Halskapa – literally “Iron Cape” – is the most populous and powerful of the Rjurik Kingdoms. It is also the most thoroughly civilized kingdom; there are a few minor tribes and clans that follow the old ways, but by and large all of Halskapa is dominated by settled Rjurik. Along the coasts there are rich fisheries, the rivers teem with life, the hills offer excellent grazing and in the sheltered valleys farmlands are bountiful. There are also substantial mineral deposits – iron in particular – in the mountains. Halskapa has ports both on the Thaelasian Passage and in the Tael Firth, making it an important port of call for all manner of trading vessels. The capital of Skapa Hjarring is particularly blessed with a sheltered location and fine deep-water harbor, making it a natural port of call for ships coming through or going into the Thaelasian Passage.
Halskapa’s western provinces are dominated by a range of mountains that run from the Siren’s realm all the way to Skapa Hjarring. Few peaks reach much more than two thousand meters in height, but there terrain is nevertheless quite challenging – ice-scoured peaks and deep valleys, steep mountains that meet deep fjords, glaciers and swift-flowing rivers. The sea is very important to the people of Skapa Hjarring, Helkstraad and Selkhauske. The sea is both road and primary source of food and income. The people of the Iron Cape are also blessed with a great abundance of mineral resources, particularly iron. Extraction of raw materials for export is a source of income, as if the forging of iron and steel.
Beyond the mountain of the Iron Cape lie the sheltered lowlands of the Hjarring River – including the provinces of Skapa Hjarring, Stjolvar and Taelrhud. This is prime agricultural land, relatively speaking of course. The hundreds of lesser jarls the rule the land owe fealty to the King, but after Bervinig’s reforms it’s the Thane of Taelrhud that are responsible for keeping them in line. The Oaken Grove of Erik is very strong in the area. The Emerald Spiral is represented only by a few wandering druids that cater to the few semi-nomadic clans that still cling to the old way. But unlike in Jankaping to the north and Svinik to the west the tribes hold no real power in this region.
Further south the ground rises towards the Dvasviik plateau and the highlands and hills that comprises the southern part of Dvasviik and Dalmsrhuud. The soil here is quite rocky, but fertile. Agriculture and husbandry are equally important here. Trade and crafts also, especially in the city of Odemark, Halskapa’s second largest settlement. There are other towns in the realm, but only the capital and Odemark deserve to be called cities. Originally an Anuirean fort the city of Odemark retains three gifts from the southerners – mighty fortifications, a strong military tradition, and the finest smithies in Halskapa.
The final region are the riverlands of the Vika valley – the Aandvjor province in particular, but also including parts of Dalmsrhuud. This is the most remote and least civilized part of Halskapa. What remains of the traditional Rjirik way of life can be found here, with small clans wintering in the interior, then making their way to the Dalmsrhuud coast in the summertime.
Halskapa has also in the past included what is now called the Siren’s domain. Many years ago, during the reign of Bervinig’s grand-uncle Thorvald, a powerful jarl wrested control of the western coasts and mountains from the King. Thorvald tried to bring his rebellious jarl to heel, but had not counted on the black blood that flowed through his enemy’s veins – the jarl had become an awnshegh and used his powers to murder King Throvald. Skalds would later name him the Dusk Man, for he was a creature the thrived in shadows. The Dusk Man was slain much later by a common woman. She inherited his cursed blood, but thus far she has behaved rather sanely and treated her subjects well. Throvald’s brother Hrafn never dared stand up to the Dusk Man. Neither did Bervinig during the Dusk man’s reign – and after his destruction the king had grown old and weary and failed to seize the opportunity to reclaim Halskapa’s lost provinces.
