Offshore Torvaldsland

By Hersius

Introduction

Torvaldsland, like Gaul, can be defined as three parts. It is conceptualized as Ax Glacier country in its extreme north, and as “Torvaldsland proper” between Ax Glacier to the north and the border of the Northern Forests to the south and Thassa to the west and the mountains of Torvaldsland to the east, and as “the east,” that is, the area east of the coastal mountains of Torvaldsland and southwest of the Hrimgar Mountains. Offshore Torvaldsland can also be defined as three parts, being comprised of skerries, the exchange islands of Hunjer, Skjern, and Scagnar, and the current referred to as the stream of Torvald.

The skerries have been discussed in a previous article. TGV June 2003. This article will therefore focus on the exchange islands and the stream of Torvald.

The map of Samos makes clear the relative positions of the areas considered here from north to south. First mentioned are Ax Glacier and then Torvaldsland, both of which are coastal. Then the islands of Hunjer and Skjern are mentioned. Then Helmutsport is mentioned. Then there is a geographic break as Kassau and the northern forests are mentioned. Then Lydius and its environs are mentioned. The there is another break and Cos, Tyros, the Vosk delta, and Port Kar are mentioned. Book 10 Page 7. Later, using the same map, places are mentioned in order from south to north. Kassau, which is on the mainland, is mentioned first, and then the Skerry of Vars. Torvaldsland is mentioned as being northwards, and finally Ax Glacier is mentioned. Book 12 Pages 35-36. (Note that the Skerry of Vars had been earlier located at 5 pasangs north of where the great Torvaldsland battle with the Kurii took place and only 2 pasangs offshore. It is also estimated to be only 100 foot square, flat, and at sea level. Book 9 Pages 270-271. Perhaps in the Book 12 look at the Samos map Norman meant the Skerry of Einar, which would make more sense as a well-known offshore boundary marker.)

These articles locate Lydius at around 58 north 16 west. Lydius is the free port at the southern edge of the Northern Forests. Kassau is considered to be at around 67 north 16 west. Kassau is the important trade center close to the northern edge of the Northern Forests. Helmustport is positioned at around 69 north 16 west. Helmutsport is the free port that these article believe marks the coastal southern boundary of Torvaldsland. “Torvaldsland proper” is seen as being between 69 and 72 degrees north and as extending from the coast at 16 west inland on an average to 15 west. Ax Glacier is placed at around 73 north 16 west. One degree of longitude at 70 north latitude is estimated to cover some 29 pasangs (twenty-ish miles). TGV December 2005; January 2006.

Offshore Torvaldsland therefore begins just west of 16 degrees. The stream of Torvald is “pasangs wide.” It is found 2 day’s rowing west from Kassau. It flows to the northeast above Kassau and then flows north once it reaches Torvaldsland. The Skerry of Einar seems to be within it. Book 9 Page 55. These articles estimate the stream to be at 17 west when it is opposite Torvaldsland. These articles also locate Hunjer, Skjern, and Scagnar within the stream of Torvald, as explained below.

The islands of Hunjer, Skjern, and Scagnar must be placed within 69 and 73 north. For reasons explained below, these articles estimate Hunjer at 72 north, Skjern at 71 north, and Scagnar between 69 and 70 north.

Plankton beds are found just south of the Skerry of Einar and just north of Kassau. Book 9 Pages 27-28, 55.

Background

The famous plankton beds would have been created by westerly winds moving from the tundra and the cold northern part of the Northern Forests. As with the same phenomenon on Earth, winds moving from the Gorean continent over the ocean push the upper waters westward. Nutrient-rich water from the depths then rises to replace the wind-driven water. The nutrients brought to the surface form the basis of the plankton beds and attract the fish, which along the Gorean northwest coast means the vast schools of parsit fish.

The name of Hunjer island is the same as the name of a Gorean species of whale. As oceanic mammals, whales are related to porpoises and dolphins. The so-called killer whales and pilot whales are not true whales at all but are instead classified as dolphins. Whales are classified into 2 main groups. The baleen whales feed by filtering plankton through a sieve on the upper jaw called a baleen. Baleen whales have two blow-holes. The toothed whales have teeth instead of a baleen and feed on fish and/or squid. Toothed whales have one blow-hole. The Hunjer is a black-colored, toothed whale that feeds on, probably among other things, cuttlefish. The Hunjer that was taken by Tarl Cabot and Imnak stood forty feet high on its tail fins (called flukes) and is described as “towering, cylindrical tonnage.” Book 9 Page 114; Book 12 Pages 258-259.

It is not specified how the name of Hunjer island relates to the name of the whale. It has been suggested online that the whale species was named for the island. My guess is that a species name would have been given before the island was discovered and that the island name either recognizes that the island is the key port in the whale trade or was conferred because of a geographic similarity between the land mass and the whale. My conjecture is that the shape of the island suggests the whale, and that there may be a coastal-facing sheltered harbor created by the evocative landform. I also think that it is the key port in the whale trade.

Hunjer and Skjern are specifically emntioned as being west of Torvaldsland. Scagnar is mentioned as being a northern island. Book 6 Page 137. Chapter 8 of Book 9 makes clear that Scagnar is part of offshore Torvaldsland. Hunjer, Skjern, and Scagnar are Exchange Islands. The Merchant Caste of cylinder-city culture Gor believes them to each be of enough importance to merit their permanent administration. This means that they have specific roles to play in regional commerce. They are close enough geographically and are so isolated from major population centers that their roles must be different and definable.

When Norman mentions trade networks, he invariably pictures them as being complex, whether he is dealing with Torcadino or even isolated Turia. The north coastal trade networks are no exception. Lydius and Helmutsport, as free ports, are involved in commerce between Cos and Tyros and the mainland. Goods from Lydius reach Helmutsport, Cos, and Tyros. Kassau has goods from Cos and from Ar while being supplied from Lydius. Kassau trades with Torvaldsland, receiving furs and sending wood, weapons, iron, salt, and luxuries. The ocean north of Ax Glacier is described as being “ruthless,” yet the red hunters of the polar basin trade for tea and sugar. Scagnar trades in the fur of the sea sleen. Coastal villages exist between Lydius and Torvaldsland, and they must both be supplied with finished goods as well as supply raw materials for export. Book 6 Pages 137-138, 166-167; Book 7 Pages 59-60; Book 8 Page 41; Book 9 Pages 3, 25, 28; Book 12 Page 36.

Conjecturing from the perspective of a map, it would make sense for Cos and Tyros to use the stream of Torvald to send goods to Scagnar and probably to at least Skjern and maybe to Hunjer. The stream would make ocean transportaiton relatively easy from Scagnar to Skjern and and from Skjern to Hunjer. Scagnar is well-positioned to supply Helmutsport, Kassau, and Lydius. Skjern is well-positioned to supply Torvaldsland. Hunjer is well-positioned to supply the Ax Glacier country. It also makes sense for Lydius to hug the coast and supply Kassau and Helmutsport with items from the mainland and to in turn receive raw materials from Helmutsport and Kassau for shipment to Cos, Tyros, and Port Kar. Coastal trade between Lydius and Kassau would be essential for the coastal villages to function in the regional economy.

Continuing to conjecture from the perspective of a map, Hunjer would appear to be a glorified commercial outpost community connecting the people at the top of the world with the rest of the planet. As an exchange island administered by the Merchant Caste of cylinder-city culture Gor, Hunjer would be the northernmost place of civilization on the planet; its main settlement would be, if you will, the most northern capital on Gor. It is most likely a gateway station between the red hunters and the world below as well as a gateway to the Ax Glacier communities. Hunjer would be expected to have a small population. Since the war arrow was taken to Hunjer when the Kurii threatened Torvaldsland, and people from Hunjer answered that call, we can believe that Hunjer is largely populated by Torvaldslanders. At the same time, Hunjer is an exchange island, so it would also have residents from other places on Gor.

Since Skjern ostensibly supplies Torvaldsland and may be the go-between connecting Hunjer with the world, Skjern would presumably have a much larger inventory than Hunjer would, and so Skjern should have a larger population than Hunjer. Since the war arrow was taken to Skjern when the Kurii threatened Torvaldsland, and people from Skjern answered that call, we can believe that Skjern is largely populated by Torvaldslanders. At the same time, Skjern is an exchange island, so it would also have residents from other places on Gor.

Scagnar was strategic enough for Kurii to subvert it in Book 12, and one of the ships from Scagnar was famous throughout the region. Those two facts may indicate an importance for the island. If Scagnar is the first point of contact for goods shipped over the stream of Torvald, and if Scagnar is a place that ships northern items southward, then it may be the key exchange island depot for the region. As such, it may have the largest population of any of the three exchange islands. Since the war arrow was taken to Scagnar when the Kurii threatened Torvaldsland, and people from Scagnar answered that call, we can believe that Scagnar is largely populated by Torvaldslanders. At the same time, Scagnar is an exchange island, so it would also have residents from other places on Gor.