Jorvik

A well-pastured land, Jorvik is a republic divided into six states, which prides itself on being a center of commerce. Its complex electoral and state system has generated a thriving bureaucracy, while the abundance of paper and roads allow news and ideas to flow freely. Of all the Lands, Jorvik is the loudest, the brightest, the hungriest. Others believe in gods or kings or history, but Jorvik's people believe in Jorvik.

Each state, Lakester, Worses, Damsfield, Hendam, Havajo, and Grensheir, holds staggered elections for three junior, two senior, and one head senator, generally chosen from one of the three major parties.

The junior senators move about a great deal, meeting people, seeing the land, campaigning, and acting as go-betweens for the senior and head senators. Senior senators stay in the states themselves, tending to business and keeping in touch with the populace. To become a senior senator, one must spend at least a term as a junior senator.

The head senators reside in the capital city of Parston in Grensheir, and towards the end of their term rotate into acting as president of Jorvik. To become a head senator, one must spend at least a term as a senior senator. Having served two years as president, they are never again eligible for election to public office.

Jorvik abuts many Borderlands and trades with them heavily (some may say predatorily), but also has dangerous realms on many sides, so maintains a strong volunteer army, the only such one in the Treaty. Jorvians enjoy great freedom of religion, though most follow a somewhat loose interpretation of the House of Ellis.

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Daily Life

Most clothing in Jorvik is linen. Looser cuts with banded trims and collars are popular, with women favoring skirts and men heavier trousers. Sandals are preferred, but thick-soled oilcloth shoes are worn in the cold and rain, which also bring out the oilcloth greatcloaks and wool sweaters. Jorvik is a great importer of dyes, and its cloths tend to be vibrant fields of single colors with contrasting trims. Within these, small patterned areas and bits of metallic thread are the usual decoration. While most people wear relatively little jewelry, implements of office or work are often richly carved and adorned.

Government officials wear jackets or blazers whose length is determined by their station. Junior senators take up staffs of office, which are useful in their travels, and become decorated with numerous small trinkets and trophies from the people they aid. There is a fine collection of presidential staffs on display at the capitol museum.

The Jorvian national tooth is a sweet one. They import a great deal of maple syrup from more northern lands and refine corn and fruit sugars. A strain of harvester roasp raised here laces its papery hive with nectar which is milled out to powder in the late autumn. All these make their way into jams and spreads to grace their bread and to sauce their meats and beans.

Jorvik produces and consumes the greatest variety of alcohol of all the nations. Most towns have a specialty liquor or wine incorporating some special regional ingredients - rivalries and competitions are common. Most homes keep their own barrels of strong hard cider, turning some to applejack or ice wine for special observances. Jorvians brew and distill not just common grain and grapes, but incorporate spices, gourds, berries, fruits, and all matter of herbs.

Attendance of Jorvik's extensive public school system is compulsory every four years, though many send their children more often if finances allow. Teachers are expected to move between schools every decade or so to keep the curriculum fresh and avoid establishing favorites or legacies. The exception to this is tenured staff at the storied Hendam University.