Valklema, The Hyperborean North

Sten watched in wonder, a smile growing across his face, as his wife, Revna, stalked forward through the snow. Her white Thunderwolf pelt sat about her shoulders, painting her into the snowy landscape, hiding her from the sweeping gaze of the huge Monolith Elk. Today, Revna and Sten proved their value as Skaldir hunters, today they earn a seat around the Hunter's table back at the longhouse. Sten readied his horn longbow, sighting in on the huge beast, and waited for Revna to make her move. Already she had begun to raise her spear, grasping it in two hands, preparing to strike. Suddenly, the Elk lifted its head, eyes, and ears alert, before bolting off in huge bounding strides. Revna stood still for a moment before rising to her full height and jamming the butt of her spear into the earth with a grunt of frustration.
"Odin's left eye, what went wrong, Sten?" Revna queried, a hint of anger peppering her voice.
"Couldn't say, Revna, but I don't love ya any less for it," Sten replied with a chuckle as he lowered the bow, string slackening and arrow dropping towards the ground.
Revna raised her eyebrows at him before shaking her head, a bemused smile spreading across her face. "Well, get down here love, we've got to follow the tracks while they're still fresh."
Sten frowned, raising a hand to his forehead to shield his eyes as he squinted up towards the sun. It was getting too late, soon the dangerous predators of the mountain slopes would awaken and two hunters weren't more than a mere snack to them. To make matters worse, a light snow had begun to fall and Sten could see dark clouds approaching. The blizzard tonight would be dangerous. "Revna, love, perhaps we'd best turn back. Erik and Torsten will be wanting to see their mother."
Revna scoffed. "Since when have Erik and Torsten ever wanted to leave their grandparent's house any sooner than they needed to. Your mother's probably spoiling them rotten."
Sten conceded with a shrug before glancing back up at the sky. It could be a HelStorm brewing, and the Allfather wouldn't allow passage to Valhalla for a couple of Hunters too foolish to see the signs and return home. "Revna . . ." Sten said, letting her name trail off with the pleading question.
Revna glanced at the way the Monolith Elk had gone and then glanced back at Sten. "We need to go after it. This is our last chance to put some food away before the freeze sets in. You know we don't have enough to make it through."
Sten thought for several moments before conceding with a nod. "All right, one more hour of hunting, but if we don't find the Elk we turn back."
Revna considered for several seconds, no doubt thinking stubborn thoughts, before nodding in agreement and turning to follow the Elk's tracks.
Half an hour later, Revna and Sten stumbled upon a clearing covered with fresh snow and sprinkled with Frost Lillies, shining a sky blue against the last vestiges of sunlight. In the center of the clearing stood the Monolith Elk, huge and imposing. Revna and Sten nodded to each other and began the hunt once more, falling into their usual step and dance. Revna slunk forward and Sten found himself a high vantage point before nocking his bow and drawing the string to his cheek, sighting down the gray arrow shaft into the swirling breeze. Revna continued forward, hood up and white cloak flapping in the wind. Suddenly, she stopped. Sten frowned to himself, watching as she stood still as stone, her head swiveling slowly from side to side. Sten caught a glimpse of her eyes, fear permeated them and Sten watched as the Monolith Elk raised its head suddenly, eyes wide and ears raising, before a huge Shale Wurm burst from the ground, taking the Elk up in its huge stony jaws. Revna turned, sprinting back towards Sten as the ground continued to rumble. A second Shale Wurm exploded from the earth behind Revna, looming into the air above her, poised to strike like a scorpion's tail. Sten lifted the bow, sighting on the beast's eye, before firing a desperate shot towards it as it streaked forward, maw agape, towards Revna's running form.

Geography

Valklema is a land of sprawling steppe lands and vast mountain ranges. Here, the frozen fury of the North reigns supreme and a constant winter known as Hel's Grip lay across the land North of The HoarHammer peaks. While Valklema might be cold year-round, refusing the growth of most natural Southern vegetation, it has a beauty of its own found inherently in the things which refuse to die here. Various flora and fauna have adapted to this land, making an inhospitable land their home. Three long rivers run between the Southern HoarHammer Peaks and the Northern IronSnap Mountains, they are the Greater and Lesser Ormr and the Tiu Greip rivers. These rivers frame the Icy March, the vast steppe lands that compose most of Valklema, and run almost completely up to the Valhol Sea. Finally, along the easternmost range of the country, a range of hills called The Draug Hills lay, adorning the eastern reaches of Valklema.

Fauna & Flora

Snow Lillies: Beautiful fauna that grow a silvery grey, reflecting the moonlight like stars on the ground at night.

Hel's Tears: A berry bush that grows transparent blue berries, like tears in appearance, that can be a deadly curse or powerful boon depending on their use.

Shale Wurm: Huge monolithic wurm covered in thick plates of shale that hunt the slopes of the mountains and depths of the valleys.

Monolith Elk: Massive elks that, if killed, can feed an entire village through the longest and coldest months of Hel's Grip. 

Baldur's Root: A root that looks strangely like a hand, grows beneath a small plant. The roots are bitter and make some of the best strong drinks Valklema has to offer.

Lindwurm: Huge serpents that stalk the Valhol Sea, threatening to sink and swallow any ship unfortunate enough to encounter one without drengr aboard.

Draugr: Undead warriors of unnatural strength, raised from their sleep by thieves in their barrows. Most often found in the Draug Hills though they can wander far once awoken.

Jotun: Ice Trolls of the North. Particularly dangerous to face without fire or capable warriors. Jotun are also wondrous architects, crafting many of the ancient cities and ruins that adorn the HoarHammer Peaks.

Dragons:  Many of the Northern Dragons were once men, transformed by great acts of greed while afflicted by Dragon Sickness.

- Vörðr: Guardian spirits bound to particularly potent souls. Sometimes, these spirits can become corrupted, instead dragging their assigned soul down dark paths.

Thunder Wolves: Huge dire wolves blessed with the strength and fury of Fenrir. Their howls are said to call thunder and lightning.

Catoblepas: Huge cow-like monsters that petrify and eat their enemies. They wander the wet marshes and bogs that surround the Greater and Lesser Ormr.

History

Valklema itself is separated into three countries that often war with one another, at times uniting against common threats. These countries are Skaldir, Týnaway, and Osland. Skaldir has maintained the strongest level of contact with the Southern kingdoms following the collapse of the Ravessian empire while Týnaway remains frostily aloof and Osland consolidates its own strength due to a government rife with personal pursuit and political development.

Type

Tundra

Owner/Ruler

King Wulfric "The Thunderer"

Inhabiting Species

• The Shellback Tortles
• The Titanborn