Skalmere

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo."

-Quote attribution

Skalmere is a heavily forested nation in the northeast [region]. It is bordered by Deplyae to the west and the [ocean] to the south. It is known for its especially harsh anti-magic laws and warrior culture.

History

The land that would become Skalmere and its (currently unknown) northern and eastern neighbors was once inhabited by several different tribes. The harsh environment fed hostility, and territory frequently changed hands. Eventually, the tribes settled into three main groups and stabilized, though the countries born from them are still wary and conflict-prone today.

Skalmere derives its name from mere, an Old Skalian word for land or territory, and skal, which can be likened to a shieldbrother or partner, though the term's meaning has shifted over time (see Culture).

Due to its hostile neighbors and general culture of seclusion, Skalmere remains largely unfriendly to outsiders and strives for self-sufficiency. It does maintain a strong alliance with Ach Rhean based on economics and defense, and is politically neutral towards Deplyae, seeing it as too small to be much of a threat or help.

Dead Ridge Massacre

Approximately 50 years prior to Other Lost Things, Skalmere was engaged in war with its eastern neighbor. The war erupted after many years of border disputes, caused by the rivers that had once marked the borders shifting, then drying up entirely. The eastern neighbor had pushed their border west, and Skalmere's soldiers were sent to take back the land. One regiment chose to camp where the rivers had carved out a steep cliff, using the high ground and difficult terrain below to take out their enemies. After a few failed attempts to take the ridge, their opponents retreated.

The Skalian soldiers waited at their posts at first, but gradually began to relax when nothing happened. Surrounded by thick forests in a rarely-inhabited portion of the country, it was difficult to get news of how the war was progressing, and whether their enemy had truly surrendured. Some units were dispatched to other areas nearby that were still fighting. This lowering of the guard proved to be their downfall.

Having had time to recoup, plan, and traverse the rocky landscape far north of the soldiers, the eastern army returned to the cliffs and attacked the regiment. Soldiers were pinned against the cliff's edge, unable to retreat, and nearly all were killed or lost in the forest as they fled. The death toll is estimated to have been close to one thousand.

While the war was eventually won and Skalmere even gained some land in the process, the Dead Rivers remains a barren and forbidden place. Locals swear it to be haunted or cursed, and few dare to go near it.

Solstice Riots

Skalmere holds four annual festivals for the solstices and equinoxes. As they make up four out of the five state-recognized holidays, they are very important and frequently spark conflict from groups who want to make their cause heard. However, one particular set of riots, occurring about 15 years prior to Other Lost Things, was especially impactful.

Organized groups of magic-holders and their allies started demonstrations at multiple fall equinox festivals across major cities. The demonstrations were met with violence, turning the streets into warzones for up to five days in one city. All of the demonstrating groups faced heavy casualties, with most being arrested or killed and only a few managing to escape. Nonetheless, some civilians and soldiers were also killed and injured, creating a dark stain on the country's memory.

The riots have turned future solstice festivals into more militarized affairs, often with part of the festivities dedicated to remembering the event and honoring the lost lives. This is especially true of the fall equinox festivals, though none have been targeted by an event on this scale since.

Geography

Much of Skalmere is covered with forests, mostly conirferous in the far north, but more mixed toward the south. A mountain range covers much of the northern border, making trade and travel difficult; however, the mountains are also rich in resources for the miners willing to brave them. To the east is a particularly thick and dangerous forest called the Firdemar, which surrounds the Dead Ridge section of the border. In the west, near Deplyae, is better farmland. The southern part is the most populated area, hosting most of the cities and tourism.

Government

Skalmere is a stratocracy, headed by its military generals. Military service has been mandatory in the past, but is not currently required, though conscription is for everyone over sixteen, which is the age of majority.

Culture

Skalians value loyalty, honor, strength, bravery, and family. They are mostly apathetic to gender, considering all people to have equal capacity to fight; the main social hierarchy is based on military status. Magic-holders are viewed as enemies of the people, monsters who can't help but attack anything around them, and if they are caught, they are often killed immediately. Some very high-profile criminals will be brought in so that they can be interrogated, tortured, and finally publicly executed to set an example.

Skalmere actually has a thriving theatre culture that stemmed from traditional battle reenactments and oral storytelling. The people have a flair for the dramatic, so being an actor, musician, artist, etc is a respected profession.

Family

The dominant family structure in Skalmere is the nuclear family, consisting of just parents and children; however many communities also practice communal childrearing, a holdover from the days of mandatory service. While deferments were possible for schooling, certain types of work, and families with young children, they weren't always offered, or would only be given to one parent, leaving the other to care for the children alone. This was more common in larger towns and cities, as rural folks were more likely to have agricultural or mining jobs that exempted them and simply less likely to have nearby neighbors to help.

Skals

Another relationship close to the family is that of skals, the traditional Skalian war-partners. Once a strategic battle position only, the relationship has evolved into something more akin to a platonic (or sometimes romantic) life-partner. Skals in the modern day are no longer assigned, but earned and named by the partners themselves if/when they feel their relationship has reached that point. Once they have formally declared this status, the two are treated as nearly one entity, never stationed separately and both receiving the same privileges, awards, and punishments. In recent years, skalship has even begun to extend outside the military circles, though most older generations consider this to be twisting a near-sacred bond into something frivolous. Skal partnerships are meant to be forged in the heat of battle, under threat of death. To call your childhood friend a skal just because you're close is disrespectful.

In spite of the dangerous conditions of their formation, it is fairly rare to see only one half of a skal; the pairs often live near each other, if not in the same house, and remain close all their lives. To come out of a war without one's skal is also seen as deeply disgraceful, on top of the immense grief and guilt of losing them in the first place, which has led many who do lose their partners to throw themselves into suicide missions, desert, or simply kill themselves rather than return home alone.

Trivia

• Skalmere is loosely based on Finland, with influences from ancient Greece, Russia, and anything else I find cool.
• The idea of skals originally came from an absolutely ancient Warrior Cats fanfiction, in which ShadowClan assigned cats "Partners" that they would always train and fight with, which stuck in my brain for years and years, though it evolved significantly from there. It's probably viewed, culturally, in a similar way that soulmates/soulbonds or drift compatibility would be, though obviously there's no magic or weird science involved.

Notable Inhabitants

See list of characters by country for all inhabitants.