Víthurkenning
Víthurkenning (/ˈvifɜːˌkɛnɪŋ/ VEE-fur-KENN-ing) was an arctic archipelago off the northern coast of Novaria, and the northern limit of the Kingdom of Maisraln, defining the extent of "Maisraln" as a region but being largely free from government influence or authority. The home of Elvar Murchaidh, Kerry's key character in Maisraln, Víthurkenning first appeared in the Order of the Tachi. About 95% of Víthurkenning (including all the inhabited areas) was covered in glacial ice; the exceptions were rocky outcrops. Constant snow cover and frequent gales made fixed settlements impossible, so Víthurkenning was inhabited by itinerant tribes who lived in semi-permanent village communities of canvas tents.
The people of Víthurkenning largely accepted the leadership of two tribes, the Thoilúhlitha and the Márchomráth. The former was elected by the leaders of other tribes and acted as a ruling council that dominated practical matters of government; the latter was a band of elite warriors and mages, including the Guardian of the North, a seer called the Sjándé, and often the Hermadiúir, one of the Four Great Mages. In turn, these leading tribes acceded to the nominal suzerainty of the Kingdom of Maisraln—an arrangement likely established in the 500s. The Márchomráth, at least, had a close relationship with the northern inhabitants of the Ardalbrük Mountains.