Wintermark territories

Hahnmark

The central territory of Hahnmark is built among a series of treacherous mountain passes. The city of Kalpaheim stands at the entrance to the frozen underworld, built around an ice cavern, into the walls of which are carvings in the old Steinr runic alphabet. These carvings are thought to constitute the earliest written laws. These ancient strictures were once the basis for judgements at the annual Witan, which in turn is the predecessor of the imperial senate and judiciary. A great carving of King Godric in the side of a mountain looks down upon Kalpaheim, to remind all that the eyes of history are upon them. The great buildings here are constructed from stone. Much of the Hall exists within a tunnel complex carved into the mountains themselves, all made possible by the taming of the Artoks. Outside of the capital, the other halls maintain smaller fortresses in a similar style, with networks of watchtowers and beacons designed to provide warning of barbarian incursions.

Gildenheim in the east is the second largest settlement in Hahnmark, a place of alpine slopes and valleys, pine forests and rising mists. The folk of Gildenheim are particularly noted for their fine rune work and many of the best smiths travel here to study their craft. There are troubles with tribes of yetis that live in the valleys near Gildenheim. They are peaceful in the main and not regarded as enemies. However, every so often one or two are overcome by what they refer to as the White Rage, and go on a berserk rampage which the Winterfolk try to deal with without provoking the rest of the tribe.

Kallavesa

This is the traditional home of the Kallavesi, a land of cold stagnant bogs. It changes through the seasons, but always has a feeling of stillness and tranquillity. In the warmer months it is a boggy marsh cut through with streams and fjords. In the summer the waterways freeze over and the whole land is covered with frost and snow. Houses are constructed entirely from wood, and usually built on stilts in the swamp. The marsh serves as the national graveyard and this is a place of ancient secrets and mysticism.

In Kallavesa the circle replaces the Hall as the community, and here the circle may also include warriors, trappers and other Winterfolk. Kallavesa as a whole is sometimes called the Round Hall, alluding to its structure as a circle of circles.

Sermersuaq

Sermersuaq is the traditional home of the Suaq people. A large part of Sermersuaq is made up of transient floes that recede every Summer, so the migratory groups lead by Suaq guides would travel every winter to Kallavesa, following the paths laid out by great obelisks. This fertile territory is under constant threat from northern barbarians whose hunting parties also seek to exploit the profusion of life here, regularly engaging in skirmishes with the Suaq.

The forests and tundra of this territory are rich with animal life that sustains the Suaq, ranging from great furred beasts to small game and hunting birds. The ice floes themselves are home to seals and penguins, and the waters are full of fish and whales. As one travels further north, the land becomes colder and colder until a traveller comes to the farthest extent of the land claimed by the Suaq and finds the Wastes of Tsirku.

The wastes are permanently covered in snow, and while some say there is solid ground underneath, this has never been proven. The landscape is far from flat, there are ice plateaus pock-marked with crevasses and areas where the ice is rent apart giving way to cold salty lakes. The land is uninhabited – probably uninhabitable – due to the lack of plant or animal life. Far to the north rages the eternal ice-storm Sydanjaa, a roaring blizzard that blows all year round and from whose depths no traveller has ever returned.

The territory takes its name from the ice floes which are named after a legendary figure called Sermerssuaq. Sermerssuaq was said to be so powerful that she could balance a kayak on the tips of three fingers, and kill a seal just by rapping it on the head with her knuckles. According to legend, Sermerssuaq rode out heavily pregnant from Sydanjaa on a mammoth. She gave birth to one thousand children, half of whom drowned themselves and returned as seals to provide food for the others. Some say Sermerssuaq was an Eternal and that all the Suaq share a trace of her bloodline, others argue she is an allegory for the enduring and tenacious spirit of the Winterfolk.

Skarsind (Lost)

Skarsind lies to the west of Hahnmark. Here the mountains give way to wide flat tundra. Half a century ago it fell before a massive orc army that marched out of the west and swept all before them. Their lack of adequate siege weaponry meant that the Winterfolk were able to turn them back when they tried to enter Hahnmark. Fortification of Hahnmark has further increased since then, but most Winterfolk remain convinced that the only way Hahnmark can ever be made secure is to defeat the orcs and drive them into the sea. All true Winterfolk dream of the day that this stain may be washed into the snow.