills in protecting their livestock and crops from the various terrors and threats that plague the island. Over the generations this has created a culture of exceptional archers and some even ply their trade as mercenaries and raiders.

Three Rivers:

This fortress guards the delta that is the highway to the heart of Bresklin. It is best known for the great chain that sits across the river. Some say that it was forged by the dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri and is said to be unbreakable. Most of the time the chain is left at the bottom of the river, but in times of strife it can be raised making the river unpassable. The Jarl of Three Rivers recruits heavily from halflings of Halkbard and Bern to strengthen its defenses and dissuade any would be raiders for fear of a hail of accurate and terrifying arrows.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom