Shackleborne Petty Kingdoms of the North

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Skaldic Petty Kingdoms: Shackleborne Petty Kingdoms of the North== For the last five centuries the Shackleborne have raided and invaded the Upper Jaddess. Over time, various clans have seized much of the sparsely settled land between the trade powers of Witten and Lorica-Waerd. This loosely knit settlement is collectively known as the Petty Kingdoms of the North. It's leaders are variously known as "Petty Kings," "Kinglings," "Princes," or "Overlords." The Petty Kingdoms are highly fractured and in various stages of ecominc, social, and political development. Some are little more than war parties in permanent winter camp running a protection racket on the hinterland around their stronghold. Others are populous chiefdoms with a clanlike structure, trade, and settlement. Some are recognzied principalities with a fully developed feudal system of military service, land grants, and taxation. This northern strain of Shackleborne settlement claims its origin in the common ancestor, Ragnar Skalda. Legend has it that he was the first Shackleborne chieftain to attempt an invasion of the Upper Jaddess. He was captured by the Nord King of Witten, tortured, and his men butchered. When word of Skalda's fate reached the Shacklebreak Islands it unleashed a vengeful migration led by Skalda's seven sons. This incursion lead to a permanent coastal presence. Every Skaldic clan traces its ancestry back to one of these seven original sons and through Skalda to the Aesir themselves.

Notable Skaldic Principalities

1. Korungia: the petty kingdom of the Korungians was formed from the descendants of the fabled conqueror Korung Baldbreak, one of the Seven Sons of Skalda. This is the strongest, most numerous Skaldic people. While retaining most of its tribal elements, the petty kingdom centers around villa-forts which have developed into villages. The overlord of the Korungians is known as the Earl of Korungia. He excercises little control over the lordlings of his territory, but leads the Korungians in war and exacts symbolic tribute from the villages. The Korungians are the most settled of the Skaldic peoples, adopting agriculture and trade with their Nord neighbor, Witten. They have developed an elite cavalry among their lordlings, which is in high demand up and down the Jades Coast. A famous troop of these mounted warriors serves under the employ of the Ocean Throne. They are known as the Korungian Knights.
2. Svednia: The Svednians are a close ally of the Nord kingdom of Witten. In many regards, they are a client state. Comprised mostly of freehold farmers, they defend themselves through a militia raised from this yeomanry. This free militia is famous for the use of the longbow. The concept of the free citizen-farmer has a strong mythos among the Svednians, however, most of their ecomomy is based on slave agriculture. Many Woodland Elves are raided and set to work on these freeholds. Most freeholds have at least a handful. This allows the Freeholders to maintain their status as warriors. Lords are elected by each Free Company by a majority vote and serve for life. Some Free Companys sell their services abroad as mercenary companies. Several famously serving in under the employ of Ciridan the Shipwright in previous conflicts. The King of Witten conquered and annexed Svednia, and installed a Kingling over the Svednians to enforce his edicts and collect his taxes. This office is publically elected for life by an assemly of all the Free Companies. Traditionally, claimants must be able to trace their lineage back to Svedna, one of the Seven Sons of Skalda. The King has the power to levy militia, conscript slaves, and is given rights to the monopoly of the slave trade within Svednia as he main source of revenue. Only the King may emancipate a slave. As a result, the King of Svednia has surrounded himself with a fiercely loyal comitatus of housecarls formed from emancipated slaves.
3. Snuria: The Snurians live in coastal redoubts. Their culture resembles that of a pirate's  nest. They are still incredible sea-bound and make more of their livelihood prowling on Nord shipping (Especially that of Witten) and supplying slaves to Svednia, Witten, and Lorica-Waerd. They are small in number and fiercely independent. Each Earl controls a coastal redoubt and commands a commitatus of loyal warriors, followers, courtiers, and housecarls. They augment their courts by slaves and captives, making sure their followers marry local and create large, loyal families. Hostage-taking is an elaborate art among the Snurians. This is how peace is maintained. For instance, It is obligatory for a housecarl to ransom his first-born son to his Earl, until he has a third son to trade. The Snurians spend most of their martial energies in-fighting. Therefore, they are no longer considered a major threat by the established powers of the Jadess, more just a nuissance. However, they still effective prowl the shipping lanes of the Jadess from North to South. The overlord of the Snurians is known as the Pirate King. He is simply the most powerful and influential Earl, who is able to dominate the sea lanes within Snurian territory.
4. Breklingia: The Breklingia are the most politically advanced of the Skaldic peoples. Though they are a small people, they are ruled over by a powerful King, possess a developed system of royal justice and taxation. They hail from the rough moorish land north of the Kingdom of Witten. They fiercely maintain their indepence, dispite being strongly in Witten's orbit of influence. They are isolated from the other Skaldic peoples and as a result have developed their own peculiar ways. They are famous for wielding gigantic battleaxes in combat and riding bareback on tamed wild stallions which roam the moors. They are also famous for their ringfort cities, in which their horde their wealth.
5. Tvoria: It is questionable whether the Tvorians are actually a Skaldic people, because their dialect is distinct. They most likely came from a settlement far to the north of the Shacklebreak Ilses. There they intermingled with a significant Troll population. Because of this, the Tvoringas a very tall, possessing gray hair and eyes. They are also very strong. They are the only people among the Skalds that actively practice magic, beyond ensorceling objects. They maintain their belief in the Oni and the Aesir. But they also have a primordial dread of a race of giants known as the Jotnar. This is probably from their Troll heritage. The Tvoringas live in coastal encampments which have developed into permanent settlements. Their numbers are few, but their petty kingdom is incredibly influential because of their martial prowess. Their Earl is a peculiar creature who calls himself Tvors, after one of the Seven Sons of Skalda. He claims to be a Jotnar. It is clear that he is a powerful sorceror, but little else is known of him or his kind.
6. Secundia: The Secundia are famous as farsea adventurers. They specialize in trafficking exotic spices and luxury goods from the Sunlands across the Jadess. It is said that they have regular contact with the Horizon Empire, the Sea Folk, and the Corsairs. They, alone, known the route of safe passage across the Northern Jadess. They posses the sturdiest longboats of the Skaldic peoples, however they still require island hopping and frequent portage. It is well-known that the Secundia have the trade pacts with the various rivals who jealously guard this trade route including the Sea Peoples, Mhyrtyrda, the Corsairs, and the various kingdoms of the Shackleborne. For this reason, they are a very prosperous people. They are also revered negociators and considered legendary merchants.For example, The Ocean Throne built a palace for the Secundian King along the Seaway, in order to promote trade relations with the Secundians and gain access to their trade. The Secundians have a very developed deepwater port city of Coldcurrent. This serves as their capital and contains the majority of their migratory settlement.
7. Lothoria: The Lothoringas are, perhaps, the most imfamous of the Skaldic peoples. They live among the crags and skelligs of the stormtossed Northern Jadess. They prowl on shipping that must pass through this treacherous chokehold. The Lothoringas are imfamous for their cannibalism, teethfiling, and crow-rearing. They raise large murders of Storm Crows which follow their raiding parties to sea. They herald the approach of a raiding party by taking flight in large swarms. They feast on the flesh of the Lothoringas victims. They also get immatient and assist in the attack. Lorica-Waerd continually attempts to clean out the Lothoringa Pass. Therefore, they are at continuous war.