Svinvar
Svinvar is a town in northcentral Gattland situated on The Blau Sea. The land here is lush and gently rolling, shaped by centuries of farming. Smokehouses and small hamlets cluster along old cart paths.
Government
Svinvar is governed collectively by the Reel, an assembly of respected community members who meet in the Hearthhall to settle disputes and guide communal decisions. Their governance is informal but effective—rooted more in consensus and continuity than law. While Svinvar plays no major role in the selection of the Stolm’s Seat, the Reel is often consulted by candidates seeking good will or legitimacy.
Decisions are rarely rushed, and the community places value on lived experience over grand political ambition.
History
Svinvar is the agrarian and cultural heart of Stolm Rendivar, a modest semi-rural community whose influence lies not in wealth or political might, but in tradition, continuity, and communal spirit. Its fields produce much of the region’s grain and preserved fish supplies, and its festivals—particularly the famed Yearwake Festival—draw visitors from across the peninsula.
Many people who call Svinvar home see themselves as the stewards of a place where old songs carry weight and where stories shape identity.
Points of interest
The Hearthhall
The central longhouse where the Reel meets, feasts are held, and disputes are settled. Its great firepit burns year-round, a symbol of communal warmth and continuity.
Svinvar Smokehouses
A cluster of timber and stone structures used to preserve fish and meat. They are essential to the community’s survival and a point of pride. The air around them is thick with the scent of alder, ash, and salted flesh. These smokehouses are unofficial social hubs where gossip, songs, and political murmurs blend together.
The Grangefield
An expansive grassland used for markets, and the annual Yearwake Festival—an event drawing traders, musicians, and visitors from all over northern Gattland. Temporary stalls and stages spring up every year, transforming the field into a lively celebration of food, craft, and culture.
Duskwater’s Stones
A ring of ancient standing stones on a low rise outside the village. Used for seasonal rites and gatherings, the Stones are tied to local folklore and pre-republic traditions. Harkaveln Duskwater often tells stories here at dusk, weaving history and myth together beneath shifting skies.
Notable Residents
Harkaveln Duskwater, Elder of the Reel
A storyteller and keeper of Svinvar’s oral traditions, Harkaveln is known for her keen wit and her patient listening. Decades of service to the history of her people has earned Harkaveln the trust of community, viewed by many as the central voice of the Reel. She can often be found wandering the grounds of Rendmort’s festivals, sharing stories that remind the Stolm of its deep roots. Some say she knows more about the land’s old spirits than she lets on.
Barlewyn, Keeper of the Smokehouses
As Steward of Svinvar’s smokehouses, Barlewyn oversees the curing of fish and kelp from the Blau, along with game and pork from the fields, that sustain the community through harsh seasons. Nobody is quite sure of how old Barlewyn is, least of all Barlewyn herself, but it is clear to all that her knowledge of the preservation arts is considerable.
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