Vargärde

Location and Climate
Vargärde is the northernmost province on Ceacleth. The entire province experiences permafrost, and is incredibly cold. The southern half of the country is comprised of taiga, and the northern half is all tundra and glacier.

Races
Vargärde is not a heavily populated region, unlike some of the southern lands. Many people aren’t partial to the cold temperatures. However, those born or raised there, like the Silverbeard refugees from the Varenmouth peaks, Tieflings of Svilyk (Ullskjagu) lineage, or the native dragonborn don’t find so much affront. Others, either crazy, or stupid enough to like it, or with good enough reason, are able to find a decent home there.

Svilyk Tieflings have characteristic icy blue skin, and are said in myth to have been created by Svilyk to aid him as dark minions. This is widely not believed. The native dragonborns have silvery-blue scales and natural resistance to frost, as well as the ability to breathe frost. They have no affiliation with Svilyk, other than possible genetic similarities.

Industries and Exports
Vargärde is mainly known for its imperative web of magical exports, some sources being less legal than others. Vargärde is the largest magical exporter on Ceacleth. Historically speaking, they have a rich legacy of magical technology. They also have a small fishing export network, wherein they hunt the large whales and fish that dwell in the Halnora expanse north of the continent and sell the meat, blubber and products made from these animals.

For example, so many whale bones are sold to Achteth and so much waterproof whale grease is sold to Cheya, that if this industry were to die, Vargärde would go through a considerable recession.

Imports
Vargärde imports likely the most cotton than any other territory. This is in the form of warm clothes and blankets. Wood is also up there, for home building purposes or just to make fire. While magical fire is commonplace, many don’t have the magical skill to create it or even prefer mundane fire.

History and Culture
Vargärde has a rich magical history. Eons ago, before the rise of Ullskjagu, Vargärde was said to be both a land of summertime warmth and a metropolis of the arcane. There are ruins to evidence the latter. However, it is cold year-round in Vargärde, which is said to be the curse of Ullskjagu. This does have some truth to it, as Torsä, to the south, does experience a summer, and there have been documented cases of wildly different weather on either side of the border.

Holidays
The Festival of the Sashes occurs every year in Bättalje to commemorate the purge of the former king, Hakon Frostfire. When the ruling family was chased out of town by the commoners, their clothing was stripped off their bodies as they ran through the streets. Groups and families prepare mannequins adorned with colorful sashes, each trying to make theirs the most elaborate and festive. The mannequins are then hoisted on poles and carried through the city. The groups race from Royal Plaza to the city gates. People line the streets and try to grab and tear handfuls of the sashes and ornamentation off as the mannequins pass. The atmosphere is very festive with public drunkenness and groups of young people chasing after the mannequins.

This festival also pays respects to the mysterious figure that killed Hakon, either by leaving tributes at memorials to them or by making effigies.

Government
Kings Oddvar and Asmund rule the territory as husbands. They are both dragonborn and are known for their wise and kind rule. Oddvar manages affairs of the people, and Asmund manages affairs of the state.The last king of Vargärde was a Tiefling named Hakon Frostfire. Hakon was known to be corrupt, and many believed he was consorting with Svilyk. He was killed by a vigilante whose fate remains unknown. Some believe them to have been killed, others think they were merely banished. One thing is known, that Vargärde is better off with Hakon dead.

Guilds
Although not technically a guild, there is a division of Silverbeard technicians in the Vargärdan army called the Silvermantles. They have made many technological breakthroughs in the realm of artillery. Over the past decades, they’ve been perfecting a series of canons. They’re designed to pierce the strongest of material. Vargärde’s motives aren’t entirely clear.

Religion
The most worshipped deity is Mystra, the goddess of magic, as the residents of Vargärde have an intense respect for the arcane. Auril, the goddess of winter, Talos, the god of storms, and Umberlee, goddess of the sea, are also heavily worshipped, as they are all more or less tempest gods, and the people feel that if appeased, they bring protection from the vicious storms that sometimes batter the territory.

Weapons and Armor
Most guards and soldiers wear a combination of bone armor and thick furs, as metal armor gets cold enough to freeze to skin and cause frostbite on contact. Face coverings to protect from the cold have evolved over the centuries into elaborate masks, some of which have built in shaded glasses to protect the wearer’s eyes from sun glare.