Ostmark is a nation situated in the northeastern region of the Craviter continent, bordered only by the sea to Prydania, located near the Visby Alps. With a total land area of 3,712 km², the country's landscape is dominated by verdant meadows and steep, snow-covered mountains, including Mount Tyskberg, its tallest peak at 3,776 metres. The capital and largest city, Byskólm, is located in the Grente region. Ostmark has a population of 2,124,574 and is currently a constitutional monarchy under Queen Helga II, with Óskar Eilífsson of the Free Democratic Party serving as chancellor since 2018.
The origins of Ostmark trace back to 87 AD, when the Viking leader Sigrid Magnussdóttir and her brethren founded the first settlement in the region as Bothnelund, formalised on 15 May 93 after the arrival of 56 men according to the text of Segnurdur's Saga. The warrior clan Norboth assumed control in 102 and dominated until 377 as an autocrat rule, when the death of Tobias the Brave led to a tetrarchy among four clans governing distinct regions. Those clans, which have later formed the regions of the nation are, Norboth for Grente, Magduring for Austurland, Sjølforun for Nytland and Welfing for Brondet. This governance system persisted until 735, when Astrid the Fortunate of the Norboth clan established the First Kingdom of Ostmark by forming the House of Eddyting and thus unifying the feudal lands held by the said clans.
Throughout its history, Ostmark has been a small, resource-limited nation heavily reliant on neighbouring Prydania due to lack of fertile lands for agriculture. Because of this, the nation heavily fed itself with seafood such as sharks, whales, tuna, trout and squid. The country was annexed by Prydania during the Fifteen Years’ War in 1475 to seize the important southern ports held by Ostmark, ending the First Kingdom and starting the period of Prydanian control as a province. Following the Ostish Revolution (1789–1793) which saw the Age of Chaos and the killing of Prydanian governor general Sir Leif Larssen, the Second Kingdom of Ostmark was founded, restoring the Norboth lineage under Queen Viktoria I. However, 1932, a fascist coup led by Kristjàn Guðmundsson established a police state, which collapsed in 1951 following public uprisings. Today, Ostmark enjoys peace and stability as the Third Kingdom.
Economically, Ostmark thrives on tourism, timber, ferroalloys, furniture production, canned fish, and information technologies. In 2023, Ostmark ranked in the top five furniture manufacturers of the world, known for its iconic furniture brands Bysk and Helvis. Its largest cities include Byskólm, Niel, Øyr, Rodhøj, and Johus. Byskólm alone accounts for 50.22% of the total population of 1,066,961. The majority of its population speaks Ostish, with a minority bilingual in Ostish and Prydanian. Religiously, 76.54% adhere to the Church of Ostmark, while 22.18% are irreligious. The country is renowned for its whaling traditions, shark-centric cultural practices, and harsh winters. Ostish Kryss (§) has been the currency since 16 May 2001, replacing the former Ostish Krone (X) after the 2001 Financial Crisis.
Byskólm is a historic city located by Roykvík Bay, with origins tracing back to approximately April 101 AD. It was founded by the Viking explorer Magnus Leifsson and his allies as a fishing post for Prydanian viking seafarers, drawn to the region’s abundant trout and tuna and timber sources. Over the centuries, Byskòlm evolved from a modest settlement into a vibrant cultural and economic hub, renowned for its rich history, stone architecture, and thriving fish markets. No human settlement was present in the region before the arrival of Leifsson.
By 547 AD, the population consisted of 24 women, 22 men, 17 boys, and 19 girls. In 1467, the population reached 67,500 as reported by Prydanian sources. The city endured significant upheaval during the Prydanian invasion of Ostmark in 1457, when it was partially destroyed by a fire set by Prydanian troops. Despite these challenges, Byskólm flourished during the Restoration Era, becoming a centre of artistic, religious, and intellectual activity. It played a key role in the Ostish Enlightenment, fostering the growth of literature and philosophy.
Since the 17th century, Byskólm has been home to two major harbours, Jottunshavn and Bærshavn, which continue to drive the city’s maritime economy. The cityscape is defined by its six main canals, creating a navigable waterway network, and its lively cat population. Most of the metropolitan economy has been dependent on fishing up until the late 19th century, later becoming a world hub for furniture making and timber. There are twenty-five museums, three universities, eight libraries and four opera houses in the city.
Today, Byskólm is a bustling metropolitan area with a population of 1,066,961 as of December 2024. The most populous boroughs include Gjøsnes, Þórsheimar, Falkensand, Kærbjerg, and Elshud. The Byskólm Metro, established in April 2016, serves 41 stations and accommodates over 745,000 passengers weekly. Since May 2021, the city has been led by Mayor Òlafur Hjalmarsson of the Renew Party. Over 16.7 million tourists visit the city each year, mostly from Prydania, Saintonge, Goyanes and Kyowara.
Metropolitan Railways of Byskólm City (Byskólm Metro)
Metroin í Byskólmurborg
The Byskólm Metro is the primary rapid transit system serving the city of Byskólm, consisting of five lines and 42 stations. Initially inaugurated on 16 May 1998 with 15 stations, the network underwent successive expansions, adding 13 stations on 30 June 2004, 8 more on 9 April 2012, and reaching its current size on 20 November 2021. Built by the Byskólm Metropolitan Municipality in collaboration with Soto Technologies, the metro is now co-managed by the municipality and Transport for Byskólm plc. and has reported an income of §226.7 million ($20.1 million) in revenue for Q4 2024.
The system was first unveiled during the 1998 Transportation Expo, held at the Højtrup Circus station. Its five lines—Line Akunes, Line Viesgala, Line Kulningsk, Line Kópasnarnes, and Line Svalhólmur (the most recent addition)—operate 171 trains daily between 06:00 and 02:45, with intervals of 7 to 10 minutes. The network connects key locations, including Royal Hasgard University, Ísafstaður Polytechnic University, and gates A, B, and C of Hlíðar Krisarson International Airport. Access to the tramway and bus network is also possible in multiple stations. There are plans to expand the network to 60 stations by 2026 by including nearby dormitory towns of Hólbyggð and Kristianìa.
Accessible through the HermóðKart transport card and standard tickets, the metro hosts an average of 5,646,290 passengers weekly and is widely favoured by locals for its efficiency and convenience. Fare prices are §7.25 ($0.64) for regular, §4.70 ($0.41) for students and teachers and free of cost for children below the age of 10, elderly above the age of 65 and disabled citizens. The network uses the Soto U-67 and U-78 high speed trains since 2017, replacing the old U-17-A trains that were used from 2009 to 2017.
The Folketing (Ostmark: Folketinget, lit. 'The people's thing' or 'People's assembly'), also known as the Parliament of Ostmark or the Ostish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature (parliament) of the Kingdom of Ostmark. Established in 1839, the Folketing was the lower house of the bicameral parliament called the Rigsdag until 1903; the upper house was the Landsting. It meets in Kongehus Palace, on the islet of Nederby in northern Byskólm.
The Folketing passes all laws, approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government. It is also responsible for adopting the state's budgets and approving the state's accounts. As set out in the Constitution of Ostmark, the Folketing shares power with the reigning monarch. But in practice, the monarch's role is limited to signing laws passed by the legislature; this must be done within 30 days of adoption.
The Folketing consists of 200 members; including thirty from Byskólm. General elections must be held every four years, but it is within the powers of the chancellor to ask the monarch to call for an election before the term has elapsed. On a vote of no confidence, the Folketing may force a single minister or the entire government to resign.
Members are democratically elected by proportional representation: 145 directly in constituencies using the D'Hondt method, alongside 55 leveling seats. The Ostish political system has traditionally generated coalitions. Most post-war governments have been minority coalitions ruling with the support of non-government parties. The first sitting of the house is usually attended by the queen.
█ Free Democratic Party :: 78 Frælsurtjóðveldisflokkur (F)
█ Alternative for Ostmark :: 11 Alternativ fyri Ostmark (AF)
█ Citizen's Movement :: 71 Borgararørslan (B)
█ Labour Union :: 40 Arbeiðarafelagið (A)
Logo
Name
Ideology
Leader
Current seats
█ Free Democratic Party Frælsurtjóðveldisflokkur F
Agrarianism
Civic nationalism
New conservativism
Óskar Eilífsson Chancellor
Party leader since 2018
78 out of 200 seats in the Folketing in coalition with AF
█ Alternative for Ostmark Alternativ fyri Ostmark AF
Right-wing populism
Anti-immigration
Ostish nationalism
Ástfríður Magnúsdóttir Minister of Foreign Affairs
Party leader since 2017
11 out of 200 seats in the Folketing in coalition with F
█ Citizen's Movement Borgararørslan B
Left-wing populism
Nordic centrism
Republicanism
Eva Hólmarsdóttir MP of Ulhus-Østerholt
Party leader since 2020
71 out of 200 seats in the Folketing
█ Labour Party Arbeiðarafelagið A
Labourism
Social democracy
Left-wing populism
Áskell Gunnarsson MP for Smedebæk
Party leader since 2022
