Jumnish Tribes

Rulers of the jumnish tribes: Jarls Huldi of Aska, Erik of Fiska, Guthrum of Hvitfjord, Eldar of Borthi;

Cultural analogue: Norse

Jumnish Society

Jumne is a harsh icy land in the far north. It is mostly known as the land of sea raiders who ravage the coasts of much of Calradia. However, many Jumnish are renowned explorers, traders and settlers. The islands are divided in four major clans who often feud with each other. All of its people worship Jumnish Paganism.

The Jumnish islands lie far from Calradia, further north than Sturgia across a sea of changing currents. On these ugly rocks are the hardy and resourceful Jumnish folk. The archipelago is mainly composed by the islands of Nantaland and Aska, surrounded by several smaller islands such as Auroraheima. Heavy snow falls everywhere, but on some place summer and the soil is better than elsewhere. The volcanic island of Aska and the southernmost reaches of Nantaland are the most fertile and populated regions of Jumne, as well as the most targeted for conquest.

Jumne is mostly divided into four clans - Aska, Fiska, Hvitfjord and Borthi, while minor ones who own smaller island live in their shadows serving as pawns. There are no major cities in Jumne as there are in Calradia, although major ports see as many if not more ships than those of Pravend or Charas. The small population of the islands mostly trade in furs, ivory, ore and jems.

Jumnish traders can be seen in any port, though they mostly stay away from any city center since the Jumnish carry a terrible reputation with the common people. Due to their geography, a Vlandian peasant would only see a Jumnish in his life if he was a sea raider. Piracy is rampant in Jumne - longboats led by disgruntled warriors with no master or broken oaths, pillaging any easy prey for easy money. It is important to distinguish raiders from other Jumnish, as most of them are simple farmers and fishermen, just like anywhere else. And any Jarl who wishes to maintain diplomacy with Calradia cannot also support raiding their shores - or at least not officially.

Despite their small numbers and harsh conditions, the Jumnish somehow has produced many a great men. Granted, most of them involve leaving Jumne to explore new lands, but it deserves attention as the Jumnish has spread themselves to Balion, Vlandia and Sturgia, blending their blood with those of locals, even reaching the far off lands south of Geroia and the isles of Lotki. Without Jumne, there’d be no Calradia as we know it. And as the influx of new ideas reach Jumnish society and elites, with the potential for the islands’ realms to be comparable in might to the likes of Balion and Sturgia, there’s no telling what the future holds for the north.

Jumnish History

The Great Frost (100-250)

The period of heavy snowfall, famine and migrations known for the Jumnish as Hvitt Teppi was a worldwide event of low temperatures. Although its causes are unknown, most blame it on godly causes. At any rate, the Jumnish were obviously in the worst position to suffer harsher winters. Rivers and lakes froze. Green fields became covered by inches of snow in mid summer. Only the regions on the south of the archipelago remained livable, everywhere else the people either died of starvation, frostbite or migrated to Balion and Calradia. The few who remained in Jumne could only describe the following three generations as plagued by fear, uncertain if they shall survive next day.

Skalds sing of legendary heroes who survived on the far north. Sagas mention favour from the god of fire and thus geysers Strokkur, who allowed these chosen clans to survive the Great Frost brought by Nifer, god of the cold underworld. Other poems talk about brave adventurers who traversed the harsh snowy plains between one settlement and another, maintaining communication and to some extent trade. In this age skis became highly sought after, and nearly every man learned to use them.

After three generations the frost receded, giving way to the grass and animals. The Jumnish who left for Balion, Sturgia and Vlandia returned to settle their ancestral lands again. What clans owned what had been blurred by time and ice, and so since no one could really tell who had the right to own what land, soon violence broke out on the verdant fields of Jumne just as they did on Calradia 150 years before. Now Jumne enjoys relative stability though the tales of the Great Frost still grips the people with fear, anxious as they are certain that it will happen again, stronger and merciless. That next time the oceans will freeze and the snows will reach the Aserai sands. They fear the Great Frost was only a small warning to the end times - Tha Er Regin Deyja - When The Gods Die.

The Philosopher King (790-815)

The volcanic island of Aska could pride themselves in being the greatest island of Jumne. Its rich soil could support a large population and few of its warriors felt the need to pillage other realms and risk meeting an early end as much safer options existed in their homeland. It was in this period of prosperity that Jarl Harald Fasoltson assembled a great fleet with gifts, translators and diplomats and set forth to Calradia. He visited almost every important king, duke and intelectual, meeting in person Emperor Phocus Macrobitius. This tour was meant to gather knowledge, and when he returned not only he gave his people Calradic ideas in administration and politics but also in irrigation, production, and nearly every aspect of their lives that Harald endeavoured to record and propagate in his domain. “Even still, after meeting many a boatbuilder and deckhand, I have not seen any place that makes better ships than us.”

The peasants were happy after an initial distrust of foreign ideas, since they were less likely to starve in winter than before. His vassals were also content with finding new ways to organize themselves and get work done. That was until he mentioned the vague suggestive seed of an idea of reforming Aska’s government inspired by that of the Empire, meaning, restricting the powers of his vassals. It didn’t take long until Harald was deposed, and the next Jarl elected had basically been threatened into freezing the politics of Aska as they were.

Harald Fasoltson, unlike many rulers who incurred the wrath of his vassals, had met a peaceful end. He travelled to Curaw where he befriended the Kynaz Oleg Stjurg, serving him as a very esteemed councillor full of ideas. He eventually passed away in 829 out of natural causes, at age 67. His exploits are well remembered, his deposing mostly swept under the rug.

The Philosopher King

Ancient blood of iron, from ancestors of old,

destined for greatness, his life would behold.

There he embarks the world to explore,

knowledge to seek on foreign shore.

The greatest of the great he would meet,

plenty would remark his mindful deed.

A better future for his people to ensure

all knowledge in the world he would secure.

Ready to change all that is known,

The world he no longer needed to roam.

It was time they headed back to all that was dear

Home, family and land all in tear.

Many a distrust he saw, many disagree.

His noble cause he wished the people would see.

And so trust they gave their king, his advice they would heed.

The path of betterment was near, he had planted the seed.

His legacy is still remembered to this day,

All ideas, all efforts we shall hope to stay.

And so King Harald we in songs will praise

To commemorate his everlasting grace.

-- skald Aleo Rukkison

Written by Sir Kydric