Nordlan

Nordlän, also known as Eileáng Brimman or just Rimman by the local branch of Coscovian, is a large island in the Kilikas Sea. It is the Northernmost and Eastmost of the three sister islands

History
Nordlän history has been relatively well preserved compared to it's two sister islands to the south-west. This is because it has served as an important cultural site for the Ruthan and Nordskan peoples of Vithinja since the earliest legends of their peoples. The settling of what the locals now call Eileáng Brimman by the took place somewhere between the years 400 and 600. It is believed that originally it was only three families who lived on the island, living simple lives fishing, herding and most importantly: Beekeeping and Brewing. The people living on the island were not completely disconnected from the other peoples of Koskenkorva, although their meetings with outsiders were usually with fishermen and were few and far between. That all changed somewhere around the year 700, when a small group of four strange ships arrived from the south. Almost all the information we have of this time is from four separate tales, two from runestones, one from Ruthan verbal traditions and one from local verbal tradition.

The Ferryman learns of Peace
Ruth the Ferryman was traveling north with fifty of his best men, using the brightest northern star to find his way when the treacherous ocean blew him out of sight from the coast. Already the sea had claimed one of their ships, losing ten of their number he could never replace. He had left to travel northward, far further than any other of the nordgeaths had before. It was a desperate attempt to find a divinely protected land where his people could escape to, as his tribe was slowly being destroyed by much stronger neighbors. He could not save his people by fighting their enemies, the death of his grandfather, father and two brothers had made that clear. So instead he chose to fight the sea. When he first spotted the large island in the distance, he thought perhaps the gods had truly shown him the way.

The encounter when Ruth and his men disembarked in the late evening, they had only just spotted the light of a fire high up among the islands hills. They left their ships with bows and steel. What awaited them at the top was not the rough warrior tribe they had come to expect from their homeland, but a small group of unarmed peasants having some kind of feast. While some of Ruth's men wanted to attack immediately, Ruth would not make such a decision brashly. They had traveled north in hopes that the gods would give their people peace and prosperity. They would not strike the first symbol of their goal just for some quick joy. Spitting in the gods face after being blessed would spell their doom the moment they took to the seas ones more. But he could not deny that their supplies were dwindling.

Ruth approached the festive fires alone, his deadly equipment quickly silenced the joyful group, most sticking closer to each other and stepping back. All except for one bulky old man, with a beard almost reaching his knees. Ruth spoke as he approached: "We find this land whilst we search for where rivers don't run red, and we see our sons-children before the next life." he placed his hand on his hilt before continuing. "So I ask your aid, for I see that you may know what I must do next. However me and my kin must quench our hunger and thirst if we are to continue on. For this we naught but steel to give should you refuse." Ruth promised. The old man after considering for a moment finally answered: "We know not of what lands you speak, but our waters have run clear since I was as young as my sons-sons-son over there. Most we meet we embrace readily, as they as we come form northern lands. Never do we ask much in return for our bread and brew but the knowledge of far away lands." the old man explained cheerfully. "Should you wish to find lands like ours, you must first defeat me. A divinely fated reward must not come without a challenge." Ruth, surprised, closed his hand around his hilt. "I may not be my fathers-father legendary warrior, but I am no weakling." Ruth threatened, before being interrupted. "While I do own a blade, it is as withered as myself. I will not face you in a battle of violence, as your ways seem to expect. Face me in a battle of mirth, where we wield a our mugs and wear naught but our god given outfits." The first Runestone ends the tale there but for one more sentence. "This tale was told to me by my father, Ruths closest man. Though he spoke much more of that night only one thing was clear: "Our arriving was to pierce their hearts with iron, yet there we found our betters as they pierced our hearts with mead!"

Although the rest of the story is less well documented, what is known is that Ruth and his men left the island, possibly with a few staying behind. Despite being defeated by his opponents ability to out-drink him he was told that there may be a land where no other lived, where he could find peace. He only needed to follow the three stars in the east.

Nordlän was lightly inhabited for most of it's following history, but served as an important resting point for viking raiders and traders. Despite it being extremely common for these vikings to battle each other, they would never do so on the island. Whether the main reason is the fear of divine wrath or simply that the island serving as a place to stop and rest would be too useful for them later is still unknown.

Viking golden age

Post vikings

Fanerian-Burgundian-Kiravian threats

GW1

GW2

Recent

Natural Hazards

 * Kilikas Storm Belt

Controversy
If someone attacked the island...