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Skothafjörður (Skoh-thah-fyur-dhur) is a Nordic country located in northern Yggdrasil. Roughly one third of the country's landmass lies within the Arctic Circle. The nation has a largely subarctic climate, and is often called "Sæskrímsli" (The Seamonster) due to its shape. The interior of the nation is laden with boreal forests and glacial rivers, while the coastline is punctuated with fjords. It is bordered on the west by the Husqvark Mountains, to the east by the Njord Ocean, and to the south by the Æsir Ocean.

Skothafjörður has been inhabited for over 3,000 years by Arctic peoples who migrated from northern Canada. In 1253 C.E., Norseman arrived on the southern peninsula. The two groups integrated remarkably peacefully, aided by mutual respect and the beneficial exchange of knowledge and goods.

History

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Skothafjörður has been inhabited for over 3,000 years. The first known group of inhabitants were Paleo-Inuit peoples, thought to have traveled to Skothafjörður on foot from Canada, crossing the then frozen Maltovic Strait. These people relied heavily on fishing and hunting for survival as their homeland was bitterly cold year-round, and had a rocky terrain generally unsuitable for growing crops. However, by approximately 300 C.E., the region had warmed enough for agriculture to be viable for roughly 10 weeks of the year in the inland regions of the county.

In 1253 C.E. Norsemen arrived on the southern shores of Skothafjörður, and were greeted with suspicion by the natives. This initial encounter and integration is well documented in the Skothic Sagas, published by Helmskri Thorbjørn, one of the first Norse settlers. The Sagas recount the Norsemen's impressions of the native Inuits: "They are a remarkably hardy and interwoven people. Each of them seems to know exactly where he/she fits into society and takes great pride in working to benefit the whole of the tribe. Perhaps this is why they are so wary of us despite our well-meaning intentions; where might we fit in?" Although the Norsemen may have had "well-meaning intentions", they unfortunately carried many diseases to which the Inuits had no immune resistance. Hundreds of the natives died within the first year of the newcomers' arrival, and the Norsemen were banished to the Husqvark Mountains in the western border of the nation. Being ill-adapted to this new land, and unable to grow crops in the mountains, many of the Norsemen died of starvation or hypothermia in the years to come. Slowly, over hundreds of years, the Inuits became resilient to the new diseases and the Norsemen began to come down from the mountains to reintegrate with society.
Geography

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Skothafjörður sits in northern Yggdrasil, east of Palearctic eurasia. It is bordered to the west by the Husqvark Mountains, to the north by the Njord Ocean, and to the east and south by the Æsir Ocean. Much of the western and northern regions of the country are blanketed with glaciers and permafrost. The interior region is predominantly boreal forests striped with glacial rivers which are used for fishing and irrigation. The north and east coasts of the nation are marked by fjords and cliffs overlooking the icy sea, while the south coast is flatter black sand beaches. The country is situated on a tectonic fault to which it owes its many volcanoes and hot springs. Roughly 85% of Skothafjörður's energy demand is met by geothermal energy.
Politics & Government

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Skothafjörður is a Nordic Social Democracy with a parliamentary system of government. The Chief Jarl is the head of the state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The nation strongly embraces the Nordic model, which combines free market capitalism with a generous welfare state. Healthcare and education are declared universal rights in the Constitution. The three parties holding the most seats in the parliament are the Green party (63 seats), Liberal Democrats (47 seats), and Libertarian party (25 seats).
Economy

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Skothafjörður's economy is strongly rooted in tourism and its fishing industry. However, the nation has a surplus of geothermal energy and is considering exporting energy to other countries, which may be a major economic contributor in the future. The nation's GDP is fairly average, but it is spread quite evenly across the population so that poverty is not a pressing issue.
Culture

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Skothafjörður's culture is a mixture of the values and traditions of the Skothic Inuits and its more recent Norse settlers. Both cultures strongly value equality and the larger community as evidenced by government policies such as publicly funded healthcare, higher taxation to redistribute wealth, and strong efforts to eliminate poverty. The legalization of same-sex and multi-spousal marriages also reflect the nation's values. Skothafjörður's national sport is ice hockey, which boasts an impressive fan base among the country's citizens. According to a 2013 poll, 64% of Skothafjörðians have played on an ice hockey team at some point in their lives. This may be partially explained by the nation's "Play an Hour a Day" campaign, which grants public funds to companies who allow their employees to participate in an hour of physical activity during each work day. Skothafjörðians as a whole value the environment tremendously, and take great pleasure in outdoor activities such as hiking, ice climbing, camping, and fishing.