Akiniwazisaga: The Inheritance Thieves
Page 29
“You do not wish to be a karl again? You do not desire your freedom?”
“It matters not to me. I have found a place here to serve the Lord and am content.”
The smile on Amr’s face was blood curdling. Leif saw it.
“Friar Amr!” Leif bellowed with the offense. “Give me your oath you shall not harm Friar Finn if he helps escort us to Dyrrvatn Kastali or on his return to Kynligrspiejl.”
With the grandest of deference and courtly grace, Amr turned to the Tronerving.
“With the greatest of pleasure, my Tign, I shall gladly obey. Not a hair on his head shall I harm. In the name of Mary, all the saints and-”
“Enough,” Leif cut him off. Amr returned to a beatific courtly smile and folded hands. Now Leif realized why his father hated obsequious courtiers.
“We have much to do and only a few hours for it. Nightfall is fast approaching, and this ship must get underway,” Leif commanded, and all hands went to work.
Darkness fell on Eitrfjord, and the lights of the Silfryxen winked out one by one as she steamed into the open lake, forsaking the makeshift company of seven into the hands of God.
###
To be continued in book three:
Akiniwazisaga
Into The High Places
Encyclopedia Akiniwazi
Language
Nickames & Terms of Endearment
Elskling
[EHLSK-ling]
Darling
Kjaere
[CHEH-reh]
Dear or precious. Often "kjaere mann" for dear man or husband, or “kjaere kvinne" for dear woman. “Kjaere kone” means “Dear Wife”.
Slang & Colorful Colloquialisms
Bacraut
[bah-KROWT]
Asshole
Baksteypa
[BAHK-stay-pah]
Backstabber (Plural Baksteypir)
Fubrande
[foo-BRAHN-deh]
An insult; literally means “arse log”. A piece of wood used below the horse’s tail to prevent a certain type of sleigh from slipping too far forward when going downhill.
Fy da
[FEE-dah]
An expression of great disgust.
Gobermouch
Old Irish. A meddler and gossip.
Greithr
[GREH-thur]
Slang for agreement. Okay, all right, sure thing, so be it.
Grjonuxa
[grohn-OOX-sah]
Grain Ox. Someone who is slow or plodding. Someone who is ungainly or ugly. Pedestrian and undesirable.
Hrodinefr
[ROWD-NEH-fur]
Snotnose
Kjaetterhund
[CHET-ur-HOOND]
Heretic dog
Lort'e
[LOR-tay]
A turd. Feces.
Oj
[OY]
“Hey,’ “Oh” or “Oy Vey.”
Sipill
[SIP-pill]
Potlicker
Skeiturhuth
[SKEE-tur-HOOTH]
Dirt (dung) skin. A nasty pejorative toward anyone of dark complexion. Saved mostly for Skaerslinger or Inuit descent.
Skrott'e
[SKROH-tay]
A carcass
Used to describe a person who is lazy and/or of little value.
Svikari
[svih-KAH-ree]
Traitor
Tambakkji
[tam-BAHK-yeh]
A cheap alloy. Used to describe a person you dislike.
Thu vethur
[THOO VEH-thuhr]
You bet. A phrase of agreement, or emphasis.
Tjovekjakji
[TEE-YOH-va-CHA-chi]
A thief. Literally “thief’s cheek.”
Uff Da
[UHF-dah]
An expression of unpleasant or startling surprise.
Places
Cities and Towns
Dyrrvatn Kastali
[die-err-VAH-ten kah-STA-lee]
Doorway Lakes Castle
The capital of Akiniwazi and its largest city located at the portage of the Athrflojt in the chain of the Faellgallervatn. It is located on an Isthmus between two artificial lakes, the Dyrrvatn and the Faellgallervatn.
Fjellporten
[fee-YEL-por-tan]
Gateway to the Mountains. Capital city of Wanishinabinoogiland, and site of the palace of Jarl Vilhoaettir the Towrnvilhoaettir.
Helligevagr
[hy-LI-gay-VAH-gur]
Holy Bay
City ruled by Lendmann Mother Ulla Martensdottir Asbjornaettir on Lake Neezhoday, to the north of Ulfhaugrstrond.
Keldathingplassen
[KEL-dah-ting-PLAH-sen]
The location of the Keldathing, the holy court of the Kyrkja, centered around an artesian spring surrounded by a Romanesque inspired amphitheater and colonnades.
Kynligrspiejl
[kin-LY-gur-speel]
Wondrous Mirror
A small town with a Havarian estate located on a large island in the middle of Lake Wanishinabinoogi. It also includes a Kyrkja bank that trades for the precious stones and metals found on the shores of the lake.
Mannvoenlandnaam
[mahn-VAIN-lahnd-nahm]
Promising Settlement
The first settlement in Akiniwazi set on the mouth of the Athrflodjt. Location of the Sumarpalasset.
Ulfshaugrstrond
[Oolfs-HOW-gur-strond]
Ulf’s Grave Mound Beach
The Home City of the Kyrkja. It is the location of the Keldathing, the highest ecclesiastical court in all Akiniwazi. This is where the Cardinal of Akiniwazi administers and guides the Kyrkja and all its sects. It is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Neezhoday. Named after Saint Ulf, the founder of the sects of the Kyrkja, who is entombed there.
Dyrrvatn Kastali Locations
Blessath Borth Inn
[BLESS-ath BOR-ath]
The Blessed Table. A small inn in the Truartorg neighborhood near the Domkyrkjeplassen.
Domkyrkje
[dohm-HEER-hyah]
The name of the Dyrrvatn Kastali Cathedral, the first cathedral built in Akiniwazi.
Domkyrkjeplassen
[dohm-HEER-keh-PLAH-sen]
“Cathedral Plaza.” The location of Dyrrvatn Kastali Cathedral. It is a circular plaza surrounded by seven avenues that radiate out throughout the city named after each sect, with the eighth being Haertak Boulevard. It is located in the center of the city near the north shore of the isthmus between the lakes of Dyrrvatn, to the south, and Faellgallervatn, to the north.
Haertak Boulevard
[HAIR-tahk]
“Conquest Boulevard”
One of the rare bricked streets in the Akiniwazi Union. A memorial boulevard, lined with trees and statuary dedicated to famous jarls and every Visekonge. It reaches from the Visekongehagen to Domkirkeplassen at the center of the isthmus in which the city is built. This is more of the Hird and society boulevard, lined with rich shops, mansions and apartments for courtiers.
Halmarpakt Boulevard
[HAL-mar-PAKT]
Named to commemorate the creation of the Akiniwazi Union and the voluntary subjugation of the twelve jarls under the Sveinnaettir.
Helgon Koenraad Boulevard
[HEL-gon-KOH-en-rahd]
A secondary avenue that starts at the Kronaplassen and travels north east to the Koenraadian University.
Kronapalasset
[KRO-nah-PAH-la-set]
Crown Palace
The palace home of the Visekonge and seat of all power in the Akiniwazi Union. Located in Dyrrvatn Kastali. Built in the center of the Kastaliplassen, which is a semi fortified trelleborg surrounded by government buildings and the hub for the eight main "spoke" boulevards in the city.
Kronaplassen
[KRO-nah-PLAH-sen]
Crown Plaza
The fortified neighborhood with all the services and housing for the Visekonge's palace. It is located in the middle of
of the Dyrrvatn Kastali Ithsmus on a small hill allowing it to see the far shores of both Dyrrvatn and the channel to Lake Ishkode in the south and Faellgallervatr to the north which is the headwaters of the Athrflojt.
It is a double trelleborg measuring almost a mile in diameter. The outer perimeter is a circle of stone buildings filled with a variety of services and businesses connected to the operation of the government. These buildings act as an outer wall with gates that can be closed. The inner trelleborg style bailey is a relatively short stone wall and berm, which is 8 yards thick and filled with a network of fortified tunnels and chambers and is only 10 yards tall. The center of the large plaza is the Visekonge's Palace, the Kronapallaset, and four main outer buildings set in the pattern of the Jerusalem Cross. The complex has four main gates to the cardinal directions, with four secondary gates.
Statsraadplassen
[STAHTS-rahd-PLAH-sen]
Statsraad Plaza
The plaza where the manor houses and mansions of members of the Privy Council and representatives of the jarls live when they are in the city.
Toinnsjokanalen
[tao-IN-sho-KAN-ah-len]
Two Lakes Canal.
Located at the thinnest point between the artificial lakes of Dyrrvatn and Faellgallervatn and provide vital passage that crosses the watershed over the isthmus of Dyrrvatn Kastali. It was an impressive feat of engineering for its day, but has never become fully functional. Due to the nature of the watershed, the locks to the Faelgallrvatn are often closed due to sediment fill and slow currents.
The canal is now used mostly for Hird ship berths for quick access to the Statsraadplassen,and freight offloading and transloading to the ribbonroads and carts.
Truartorg
[TRU-ahr-torg]
Faith Square
A small neighborhood near the Domkyrkjeplassen.
Visekongehagen
[VIH-seh-KON-geh-hagen]
The Visekonge’s Garden
A public landing and garden strip on the southern side of Dyrrvatn Kastali. Used for more social events, popular with the Hird as a promenade.
Geographical Features
Amossonkanal
[AY-moh-son-KAH-nahl]
A great canal and string of locks in Mestrflosslidhaland to bypass the great waterfall and connects the lower two lakes for shipping. Named after its architect Herre Amosson.
Athrflojt
[AY-thur-flawt]
First River
This was the first river discovered in Akiniwazi. It has the oldest settlements and is the most populated area in the land.
Blawisflojt
[BLAW-ees-flawt]
Blue Ice River
This is the river that flows east southeast from Lake Wanishinabinoogi to the western shores of Lake Ogimaque. It is named for the frequent chunks of calved glacial ice that often float down its length.
Brestoeyane
[BRES-toy-YAH-neh]
Shattered Archipelago
Located at the confluence of Lakes Ogimaque, Lake Manitou to the south east shore where it connects to Lake Neezhoday’s far western end. It is the most highly traveled and dangerous point for ships on the lakes.
Dyrrvatn
[DIE-uhr-VAH-ten]
Doorway Lake. An artificial lake that forms the southern shore of the Dyrrvatn Kastali Isthmus. It is connected to Lake Ishkode to the south by a short river and runs no deeper than twenty feet at its deepest point.
Eitrfjord
[EYE-tur-fee-ord]
Poison Fjord
A small concealed fjord on Lake Wanishinabinoogi.
Faellgallervatn
[FAY-el-GAL-ehr-vah-TEN]
Portcullis Lake
The Faelgallervatn is the lake that makes up the northern shore of the Dyrrvatn Kastali Isthmus. It is an artificial lake, created to destroy demonic sites of worship for the Skaerslinger and to bridge the Athrflojt to the rest of the lakes, forming a new drainage path for Akiniwazi. The project was a failure, but the lake is maintained. It is connected to the south by the Toinnsjokanalen, which allows occasional water access between it and the Dyrrvatn. It was also the site of the battle waged by Saint Ragnar and preceded the discovery of the seven freshwater seas which allowed the exploration of Akiniwazi.
Gamleverden
[GAHM-leh-VER-den]
The Old World
The name for Europe, Africa and Asia. Often also used for their traditional homelands of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Greenland and other territories.
Grohstahyrmunnr
[GROH-sty-uhr-MOON-ur]
Cataract’s Mouth.
The last bay before the cataract through the mountains.
Hitiloptoeyer
[hy-TEE-lopt-OH-yehr]
Flame Sky Island
A large island with a small chain of smaller ones located near the Eastern shore of Lake Ishkode.
Kisiina Sea
[kih-SEE-nah]
The sea that forms the northern shore of Akiniwazi. For many centuries the Kisiina Sea was clear and filled with ships coming from the Gamleverden. In 1266 AD came Fimbulvetr. For two years, winter kept hold, making for a stunted growing season and snow stayed all year round. The Kisiina Sea became an impassable slurry of moving ice flows and deadly storms.
Lake Bawajigaywin
[bah-WAH-jee-gay-win]
Lake Bawagii, as locals call it, is often envisioned as the temper tantrum prone little girl. She can throw up a fuss with the slightest wind and consistently freezes over. She is the southernmost lake and has the balmiest climate of them all. She is also the second to last lake before the Grand Cataract empties them all into the ocean. At her eastern shore, is a giant waterfall that no ship can survive, but over the centuries, the Forsamling have created their greatest engineering achievement: The Amossonkanal.
Lake Ishkode
[EESH-koh-day]
Lake Ishkode is the last lake before the Cataract empties out through the Grohstahyrmunnr into the ocean in an impassable torrent. Along some of its southern shore, hot springs, geysers and mud pots boil and bubble, heating the rivers that pour into her. This spirit of flame also seems to attack even the ships upon it, for more ships burn here than anywhere else. Her wealth in heat induced rarities make her a bounty of wildlife and fauna both on her shores and in her
Lake Manitou
[MAN-ih-too]
Lake Manitou’s shape leaves few safe harbors for the heavy traffic and high population. Huge seas roll up and down its length with the winds, and her few bays are treacherous with winds and rocks are a danger to shipping. If that were not enough, the dead are even more restless here. There are islands that appear and disappear, ships that continue to sail but never reach port.
Despite the danger, Lake Manitou is the most populous of the lakes for she is surrounded by fertile farmland. At her northernmost point is the Confluence, a connecting point between her neighboring lakes, Lakes Ogimaque and Neezhoday. These three lakes are called the “Elder Sisters.” Lake Manitou freezes completely over in only the coldest and calmest winters.
Lake Neezhoday
[NEEZ-ho-day]
Lake Neezhoday is two lakes in one. Her massive bay, Halfrhjartavagr, is almost a lake unto itself. Although not as big or as deep as Ogimaque, she can be just as violent and deadly. Between the eastern and western halves of the lake sit the Siloeyane, the largest chain of islands in Akiniwazi.
At her easternmost point, where Lakes Ogimaque and Manitou connect to her, is the Brestoeyane, a treacherous set of islands and the Confluence where both lakes pour their water into Neezhoday causing rogue currents and swells. These can sweep unaware ships onto the rocks and islands.
The seasons and weather alter the flow giving the lake a “heartbeat” causing strange undulations of the water. Neezhoday also sports another large southwestern bay, the Erfithursandarvatn with treacherous bars, silting and cross currents. Lake Neezhoday has a strange tendency to freeze over only one half at a time. Only during the
coldest of winters do both halves freeze over.
Lake Ninabemnibo
[NEE-nah-behm-NEE-boh]
Lying in the center of a low flatland swamp, Lake Ninabemnibo Is a lace of islands skirted in swamps and bogs. It is rich in peat and tars that ooze from the ground. The lake is riddled with over a thousand islands which makes it the perfect place for smugglers and vikings. Although it does not have big cities on its shores, it is peppered with small ports and villages, sometimes better known by their island name. Birds seem to be attracted to this land for it is rich in food. It is connected on its north shore by a long winding river that flows to Lake Ogimaque. It is fed by hundreds of streams and a few very small rivers that come from the rainy reaches of the South West ranges of the Ondeaandkorgfjall.
Lake Ogimaque
[Ohg-ee-mah-kay]
Lake Ogimaque is the largest, deepest lake in Akiniwazi. Even the fastest steamknarr takes over 3 days to cross her from end to end. Her shores are a rocky and foreboding mixture of ice, snow, rock, and sand in all seasons. She is not the farthest north of all the lakes, but she is the coldest but never completely freezes across, because of her size and power. Near the eastern shore sits Ogimaak Mikwam Island, an island regarded as holy ground to the Skaerslinger.