Brundal

Brundal's terrain limits where settlements can be established within the Hold, with most of them being ports situated on the coast. These settlements are listed below.

• Sanctuary: Sanctuary is the capital of Brundal, situated deep within the Veins: A region of fjords that cut deep into the Spine of the North. Like many other settlements in Brundal, Sanctuary is primarily a fishing city that harvests a multitude of species that reside in the adjacent fjords. Due to the city's isolation, however, these resources aren't easily exported to other parts of Kalvete and instead provide for the people of Sanctuary. To offset this, Sanctuary benefits from tourism and the ample number of travelers who visit the city. Sanctuary has some of the richest history in the entire Kingdom, being considered the birthplace of the nation due to Queen Ylva the Resolute beginning her series of conquests during the Marsigur Wars from Sanctuary. The city is also home to the Great Monastery, which is the original and largest monastery of the Brotherhood of the Open Paw.
• Nylokni: Nylokni is a port city in northern Brundal. The city is situated on the southern coast of Björju Island, which is a large island covered in ice and snow. As Nylokni sits on the shores of the North Sea, its economy is primarily based around fishing. The city's ports are also greatly important to the region's trade routes, serving as a place to restock on supplies while traveling across the North Sea. Life is mostly quiet in Nylokni, and there's very little to explore on the rest of Björju Island. The region is home, however, to a significant population of White Ursinefolk, making it an excellent place to experience some of their culture.
• Þrösfjall: The northernmost settlement in all of Kalvete, Þrösfjall sits at the base of the Spine of the North. The small village is frequently pelted by snowstorms from the cold, northern wind, which has contributed to the small population. The local economy is primarily based around fishing like many other settlements in Brundal, but the small size of Þrösfjall means that the industry only provides for the locals and rarely has exports to other areas. The village mainly has a reputation for being so close to Mount Fjallzen: The northernmost point in the known world. While few people make the journey to summit the mountain, those who do often visit Þrösfjall along the way.
• Jótland: Jótland is a small fishing town in southern Brundal, being located in one of the few places that isn't dominated by mountainous terrain. Thanks to its location on the tip of a peninsula, the town sits in a somewhat centralized location in the North Sea. Due to this, the town acts as a sort of hub for ships sailing throughout the Kingdom, which benefits the local economy alongside the fishing industry. Jótland is also where many of the Kingdom's ships are built before being sent elsewhere, with the largest shipyards in all of Kalvete.
• Norðurvid: Norðurvid is a small village found on the banks of the Hofá River, situated at Brundal's southern border with Hjertlande. A small logging village, Norðurvid sits just outside the Witch's Woods and is infamous for dangerous Monsters and wildlife in the area. While the village itself and the roads leading from it are safe, there is an undeniable eerie atmosphere in the surrounding taiga that lends itself to Norðurvid's reputation. The village has become a target destination for many Monster hunters, giving them a place to rest and prepare before delving into the surrounding woodlands.

As the birthplace of Kalvete, Brundal has some of the richest history and culture nestled among Kalvete's grandest backdrops.

Brundal's territory is dominated by the Spine of the North, with a majority of the Hold being made up of its towering peaks. These mountains, which are rocky, barren, and snowcapped, drastically limit where settlements can be established in Brundal. Aside from some parts of the Hold that are exceptions, the only level areas are along the coasts. As such, many of the settlements throughout the Hold are port cities. Some areas, as mentioned before, are exceptions, however. To the south, the Witch's Woods make up a region of taiga that ranges from foothills to flatlands. To the northwest, Björju Island is dominated by arctic ice and snow around the year. Despite the varying environments in Brundal, its population is quite limited in where they can settle.

Brundal has very few freshwater streams, with the largest and most significant being the Hofá River at the southern border of the Hold. There are, however, countless unnamed waterways that flow through the southern boreal region and the mountains to the north. Within the Spine, many of these streams are formed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountain peaks, flowing down into the sea with the more standard streams. In these mountainous regions, navigable rivers are instead replaced by the Veins: A region of countless fjords that snake deep into the Spine. These fjords have played an important role in local life, serving the same needs rivers do by providing resources and shipping routes. There are no rivers on Björju Island, as they would remain frozen year-round.

Despite how harsh the region is, Brundal is incredibly important to Kalvete's history and culture. In fact, this was the Hold where the Kingdom was born, with Queen Ylva the Resolute helping to establish the city of Sanctuary before unifying Kalvete during the Marsigur Wars. As such, Sanctuary is rich with culture. This not only is the strong pride the local Kalvetians feel for their home, but also in Ursinefolk culture. Just outside of Sanctuary is the Great Monastery, which is the founding monastery of the Brotherhood of the Open Paw and another key aspect of the Kingdom's history. The monks who reside in this monastery are welcoming to travelers who seek to learn about their ways, and many can be encountered in and around Sanctuary. These monks are especially known for guiding travelers to summit Mount Fjallzen: The northernmost point of the known world and a site of great significance to those of the Open Paw. Alongside Sanctuary, Björju Island is also home to a rich Ursine culture. The island is home to the largest population of White Ursinefolk, whose lifestyle is very distinct from the Brown Ursinefolk of the Monastery.

Brundal's economy is based around the fishing and transport industries, making full use of the North Sea that makes up a substantial portion of the Hold's surface area. The fishing resources harvested throughout the Sea and the Veins are plentiful enough to be exported throughout the rest of the Kingdom, and the ships that were sent later return with goods from the other places they visited. Some cities, such as the Hold's capital of Sanctuary, also benefit from tourism. These places entice travelers through their cultural and historical significance and can substantially offset the struggles of a poor fishing season. Brundal's economy is debatably one of the most important in Kalvete, as it is the Hold's waters that serve to connect so many places throughout the Kingdom.

The current governing body of Brundal is listed below:

• The current Jarl of Brundal is Frelsan Gislisbur.
• The current Lawspeaker of Brundal is Gerda Ragisdottir.
• The current Hersir of Brundal is Leif Skarifsson.
• The current Ilker of Brundal is Abi Gislisdottir.