Archangel

The County of Archangel is a halfling county and colony on the coast of the White Sea bordered by Egreliia to the west and the gnollish kingdom of Bjarmaland to the south and east. Established as a distant outpost of halfling civilisation, the county has developed into a resilient and self-sufficient territory, thriving despite the challenges of its northern climate and the presence of powerful neighbours. Despite its isolation, Archangel maintains steady contact with distant halfling lands, particularly Breen, importing goods that cannot be produced locally and exporting furs, fish and crafted wares.

Relations with neighbouring powers are complex. Elvish tribes in Egreliia provide protective support for the area while acting as a sporadic trading partner, while the gnolls of adjoining Glu'Bak are a constant threat. The rugged environment has shaped a hardy and resourceful population, accustomed to enduring long winters, repelling raids, and navigating the political intrigues of rival factions. Though small in size, Archangel is a vital and determined presence in the region, holding its own against larger and more aggressive forces. The area covers some 25.7 hexes, with a population of 23,853.

Geography

Archangel occupies a stretch of cold, windswept lowlands along the southern shore of the White Sea, with terrain consisting of coastal marshes, taiga forests and rolling hills, with numerous rivers and inlets carving through the landscape. The most prominent geographic feature is Bog Marsh Cape, a large, waterlogged expanse that juts between Dvinsk Bay and Onega Bay, covered in peat bogs, stunted trees and winding waterways. The coastline is jagged and irregular, marked by small bays and rocky outcroppings. Ice floes are a common sight, particularly in early spring and late autumn. The waters teem with fish, but navigation remains hazardous due to shifting ice and sudden storms. Inland, the taiga consists of conifers, birch, and willow, gradually giving way to the frozen tundra beyond the county’s borders.

The county is defined by two major rivers, the Dvinsk and the Onega, which flow northward into the White Sea. Their estuaries create fertile deltas that support settlement, though much of the surrounding land remains rugged and untamed. To the west, the land rises gently toward the border with Egreliia, where the forests become denser, while to the south and east, the terrain grows more uneven as it transitions into the harsher uplands controlled by gnolls.

The climate is subarctic, with long, harsh winters and short, cool summers. Snow covers the ground for much of the year, and the White Sea remains frozen for several months, restricting sea travel. Permafrost lingers beneath much of the landscape, particularly in the inland bogs and northern reaches, limiting deep-rooted vegetation. However, during the brief summer, the lowlands burst into life with wildflowers, mosses, and fast-growing shrubs, while rivers swell with meltwater from the uplands.

Culture

Unlike their more pastoral cousins in warmer lands, the halflings here have developed a strong communal spirit centered around survival in the unforgiving climate. Villages and towns are built low to the ground, often partially dug into hills or embankments to retain warmth, with thick, turf-covered roofs and insulated wooden walls. Hearths serve as the heart of every home, and firewood is meticulously stockpiled year-round.

Despite the isolation, Archangel’s halflings maintain a strong oral tradition, with storytelling, music, and folk festivals marking the passage of the seasons. Food is simple but hearty, focused on preservation and sustainability. Smoked fish, salted meats, hardy root vegetables, and thick black bread form the staples of daily meals, while fermented dairy products and strong herbal teas provide warmth and sustenance. Fermented drinks, particularly a potent honey mead, are a key part of social gatherings. In winter, when travel is difficult and the nights are long, communities gather in great halls or communal lodges to share tales of heroes, tricksters, and legendary creatures that stalk the frozen wilds. Carved wooden masks and effigies play a significant role in these traditions, used in rituals to mark important events such as the first snowfall or the return of the sun after the deep winter.

Dress is practical, with heavy woolens, layered furs, and thick leather boots being standard attire. Beaded embroidery and dyed fabrics, often in deep blues and reds, add a touch of vibrancy to otherwise utilitarian clothing. Many halflings wear bone or wooden charms, believed to bring protection against both the elements and the malevolent spirits said to haunt the tundra. While deeply tied to their homeland, the halflings of Archangel remain curious about the world beyond their borders. Travelers and traders, when they arrive, are treated with wary hospitality, and though outsiders may find the locals reserved at first, they quickly warm to those who prove themselves as friends.

History

The arrival of halflings in what would become Archangel began in the a migration spurred by the Breen halflings of the far west. For nearly five centuries, halflings had flourished along the fjords and valleys of Breen, their sturdy shortboats skimming the frigid seas, their settlements nestled between towering cliffs and deep green waters. Yet as their numbers grew, so too did their need for land. The old herding grounds were no longer enough, and the spread of Vikings forced them to travel far afield to find a new foothold.

According to oral tradition, the first halfling vessels sighted the White Sea in the autumn of 1136. The coastline was harsh, an expanse of black pines and frozen marshes, yet beneath the early snows, the land was rich with game, fish, and unspoiled rivers. The explorers, led by a halfling called Jorlen the Farer, pushed inland, navigating the winding channels until they reached the mouth of the Onega River. Here, where the waters ran cold and clear, they made landfall and raised their first winter shelter. They named the place Onega, after the river, believing it a sign of good fortune.

Survival was not assured. The winters were unlike any they had known, long and unrelenting, testing the limits of their endurance. Ice choked the rivers, snow buried their homes, and game proved scarce in the deepest cold. More than once, it seemed the fledgling settlement would fail. But the Breen were seafarers, accustomed to hardship, and they learned quickly. They built stronger lodges, dug deep cellars, and harvested the thick peat of the marshes for fuel. They fished the frozen sea, hunted seals along the ice-bound shores, and traded with distant bands of elves from the southern forests.

For nearly three centuries, Onega stood alone, an isolated outpost on the edge of the known world. The Breen grew hardy and self-reliant, their population steady but small. But the White Sea was not without its dangers. Raiding bands of gnolls and orcs from the inland wastes pressed against their borders, testing their defenses. Through treaties with the elves of Ulthua, the halflings were able to hold their ground, though precariously. If they were to remain, they needed numbers, and so, in the early 15th century, they called upon their kin in Breen, seeking settlers willing to claim new land.

The call was answered. In 1419, a second wave of halfling settlers arrived, carrying tools, livestock, and enough supplies to build a lasting home. They traveled north along the coast and settled on a stretch of sheltered shoreland, where the sea provided ample fish and the inland bogs promised rich peat. They called their new home Sudborough, and from there, the much larger Archangel was founded. Over the following decades, more villages were founded. With the winters so unyielding, every settlement had to be earned.

Shaped by frost and the sea, the Archangel halflings became distinct from their Breen forebears. They built deeper homes, travelled by sled in winter and carved the stories of their past into wood and bone, ensuring their legacy would not be forgotten. By the mid-17th century, Archangel has become a small but determined presence on the White Sea, standing firm against the wilderness that had once threatened to swallow it whole.

Settlements

Settlement Table

Place Name (pop.)	Founded
Archangel, 4,638	1584
Koswick, 129	1478
Nitshill, 127	1523
Onega, 3,206	1137
Sudborough, 116	1419
Underbarrow, 126	1479
Yalding, 127	1523

• Archangel stands as the largest and most fortified of the halfling settlements on the White Sea, its harbour icebound for much of the year but bustling with activity during the short northern summer. Founded as a refuge and foothold for halfling expansion, its docks and storehouses serve as the heart of the colony's maritime trade, where smoked fish, furs and timber are prepared for shipment to distant lands. The town's buildings are built low and sturdy against the wind, with turf-covered roofs and thick stone foundations to endure the long, brutal winters. A ring of wooden palisades and earthworks encircle the settlement, strengthened by a watchful elvish presence, ensuring that the gnolls of Glu'Bak never press too far north.

Though commerce is limited to essential goods, a steady influx of ships, messengers and traders makes Archangel the political and logistical center of the colony. The town's shipyards produce fast, ice-hardened vessels, while its peat fields ensure that homes and halls remain warm even in the depths of winter. Beyond its walls, the land is bleak and windswept, but within, its halls are filled with firelight, strong ale and a quiet but unshakable resolve. Archangel may be remote and harsh, but to the halflings who call it home, it is the enduring heart of their northern dominion.

• Koswick lies in the lowland meadows northeast of the Dvinsk River, where rolling pastures and rich peat fields sustain a quiet but prosperous halfling community. Positioned east of Archangel, it serves as a collection point, its grain stores and livestock supporting both local villages and the wider White Sea trade.

• Nitshill is a village situated on the southern shore of Lake Unskoye, where the Nit River flows westward towards Onega Bay. The community thrives on fishing, peat harvesting and the crafting of wooden goods, contributing to the economy of the west shires.

• Onega stands at the mouth of the Onega River, where it spills into the White Sea, serving as the oldest and most established halfling settlement in the region. Founded in 1137, it remains the heart of the Archangel colony, its sturdy stone quays and timbered storehouses filled with the steady flow of fish, furs and grain moving through its harbours. The town's livelihood depends on the sea, with generations of halflings mastering the art of preserving fish, harvesting salt and crafting the light, resilient vessels that dominate the northern waters. A strong wooden palisade encircles the settlement, not to keep out raiders from the sea but to guard against the gnolls and wild creatures that roam the forests beyond. Smokehouses line the riverfront, where racks of fish dry in the cold air, while deep peat stores ensure that Onega never lacks for warmth in winter. Though its population remains small, its strategic location and wealth of resources make it a cornerstone of the Archangel colony. In the long northern nights, the glow of lanterns from Onega's cliffside halls serves as a beacon to those navigating the icy waters of the White Sea.

• Sudborough stands on the southern shore of the White Sea, where sheltered inlets provide a natural harbour for halfling fishing boats and coastal traders. Established in 1419 as the second major settlement of the Archangel colony, it has steadily declined as a link between inland communities and the wider northern trade network. Yet the village's shipwright still crafts sturdy, shallow-draft vessels well-suited for navigating the region's rocky coastline and treacherous ice floes, ensuring a steady supply of fish, salt and furs to Archangel and beyond.

• Underbarrow lies nestled in a low, wind-sheltered valley where peat bogs and cold marshland shape the landscape. Known for its smoked fish, whale oil trade and finely carved bone tools, the village remains isolated, its deep-burrowed homes blending into the earth as its people quietly sustain themselves through careful stewardship of the land.

• Yalding is a fortified halfling settlement on the Onega River, strategically positioned to monitor and defend against incursions from the gnolls of Glu'Bak. The village's robust defenses are bolstered by a posted elvish presence, whose expertise in warfare and magic is instrumental in maintaining the region's security.

Exports

Sudborough Exports

Source (pop.)	Feature Type	Population	References
			total ref.	markets	birch	pine	spruce	cereals	fish
ARC/Sudborough		10,430	6	1	1	1	1	1	1
Onega	town	–	1	–	–	–	1	–	–
Sudborough	market	–	4	1	1	1	–	–	1
Sudborough Zone	sub-province	10,430	1	–	–	–	–	1	–

Sudborough Market

Birch is gathered in great quantity, its bark stripped for use while the wood is cut into planks and bundled for the journey along the shore to Archangel. Harvested seasonally to prevent waste, it is stacked and dried before being carted to landings where it can be loaded onto boats. Its use is widespread, from the building of homes and storehouses to the making of simple tools, while its bark finds value in waterproofing and container-making. Pine, taken from the uplands, is cut where the trees grow tall and straight, chosen for its strength and size. Logs are dragged by oxen or floated in rafts, bound with rope and pole, before being sent to Archangel. Once there, they are set aside for ship timbers, heavy beams and supports needed for the colony's continued growth. Spruce, common in the lower, wetter ground, is cut in large numbers for fuel, stacked in drying racks and stored in sheds against the long winters. The tree's resin, gathered in pots, is used in sealing, gluing and preserving rope and leather.

Cereals, mainly rye, barley and oats, are planted in spring and cut before the first frost, their grain threshed and stored in sacks or casks. What is not eaten by those who work the land is loaded onto carts and boats, destined for local garners or Archangel's granaries. Fish are taken in large numbers, caught in weirs and nets, then cleaned, gutted and salted before being dried upon racks or packed into barrels. The work is unending, keeping the county supplied through the bitter winter, when the shoreline freezes and the land lies barren under snow.