Fimbulvintr
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| Flag of Fimbulvintr | |
| Motto: United By Destiny, Tempered By The Frost | |
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| Region | Arctica |
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| Capital | Ásgarðr |
| Official Language(s) | Old Norse |
| Leader | King Malin IV |
| Population | 14,725,284 |
| Currency | Norsmark |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Borderlands of Fimbulvintr is a nation located in the region of Arctica. It borders closely with Phantasien. The country is home to the independent but headstrong descendants of Vikings who mysteriously found their way to the isolated arctic location. The land is essentially gives free reign to its citizens, with some basic legislation and government programs in control of a Council of regional representatives and a figurehead King. The nation has chosen to stay isolated from the rest of the modern world and does not participate in the UN, but instead relies on Phantasien to represent all of Arctica. In return, Fimbulvintr provides their robust defensive force. The dominant culture revolves around Nordic traditions and architecture, which gives the country the appearance of a medieval Scandinavian society, however, many modern luxuries such as computers and the internet are available to any who wish it.
Contents
Origin of the name
The name is derived from the Old Norse word roughly translated to "the great winter". This was seen as a fitting description of the arctic desert the Viking descendants inherited.
The official name of the nation (The Borderlands of Fimbulvintr) has changed several times over the course of local history. These names ranged from just the plain "Fimbulvintr" to The Imperial Kingdom representing the People of Fimbulvintr. Several centuries ago, the Council voted on "The Borderlands of Fimbulvintr". There has been little opposition or controversy surrounding this choice since its inception.
History
Settlement and unification
The lands of Fimbulvintr were settled in the Tenth Century AD by various Viking colonies and families. Over the years, there was much infighting, leading to poverty and famine across the land. The inhabitants of this proto-nation continued life in this manner until there were fewer than several thousand colonists left (of the original hundred thousand). Despite the abundant wildlife and temperate climate in the southern regions of the territory, there was no cohesion or propensity towards cooperation which would allow the people to thrive. These dreary series of events were eventually dubbed the Settler's Wars.
In 1135, a warrior by the name of Malin Hav-øks from a village near the center of the land forged an alliance with several neighboring villages and raised an army. The four hundred men, while small in comparison to other national armies of the time, was proportionally large compared to the population. Malin went from settlement to settlement and stopped the infighting by merely threatening military action. Within several months, the young general's "Unification Campaign" was completed, and he led all the village elders and tribal leaders to his home village to bind the settlements together as one nation, "United by destiny and tempered by the frost," as Malin eloquently stated. They became the Kingdom of Fimbulvintr in 1138, situating their capital in the central village renamed Ásgarðr. The drafted constitution gave executive power to the king, who was Malin I at the time, but allowed the citizens of the fledgling nation to "do what they wish, so long as they do not harm their fellow man". With this optimistic start, the people thrived and quickly repopulated the country.
Discovery of Phantasien
By the year 1181, much of Fimbulvintr had been settled at least partially. A wandering traveller could walk roughly less than ten miles in any direction to find a cabin or village to rest in. The young adventurers of the land were growing impatient with the lack of unexplored territory. Eventually, a small expedition crossed the southern river onto the island of inhabited by the nation of Phantasien. Suffering a possible diplomatic crisis, the 71 year-old Malin the Great traveled to the newfound land with offerings of peace and goodwill.
The land of Phantasien was very much unlike that of Fimbulvintr. Instead of a wintry landscape with sparse villages and lone cabins, Phantasien was situated in a relatively temperate climate filled with trees, flowers, grass and many cities. Where many of the citizens of Fimbulvintr lived a content, spartan lifestyle in the wilderness, Phantasien drew from from more creative culture. As the first settlers were not inhibited by climate, they thrived socially and established a peaceful nation under a sovereign but peaceful dictator. Fimbulvintr's southern sister nation had no standing army, as they required none over the years. Fimbulvintr had no real educational system at the time, and little aspirations for any international dealings. However, the two nations managed to broker an alliance and established a symbiotic relationship. From that point on, Fimbulvintr would provide the more material infrastructural necessities such as food and a military while Phantasien helped to create an educational system in Fimbulvintr and provide diplomatic services on behalf of the entire region. The treaty establishing the Arctic Union was signed in 1182 by both government's leaders.
Modern Fimbulvintr
Fimbulvintr as it is today is very different and yet very much the same as it was when it was founded. Though technology has been upgraded to keep up with the times, the population still chooses to live fairly independent lives in isolated villages or other spartan communities. The capital city of Ásgarðr is predominantly populated by higher intellectuals and merchants. The city serves as the central marketplace of the nation. Most stores and internet shops are based in Ásgarðr.Fimbulvintr still remains isolationist in international policy and leaves world diplomacy to Phantasien.
Government
Fimbulvintr's government is essentially a Direct Democracy, leaving the power to the people with the exception of emergency decisions made by the National Council or military decisions made by the Commander-in-Chief, who is the King. The King is technically the Head of State but is non-executive holds very few responsibilities other than serving as a moral figurehead and symbol of the nation as a collective. The national pride and morale is such that it takes no less than a day for the entire population to electronically or manually vote for most national decisions. As per the Fimbulvintr constitution, it takes a 2/3 majority to pass laws where amendments to the constitution or declarations of war are made with a unanimous decision within a three percent margin.
