CITIES• Liidhaga • |
 • Kungesvald • Liidhaga • Kungesvald is a rough and superstitious place, and its people fiercely defend their home as a pack of wolves its den. The greatest threat to its people would be the elements themselves; its warriors and its foul weather are said to both be inexhaustible. Kungesvald's symbol is a brown boar on a deep red field. It is a walled city-state that governs a loose collection of settlements nestled in the cave-riddled hills and forests of Ydra, lying on the eastern bank of the Ox River. The effects of the Long Winter never struck Kungesvald particularly hard, leaving both the city and its people relatively unharmed. The vast majority of the surrounding cropland also went untouched. Life there would almost be idyllic, were it not for the slow population decline and the constant threat of plague, raiders, or insurrection among its outlying villages. It is ruled by a primitive monarchy, the king or queen in power choosing their heir from their biological and adopted children; the handful of other feudal lords in the city range from minor houses to prestigious families with estates elsewhere in Kungesvald's sphere of influence. Daily life is strongly influenced by the locals' faith in the Hroendir, the ever-warring Yddr gods, which helps fuel their seething hatred of magic. The city is a drab and rainy place, regularly wreathed in fog throughout the year and seeing constant snowfall during the winter. Its thatch-roofed buildings are timber-framed with stone or wooden walls, and most regularly-used structures are no more than two stories tall. Though its palette is a dreary one of browns, grays, and greens, streaked with mold and swaddled in moss, the city is a riot of carvings; knotwork and fanciful creatures crawl across the landscape, brilliantly painted or set with pieces of bone. Kungesvald clothing is very functional, usually wool but sometimes fur, buckskin, or tanned leather; it tends towards unisex styles worn beneath a cloak. Large patterns that cover a lot of fabric are common. Those swearing allegiance to a particular clan usually wear a kilt or sash displaying said clan's tartan. Heavy copper or silver jewelry is worn by both genders, as well as carved pieces of amber, ivory, or horn. The local food is very bland, primarily breads or porridges and infrequent greens, with the occasional treat of meat. Root vegetables are also a common staple. Those who come to Kungesvald to seek their fortune are most often driven to become soldiers and prove their courage; some migrate for other reasons, however, instead seeking good hunting, a safer place to ply their trades, or a chance to pay homage to the Hroendir. Kungesvald also makes the best and heaviest armor in the world, so hopeful smiths often travel in search of work. Longship builders and the odd fisherman occasionally come to make their livelihood on the sands of the Ox River. Kungesvald's population is overwhelmingly human, though goblins make up a noticeable minority; a much smaller menhit presence also dwells there. More information about Kungesvald can be found in our wiki! |
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