Vjotercal

Vjotercal, also known as the Vjotercalic Kulëcin of Samöčes and Sajyfu (Vjotercalic: Bog-Land, IPA: [ˈvʲɑtr̩çl̩]) or simply the Kulëcin of

Vjotercalic Kulëcin of Samöčes and Sajyfu Vjotercal
c. 5450 OE–TBD OE
Standard of the TBD chiefdom used from c. TBD OE to c. TBD OE Device used by the TBD chiefdom and neighboring towns
Common languages	Vjotercalic
Government	Confederation of chiefdoms
History
• Established	c. 5450 OE
• Disestablished	TBD OE

Vjotercal, is a confederation of chiefdoms located in the far northwest of Dyonia in the north of the Satcel region. The union of states formed through sustained trade and communication between each chiefdom, eventually leading

to a formal political union between many of the Vjotercalic chiefdoms; although not all chiefdoms were formally politically united, culture acted as a unifying force among them all. During an era of pillaging and seafaring, Vjotercalic people, culture, and rule expanded northwestwards, beyond the mainland and into nearby archipelago of TBD.

Etymology

The name Vjotercal is derived from the Old Vjotercalic word vjoter, the name for "bog". The Vjotercalic geographic suffix -cal is used to make vjoter (bog) become vjotercal (bog-land).

History

Main article: History of Vjotercal

The history of Vjotercal spans from the ancient TBD peoples' arrival in the Satcel to the present day.

Antiquity period (c. 3000 OE - c. 3700 OE)

Copper axe head found in the TBD forest dating to c. TBD OE.

The Antiquity period is characterized by the emergence of powerful tribal communities.
Chieftains (kenscajajunt) asserted and retained power through possession of the rare commodity of bronze, manufactured from the copper and rare tin deposits in the Heklinnkäcal. Other, pettier, more numerous chieftains used copper to strong-arm for power, albeit with more vulnerable domains and turbulent reigns.

Bronze became a status symbol, with ornamental bronze armor, weapons, and cultural artifacts being in the possession of the most wealthy and illustrious chieftains who became revered in the TBD culture due to their possession of such a culturally significant substance. Copper, although weaker than bronze, was a much more plentiful metal and therefore the standard metal for tools, weapons, etc.

Chieftains would usually settle within the Heklinnkäcal taiga, commanding hunting parties that would hunt in bogs, using coracles to ambush game.

Military conquest became a long-standing tradition, leading to deeply ingrained culture and folklore revolving around honor, physical prowess, and military achievement.

Copper spearheads found on the shores of the Heklinnkä River dating to c. 3830 OE.

Settlement period (c. 3700 OE - c. 4000 OE)

This period in the history of Vjotercal is characterized by settlement in the form of wooden farmsteads. These farmsteads usually were composed of a three-aisled longhouse and several four-post structures (known as laloTBDt). Farmsteads were concentrated along the coast of the sea, situated on higher ground. Cemeteries with burial mounds could be found on the outskirts of farmsteads.

Governments consisted of many chiefdoms, which consisted of a farmstead and its surrounding land, occasionally governing nearby farmsteads. Warlords would either take control of an existing farmstead and exert influence over surrounding farmsteads or create their own chiefdom in the wilderness. Chieftains continued to retain power by monopolizing the limited native supply of bronze, mostly taking over the copper-dependent warlords. The nomadic hunter-gatherer communities of the Antiquity period all but ceased to exist, driven out by warlords.

Both agriculture (including wheat, millet, and barley) and husbandry (keeping of domesticated animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs by silvopasture) were practiced, and fishing and shellfish were also sources of food, as well as deer, elk, and other wild animal hunting. There is evidence that oxen were used as draught animals, domesticated dogs were common, horses were rarer and probably status symbols.

As the Heklinnkä River began to TBD, fishing was practiced on the shores of its mouth using spears. Spears used at the Heklinnkä River were composed of simple wooden shafts, with the points ranging from stone to copper to bronze.

Early Migration Period (4000 OE - c. 4350 OE)

The Early Migration Period was characterized by a migration to the southeast, into the greater Rulalit region, and the beginnings of seafaring and advanced metallurgy.

Warming temperatures in the Satcel led to journeys towards the southern coast of the Rulalit peninsula, taking advantage of the newly traversable land. In the Rulalit region, the new migrants adapted the traditional canoes that were used during the TBD period to the warmer sea water.

with bog iron which brought iron metallurgy to the TBD people, no longer dependent on imported bronze.

Late Migration Period (c. 4350 OE - 4500 OE)

The Late Migration Period (LNP) was characterized by significant interaction between the Zåmzi and Sjäydö people and the decentralization of power.

With the introduction of iron, a metal that was cheaper, more common, and stronger than bronze, the hegemony previously sustained by bronze collapsed. Smaller chiefdoms, wielding iron, took hold of the Heklinnkäcal.

TBD Period (c. 4500 OE - c. 4705 OE)

The TBD Period was comprised of bitter conflict with the Zåmzi people and advancements in military technology.

When new chiefdoms began to be founded on the southern fringes of the Heklinnkäcal, Zåmzi military began efforts to repulse the foreign settlers.

Vjotercalic settlements in the Zåmzi tundra were all but wiped out when faced with the trained cavalry of the Zåmzi. Over the course of the final 150 years of the TBD period, Vjotercalic settlements were able to stave off Zåmzi attackers and to grow in number by developing new military technology such as the fefkajascüd, a versatile anti-cavalry weapon, and the caltrop.

Culture

Main article: Vjotercalic culture

Government

Vjotercal, as a political entity, is a loose confederation of many chiefdoms and consists of the two honnasat (provinces) of Samöčes and Sajyfu.

The Vjotercalic Kulëcin was officially formed in the TBDth century OE by a small group of prominent Vjotercalic chiefdoms in response to each of their growing dependence upon one another for trade and protection.

Technology

Vjotercalic people developed many forms of technology, the uses of which were for, among other things, agriculture, hunting, seafaring, tailoring, smithing, and war. Many technologies were re-purposed over time until they became dedicated to their new use; an example of this is the initial use of tailoring to simply be able to withstand cold weather being extended to the creation of light armors such as gambeson.

See also

Northern League

Zåmzia

Sjäydöia

Satcel

List of Vjotercalic military technologies

Vjotercalic armor