The Outlands

The Outlands are home to a handful of settlements, with each one serving to keep such an isolated region functioning. These settlements are listed below.

• Niðujall: Niðujall is the capital of the Outlands, being located on the banks of the Ytri River that flows through the Hold. It is one of the largest and most developed cities in Kalvete, rivaling even the nation's capital of Iskholde. Most of Niðujall's growth occurred in recent years, being a product of the Kingdom's territory loss at the hands of the Holy Empire of Acolytius. As the Outlands have now become cut off from the rest of the Kingdom, Niðujall has had to establish industries to offset the heavy restrictions on imports to the Hold. The city has small but growing economies in mining and livestock, both of which are heavily limited due to the region's environment. While this was enough to get the Outlands by, it has caused the city to become quite poor and led to higher amounts of crime among its streets. Due to recent changes in the Kingdom's relations with the Empire, however, Niðujall should hopefully see improvement as its necessary imports begin to pick up once again.
• Skutlahöf: Skutlahöf is a bustling port city on the Outlands' coast, situated where the Ytri River meets Skutlan Bay. As the bay is one of the few places where the waters of the Sjóhval Sea aren't turbulent, the city finds itself in an ideal location for whaling. This is the biggest industry both for Skutlahöf and the Outlands as a whole, with multiple products being made from parts of the whales hunted out in the turbulent seas. Alongside whaling, the city also has a sizeable industry in fishing. Not only are fish caught out in the Sjóhval, but migratory species such as the Horned Salmon can be caught swimming upstream during their spawning season. The ocean's bounty easily makes Skutlahöf the busiest port in all of Kalvete.
  
• Trélönd: Trélönd is found in the south of the Outlands, being the most recently established settlement in all of the Kingdom. The town is situated in the Three Sisters Forest, being a logging settlement that served to offset the loss of Bruttstrond's imports. With the recent improvements to international relations, however, Trélönd has now become a sort of frontier for the Kingdom. The town is some distance north of the Norest River, which separates the Outlands from Estlan to the south. As Trélönd takes the time to fortify itself as a border town, some discussions have taken place on extending the Kingdom's authority into this neighboring region. Whether these discussions remain speculative or not remains to be seen.

The Outlands are quite distinct from the rest of Kalvete due to their isolation, with a region of windswept taiga and rocky coastline that serves as a new frontier for the nation.

The Outlands get their name from their geographic location, as the Spine of the North fully separates the Hold from the rest of the Kingdom. The only route one can take to and from the Outlands are the Spineward Passes: A series of routes through the mountains that is the only navigable route to the rest of Kalvete. The Passes are incredibly barren, being mostly rocky with only some grasses and small shrubs growing within the narrow corridors. The Outlands themselves are a stark contrast to the Passes, being defined by hilly, windswept taiga across the Hold.

The only major river that flows through the Outlands is the Ytri, whose banks have allowed for cities such as Niðujall to be established. While the river itself is only navigable in its downstream regions, it has been an important source of drinking water for the region. The Ytri's final destination of Skutlan Bay, however, has been crucial to the Outlands' success. As one of the only places in the Sjóhval Sea that remains somewhat calm, it provides an ideal location for ships to anchor before departing for whaling expeditions in the turbulent waters beyond. Aside from the Ytri, the Norest River in the south defines the border of the Outlands.

The windswept taiga of the Outlands is also known for its poor weather, seeing frequent winds that blow in from the Sjóhval and the Great Abyss past it. This has made the region's forests sparse compared to other areas in Kalvete, often forming patches that are scattered throughout the Hold. This is partly where the Three Sisters Forest gets its name from, forming three distinct sections that the Hold's roads travel between. The Outlands more closely resemble Estlan than Kalvete in some ways, and a noticeable population of Orcs and Goblins actually reside in the Hold. Some travelers visit the Outlands for this reason, interested in learning about the cultures of these races without having to journey far into Estlan.

The Outlands' economy is reliant on its whaling industry, which has long provided its resources to the rest of Kalvete. The bounty of the Sjóhval Sea is then refined and manufactured into various goods, utilizing every part of the whalers' harvests to ensure sustainability. The recent isolation of the Outlands has caused many other industries to become necessary, however, and the Hold now has a large portion of their economy devoted to mining, lumber, and livestock to offset the lack of imports. While the source of this issue is no longer obstructing trade, its effects are still present. The Outlands is one of the poorest Holds in the entire Kingdom, being a wound on Kalvete that is only now beginning to heal.

The current governing body of the Outlands is listed below:

• The current Jarl of the Outlands is Vikbar Vigisson.
• The current Lawspeaker of the Outlands is Kol Geitirsson.
• The current Hersir of the Outlands is Grýla Tofasdottir.
• The current Ilker of the Outlands is Arnora Gufisdottir.