Quick Facts
Government - Diarchy
Religion - Oritavir
Ethnicity - Fjolls
Pinterest board - Fjollvan Islands
The Fjollvan islands are a group of four islands: Kell, Helfre, Kalte, and Dasu. The islands are known for their unique relationships with the selkies of the arctic sea.
The government of the Fjollvan islands is a diarchy, ruling land and sea. On land, the king of Ikrans rules with strength and honor. In the sea, the queen of selkies rules with wisdom and grace. When a king or queen is old enough, they go among the people and choose a worthy heir. This is meant to keep the power from one family or group, and allows any worthy person a chance of making a change. Below the king are the Jani, or Vishi nobles. They act as mediators between the king and the people. Below the queen are Tiktiks, the selkie scholars. They act as councilors and wisewomen, advising the people and the queen. The next level down are the land dwelling Tani and the selkie Lakits. They are the artisans and specialists of their groups. The last level is comprised of the Mani and Ritiks. They are the backbone of the Fjollvan culture, and fulfill many different roles.
Fjolls are known for their friendship and their wilingness to celebrate everything, from a birth to the midsummer festival to a child helping cook for the first time. The culture puts emphasis on enjoying life and making everything meaningful.
On land, Fjollvan architecture is often built close to the sea. Houses are cylindrical in shape, with conical roofs made from wood. The base of the hosue is made of wood and stone, and the stones are often designed in an interlocking pattern. Most houses are big enough for two or three people to live, and larger families live in clusters of houses, connected with walls and positioned around a central courtyard. The royal house is made of ten different houses, some providing roles such as kitchens or storage, others becoming rooms for the royalty. Underwater, the architecture of the selkies is very open, built in the shallow water. Selkie homes are often seen from the coast as large domes made of rock, or tents of woven kelp propped up on sticks. These houses have underwater entrances, but inside are open and only have a shallow level of water. The buildings on the coast are a blend of the two styles. The shape of the house resembles the land houses, with a larger base of rock. The rocks at the base form an arch that selkies can swim into, entering the aquatic section of the house. This section takes up half the floor space, and becomes shallower as a person nears the land area. The land half has a stone floor with simple furniture. Often in these houses, belongings are stored hanging from the ceiling, and furniture is shorter to accomodate selkie bodies.
Fjollvan land clothing is loose and warm, keeping the cold and wet environment out. Typical robes reach down to the knees and have sleeves that reach to the hands, with finger holes at the end. The robes are fastened with pins made of bone, and can have anywhere from 10-30 pins, depending on the person and rank. Underneath the robes, simple wool pants are worn, along with an undershirt. Shoes are made of hide, and lace up the sides to mid-shin. Knee-high wool socks are worn underneath. Fjollvanic cuisine is easy and relies on the ocean and animals for most foods. On the coasts, the most common foods are fish, sea birds, eggs, and seaweed. Selkies have only recently began eating cooked foods, but most young selkies are used to cooked and dried foods. The most common dish is Paktilik, which consists of fried eggs and fish wrapped with seaweed. Food is often wrapped in seaweed for long travels. Polar bear is a rare delicacy, only hunted in the winter season. In the interior, the most common foods are tubers, caribou, berries, mutton, and birds. Most villages keep sheep, and often are set up near caribou crossings. Children help forage, learning from an early age about berries and roots. The most common food is Hylgin, a mutton and tuber stew, boiled in sheep milk.
The people from Fjollvan islands are known as Fjolls or Fjollvanic. Most inland people are Vityr, but on the coasts there is an even mix of vityr and selkie.
RELIGION
The Fjollvanic religion is shamanistic and polytheistic, with a variety of deities focused around water and weather.