Akiniwazisaga: The Inheritance Thieves

by M. D. Boncher

  It is said that the demon Ogimaak Mikwam, the Ice Queen, rules the lake from a temple on that island and the lake takes on her personality. The lake is cold, violently tempered and never gives up what she takes. The surrounding territory is vastly wealthy in food and minerals.

  Lake Wanishinabinoogi

  [wah-nah-SHEE-nah-bih-noo-gee]

  At the highest altitude, Lake Wanishi, as the locals call it, collects the runoff for the northwestern Ondeaandkorgfjall mountains. The lake is the first to freeze over, and the last to thaw. Ice often persists on her shores in the middle of summer. Isolated, with very few towns around it, she is the smallest lake, and it is always possible to see at least one shore at all times. Several glaciers calve into her waters, threatening shipping and keeping her waters almost as cold as that of Lake Ogimaque which she empties into through the Blawisflojt from her southern tip.

  The mountains surrounding the lake have a powerful attraction, for they are rich in gemstones.

  Mestrfosslitha

  [meh-STIR-foss-LEE-tah]

  Greatest Waterfall Pass

  The valley connecting Lakes Bawajigaywin and Lake Ishkode. It is the site of the Amossonkanalen.

  Neinnvanbjarg

  [NINE-van-BE-arg]

  No Hope Rock

  A moderate sized island with a wood lot for steamknarr that ply the lakes.

  Ogimaak Mikwam Island

  [OH-gih-mahk MIK-wahm]

  Island of the Ice Queen

  This island is the claimed home of the demonic spirit, Ogimaak Mikwam. The Visekonge has assembled two fortresses with strong fleets of longboats to maintain watch on this spiritually active island. Forsamling ships are required on pain of death to stay clear of the island and never land on it. If they are to be wrecked on her shores, it is said captains will scuttle their own ships and die in the waves rather than be found there. It is thought that several thousand Skaerslinger live on this island.

  Ondeaandkorgfjall

  [OHN-day-and-korg-fee-ahl]

  Evil Spirit’s Basket Mountains

  The series of mountain ranges that surrounds Akiniwazi to the east, south and west.

  Silenoeyane

  [sigh-LEN-OOH-yah-nay]

  The Sieve Archipelago

  A major island chain in the middle of Lake Neezhoday. It is very hazardous to ships as it contains many reefs, bars and other “pinnacles of doom.” It is also subject to extremely strong currents as the waters of the upper four lakes drain through this point and combine with storm fronts to push water back and forth through their narrow channels and dozens of islands.

  Storrmithirdalr

  [stor-MITH-ur-DAHL-ur]

  Great Middle Valley

  Tordenviki

  [TOR-den-vee-keh]

  Thunder Bay.

  This town and bay has earned the name because of a strange geographic anomaly where a cliff wall at the mouth of the bay is battered by the waves creating a unique booming sound that can be heard for miles inland and tens of miles to the mouth of the Blawisflojt. The locals often can tell the conditions on the lake by the volume and frequency of the booms.

  Vesterhavet

  [VES-ter-HA-vet]

  The Western Ocean

  The name the Vikings ancestors of the Forsamling gave the Atlantic Ocean. Although, to the inhabitants of Akiniwazi, this is to their east, they still refer to it by its traditional name.

  Vithrfljot

  [vi-THUR-floht ]

  Wide River

  A long river of relatively little current that connects between the southernmost tip of Lake Neezhoday to the western shore of Lake Bawajigaywin.

  Political, Military & Miscellany

  Akiniwazi

  [ah-KEE-nih-WAH-zee]

  Land of the Seven Freshwater Seas

  Discovered in approximately 800AD by Vikings, it was considered a second Eden by many who explored it. Plants and game are plentiful, but wild. Domesticated animals and crops brought over to the land tended to not fare well, and most died off completely. It was discovered that the land was spiritually active, expressed by the belief that the veil between heaven and hell was thin. Prayer, worship and the gifts of the spirit gave spectacular manifestations by those who came to the land, as well as supernatural activity. In 1266 came Fimbulvetr, a period of two years that saw almost no summer, and the sea routes to the Gamleverden was blocked with never-ending icefloes and bergs. The mountains surrounding the land were also impassable mountains, cutting off the lands of Akiniwazi possibly forever.

  Athrvorthfestning

  [AH-thur-vorth-FEST-ning]

  First Watch Fortress

  The eastern fortress protecting the Brestoeyane from vikings and Skaerslinger, and patrolling the waters around Ogimaak Mikwam Island.

  Barskogaborg

  [bar-SKO-gah-borg]

  Taiga Castle

  A chateau style fortress with a high stone tower and bridge that serves as the river gate on the Blawisflojt and the taxation point for travel between Lake Ogimaque and Lake Wanashinabinoogi.

  Djevleportfestning

  [DEE-yeh-vehl-PORT-fest-NING]

  Devil’s Gate Fortress.

  The easternmost military fortification before the entrance to the great cataract into the eastern ranges of the Ondeaandkorgfjall and the supposed home of the Storm King, Ogimaa Nichiiwad, the demonic master of all Akiniwazi.

  Nikanaltollbu

  [ny-KAN-ahl-TOHL-boo]

  Lower Canal Tollbooth

  A fortress located at the base of the Amossonkanal in Mestrfosslithaland. It is similar to but larger than the Barskogaborg.

  Sjuheilagdomen

  [choo-HEY-lag-DOW-men]

  Seven Saints Shrine

  A shrine created to honor the seven sects of the Kyrkja and the man who envisioned the organization of the modern Kyrkja, Saint Ulf.

  Sumarpalasset

  [SOO-mar-pah-LAH-set]

  The Summer Palace

  The summer palace is where the Visekonge conducts business from Midsummer's eve to the end of August when they return to Dyrrvatn Kastali.

  Towrnvilhoaettir

  [TA-OHRN-vil-oh-EH-tur]

  The seat of power for Jarl Vilhoaettir. It is a six story tower built in the middle of Fjellporten on a small hill. A mead hall known as the Jarl's Hall was built next to it for social gatherings, feasts, holidays, Things and other community functions.

  Society

  The Hird

  The Hird is the royal structure of government in Akiniwazi that was formed in 1302 A.D. or 35 A.S., which stands for Ad Segregationem denoting the beginning of isolation from the world following the end of Fimbulvetr by Akiniwazi reckoning. It was the result of Visekonge Halmar Mikkelsson Sveinnaettir negotiating a truce between the warring jarls and ending The Aettirkrigen. This allowed for organizing a new aettir peerage that addressed many grievances of the clans and families and also formalized the aettir structure. This provided stability for tradition and new growth, hierarchy and a much smoother succession of power as time went on. The agreement was called the Halmarpakt and created the Akiniwazi Union which delineated the structure and territories of the land.

  Lineage of the Sveinnaettir Dynasty

  Halmar Mikkelsson the Uniter - Founder of the Akiniwazi Union

  Axel Halmarsson the Peaceful

  Boje Axelsson the Builder of the Palace

  Cruim Bojesson the Crooked – Died/Assassinated.

  Hrollief Ahlstrohm the Savior

  Trigg Nyqvist the New Branch

  Mikkel Triggsson the Fierce

  Erick Mikkelsson the Resolute

  Oysten Ericksson the Joyful

  Wyck Oystensson the Clever

  Vidar Wycksson the Bold

  Gregor Vidarsson *Current Visekonge

  The Statsraad

  This is the ruling body of the Akiniwazi Union, created by the Halmarpakt in 1302. It consists of a fluctuating body centered around the thirteen lands of the Union. These are represented by the jar
ls directly or their designated factors and approved counsellors. There is a mutable extended membership of the Statsraad that serves at the pleasure of the Visekonge. These members are prominent members of the Hird as well as representatives of business owners and wealthy aettir, influential artists, philosophers and other educated men of the day.

  The Statsraad have their own tables in which to manage the needs of the Union and advise the Visekonge. The Statsraad may overrule the Visekonge only with a unanimous vote of all the jarls, represented in person, and not by factor or counsellor. In this manner the bureaucracy of the government is delegated and managed.

  The Privy Council

  In addition to the Statsraad, each table is lead by a special advisor to the Crown known as the Privy Council. This consists of men chosen to personally oversee and focus the Statsraad members with the germane business of the bureaucracy. These positions include:

  The Chancellor – Highest judge in the Union and chief of the guard

  Stallare Marshal – The general in charge of all the Crown’s army

  Admiral – Highest naval officer in charge of all the Crown’s naval forces

  Crown Chaplain – Spiritual advisor to the Crown

  Minister of the Exchequer – Chief accountant and tax collector

  Minister of the Wardrobe – Personal assistant to the family of the Visekonge and master of all the Crown household.

  The Coroner – Chief bureaucrat, Keeper of the Census and all Crown records, Curator of the Bok av Familiar

  Aettir Peerage

  Society in Akiniwazi is formed around the family structure, followed by extended family and clans which creates the political construct of the aettir. The aettir follow back to a common ancestor as is found in most feudalistic or monarchic societies. There are only thirteen dynastic aettir in Akiniwazi, all of which relate back to the nobility of the Gamleverden royal lineage, the sea captains who ferried settlers to live in Akiniwazi or a set of powerful men who became influential enough to take over power from those aettir that collapsed during the Aettirkrigen that began shortly after Fimbulvetr and ended in the Halmarpakt.

  To solve the problem of new aettir and significantly more family lines, a new hierarchy of peerage was created to reflect the contributions of other aettir in the land. Often the origination of a new aettir was in the accomplishment of great acts or services to the Hird, the system is perpetually growing, which then leads to a hierarchy of the aettir, forming their own social structure as explained below. Once an aettir is part of the peerage, it can only be removed by the bloodline dying off or by being supplanted through marriage. In extreme cases, some have been stripped of their status for treason to the Hird.

  There are considered six levels of aettir peerage in Akiniwazi. The highest is called the Hird, while the lowest is the Fellesaettir or “Common Aettir” that has no real organization or recognition. With the merits of members associated with them, they can gain status, and therefore common power among the Forsamling. An aettir is recognized in its status and therefore grouped by the following:

  Vapenaettir

  [VAH-pen-EH-ter]

  Crested Aettir

  These bloodlines are allowed Heraldic crests and mottos in addition to possessing fiefs and lands as well as their colors and crests given due to great fealty and accomplishment to the Visekonge. Members of the klan are required to wear their heraldry at all special occasions and are considered the most senior of the families that do not possess a jarldom. They are often headed by a lendmann, herse or huskarl.

  Landetaettir

  [LAN-det-EH-ter]

  Landed Aettir

  These clans are allowed fiefs and lands as reward for service to the Crown or by their own enterprise. These were provided the privilege of recognized colors. They often were given much better titles and greater power as the Visekonge wished to rule in concert with the forming blocs of power. Any crest provided must be that of their patron jarl.

  Fargeaettir

  [FAR-jee-EH-ter]

  Colored Aettir

  Loyal retainers to the Crown or jarls are given the merit of aettir colors. Although they are given the distinction their own of heraldic colors, they take the crest of their patron jarl through which the merits were given.

  Sivuaettir

  [SIH-voo-EH-ter]

  Paged Aettir

  These are aettir who do not have land, colors or a crest, but nonetheless are recognized by the Hird in the “Bok av Familier” or “Book of Families” which is an official census and have their own pages in that book. These families can often trace their history back to the Gamleverden, which is part of why they are recognized as important families who immigrated by choice.

  Fellesaettir

  [FEH-les-EH-ter]

  Common Aettir

  These are unrecognized families by the Hird. They are known locally but carry no real political, legal or military weight. They are more or less a way to categorize families. This group of aettir often consist of Forsamling brought as thralls, exiles or from conquered lands by Denmark, Norway or Sweden. Those bearing Irish, English, French, Inuit or other non-traditional names and geneology are often treated like second class citizens by those in the other aettir.

  Hird Titles (In Order of Precedence)

  Visekonge

  [VEE-say-KON-gay]

  The Viceroy or Vice King. Addressed as “my Tign.” This is the highest noble rank in the land. The original appointment was created by King Haakon IV of Norway through his youngest son, Sveinn to act in his stead in an effort to stabilize fractious jarls in Akiniwazi. The Visekonge is the defacto king of Akiniwazi but since the Isolation, it has taken on the actual mantle-ship of a King, but maintains the title Visekonge in respect to its origin, but no longer recognizes any other Earthly superior.

  Visedronning

  [VEE-say-DROH-ning]

  Vice Queen

  The wife of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”

  Tronerving

  [TROH-nur-ving]

  Heir to the Throne

  The eldest child, destined to be Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”

  Kronasson

  [KROH-nah-sun]

  Crown son

  Son of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”

  Kronadottir

  [KROH-nah-DAW-tur]

  Crown daughter

  Daughter of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”

  Jarl

  [YAH-rul]

  An Earl. Addressed as “Den Aerefulle” (The Honorable) by introduction or “Deres Naade” (Your Grace) as a nonspecific form of address. Det Aerefulle Herre or Dame Ogimaque. This title was given to the heads of the 13 families that make up the Royal Hird. Jarls are always landed titles. There is one jarl per lake and major settled river system.

  Jarlsonn

  [YAH-rul-sun]

  Jarl’s son

  The son of a Jarl. Addressed as “Deres Naade” or introduced as “Den Aerefulle.”

  Herse

  [HEHR-say]

  A Baron and their land holding. Addressed as “Hovding” or “Hovdingfrue” (Hovdingfrue Tungloddr). The title used for the local representative of the Visekonge. It is usually a military title used more often with fortifications, it can also be the equivalent of a mayor or count to run an isolated territory that would be difficult to rule otherwise. They are more often appointed by a jarl. In local affairs, they have an incredible amount of autonomy and power, with much smaller territory, as they speak on the behalf of their jarl.

  Lendmann

  [LEN-de-mahn]

  A Count or Countess.

  Addressed as Lendmann for either gender by using their given name after their title (Lendmann Ulla) or Greve (Male) Grevinne (female) are also common forms of address. Lendmenn run local affairs for the jarl or Herse. Often of an allied aettir (plural Lendmenn).

  Huskarl

  [HOOS-kar-ul]

  House Man

  An armed retainer or house gu
ard with a limited number that accompany a member of the Hird. Unlanded nobility. They have two honorifics, sjef or meistari, depending on their function. A sjef is typically a leader of a group of soldiers, while meistari is used for berserkers and the ennobled title. Ennoblement is typically done for Huskarls who serve in a governmental capacity for the Hird.

  Armann

  [AR-mahn]

  A courtier or Hird official. Although a member of the Hird and granted ennoblement, they do not have land but rather a royal office that is theirs as long as they are in position. Often this title is used for administrators of the Visekonge or in the Hird of the jarl. They have the right to command huskarls and Haulds. Given the honorific “Herre or Dame.”

  Hauld

  [HAW-uld]

  Ennobled Farmer or businessman. The lowest form of royalty but is not hereditary. Given for extraordinary service to the Hird. Allowed the honorific “Herre or Dame.”

  Forms of Address and Social Status

  Berserker

  [bur-SUR-kur]

  This title is bestowed on champion warriors often blessed with great spiritual gifts for battle. Every jarl has one berserker whom he uses as his personal champion. This is a much sought after title among warriors in the army and the huskarls. As a sign of their station they are awarded the Bear Shirt, a cloak made from the hide of a bear, often with the head still attached and given a gold medallion denoting his patron. The design varies from jarl to jarl.