Fjorden
Fjorden | |
---|---|
Ethnicity | Fjordell |
Capital | Widor |
Region | Sycla (Opelon) |
World | Sel |
Universe | Cosmere |
Fjorden is a theocratic nation state on Sel.
Strict and militaristic, Fjorden is the dominant country of the continent. About three hundred years ago. Wyrn Wulfden the First converted to the Derethi religion, and within a generation all of Fjorden had done likewise. Now, instead of sending troops across the continent, Fjorden sends priests. It is said that the conversions obtained—or forced—by these priests have granted Fjorden more power than even the First Empire once held. [1]
Geography and Ecology
Fjorden exists on Sel. To the east or Arelon separated by the Atad (Aonic name)/Dathreki(Fjordell name) mountains. [1]
Cities
Fjorden nation has many fortified cities. [2]
Notable Features
Fjordell’s tend to have dark black hair and are very wide of build. [1] Ambition is a cardinal Fjordell attribute. [3]
History
The working class lived for centuries under the Fjordell feudal system, and they were treated worse than farm animals. They were raised to it. People in ancient
Fjorden didn’t know better—to them, the feudal system was the only system.[2]
Over three hundred years ago, Fjorden nearly conquered all of Sycla/Opelon—only Arelon, with the help of Elantrian magic, stood against it. The Old Empire, or First Empire, fell because of administrative problems—it conquered more than it could hold. [1]
After the Elantrian fall, Fjorden started pushing the boundaries of its influence again, this time instigating the collapse of the Duladen Republic. [2]
After the fall of Duladen, Fjorden started expanding their by first attempting conversion into Shu-Dereth and submitting to Fjoden or by sending armies that would destroy every living being in the cities.[4]
For the next three hundred years, ever since Fjorden adopted the Derethi religion, the Wyrns have been blatantly altering their country’s own histories and literature to make it seem as if the empire has always been a manifestation of divine purpose. As Fjorden became religious, they can’t have it sounding like their greatest historical king was a pagan, so the priests went through and rewrote all of the poems.[5]
The Wyrns are more powerful now than they were centuries ago, even at the height of the Old Empire’s power. [6] Just before the restoration of Elantris, they started on a quest to convert/conquer Arelon and Teod. First by sending Hrathen to Arelon with a small deadline to convert and submit them [4]; then by sinking Iadon’s merchant fleets and supporting financially Trelii who would already be converted when he becomes the new King [7]. And in Teod, by pushing King Eventeo to convert under the threat of invasion, removing their ambassadors [8] and finally with the threat of killing Sarene.
During the restoration of Elantris, the Fjordell were casted out of Areleon [9] and latter of Teod. [10]
Government
The second Fjordell empire was governed by a militaristic theocracy, the national religion of Shu-Dereth commanded its followers to adhere to a rigid chain of command with with the leader of both the church and empire (who was believed to commune directly with their god, Jaddeth) at its head. [11]
Wyrn is Title of the Fjordell emperor. It is also a religious title, indicating the highest priest in the Derethi religion. His official title is ‘Regent of all Creation,’ referring to his state of rulership until Jaddeth rises to build his Empire. He lives in the Zigareth, a palace in Widor. [1]
The Derethi founders realized the power of religion. They decided that if they could get the nations of the East to believe in a single religion–with that religion centered in Fjorden–they would have power equal to, or even greater than, the power of the Old Empire. At the same time, they wouldn’t have to worry about rebellion–or even bureaucracy. The people of the other nations would govern themselves, but would give devotion, loyalty, and money to Fjorden. [12]
Military
“ The pagan nations of Arelon and Teod have been blackened scars upon my land for long enough. ”
— Words of Jaddeth, Lord of all Creation, through his servant Wyrn Wulfden the Fourth, Emperor of Fjorden, Prophet of Shu-Dereth, Ruler of Jaddeth’s Holy Kingdom, and Regent of all Creation. [4]
For Fjorden, Religion and war are almost the same thing. [13] Where Fjorden rules, Shu-Dereth teaches. [3]
The military serves Wryn and will crush entire civilizations for it. [4]
The Derethi priests were trained in the infamous monasteries of Fjorden, where they were required to undergo vigorous physical training. They become warrier monks [14][15]
The prayers and incantations used to create Dakhor monks were secret; even the gyorns didn’t know them. A few months after a boy was initiated into the Dakhor order, his bones started to grow and twist, adopting strange patterns. Somehow, each of those patterns gave its bearer abilities, such as heightened speed and strength. [16]
Culture and Social Structure
Strict and militaristic, the Fjordell live by the Shu-Dereth. The Fjordell will do anything to carry themselves higher. That is a very Fjordell thing to do—ambition was the one emotion Jaddeth would accept as readily as devotion. [4]
The Fjordell God is Jaddeth, and he rules through His servant Wyrn Wulfden the Fourth, Emperor and King. It was a basic tenet of Shu-Dereth that only one man could serve Jaddeth directly; the religion was very regimented, and its structure was reminiscent of the feudal government that had once ruled in Fjorden. One served those above him, who served those above him, and so on until it reached Wyrn, who served Jaddeth. Everyone served Jaddeth’s empire, but only one man was holy enough to serve God Himself. [2]
Religion
“ Lord Jaddeth can only return when all men are united beneath Fjordell rule. ”
— Hrathen to Dilaf on the latter´s hate for Teos [17]
Fjorden’s relition is the Shu-Dereth. The name given to the religion founded by Dereth. Shu-Dereth interpreted Keseg’s teachings to mean that all men must be united beneath the rule of one nation. Dereth taught that once all men bow before a single monarch, proving their unified nature, God would come to live amongst them.
Though Dereth’s ideas were originally rejected in his native Jindo, they were embraced by the Fjordell. Wyrn Wulfden the First converted, and so, therefore, did most of his people. Since that time, Shu-Dereth has been the official religion of Fjorden, and has spread to all of the eastern nations. Fjorden’s militaristic society stratified and organized Dereth’s teachings into an almost martial level. [1]
They believe that with all mankind united under Wyrn’s rule, Jaddeth could rise from His throne beneath the earth and reign in glorious majesty. [4]
Language
Fjordell was Jaddeth’s own chosen tongue—it was holy, while other languages are considered profane. [11] The native Fjordell accent is thick and melodic. [6]
The language prefers guttural sounds. ‘U’ sounds, ‘F’ sounds, ‘H’ sounds, and ‘G’ sounds. It has a ‘Y’ sound in the form of a ‘J,’ and placed emphasis on the ‘Hr’ combination. From this language, we get names like Dilaf, Jaddeth (pronounced yah-death,) and Sycla. Template:Https://brandonsanderson.com/books/elantris/elantris/languages-of-elantris/
Magic
Although no one of Fjordell heritage nor anyone residing in Fjorden may be taken by the Shaod they do have their own magic system, known only to the Derethi priests of the Dakhor Monastery which causes their bone to grow harder and twist into what are thought to be Fjordell symbols.[10] These symbols grant the Dhakor priests various powers, most of them battle related.
Economy
Fjorden is a rich country. It has strong trading with Teod and Arelon as well as all the territory they already have. They are wealthy enough to use money to control foreign politics like the support from Trelii in Arelon. [7] They also infamously known for capitalizing on other’s city’s chaos.[5]
They are also wealthy enough to have a huge armada and navy, they would beat Teod by sheer numbers. [18] Wyrnigs is the Fjordell gold coin. [1]
Trivia
It is known that beings called skaze, similar to the seons although more malevolent in nature, have an interest in Fjordell and may directly influence Fjordell politics.[19]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d e f g Elantris chapter Glossary#
- ↑ a b c d Elantris chapter 8#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 21#
- ↑ a b c d e f Elantris chapter 3#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 43#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 5#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 15#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 18#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 62#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 63#
- ↑ a b Elantris chapter 12#
- ↑ Elantris chapter Annotations 33#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 20#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 31#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 50#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 58#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 9#
- ↑ Elantris chapter 47#
- ↑ Why did Wyrn want Elantris?
— Theoryland - Jan 10th, 2011#