Kingdom of Vasteras

The Kingdom of Vasteras is a country in the far north of Estoria, composed of a landmass barren and cold and surrounded by hundreds of small islands. It is a nation of warriors and seafarers, the people of Vasteras born in the frigid cold and forged by the salt spray of the waves. This lot in life is one born out of both necessity and tradition, for the lands of Vasteras lack the natural resources most other nations have to support a population. As such, it is Vasteran iron and fortitude that must provide. Vasteran raiders have harassed their neighbors throughout history, striking swiftly and taking much needed supplies before returning once more to the familiar seas. So it has been for centuries. In recent decades, however, the Kingdom has slowly seen a shift towards more traditional means. Traditions of raiding and the strong taking what they must are slowly fading to nothingness, the Kings of Vasteras working more closely with the other Estorian nations as necessity forces them to. The feared raiders and warriors of Vasteras now often serve in mercenary bands for high prices, they coin they earn fighting for foreign monarchs filling their own coffers as well as that of their homeland. Minerals deep in the earth beneath the hard surface are being dug up, and Vasteras now comes into it's own as one of the world's premier powers. One must always be wary, however, for the rightly feared armies of the Kingdom are always ready to return to their ships and bring hell to their enemies.

Geography
The Kingdom of Vasteras is the northernmost country in Estoria, its landscape defined by rocky soil and unforgiving cold. It is bordered directly south by the Kingdom of Highreach and has islands along the coast of Kretingan border provinces. The people of Vasteras are accustomed to harsh winters, little sunlight, and soil that is ineffective for any agricultural pursuits. A majority of the population either lives in the capital of Aarhun or along the other coastal towns, where fishing is plentiful and there is enough lumber to construct hardy warships. The small islands that surround the nation's coasts also serve to protect it, small garrisons of warriors with ships docked ensuring any invader is seen coming and intercepted before reaching the mainland. The nation's most common natural resources are iron and lumber, though procuring both of these assets is a grueling process that involves working against nature to gather any meaningful quantity.

Economy
The Vasteran economy has long been driven by the prowess of its warriors and their ability to raid the coasts of other nations for gold and supplies. In recent decades the increased importance of trade and industry has seen this raiding fade from a way of life to a tactic of war. The Vasteran economy is still driven by iron and the hardy men who wield it, but in a different way: Renowned Vasteran warriors serve in sellsword bands, earning coin both for their homeland and themselves. Vasteran mercenaries are no cheap thing, and if one wishes to hire their ships that is another matter entirely. Aside from this, the people of Vasteras fish heavily for food and trade, the slowly growing iron and lumber industries beginning to support the nation as well.

Religion
Religion is a complex matter in the Kingdom. The Vasteran people are by and large warriors, and their religion has long reflected this. There is but one god in the Vasteran Faith, Taeron. He is the greatest warrior to have ever existed, willing the world as it exists into being by his strength. He is a mariner without equal, a leader without compare, an example to every true Vasteran. Legend says that he brought the world into being by using his axe to cleave the darkness in twain, scattering the stars across the empty void. He has been worshipped for as long as the area has been settled, though the increasing influence of the Church of Ignis has seen His dominance threatened. Though a majority of the Vasteran population still adamantly worships Taeron, the Archbishop of Ignis is a determined man. Though the Church's sights are currently set upon the Kretingan Order, it is only a matter of time before they see to converting the Vasterans. Monotheistic or no, Taeron is not the same as the Flame Above.

Culture
The culture of Vasteras is defined by the hardy people who live within it's borders. The men and women of Vasteras are a tough people, hardened by unbearable winters and a life of war that demands battle readiness even from the lowliest of farmers. As such, leaders in Vasteras must be strong and unflinching in their purpose. Those who gain the most purchase are those who are least afraid, warriors especially seen as worthy of Taeron's favor. Those that are either incapable of fighting or unwilling to do so are treated harshly, cast out as unworthy in a land where war provides what is needed to live and warriors succeed more so than any others. The people of Vasteras have a long tradition of verbal storytelling, sagas of Taeron and the warriors that followed him or of national heroes providing mirth to the people. Those responsible for memorizing these tales, the Skalbards, play a vital role in both society and battle.

Politics
Politics in Vasteras are a peculiarity even among the stranger sects of Estorian nobility, long defined by the strongest man being given the right to rule. The King of Vasteras is chosen through a series of trials known as The Hardships, a large tournament that includes every noble and Bereskarn(Talented warriors who have been granted land) within the nation. They go through a series of tests that weigh their physical and mental aptitude. The trials include the rigors of single combat, maneuvering a warship, cartography, literacy, and more. This unique system not only ensures that most Vasteran rulers are more than competent, but that noble birth means little. Any man or woman may reach the ranks of the Bereskarn so long as they prove their worth as warriors and mariners, essentially meaning any with the will and aptitude may take the throne of Vasteras. The monarchy is not by any means hereditary, though the children of the current King are given a land grant and are given the best upbringing possible. This strange ideology trickles down into the lower levels of nobility where bloodlines reign, as well. In Vasteras, when a Lord has reached the age of fifty, any of their offspring may challenge them to single combat to take their throne. The fight lasts until one dies or surrenders, and should the child succeed they are proclaimed the new Lord of that land. It is a right considered brutal by most foreigners, though holds a sacred place in Vasteran politics. When in power, the King of Vasteras has absolute authority over most issues. Such an arduous screening process that sees them defeat hundreds of other would-be Kings makes them more than qualified enough to lead alone.

Military
The military of Vasteras is one of its strong suits, a behemoth of powerful warriors and mariners who can rival foes from any nation. The Vasteran army is largely composed of infantry, a lack of horses and enough wood for archery bringing most fighters to the front lines. Though this means they are not extremely varied in their tactics, they are exceptional at what they do. The raiders and heavy infantry of Vasteras are well feared, donning thick hides and chainmail and wielding axes and heavy shields. Their soldiers are accompanied by Skalbards into battle, soldiers who serve not only to keep the morale of the company high with the regaling of tales who are responsible for sounding the signature war horns of the Vasteran armies. Whether simply raiding or organizing for pitched battle, the various calls of the war horns serve to keep the soldiers organized and give them their orders. The sound of their beckon is a feared one, and that fear alone can help turn the tide of a battle. Those feared the most in the Vasteran army, however, are the Bereskarns. They are men and women who are veterans of hundreds of raids and battles, serving as an elite vanguard for the Kingdom. They are expert mariners and warriors, granted land for their years of service and donning the best equipment available within Vasteras. They often serve as champions for nobility, though when called to battle are eager to serve their King and Taeron.

Due to the bitter cold and hard soil of Vasteras, the undead have rarely found purchase there. Though they exist, they are in far fewer number than in warmer lands and are often used as practice for young warriors. This changes during the Long Night, months wherein the sun does not show itself at all. Then the dead thrive and swell in numbers and daring both, forcing the ranks of the elite Totengaard to act against them.

History
The history of the Vasteran people predates written language, though their nation as it is today did not exist until the Third Era. Prior to that, it was a mix of tribes predominantly ruled by a Chieftain. A lack of unity and little technology made raiding a vital trade, and for many centuries the sight of Vasteran ships visible in the distance terrified the denizens of many a coastal village. The borders of Vasteras became what they were today after the Kingdom's official formation in the year 14 3E. Since then, Kings and Queens from scores of different bloodlines have ruled, and only a handful have ever had more than one of their surname sit the throne. The most famed of these was Hakbjor the Great, a man who secured the throne and ruled for many years before his son succeeded him after completing The Hardships. Then his son succeeded him, and his son him, and so forth, leading to an unprecedented six monarchs from the same bloodline. Such a thing has never been seen since, and there are many tales of the virulent Hakbjor. Variations of his name are exceedingly common in Vasteras, given to baby boys haphazardly.

Recent Events
Recent years have seen Vasteras thrive in a rare period of peace. Though the bands of state-sponsored sellswords roam always from conflict to conflict, the nation itself has no active enemies and has focused instead on agonizingly building an iron industry. Though the lands are rich with ore veins, reaching them through the ice and hard earth is difficult work. Peace is not a commonality among such renowned warriors, and those with tactical minds among the King's Council look towards the newly reborn Commonwealth of Lorenthal as a possible land to conquer and reap the rewards from. Others point to the beleaguered Stahlheimian Empire, and a foolhardy few urge the King towards the coasts of the New Lands.