Skarsind

Regions of Skarsind

Overview

Skarsind is a place of alpine slopes and valleys, pine forests and rising mists, set in what's known as the Great Vale, a bowl of mountains that holds both Skarsind and the forest of Hercynia. Gildenheim in the east was the second largest settlement in Wintermark. Founded by Gilda Heimssdottir, it stands over the entrance to a frozen underworld cavern into the walls of which are carvings in a mysterious alphabet that are said to be the source of the magical runes used throughout Wintermark.

The folk of Skarsind were particularly noted for their fine rune work and many of the best artisans and runesmiths traveled here to study their craft. There were troubles with tribes of yetis that live in the valleys above Skarsind, but most of the danger here came from the Thule barbarians living on the far side of the mountains in Otkodov.

Skarsind has always been riven by conflict; a saga called Lament for Skarsind is popular in some parts of Wintermark.

Recent History

In 373YE a savage blizzard swept down out of the mountains. The blizzard raged for three days, serving as magical cover for an army of Thule barbarians who marched beneath it. They attacked Gildenheim with the assistance of a dozen enslaved Artok, smashing great holes in the defenses. The blizzard continued for another four days, and the orcs used the advantage it gave them to ravage many of the low-lying halls. The Winterfolk who were not killed in the attacks were taken as slaves. Some small pockets of resistance remained - mostly based around the mines and halls to the north-east - but the situation looked increasingly desperate. Following the initial attack the weather remained unnaturally harsh, with snow falling for nine months out of each year, and supplies and the will to fight both dwindled. There was little doubt that the Thule were employing powerful magic to reinforce their position - including the use of powerful Winter rituals to reinforce their armies with hordes of walking corpses created from battlefield dead - packs of which still represent a recurring nuisance to those attempting to rebuild the territory.

Throughout 377YE, Imperial forces pushed into Skarsind. In the Autumn, they succeeded in driving the Thule forces out of the territory and reclaimed it for the Empire. The inhabitants are beginning to pick up the pieces of their lives, and the damage done by the rapacious barbarians is slowly being assessed. The Military Council is already looking at the allocation of certain key resources that may help encourage quick regeneration of the territory in the wake of their victory.

Major Features

Gildenheim

At it's height, Gildenheim was the second largest settlement in Wintermark. Founded by Gilda Heimssdottir, it stands over the entrance to a frozen underworld cavern into the walls of which are carvings in a mysterious alphabet that are said to be the source of the magical runes used throughout Wintermark and the wider Empire. In 373, it fell to the barbarians after a long siege. Inge Suvvisdottir, most recent of the bearers of the crown of Wintermark, fell with it. Despite the demands of Wintermark senators for resolute and overwhelming response, Emperor Walter dithered and did nothing to support the defense. The town itself has been devastated by barbarian occupation, although some optimistic explorers believe there is still a chance that the crown of wily king Ulmo may still be recovered.

One of the few structures still standing in Gildenheim is the Hall of the White Ravens. Many survivors see this white granite hall as a symbol that Gildenheim can rise from the ashes of the occupation and reach even greater heights than before. Survivors of the Thule oppression still come here to seek spiritual guidance; the hall just needs a stormcrow to offer solace to the people of Skarsind - and perhaps take on the arduous task of rebuilding Gildenheim in the process.

The Brilliant Shore

When the sun reflects on the workings on the cliff faces near Gildenheim, the reflection is blinding and it is this phenomenon that gives the white granite quarry it's name. The Brilliant Shore was one of the first areas seized by the Thule when Skarsind fell, and reclaimed at the turning point of the recent war.

The Brilliant Shore is a Bourse position which produces white granite. Under Imperial control this Bourse position produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season. At the summit of Winter 377, when the status of the seat was debated; the Imperial Senate declared it a National resource in the control of Wintermark but the Imperial Synod exercised their veto to make the Senate reconsider. The position was confirmed as a National resource in the control of Wintermark at the Spring summit of 378.

The Will of the Wintermark ("Hengest's House")

A new fortification, The Will of the Wintermark, was constructed in Skogei Glens to protect Skarsind from further Thule aggression. Built on a low hill surrounded by a fence of sharpened stakes, the sturdy walls of the Will of Wintermark are reinforced by white granite. The tall central keep is flanked by two shorter towers and topped with a great beacon to warn of invaders. A small village has already sprung up outside the walls.

Work actually began on the Will of the Wintermark during the campaign to drive the barbarians out, and was completed in early Autumn 378YE. The name is already being shortened to The Will in some places - but the local people have taken to calling it Hengest's House or Hengesthal in praise of the Senator for Hahnmark who is widely regarded to have been the driving force behind the project. (OOC Note:The Will is a level one fortification)

Regions

Crow’s Ridge

The hills of Crow Ridge are the location of the craggy stronghold of Crow's Keep, a lookout tower and beacon. Has not been heard from since the barbarian invasion, but hope still live that it holds. It was high and well-fortified, with deep wells, they say; its stormcrows crafty and wise in war.
Keyword: Hills

Estermark

The forested hills of Estermark are the site of two (formerly) wealthy settlements - Krysse and Gulhule. These towns appear to have fared better than Gildenheim at the hands of the barbarians. Winterfolk who managed to escape slavery, or who were left behind during the Thule retreat, are already beginning to rebuild their homes and their lives.

After it's fall in 371YE, Krysse became a bastion for the barbarians protecting their eastern flank. In happier days it had close ties with nearby Mormyk in the Varushkan territory of Miekarova and was a local centre of trade between the two nations, hosting a market at each turning of the seasons. Now that Skarsind has been regained, it remains to be seen if the market can be restarted.

Gulhule is a valley settlement known for its runesmiths and well-crafted weaponry taken by the barbarians in 372YE. Empress Britta was instrumental in buying sufficient time for the people of Gulhule to escape the barbarian advance; many of the smiths fled and managed to found forges elsewhere, scattered across the Halls of Wintermark. Others took refuge in mineworkings, such as the extensive Wells of Janon or the tunnels operated by the Crimson Peak miners. Now that the Thule are defeated, it remains to be seen how many of them choose to return. Of special interest to the Empire are the status of the mines here; the black maggots of the Thule have stripped the area and many captured runesmiths are said to have been sent north into the forbidding homelands of the barbarians.
Keywords: Forested, Hills

Gildermark

This region is the site of the town of Gildenheim and was the centre of Thule presence; their shamans and warlocks seemed fascinated by the icy caverns beneath that settlement. This flat region has been almost entirely denuded of trees - first by the Winterfolk, and the by the rapacious Thule. Their interest was possibly fired by the presence of the Brilliant Shore, one of the largest quarries of white granite in the Empire.

Pakaanan's Pass

The hills of Pakaanan’s Pass hide the site of Pakaanan’s tower, an enigmatic tower of mammoth bone that is said to be impossible to enter. The Thule magicians appear to have made several unsuccesful attempts to breach its walls. Given it allegedly contains the notes, paraphernalia and failed experiments of the legendary volhov. No-one has ever managed to enter it - or discover why Pakaanen spent so much time here in virtual exile from the forests of Miekarova where he was born.

Several miles east of Pakaanan's tower is the Clattering Gulley a winding rock crevasse used for generations by Steinr Runesmiths to collect mana crystals.
Keywords: Hills

Skogei Glens

The forests of Skogei Glens are the site of the settlement of Skogei. This region was the last to be brought into Empire, in 154YE, and it's halls were first to fall during the invasion of Skarsind. In 371YE its wooden walls were burnt, and few can now be found who once lived there. Recaptured by the Empire relatively early in the big push of 377YE, it was quickly reinforced with makeshift defences. In early Autumn 378YE, work was completed on The Will of the Wintermark, a solid fortification capable of defending the whole of Skarsind.

With the liberation of Skarsind, the Empire has regained control of the Goeki Expanses, a large and previously very prosperous area rich in dragonbone.
Keywords: Forested

Solvihill

Forested Solvihill was in the hands of the Empire until the disaster of 376YE. The well defended foresting town of Solvi served as a base of operations for the Imperial campaigns to drive the barbarians out. Once a foresting town providing Wintermark with wood, charcoal and beggarwood from the extensive barrens above the town, it was adopted as the base of campaign for the Imperial forces led by General Dunstan Irontongue. The settlement was hard pressed, and he led an aggressive series of sorties to relieve the pressure. He fell on one of these raids early in 376YE alongside Empress Britta. His body was never recovered.
Keywords: Forested

Southpine

There are forests here, but they are not extensive and neither are there many hills, meaning Southpine is reasonably open - which is a rarity in the uneven terrain of Skarsind. The settlement of Torfast, in the heart of Southpine, represented the high watermark of the barbarian advance in 373YE. It was retaken by Wintermark, League and Varushkan forces in 375YE, the first of the Skarsind settlements to be returned to the Empire. The town is now reasonably fortified, and bears the scars of many battles. It guards a major trade route from Skarsind’s forges down to the League city of Temeschwar, which helped caravans operated by businesses such as Southpine Southbound to get valuable supplies to the resistance forces throughout the occupation..

OOC Note

• As of Winter 377YE, all the regions of Skarsind are under Imperial control.
• The Will of the Wintermark is a level one fortification.
• A list of the spoils of war, allocated by the Military Council at the Winter Solstice 377YE can be found here.
• This page is still under development - the next stage is to review approved backgrounds for details that would enrich the description of the territory.