Zwallerkad

The Crown Domain of Zwallerkad is an nation in Northern Ixnay. It is located south of the Arctic, north of Norkrond and west of Helvianir. The nation is a cold and harsh one which has left its footprint on its population and has made them just as hard. The nation is currently ruled by King Ghildin VI Stranvak and is known for its stability with only a few exceptions during the last few centuries. The nation, although not democracy, carries the pride and support of its unique population, one determined to leave their mark on Ixnay from up their icy rocks.

Etymology
The name Zwallerkad has a clear meaning, the Zwaller means whaler's and the kad is derived from Kod which means coast. Therefore Zwallerkad means 'Whaler's coast'. The name refers to the most used profession on the island in earlier ages, whaling.

Geography
Zwallerkad is a nation with various typical landscapes, from swamps to tundra to rocklands to cultivated riverlands. The north is known for its hilly and icy tundra-like landscape and is considered the harshest of the Zwallerkaddian lands. South of the plains and tundras diverges the inland heography from the coastal geopgraphy for the first time. Central Zwallerkad is known for its huge (pine) forests, these areas are barely inhabitedbecause of this which makes them even wilder. The coastal areas are more grasslands crossed by rivers. Although not very fertile these grounds are often use for cattle agriculture. The south of Zwallerkad is divided in fertile and cultivated flatlands, rocky hillcoasts and swampy lowlands. The western coast is drawn by its lower position which makes the region quite wet and therefore quite swampy. The eastern coast on the contrary is dominated by cliffs, low mountains and large rock formations. The southern inlands are kinda shielded by the forests to the north and the swamps and rocks to the south,makng them more easy. These flatlands are fertile and low and are often called the boring golden lands seeing as though dull this is for its fertile soil and easiness one of the more wealthy regions.

Climate
Zwallerkad has a sea-climate, seeing as the sea surrounds the entire island making sure all of the nation is affected by the presence of the sea. The result of this is that there are no major temperature differences. However, as Zwallerkad lies quite northwards this does mean that it is simply cold the entire year. This goes most of all for the north which is close to the north pole and therefore features polar influences. Wind and rain are also important aspects of the Zwallerkaddian climate as the nation is known for both. Hard cold winds sweep over the island everywhere except for the inland forests, something which continues the entire year. The same goes for the massive amounts of rain from the south. These two often make the harsh storms that often hit Zwallerkad. The sea currents also leave their mark on the Zwallerkaddian climate as cold currents make the north even colder while the south is blessed by influence from warm currents.

Flora and Fauna
The flora of Zwallerkad, although very different per area, is not very diverse, seeing how small and harsh the island nation is. The cliffs of the south are very (barren) yet feature rock flowers and grasses, some of which can be found nowhere else on Ixnay. The swamps and forests are mostly known for their (pine) trees, many of which very old and special. They're also famous as Zwallerkaddian pine trees are known for their thickness and strength. The forests also contain a lot of unique mosses and fungi. The more cultivated lands of the south feature the most diverse, yet less unique flora, seeing as much foreign flora has been imported to these areas by man. The coastal fields and plains are the least diverse and unique areas of Zwallerkad when talking about flora, seeing as these windswept areas are among the harshest and mot unprotected parts of the nation. The northern tundra is often called 'the great wasteland' yet when talking about flor this is certainly untrue as many unique kinds of tundra flowers, plants and grasses flourish here. Most notable among these is the Goldclaw, a golden flower shaped like a lying claw, the nation's national flower. The fauna of Zwallerkad is typical for northern nations yet many species are just a touch different, giving Zwallerkad a quite unique fauna. The rocky lands of the south are home to surprisingly many animals like Cliff bears and countless species of sea-birds, most notable among these are the white-foot (sea-)gull, the Cliff Diver, the Zwallerkaddian albatros and the Stoneskagg. The southwestern swamps are home to many unique swamp creatures like the Swamp Basilisk, the Man-Toad, the Wral-Toad, the Zwallerkaddian crocodile, the Maned Lizard, the Fliratt and many kinds of frogs, huge snails and slimes as well as different kinds of Brollabs. The cultivated areas are home to more common kinds of animals just like the central forests, which though rich in flora lack a unique fauna. In these forests, however, wild animals, though not unique, do flourish and they're known for their bears, boars and mooses. The tundra is more like the south in its unique anial species seeing as this area is home many (uniue) species like the Bogrol-ox, the Plain Owl, the Ice Lion, the White Moose, the Aggavv Goose, the Snowskagg and the Zovrokk. Zwallerkad also houses many domestic animals, most notable among these there countless species of furred cows and sheep for which the nation is famous. Besides all these land animals is Zwallerkad also famous for its wide variety of whales, seals, sea-lions and walrusses, most of which are unique to Zwallerkad. The most notable among these is the national animal, a huge kind of walrus named the Wrolkhoss.

The Western Lands
The Western Lands are mostly like northern Zwalryk. Yssjryk up north has an icy arctic climate and almost the entire Ryk is covered with either, ice, snow or mud with only the south being tundra. Snevryk and Vettryk beneath it is mostly plain and tundra, with more cultivated lands to the south. Klivryk east of Snevryk is named after its cliffs and stone beaches with rocky hills and backlands. It was a barren, windswept and stormy region. Szalryk in the south was warmer and more cultivated than the other Western Lands yet even this region remained cold and the coasts remained stormy while windswept plains still dominated the westand north. Szalryk is also the only of the western lands which is home to forests.

The islands of Krussbrok and Gaznarzod in the Straits are mostly huge rocks that suffer from the constant storms that are thrown against them. However, the north of Krussbrok lies protected by the rocks of the south and is more storm-free.