Hjertlande

Hjertlande's sprawling tundra allows for expansive urban landscapes and vast livestock ranges, and it is one of the most developed of Kalvete's Holds. Listed below are these various settlements.

• Iskholde: Iskholde is the capital of both Hjertlande and the entirety of the Kingdom, situated on the banks of the Frásnúr River. Its centralized location in Kalvete allows it to serve as a major hub for the nation, with an extensive network of roads branching from the city to the furthest corners of the Kingdom. This has led to the city having a diverse economy, with both local and outside merchants selling goods among its streets. The city is, of course, also crucial to the Kingdom's politics, with the stronghold of Mikilvíg serving as the home of the Kingdom's monarch.
• Mynninnár: Situated at the mouth of the Frásnúr, Mynninnár is one of the Kingdom's largest port cities. Being on the banks of Flóanótt Bay, it also produces fishing resources for Kalvete. Its biggest role by far, however, is in the nation's trade routes. Mynninnár's ports provide a direct route across the North Sea to Holds such as Bruttstrond and Brundal, providing crucial connections to some of the Kingdom's most isolated regions.
• Syndrijöld: Syndrijöld is located in the south of Hjertlande, right on the Kingdom's border with the Holy Empire of Acolytius. Due to its proximity to this border, the town has recently had a noticeable military presence to defend the Kingdom from further encroachments from the Empire. As tensions have recently eased between the two nations, things have mostly returned back to normal for this small, quiet town. Beyond its extensive livestock ranches, the city does have a very small lumber industry due to nearby forests.
• Bænheim: Bænheim sits at the center of Hjertlande's vast grassy tundra, and its people take advantage of this open space for their livestock. The town is home to the largest rangelands of anywhere in the Kingdom, with some individuals having ranches that are larger than Bænheim itself. While many of these ranches' products are exported throughout the Kingdom, the ranchers who produce these goods find additional business selling them in Bænheim's streets. Many travelers will visit the town along their journeys for this very reason, gathering genuine Hellblade Rhinoceros hide or meat from the source.
• Vesturvell: Vesturvell sits at the western edge of Hjertlande, situated on the banks of the Brúna River. Being right on the border with Bruttstrond, the village sits within the edge of the neighboring Hold's dense taiga. As Vesturvell is also somewhat close to the Skyfract Mountains to the south, there is a small mining industry that only continues to grow as time passes. Just outside of the village, old ruins from Kalvete's past can be found hidden within the taiga's edge.

Hjertlande's grassy tundra covers a vast area, creating an open landscape to explore while traveling between its sparse settlements.

The expansive field region found here is also known as the Hjertlande, sharing its name with the Hold itself. The name originates from its central location within Kalvete and its ability to provide for those who live there. The region is home to the Hellblade Rhinoceros: An endemic species that serves as Kalvete's primary form of livestock. Most of the Hjertlande serves as rangeland for the Hellblade, but there are still many wild areas that aren't as well-suited for grazing. These areas are often characterized by rock formations and raised outcroppings, some of which hold ruins from the era before the Kingdom's formation.

A multitude of small, often unnamed waterways cut through Hjertlande, flowing into the North Sea from their sources in either the Skyfract Mountains or the Spine of the North. While most are relatively insignificant to the people who live in the region, the larger and more notable ones have played a crucial role in Kalvete's development. The Frásnúr River, which is the largest river in Kalvete, provided a navigable route for ships and allowed the Kingdom's capital of Iskholde to be established. Other rivers, such as the Brúna and Hofá, have provided similar benefits.

Hjertlande holds a deep historical significance to Kalvete as a whole, especially within its capital of Iskholde. The historic district for the city, which surrounds the monarch's stronghold of Mikilvíg, is made up of countless buildings that were once used by the military. What were once old storehouses and barracks are now stores and homes, having withstood Kalvete's formative years to see a time of peace. Outside of Hjertlande's settlements, many of the ruined settlements are from long before the Kingdom was formed, being remnants of the small settlements that were there prior to Queen Ylva's conquests.

Hjertlande's economy mostly relies on livestock, with all of the Hold's cities and towns having expansive ranches in the surrounding area. The meats, leathers, and other products harvested on these ranches are then exported throughout the Kingdom of Kalvete, with a substantial portion being shipped from Hjertlande's ports and across the North Sea. In addition to its livestock, Hjertlande's biggest cities also serve as large centers of production. Resources harvested in other Holds, such as the lumber of Bruttstrond or metals of the Highlands, are often brought to cities such as Iskholde to be made into various goods. Much like its name suggests, Hjertlande's exports behave like a beating heart for all of Kalvete.

The governing body of Hjertlande is listed below:

• The current monarch of Kalvete and the acting Jarl of Hjertlande is King Kepjur Ragnison.
• The current Lawspeaker of Kalvete and Hjertlande is Herdi Audbjordottir.
• The current Housecarl of Kalvete and acting Hersir of Hjertlande is Bölli Jonsson.
• The current Gjaldir of Kalvete and acting Ilker of Hjertlande is Kodran Harkson.
• The current Advisor of International Relations is Sigrid Erlsdottir.