Fjall

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The mountains of Fjall is the land of the Dwarves. These stern, half-barbarous people earned themselves a bad reputation in Aldor due to constant raids. They do not believe in the "Host" of Aldor, instead considering the shrines of Aldor those of false gods.

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Geography and Economy

Fjall is mountainous territories, with a little part of their area are in high elevation or frozen tundra. The long stretch of mountains became Fjall borders with their neighboring countries, Nistra to south-west, Aldor to the south, Maaf to their south-east, and Skadia to the east. While their northern part is filled with tundra bordering the cold Northern Sea.

The harsh environment of the Fjall is not the only thing that's dangerous, there are many beasts and monsters roaming the mountains, the caves, and even Fjall settlement from time to time with frequent raids and infighting between the Fjall Clans.

Because of that, it's surprise many southern people to find that many dwarves could survive or even thrive in the land of war and beasts. But of course in frozen land, farming is not very sustainable while big game hunting can only fed the tribe for couple of days. Thus led many Fjall dwarves to seek gold and glory outside their territories, raiding, pillaging, or sometimes employed as mercenary for warring kingdoms.

Notably not all dwarves are barbaric raiders who chose plunder and burn any villages they visit. While many do love that life, some Fjall hunters might trade their hunting trophies, the salted meat butchered from it, and their savage equipment for crops and luxuries that they might never see in their homeland.

Government and Religion

Fjall lives with clans system where each clan's chieftain control some area and the people who lives in it. There are notably four big clans or more like four clans that most people only recognized claimed each section of Fjall lands. Those are Skarhogg clan claimed south-east mountains, Norrheim clan settled at the tundra near the sea in north-east, Halveig clan at the north-west corner, and Eim clan who settle in the mountains near Nistrian border.

There's not much information about all of the four clans have ever united or shared history together. Speculated that each clan either ruled their own people in solitary or they always try to fight and raid each other for more power and territories.

Beside those 4 clans of dwarves, there might be many smaller clans who separate themselves from the big clans and bands of raider who live without following any tribes. Such as Haakon the Garybeard or Tyr The One-Eyed gang.

Fjall dwarves probably the only tribes that still believe in paganism that praise their ancestor to bless their everyday life. This put them as the only country who hasn't believe in the Host and reject any teachings and path to worship them. Fjall denizen believe that The Host is false gods who is not worthy to worship unlike their ancestor who bravely fought on their honor and glory to the death.

History and Culture

Not much history of Fjall and the dwarves in general beside the history of their raids and pillages across The Continent known by other countries. It's not helping that there's no written history or document from the Fjall dwarves itself. They more akin to spread tales and saga than written history, led many of the stories gone or blurred with the boast of the storytellers.

But not even of the treacherous path on the mountains, savage beasts wondering the plain, and the barbaric dwarves tradition can stop many curious travelers and academics to study the culture and the way of life of Fjall dwarves.

One culture that stood out is how Fjall dwarves love to don anything, from their fashion to their personal amulet or charm, with "trophies" from their enemies. These trophies can be the guts of great beast slain by the dwarves. Or human scalps, fingers, ears, hands, and other limbs that they cut and put it as accessories, as achievement, or just a sign of job well done.

Their cuisine is plain, simple, but bizzare. There's no expensive spices or delicate condiment to enhance the flavor of their dishes. You either eat the meat from the slain beast after it's cooked or salted to preserved in the long winter of Fjall. Fjall dwarves never waste any parts of the animal they hunt and considered it as delicacy, such as wolf tongue. And unlike Brynnian chef who always refine any strange ingredients into fine dining, dwarves can cook and prepare a dish of a part that considered inedible by Brynn's standard.

Military and Weaponries

There's a saying about Fjall dwarves only appreciate three things in this world, booze, looting, and a good axe. There's no one that will dispute that Fjall dwarves made so many great and dangerous axes. Even though dwarven weapons are usually made with weak steel and questionable smithing process, they still know how to make a good axe. Some rumors even said that back in the day, Fjall's skill and artistry to create axes was the envy of entire Continent.

From time to time, other countries slowly took Fjall's axe to be studied and used for their military. For example Skadia invented bardiches to defend themselves from Fjall's raids, then Fjall took the bardiches to Nistrian which they adapt to their military, and Aldorian people slowly accepting longaxe or poleaxe into the ranks of nobility who will deny that they learned it from the dwarves.

But dwarves skill of using axes is nothing to scoff of. There are many stories about dwarves who can wield axe so masterfully, they can cleaving through ranks of infantry or cut big monster's head from its body.

While axe is the most prominent weapon and mainly used by Fjall, it is known that dwarves also use other weapons like blade, spear, bow, or staff. While sword usually used by noble dwarves, staff primarily used by their shamans, spear mainly for hunting, and bow for young dwarves who inexperienced to fight in the frontline.

Fjall main of defense are mostly protective charm, rune scribed into their garment, or enchantment from their shamans. This because most of Fjall's armor are made from beast's fur, bones, and hides, used to fend off cold weather than heavy blow. But there are some fjall armors who were created with low quality iron, but they can forged it to be decent chestpiece. With their light armor, the dwarves usually armed with shields to protect them from incoming arrows or strikes.

Dwarves are simple, gruff, and somewhat savage people. Aldorians, at least the knightly estate, who always try to abide the combat etiquette, seen by the dwarves as preposterous and meaningless. They aren't above using the dirtiest of tricks if it ensures their victory in battle. All dwarves, be it whalers or berserkers, live by a simple principle - "all or nothing". Freedom or death, wealth or ruin, glory or dishonor.

When dwarves loot and raid, they do it with unquenchable greed. When they protect their homes - it's bestial fury. This primal savagery warfare unsettles even seasoned veterans, and only a well organized line of defense can stand up against the dwarven onslaught. Usually the tactic of the dwarves for every battle is to attack settlement/enemies that they know their victim can't offer much resistance. For example, when a neighboring country is weakened by war and can no longer afford the necessary number of patrols or mercenaries.

There are some notable Fjall warriors that been known across the Continent, as raider or as mercenary.

• Berserks. The maniac dual wielding axes warriors cladded only with bear pelt who fight recklessly and and unbridled fury, inspiring fear even among their own brethren. Before combat, berserks consume a special brew that lets them enter a state of destructive fury. Its recipe is strictly guarded, but I can say with certainty that it includes henbane flowers and some strange mushrooms. This drink is extremely toxic to most humans and dwarves, leaving them writhing in agony, but berserks are always happy to take a sip.
• Huscarl, the personal bodyguard of clan's chieftain or dwarven nobility. Usually sleep with their armor on, with weapons and shield within arm's reach, ready to protect their master from ambush or sudden beast attack.
• Seidr. There are many shamans and seidr who practice paganistic magic that can cast protective magic or strengthening spell to the dwarven warriors before they go to war.
• Raiders. Fjall raiders are renown across countries who experienced the brutality of their attacks. Many of the raiders fight with brutality and greed in mind, showing no loots nor people save from their attacks.
• Varangs. Some Fjall dwarves chose the path of mercenary and work with country who's willing to pay their services.

Notable Fjall Character/NPC

• Jorgrim
• Hilda
• Ormi