Scandinavia/Fjerda

**Fjerda** is an icy northern nation, bordered by Ravka to the south and the True Sea to the west.

## Contents

* 1History
* 2Geography
* 3Settlements
* 4Demographics
	+ 4.1Known inhabitants
* 5Language
* 6Culture
	+ 6.1Appearance and clothing
	+ 6.2Daily life
* 7Government
* 8Military
* 9Behind the scenes
* 10Trivia
* 11References

## History

Fjerdans perceive Grisha power as dangerous and witch-like, and they train their *drüskelle* to hunt and kill Grisha. This hostility puts Fjerda at odds with Ravka, who train their Grisha as soldiers. According to Matthias Helvar, Ravka is "Fjerda's greatest enemy." The Fjerdans see Ravka's large number of Grisha as unnatural and dangerous.

Fjerda is well known for their heavy advancements in technology, like engines that power wagons and tanks, steel aircraft that works without Grisha Squallers, all in the span of one year. It is suspected by Ravka that Fabrikators under *jurda parem* had a hand in their achievements. They are also a proponent of testing *jurda parem* on the Grisha they capture.

## Geography

Fjerda harbors many mountains.*[citation needed]* The northernmost part of the Sikurzoi mountain range is known in Fjerda as the Elbjen, "elbows". The Isenvee, the northern sea, borders Fjerda to the north. Two large islands known as the Kenst Hjerte, "Broken Heart", are located north of the mainland. The Stelge River in western Fjerda runs from a mountain range to the True Sea at the port city of Elling.

## Settlements

* Djerholm - capital city
* Engelsberg - a fishing town
* Avfalle
* Elling
* Felsted
* Gäfvalle
* Gjela
* Kejerut
* Hjar
* Halmhend
* Overüt
* Kjerek

## Demographics

Typical Fjerdans have pale complexions, blue eyes, and blond hair. The Hedjut people, who live in northern Fjerda and in the cities and towns along the Stelge River, are an ethnic group who have tan skin and curly hair.

### Known inhabitants

* Matthias Helvar
* Jarl Brum
* Hanne Brum
* Ylva Brum
* Stigg
* Magnus Opjer
* Linnea Opjer
* Tatiana Lantsov
* Agathe Grimjer
* Rasmus Grimjer
* Joran

## Culture

### Appearance and clothing

Traditional Fjerdan attire includes thick clothing spun of rough materials that is often described as shapeless or ugly by the other nations. When Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar posed as Fjerdan defectors in Ketterdam, Nina wore a blonde wig, a dress that she describes as "dowdy," and a small knitted vest. According to Matthias, this is an outfit that maidens wear on the first day of *Roennigsdjel*, a Fjerdan festival. In this scene, Matthias wears a tufted cap and a woolly red vest, clothes that might be representative of what men in Fjerda wear. For Vinetkalla, the women participating are expected to dress in warm but flattering gowns.

Unmarried women are expected to braid their hair, while married women are allowed to wear it down. Fjerdan (male) soldiers, including *drüskelle*, wear their hair long. *Drüskelle* are forbidden to grow facial hair until they accomplish a mission on their own and are granted officer status, at which point they are permitted to grow a beard. There do not seem to be rules for men's hair outside the *drüskelle*, as Magnus Opjer sports a beard.

### Daily life

Fjerdan villages have village dances.

According to Matthias's description, there is a strict courtship culture in Fjerda. A man asks permission to have a chaperoned walk with the woman he's courting, and that a man is expected to dine with the woman's family at least three times before the two would be left alone together. Matthias says he would bring the woman he courts gifts, such as winter roses and a silver comb.

Fjerda has strict gender roles, which are specifically shown to be limiting to women. Fjerdan women, according to Matthias, speak quietly and do not flirt. There are many social taboos for women such as drinking alcohol or anything that would put their safety at risk. They are expected to marry whether they wish to or not, as lack of marriage is seen as an inconceivable shame. The only exception to many of these rules is devoting their lives to Djel, such as shaving their head and staying celibate.

## Government

Fjerda is ruled by the royal Grimjer family.

## Military

The Ice Court is Fjerda's military stronghold as well as the seat of the nobility of Fjerda. It is the headquarters of the *drüskelle*, soldiers specifically devoted to hunting Grisha.

## Trivia

* The Sildroher, a somewhat subspecies of humans, inhabit the waters off of the Fjerdan coasts.