Skipti

The City of Trade and Power

Skipti once began as a simple marketplace—a gathering of merchants exchanging goods. Over centuries, this trade post grew into a thriving city, and its original center remains the beating heart of Skipti to this day.   Here, everything is available, and every merchant is specialized. Fishmongers and bone traders from Vintergard offer treasures from the sea. Merchants from Virkin sell weapons and durable equipment. Specialty vendors provide meat, eggs, and furs, while artisans craft the luxurious goods that Skipti is known for: exquisitely made clothing, soaps, tallow candles, intricate jewelry crafted from bone and magical stones.   Particularly coveted are the magical goods from Galdra—ice wine, rune-imbued cloaks, jewelry with a faint glow. All of these can be found in the city’s grand shops, once simple market stalls but now elaborate storefronts.   Surrounding the city are large, enclosed animal pens, reinforced with massive ice walls. Here, creatures are sold—from common hunting dogs to the mystical beasts of the ice.  

The Structure of the City

Over time, people recognized the need for organization. Skipti was structured early—three main roads lead directly to the city center, dividing it into three distinct sections:  

Northwestern Segment

– Here stands a school of magic, an entirely ice-formed structure—not a single bone was used in its construction. The walls capture the light of the two suns, shimmering under the moonlight at night. The architecture is unique: three inverted ships, pressed into a triangular formation, with a hexagonal tower rising high above the city.  

Northeastern Segment

– A building of bone and leather, constructed in the traditional architectural style of the Frost People. This is where warriors train, ensuring the city’s defense, and where military expeditions are coordinated.  

Southern Segment

– A massive, igloo-like structure, built from a blend of bone, leather, and ice. This is the seat of the ruler, where they govern alongside their advisors and the grand council.   The council consists of:  

• At least one Rune Magician, usually the High Mage of the Academy.

• At least one Rune Warrior, often the General of the army.

• Merchants and artisans, representing the interests of the people.

  Beneath the government seat lies a magical archive, extending deep underground—a multi-tiered chamber, enchanted and protected, where the city’s frost-glass tablets are stored. Inscribed upon them are the names of all who were born here—a silent chronicle of Skipti’s history.  

The Walls and Gates

Skipti is enclosed by a defensive ice wall, featuring three primary gates:  

• Northward, leading to Galdra.

• Southward, toward Vintergard and Föndir.

• Westward, toward open land and Virkin.

  Within these walls, there are few purely residential buildings—almost every structure functions as a workshop, shop, warehouse, or trade center. Everything here revolves around commerce, trade, and prosperity. Skipti is not just a city—it is the economic heart of Nyrian, where history is shaped, agreements are forged, and the future of the Frost People is decided.