Igersve
The current ruler of Igersve is Oberjarl Astrid Frakke.
Astrid is a just Oberjarl, which to the Igers means she mostly keeps to her own city of Vennesland and doesn't create too many new laws. She has been Oberjarl for 3 years now, so she has 2 years left until the next moot.
A moot is a gathering of the elders of each settlement in Igersve, where they decide which of the Jarls is right to serve as Oberjarl for the coming 5 years. No Jarl is allowed to hold the Oberjarl post for more than 5 years, but they are eligible for re-election as local Jarl if they so wish.
The country of Igersve uses the standard Vohgan calendar:
Structure
The Oberjarl is the leader of Igersve, elected every 5 years by a moot.
Jarls are the local leaders, every town has one. These Jarls are also elected every 5 years, by the ship captains or other military leaders.
Every settlement also has an Elder. This person is the wisest, as voted by the whole population when the previous Elder passes away.
A moot is formed by all the Elders of Igersve.
Culture
The society is built upon the following principles:
Individual rights and freedom of action
Raw strength and personal prowess
Filial devotion to family and parents
Public Agenda
Oberjarl Astrid Frakke has expressed no desires to alter the trajectory of the country. The raids will continue as normal, and, as long as no need is posed, no new laws will be put into place.
Assets
Igersve's greatest might lies in its navy. All the individual raider captain have a crew of hardened warriors, who would die for their country and their freedom. This has kept the country safe for most of its existence.
Igersve's highlands are also rich in iron ore. They combine this with the bones of animals, originally to have the spirit of the animal in their weapon. Later it was pointed out that this form of smithing created the first steel.
History
Founding of Igersve
For a few hundred years, all along the coast of Geisagadr human settlements were founded. Following in the footsteps of the Goblinoids before them, these settlements were militaristic. Frequent raids happened between them. It is not entirely sure what caused the following events, but the folktale tells us this: In 2700 ADW, a great leader stood up in Vennesland, chosen by Kord. Her name was Ingvild Frakke. She took to the seas and instead of raiding her neighbours, she sat down with them and explained her plan. Her plan was to unite the humans of Geisagadr and instead of fighting each other, protect one another. After much debate, she convinced the other settlements and one by one they joined her. Of course, they would still rule themselves, as long as they promised to protect the realm if called upon.The Elder Uprising
In 2864, King Oskar Frakke had been ruling the country for 11 years. During his rule, the country had fallen into disarray and poverty. Its borders were threatened and the citizens felt unsafe. That's when the Elders decided to take action. They stirred up their settlements, including their Jarls, and took Ingvild Keep with relative ease. Then and there, they elected the first Oberjarl: Renate Lisedottir, and let her take the honorary name Frakke.Establishing of the Stormsingers
2872 marks the first mention of clerics of Kord called the Stormsingers. This order of devoted to the Stormlord has been influential in Igersve ever since.Outbreak of the Frozen Scourge
The great plague that scoured the whole of Vohga first reached Igersve in 3016. Frozen Scourge's symptoms mimic that of frostbite, meaning it might have gone undetected for a long time.Founding of Ardvik
In 3155 ADW raiders returning to Geisagadr came upon the island of Drapfold. They decided that the island was nice enough to stay on year-round and settled the town of Ardvik. Soon they found out that the Tairnadal had already claimed the island, leading to on-going skirmishes since.The Black Revolt
The Black Revolt was an uprising of followers of the Raven Queen, who tried to take control of the country. Originating from Fort Holmstein in 3243, this religious revolt would last for several months until a coalition of ship captains and Stormsingers could quell it. Fort Holmstein has been forbidden as a reminder to those who would try again.Demography and Population
All of Igersve together has a population of almost 3 million. Most of these people are concentrated along its coastlines.
The largest city is Vennesland, with a population of a little over 100 thousand.
Approximately 70% of the country's population is human. The other 30% varies much per area.
Territories
Igersve possesses most of the lowlands of Geisagadr. It has also settled a few other islands, namely Drapfold.
Its lands on Geisagadr are uncontested. The humans have held them for many centuries.
The Tairnadal also count the island of Drapfold among their territory and it is home to many skirmishes.
Digrheimr is currently home to mining operations run by Igers.
Military
Igersve does not have a large standing military. The only permanent military presence is found in Vennesland, the Shields of Frakke, numbering at around a thousand strong. Other than that each settlement has a militia, named the Iron Helmets. Their numbers vary per settlement. They're under the local Jarl's leadership.
The Oberjarl can call upon all ship captains to protect their country. The amount of ships registered is a well-kept secret, to avoid outside forces gauging the strength of Igersve. This has not happened in recent memory, but is an important deterrent against foreign invasion.
Technological Level
Igersve does not have a particularly high level of technological advancement.
The only thing the nation is the most advanced in is their ship building capabilities. The trees on Drapfold have only increased that advantage, and the ships built from that wood are practically indestructible.
Religion
The worship of Kord is the most prominent in Igersve. The God of Strength and Storms is seen as their forefather and his tenets align perfectly with those of their culture.
Other Gods with large followings in the country include Bahamut, Melora, and Sehanine.
Worship of the Raven Queen is acceptable, but large gatherings of her followers are not allowed.
Worship of the evil Gods is illegal. This has not stopped a few raider crews from making offerings to Bane.
Foreign Relations
Igersve does not have strong ties with any of the coastal countries in Vohga, due to its raiding lifestyle. In fact, flying an Igers flag could see you in danger in many waters.
Agriculture & Industry
Igersve is by no means an agricultural powerhouse. They produce enough to survive on their own, but food stores is one of the main things they target in their raids. Most of the agriculture has to be supported by the local druidic tradition. The nation does have access to a large amount of untamed nature and therefore can hunt all it wants without threat of depleting the local animal populations. Whaling and fishing are also common means of living.
The country's industry is geared towards two main things: ships and arms. Though not as refined as weapons that the Dwarves would make, Iger weapons are sturdy and they get the job done. The ships coming from the wharfs in Igersve are the sturdiest and fastest in all of Vohga.
Trade & Transport
Because of the fearsome raiders it possesses, Igersve has also become the most important trade partner in Vohga. Since it won't attack its own ships or those of allies it has trade agreements with, many countries choose to trade with the nation even though the raiders threaten their coasts.
Igersve uses its position of power in these negotiations to gain favourable prices, making it a fantastic place for merchants to settle. The bigger cities in the nation have gained a considerable merchant class.
Education
Most people in rural villages only learn their professions from other locals. Literacy is something that is valued among the population, so if parents find the time and are literate themselves, they will tutor their children.
In cities, literacy is much higher. Children also have more opportunities to go into different professions, and there are even some schools for the richer people.
Schools are not necessarily expensive, but not having your child bring in a little extra through their apprenticeship is hard on some.
Infrastructure
Harbours are the most important infrastructure in Igersve, and it shows. They are well-maintained and even somewhat decorated beyond the purely functional.
Sewage systems are present in the bigger cities, since the Frozen Scourge.
The city of Vennesland even has an aqueduct from the mountains to bring in fresh water over the swamp it sits next to.
The road networks are lacklustre, since the nation does not rely on them too much. Only the cities in the mountains, Elholm and Norrberg, have a dedicated road network with pavement.
Every settlement has at least a few defensive structures. Most harbours in the nation are fortified with watchtowers, and most of the Jarls have protected their Jarl's District with walls to protect themselves and their population in times of need.
Stormens Styrke // The Strength of the Storm
Founding Date
Around 2700
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Igers
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Meritocracy
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Traditional
Major Exports
High quality ships
Furs
Weapons
Whale oil
Major Imports
Luxury foods and drink
Rare metals
Cloth (cotton, finer materials)
Apart from these necessary imports, Igersve's martial culture has also left it with a lack of arcane magicians. They are known to offer significant amounts of money to casters willing to serve the country.
Legislative Body
The Oberjarl is responsible for writing new laws and rules, though it is often an unpopular decision to do so.
Judicial Body
The Jarl of a settlement acts as its judge.
Executive Body
Every settlement has a paid militia, called the Iron Helmets. They serve to keep the peace.
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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