Larvik (ˈlar.vɪk)
"I don't advise trying to dock in Larvik at night. Quarff Bay is tricky if you're not familiar, and then there's the sea-trows to worry about too."
Larvik is the largest town on the island of Zhetland, and the most important port in the Kattaland islands. It is located on Quarff Bay on the island's eastern coast. Quarff Bay has a narrow and crooked entrance, and ships who wish to enter are required to hire a Larvik pilot to bring them into port. Most of the ships who dock at Larvik are either local fishing vessels or merchants from Ynys or the Norður Islands, looking to purchase the woolen goods Kattaland is known for.
One common danger the residents of Larvik have to cope with is the occasional encroachment of a Sea-Trow. These monsters live in the seas nearby, and will sometimes following fishing vessels back to port. When this happens, they can devour an entire day's catch, and rip apart anyone who attempts to intervene. They also will return to the site of their feast night after night, eating everything they can find, including people. The citizens of Larvik will typically allow the Sea-Trow to eat its fill the first night, and then set an ambush for it when it returns the night after. While this is a dangerous choice and the beast frequently kills several people before the end, it has proven the most effective way to keep a single Sea-Trow from causing a famine.
Demographics
The population of Larvik is mostly Kattalander, an ethnic group descended from both Albidosi and Þiodic peoples. There are also a small Dòbhran bachelor group which spends winters in the town. There has been occasional trouble between the Selkie bachelors and the young men of Larvik, but nothing has escalated beyond a bar brawl so far.
Government
Larvik is governed by the Zhetland council, a group of elders from the communities on the island. Joining the council is straightforward - anyone who lives on Zhetland and is willing to attend a council meeting is considered a member, unless the other members vote to expel them. Depending on the topic of discussion, the council can expand to be nearly the entire adult population sometimes. Officially, the council is convened and led by a royal governor appointed by the ruler of Cait, but Queen Isla has chosen not to fill the position, and to allow the Kattalanders to self-govern instead.
Geographic Details
Location: Zhetland, Northeastern RegionLatitude: 62.31 degrees North
Longitude: 77.02 degrees East
Routes
Water- Selkyre: Sail around Zhetland, and then southwest to the Arcaibh Islands, around the island of Motha. Look for Hoycandle Lighthouse at the mouth of Deas Bay, and then sail past to dock at Selkyre. ~300 miles.
Related Articles
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
I wonder if they'll ever find a way to deal with the sea-trow that doesn't end in the death of one or more people. Also, I feel as though I can smell this place. Salt and wet wood and fish.
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
When they can, they hire adventurers who have more skill at monster-fighting. But when it's a bunch of fishermen against an aquatic version of Grendel - well, death happens.