Skaljavik

General
Skaljavik is a town of fair size situated between Midgard and The Last Bastion and functions as a trade centre for metals from its mine and herbs/medicines from the surrounding swamp.

History
Skaljavik was first settled as a stop-over for caravans heading to The Last Bastion from Midgard, and grew into a large town upon the discovery of a large cave system and an abundance of metals within the mountain it was settled at the base of. Since then it has been an important central location for mineral goods and has been under the control of King Bradley (II) as an important resource centre.

A variety of herbs and fungi have been discovered in the nearby swamp, which have attracted attention by amateur medicine-makers in recent years.

Geography
Skaljavik is located at the base of a small mountain and surrounded by cold bog and swamps. The swamps contain an array of novel and often endemic species, some of which can pose a threat to the town. The mountain it is situated on is small in size and contains a large cave complex which runs deep underground and is rich in mineral deposits.

Culture
Due to its close proximity to The Last Bastion, many people either headed to or from the city stop over at Skaljavik for rest. A hardened people, the townsfolk are no strangers to holding off monsters that come from the swamp or out of the caves and take pride in their strength as a whole. The Kings' presence is more or less tolerated in the town, however it isn't rare for fights to arise between the strong-handed townsfolk and the King's soldiers.

Town design
Much of the town is built up around the southern edge of a small mountain, with the town hall and Mayor's house both embedded within the hillside. The Southern border of the town is denoted by a large river, which has had levees and rocks placed along its banks on the town side to prevent flooding. The town itself contains many small rivulets that take water from the Northern mountain into the river, with small bridges crossing to reinforced paths around the town. Boardwalks extend from the village across the river and into the southern swamp to allow for foraging.

The buildings are all blue-stone walled with thatched roofs, giving the town a bluish tinge which is accentuated by the cold winters and snows. Due to the almost permanent existence of water, many mosses cling to buildings and walkways, holding a damp atmosphere.