Eldrbard ("El-duhr-bard" / [ɛldɵrbɐɾd])

Notable Locations

Eldrbard is far from the largest single nation in the world, but it spans an impressive range of climates, from the temperate, chilly but fertile lowlands to the tundras and fold-mountain-highlands of the north. Eldrbard often seems less like a unified country, and more a collection of cities and settlements, as, for example, southern Eldrfólk generally have more in common with their nearest foreign neighbours than with the northern clans.

Hvalstadr

("H-v-ah-l-stad-ur") / [hvɐlstadɵr]

A City of Water

The northernmost city in Eldrbard, widely regarded to be the largest port city north of the Lundarren Circle. It's used as a rest stop for ships travelling further north or even between continents. It is also among the largest fishing ports in the world. However, whaling in Elderbardian waters is forbidden- whales are believed to be shooting stars given mortal form, and a symbol of good luck or divine messages; killing a whale is taboo.

A City of Fire

Hvalstadr is a mixture of stone and timber buildings. Most stone is local igneous rock, and usually dark in colour. The majority of buildings feature thatched roofs, as it provides natural insulation. A sophisticated system of pipes, boilers, tanks and vents- arguably the most complex mechanical engineering in Eldrbard- is used to heat the city, with a mixture of warm water and warm air. As well as this, the vast majority of houses feature open hearths, thick blankets and furs, as poorer areas often do not have access to the geothermal heating.

A City of Ice

During the winter, the intense cold causes the sea to freeze on the coast of Hvalstadr. During this time, a mixture of engineering and magic is used to keep the two largest ports clear of ice. The rest of the ice remains long into the spring, and becomes the foundation for market stalls, temporary shacks, skating and other ice sports.

The House of Ember

The House of Ember is the largest temple to Lorokan in Eldrbard. It lies on the slopes of Kirkfjall, and is built primarily of basalt, with channels carefully built and maintained by the druids and clerics who reside there, in order to funnel lava around and through the temple while leaving it unharmed. Kirkfjall, one of the largest volcanoes in Eldrbard, has been dormant for centuries and has been speculated to be extinct.

Geography

Volcanoes

Eldrbard is known for, and indeed takes its name from the "Crown of Fire"- a relatively long range of shield volcanoes that lies within the country. These volcanoes are a major part of the mythology and culture of the area, and are a source of great national pride. Residents don't fear the volcanoes, which erupt very gently on average. Disasters have occurred, but over time the country has gathered magical and technological means of mitigating the possibility of great damage in the future as a result of a volcanic eruption. Over time, many of the volcanoes in the Crown have gradually fallen dormant or extinct, and only a few are still recognised as active.

Igneous rock formations, many of which are millenia old, are common in some regions of Eldrbard, including columnar basalt and black sand, as well as of course the volcano slopes themselves.

Geothermal Activity

Parts of Eldrbard span the border between two tectonic plates, which move apart a few centimetres every year. This area, as well as the Crown of Fire, features many hot springs and geysers, which some nearby settlements use for heating.

Natural Hazards

As well as having formed the volcanoes over the millenia, this fault line means that some parts of Eldrbard receive regular small earthquakes, with stronger earthquakes happening every few hundred years.
The northernmost parts of Eldrbard experience particularly extreme storms or blizzards.
Volcanic eruptions happen frequently from the more active volcanoes, with more violent eruptions only occurring rarely.

Ice and Snow

Much of Eldrbard is covered with permafrost or glaciers. During the winter, the coastal city of Hvalstadr can increase in size by as much as 20% as the citizens expand outwards onto the ice of the frozen coast, setting up market stalls, temporary shacks and tents. Skating, curling, sledging and other ice sports are popular during this time, and there are large skating competitions every year.

The Lowlands and The Chalk

Eldrbard spans a fairly large distance, though much of the territory is uninhabited, or at least features no permanent settlements. The southern lands are far less mountainous, and instead home to lush, fertile green hills, waterfalls, streams, fjords and valleys, making them much more suitable for settling than the north. The lowlands produce much of Eldrbard's agricultural output, including livestock and crops.

Economy and Trade

Currency

As well as official currency, bartering and trading is very common in Eldrbard.
Sums too large to be easily paid in sovereigns are instead paid in gold bullion, jewels, silks or other precious materials. The nobility of Eldrbard use a bartering system equally if not more frequently than the poorer classes.

Currency Name	Abbreviation	Physical Description	Eldrbard Value	Equivalent Value
Sovereign	sv	A round gold coin depicting a whale.	1sr 2g	25 gold
Solar	sr	An eight-sided gold coin depicting a sun with eight rays.	8g	20 gold
Gold	g	A square gold coin depicting a wolf's head.	2cr 5cs	2 gold 5 silver
Crown	cr	A twelve-sided silver coin depicting half a sun and half a moon.	10cs	1 gold
Crylr	cy	A round-cornered square silver coin with no hole through the centre.	4cs	4 silver
Crescent	cs	A round silver coin depicting a crescent moon. Equal to one-tenth of a solar.	10s	1 silver
Scale	s	Small, round-cornered square coins with a hole through the centre.	1s	1 copper

Agriculture

Eldrbard produces mostly hay, grain, barley, oats, and root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and beets. Most of the fruit grown in Eldrbard is domesticated varieties of wild berries. Apples, pears and plums are occasionally grown in the lowlands too, but most other fruits, vegetables and cereals are imported in from other nations.
Some varieties of timber, particularly softwood (coniferous) trees, are grown across Eldrbard, tended carefully by resident druids and rangers. This wood is known to be quite expensive, but is widely regarded on the global market to be worth the price, and has a reputation for high quality.
Dairy cattle and goats are common in Eldrbard, with many families owning one or more goats, and shepherind is a common occupation in the lowlands. Beef cattle and pigs are not common in Eldrbard, though they are not unknown, especially in the lowlands. Poultry including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, partridges, geese and even swans are farmed or hunted to a greater or lesser degree, either to feed Eldrbard or to be exported.

Exports

• Fish
• Seafood
• Animal Pelts & Furs
• Timber
• Wool
• Berries & Wild Fruit
• Sailing Ships
• Air/Sky Ships
• Refined Metal
• Igenous Gemstones

Imports

• Livestock Feed
• Cereals & Grain
• Fruit & Vegetables
• Medicine
• Meat
• Paper, parchment, books
• Silk, velvet, linen etc
• Mechanical Parts
• Raw Metal & Metal Ore
• Coffee, Tea, Cocoa

Endonym

Eldrbard, Eldrfólk

Common Exonym

Elderbard, Elderbardian/Elderbardean

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Hvalstadr

Alternative Names

"Fire-Point", Elderbard

Demonym

Elderbardian/Elderbardean

Government System

Monarchy, Constitutional

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Economic System

Traditional

Currency

Mixture of coinage and barter. Cheques and paper money are traditionally not trusted in Eldrbard.

Legislative Body

The Aphelion Council

Judicial Body

The High Tynn

Executive Body

The Emberguard