Estenfird
As one of the newest Northlander colonies, Estenfird is a wild land on The Frontier of what the Northlanders call civilization (and considering that the rest of the world thinks of the Northlands as The Frontier, that is saying something about its ruggedness). Less a nation than a quarrelsome collection of independent-minded settlers, Estenfird does not have a køenig or jarl, leaving the local Things and the Althing of Estenfird as the only semblance of government in the region. Estenfird ranges from the tip of the Skagerrok Peninsula northwest along the Ice River as far as Nieuburg. Few settlers have pushed beyond Nieuburg, as the climate becomes far too cold for agriculture and the Nûk, although not violent, have made it known that they do not appreciate people moving into their lands. Many brave words are said in the halls of Estenfird about pushing the Nûk out of the way, but so far none have dared to confront that enigmatic and mystical race.
The average Estenfirder is a rugged and forthright person inured to hard work and dangerous environments. They are often stern and taciturn, slow to speak, but quick to act. Few Estenfirders go a-viking, as they have plenty of adventure at home. In the southern portions of the region, along the many rivers and on the coast, agriculture takes precedence, and many Estenfirders are farmers or herdsmen. The rivers of Estenfird are rich in fish, but the surrounding waters yield only a poor catch, making this region one of the few that sees little in the way of maritime activity. Inland and in the mountains, fur trapping and logging are the primary industries. In the spring, fur trappers and hunters come down the rivers and gather at Three Rivers and Nieuburg to sell their season’s catch. In the fall, the loggers come down in huge flotillas of cut timber to sell lumber to merchants from throughout the Northlands and beyond.
Estenfirders are notorious for their independent ways, a factor that causes worry in the more dictatorial jarls of other regions. There are no jarls in Estenfird, and to even suggest such a thing is to invite harsh words if not a duel. Many who come to the region do so to escape crimes or feuds or to live as free men and women beholden to and reliant upon none. The local Things meet once a year, drawing in people from the scattered farmsteads and logging camps. The Things of Estenfird are unique in that they do not have a landholding requirement — there is so much unclaimed land in the region that all a person has to do to become a landholder is to point at a place and say “mine.” Instead, to speak or vote in the Thing, a person must be free and have the sponsorship of anyone who has spoken before at that Thing. The Althing of Estenfird works in a similar way, only the requirement is that the sponsor has already spoken or voted in the regional Althing.
In addition to Three Rivers, Nieuburg, Risør, Úlmer, and Vöss, a number of permanent settlements are scattered throughout Estenfird. These include the seasonal whaling village of Bräcke on the eastern shore of the Skagerrok Peninsula; the settlement of Hörby, a logging camp established by a native of Storstrøm Vale; the village of Ørsa in the High Vale; and the village of Struer, which sits on the edge of the large pool of water in the Savage River beneath a steep waterfall known as the Maiden’s Tears.
Estenfird suffers from several threats, in addition to the long cold winters and general ruggedness of the land. Giants are common in the Wyrm Fang Mountains, as are drakes and wyverns. The general lawlessness of the region promotes independence, but also encourages attacks by outlaws, bandits, and even Northlanders from other regions a-viking along the shore. The gravest threat to date has been the growth of the Beast Cult of Shibauroth, foul worshippers of a demon-god dedicated to bestial violence and mayhem.
Region
Estenfird
Controlled Territories
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