Skargad

## The Skärgåd

The Territories of the Skärgåd are highlighted in blue.

   The Skärgåd are a pale skinned, tall, well fed people. Skärgåders maritime prowess is unmatched, granting them control of the sea even over the dominion. Skärgådland joined the coalition against Rellas due to Rellas’ insistence on expanding their navy, something they could not allow to happen. Social prestige is obtained through the collection of the skulls of worthy adversaries. Most Skärgåd homes have at least a few human skulls proudly on display.

### Food

Skärgåders drink a clear liquor made from fermenting potatoes and ageing it in wood barrels made from a subtle combination of different trees. They pride themselves in their pork and fish, smoked, cured and preserved in all ways imaginable. In fact, Skärgåd cuisine is considered the most toothsome in the whole realm. The Skärgåd believe that only the best food may fuel their bodies, helping them become superior warriors.

### Recreation

Feasting is a regular occurance in Skärgåd, with cooks wishing to display their culinary skill. Other passtimes include wrestling, hunting and gambling. On special occassions a young pig will be lathered with grease and set loose in a fenced area, any who catch are considered great warriors.

### History

Long ago a people inhabiting the northern tail of Reichlichia, now the homeland of the United Wuster Tribes, split off seeking better lands after the climate in the region turned arid. In 788 BT some headed north into Leuteboden, settling the fertile river valleys and warm water bays in the south of the landmass. The land to the north however was cold, rocky and mountainous, unsuitable for widespread agriculture but a perfect base for brigands and raiders to lie low and divide their spoils. Over the centuries these raiders would develop their own culture and beliefs, forming a resentment for sedentary societies and a reverence for violence and honour in combat. The oral histories of these people claim that in these early days their ancestors would venture as far north as the Continent, though until its rediscovery by the Rischnoy in 327 BT this was considered a baseless myth.

These northern marauders would eventually be forced to postpone the raiding of their progenitors when the agriculturalists upped their defences, creating defences around bridges, estuaries and settlements along the coast. In their ancient homeland of Reichlichia they would find the Wurster tribals to be lacking sufficient plunder, urging them further south. Here they found the relatively primitive and peaceful Whanau. These democratic monument building farmers put up little resistance against these hardened northerners.

Over the next century of raiding up and down the coasts far from their mountain lairs these seafaring people developed a strong naval tradition, developing their fast and sturdy longships as well as a name for themselves, the Skärgåd. This improvement in naval technology allowed them to be the first Menschen to travel beyond their home hemisphere and expand their raiding to the rest of the world. Headway was made on the northeastern Jaiting coast however the native’s already strong naval capabilities made gains too costly for the Skärgåd to stay long term.

It was to the east that the Skärgåd found their fortune, crossing the archipelago connecting Reichlichia to Liphuma they found a rich coastal empire in the Abantu people. At first the Abantu resorted to paying off the marauders but soon they learned that this only emboldened these light haired warrior people. The Skärgåd would play local populations against each other and use their decentralization to their advantage, taking payment to attack rival Skärgåd tribes and simply combining forces with them to punish the defenders.

These next few centuries of raiding made the Skärgåd one of the richest people in the world at the time. At the same time however this behaviour made them many enemies. Before long a coalition was formed to put an end to the demon-people and their incessant killing and plundering. This combined force of Gabbro, Qúndao, Rotu, and Abantu people pushed the Skärgåd near to ruination. It was only when Ivar the Good convinced the Skärgåd (a fractured alliance of warrior chiefs and tribal familial connections up until this point) to unify under one banner. The Kingdom of Skärgåd was established in 450 BT and it quickly overwhelmed the coalition.

Now a powerful and centralized force, the Skärgåd would continue to raid the weak and undefended for the coming centuries, further developing their warrior ethos. In 262 BT the Skärgåd would catch wind of a new land to their north. Figuring it to be the mythical land of legend that their ancestors had been unable to conquer from its savage locals, the Skärgåd jumped at the chance to flex their new civilizational might. Finding the Continent to be similar to their homeland the Skärgåd quickly settled its proximal coastline and got to raiding its adolescent Kingdoms.

Some claim that it was the Tumult that broke the courage of the Skärgåd, separating them from their holiest sites and cutting them off from weak, easily raidable targets. Whatever the case this loss of boldness was made manifest in 168 AT when the then King of Skärgåd declared a formal end to their raiding that has become the enduring policy of the Kingdom to the current day. Many despise the Kingdom’s new pacifist direction, yearning for the days of yore when honour and plunder were ripe for the taking and a man could make his name in glorious combat. Now they mostly content themselves with pursuits of gastronomy and games.

### Combat

All men of age in the Kingdom of Skärgåd are officially in the military, whether they are at war or not. Due to their lack of manpower, they fight in small surprise engagements, using the mobility of their ships to strike coastal targets at a moments notice. Battle-drunk and often brännvin drunk, a Skärgåd soldier is a flurry of steel and flesh, nothing strikes more fear in the heart of a man more than the battlecry of a Skärgåd Berserkr. Skärgåd are commonly employed as mercenaries.

### Governance

The Skärgåd are a patriarchal monarchy, though equal reverence is held for ancestors of both sexes, so long as they died gloriously in battle, of course. There is no place in Skärgåd for peace-mongering and the strong often domineer over the weak. It is custom for those to challenge their direct superior to combat for their position, leading to constant infighting and high ranking positions belonging to the most violent and pugnacious individuals.

### Contemporary Issues

It is clear for all to see that the Skärgåd-Dominion war is being unequivocally lost. After the encirclement and heroic last stand of Hingerfjord ended in its annexation and the crucifixion of its defenders, Skärgåd has been on the backfoot. Having the lowest population of any other state pre-war, manpower has always been a major concern. Many now believe it will take a miracle to save Skärgårdland from ruination.

Related topics

* Settlements
* Buildings
* People
* Homelands