Nords

in: Races

## Introduction

The Nordic people are often shrouded in mystery due to their isolation in the freezing north. The universal truth that is embraced by all who have encountered them is that they are savage, superstitious raiders, best to be avoided at all costs.

## The Basics

* **Appearance:** Nords are blonde or red-haired, pale-skinned, blue or green-eyed, tall and broad in stature. A Nord’s body tells the history of their exploits through the tattoos and scars that cover their flesh.
* **Lifespan:** 75 Years. Due to their extreme lifestyles, few ever achieve old age.
* **Height:** 170 cm (5'7") - 190 cm (6'3")
* **Regions Found:** Both the Caledonii and the Nord are predominantly found in the north-eastern part of the world, with the Nords boasting settlements all across the frozen north or near bodies of water.
* **Culture:** Proud and honorable according to their own code, a Nord is driven with one purpose in mind: obtaining admittance into the Halls of Valhalla.
* **Common Character Roles:** Jarl, Frue, Shieldmaiden, Warrior, Berserker, Hjakona, Seidkonur, Seidmenn, Skald (Storyteller)
* **Other Names:** Northmen, Raiders
	+ Derogatory Slurs: Caledonii, Piss-Hair, Blood-Hair
* **Common Allies:** Frost Giants & Vargan. Outside of those two races, Nord clans only ally with others (including other Nord Clans) for temporary and specific purposes (i.e. to fight a mutual foe, mercenary work, etc).
* **Common Enemies:** The Nords have a long list of enemies with their extensive raiding parties, but none are more bitter a foe to the Nords than the Caledonii and Pureblood Giants.
* **Architecture:** Structures vary by clan, age, and preference. Most are simple, practical structures always centered around a Mead Hall, while older clans may have built up fortifications.
* **Religion:** Nords worship four primary gods. They are considered a cohesive pantheon: The Alfather, the Mother, the Hunter, and the Seer. A fifth, Hel, is not spoken of.
* **Views on Magic:** Shamanic and ritualistic, suspicious of any magic not their own.

## Appearance

Pure Nords are all pale-skinned, with either blonde or red hair and blue or green eyes. They are tall and broad in stature. The exception to this is a secondary class of Nord who has been adopted into a clan as a result of raiding and reflects their original heritage. A Nord’s body tells the history of their exploits through the tattoos and scars that cover their flesh, and this serves as a symbol of status among their people.

Those adopted into the Nordic culture are only esteemed by those who adopted them but are considered only slightly better than thralls.

Nords typically prize sturdy, functional attire made of rough hide, fashioned leathers, furs, and metal plating. They often incorporate small elements of other cultures in their garments to display their dominance through raiding and plundering.

## History & Culture

Nords are a very proud and honorable people by nature. Everything in their life is a step towards securing their place in eternity. Nordic warriors fixate on achieving their earned place at the feasting tables of Valhalla, while all other Nords seek their place in the Fields of Folkvangr.

Cowardice is insufferable to the Nords. A true Nord will never back down from a fight, even if the odds are stacked against them. In fact, to stand bravely against an overwhelming foe is seen as an automatic entrance into Valhalla or Folkvangr. Every clan and settlement is seen as a potential raiding target outside of a Feast Day. Feast Days are spiritual, celebratory days that are protected by the Alfather, the Mother, the Hunter, and the Seer, and all are invited. It is said you’ve never met a friendly Nord unless it was a Feast Day. These special days set aside current hostilities, contracts, and covenants between friends, family, and allies.

Nords will commonly induce intoxication from a variety of means in order to speak to their ancestors, glimpse the future, or be assured of their place in eternity. Intoxicated hallucinations are a means to come in contact with their true self, all inhibitions and burdens laid aside. Alcohol, dried poisoned mushrooms, and other hallucinogens are used to gain a spiritual connection with the inner self and with their gods or to prepare for battle in order to reach a euphoric state of berserker-like blood lust.

Unlike the Caledoni, Nord men and women share equal status while normally filling different roles. It is not uncommon for women without children to take up blade and shield to raid alongside their male counterparts. Many shieldmaidens and their exploits have their stories told or sung by Nordic skalds who enjoy special immunity as they travel from clan to clan. While rare, skalds play an integral part in Nordic life. These men or women travel from clan to clan, spreading news, gossip, and trade. There are tales of Nordic skalds traveling far and wide as they primarily gather information while spinning their songs and tales at local taverns and inns.

Skalds can often be found entertaining and informing Jarls of world events at regular multi-clan meetings called Althings. Althings are part celebration and part politics where Nords gather with clans they would normally be antagonistic towards.

### Marriage & Courtship

All of life is a battle to the Nords. While healthy men are expected to demonstrate prowess in raids, women are expected to exact that same prowess in their homes and villages. Marriage is always a negotiated arrangement to increase individual status and that of the clan. Nords never marry out of a sense of love or passion but from a desire to survive their harsh realities.

Relationships are viewed as mutual partnerships with clearly defined but equal roles. Within the home and village, women take on all leadership roles when the men are not around, such as the defense of the home and village. Women primarily operate businesses, lead marriage negotiations, and rule all things pertaining to home and commerce. Wives often rule alongside their husbands. While it is rare, there have been times that a female Nord will rise to the position of Jarl if she earns her place through some extraordinary feat of bravery on the battlefield or her husband has been slain in combat, and the village agrees to follow her.

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> #### Hjakona (Mistress)
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> A single female Nord could voluntarily enter into a relationship via a contract with a married male Nord and his wife. This arrangement is always discussed and agreed upon by the married couple and is always for the strategic advantage of all parties involved. A couple welcomes a hjakona who can contribute to the family unit in some beneficial manner. Hjakonas often sought such relationships to share in the status of power of the couple, to share in goods, or to remain under the protection of a powerful couple. Contracts were only entered into during Althings after negotiations between clans could be discussed. The Jarls would normally offer final approval of the contract if they deemed it in the best interest of the clan.
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### Disdains

The average Nord harbors a great loathing and disdain for those who reflect the opposite traits of a proud Nord. Cowardice, subterfuge, deception, dark magic, and dishonorable behavior are but a few negative traits that a respectable Nord would raise Hel about. They do have a mutual level of respect and hatred for most Caledonii after decades of shared conflict, with the latter predominantly dictating the tolerance of their long-time foe.

Nords maintain a natural disdain and mistrust for any outside of their clan. Slaves or adopted slaves are the only people who are allowed to spend any prolonged time within a Nordic settlement.

While there may be a variety of ways to win back honor, there are few more challenging than the Feat of the Bear.

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> #### Feat of the Bear
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> The Nords use a variety of contests to demonstrate bravery or secure some status or standing, none of them as brutal and deadly as The Feat of the Bear. A Nord who chooses to engage in this feat must walk a gauntlet of all the tribesmen in the clan, each equipped with some tool or weapon designed to draw blood from the Nord’s naked body. If the Nord survives the gauntlet, they are then put into a small arena, bloody and at times broken, to face a starving and enraged bear. A disgraced Nord can only find redemption by killing the bear and surviving the contest.
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## Society

The typical Nord village is almost always ruled by a male jarl and, by extension, the wife of the jarl called the Frue. The Nords are a people who believe only the strongest and most cunning among them are fit to lead their proud people.

When Nords have matters of court to decide, it is not uncommon for an Althing to be held. The Althing is not strictly based on political discussion. This gathering includes a ceremony, typically one in honor of their gods, as well as feasting, drinking, and merrymaking. It is not uncommon for the decision-making to be delayed until a day or two following these gatherings.

The Althings have hidden reasoning for their occurrences. Jarls host these as a time to gain favor with their would-be opponents on matters and use such a merry occasion to influence the decisions of those casting their opinions on strategic affairs.

When it comes to matters of broken laws, the guilty are given a chance to refute their charges before the jarl. If they have been deemed guilty, depending on the extent of their crime, they may be branded and allowed to leave in exile. The brand informs all other Nords of the exile and the crime committed. If the crime is heinous, the culprit is given a choice between execution or potential redemption through completing a feat or through combat.

## Religion

There are four primary religious figures in Nordic culture, and all four are usually worshiped or called upon regarding their specific area of influence. The four primary figureheads have not deigned to give their names, so they are only known by their titles. They are considered a cohesive pantheon that guides and oversees their Nordic children.

#### The Alfather

The Alfather is admired and respected for his foresight and wisdom, as well as the ability to oversee matters the faint of heart cannot endure. Guidance is asked from the Alfather when it is time for raiding, dealing with foreigners, or any request that another in the pantheon does not cover. The Alfather sits in judgment of all souls, making the eternal decision between Valhalla, Folvangr, and Hel. Legend holds that he offers opportunities within challenges to the most devout of his followers.

#### The Mother

The Mother is held in high regard for her nature to nurture, safeguard, and oversee the lives of her children at any cost to herself. She is seen as the protector, one who shines her favor upon the defense of the home, supporting the axe of the warrior and leading them to victory. She is the warrior’s rallying cry, the herald of mercy, who sends the Valkyrie to the aftermath and calls her children to Valhalla or Folkvangr. The Mother is also given tribute in favor of fertility and matters of family and home.

The Alfather and the Mother have two children, the Hunter and the Seer.

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> #### The Hunter
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> In the simplest of terms, the Hunter is the god of the hunt and raid. Before a raid or hunt, sacrifices are offered for the Hunter’s keen vision and steady aim. After a successful hunt or raid, a great feast is always held in celebration of the Hunter’s provision. Legend holds that the Hunter has appeared to Nords in the form of a white stag and has led them to new hunting grounds, blessed a hunt, or even protected Nords at their most dire times. Nord shifters specifically seek the guidance and leadership of the Hunter as they find a kinship with the son, who is rumored to be a shifter himself.
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> #### The Seer
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> The Seer is the epitome of a Nord’s connection with their natural environment and what may lay ahead. The Seer not only blesses the meager crops the Nords grow but she is called upon when her people need to see far into the future. The Seer warns her followers of coming threats and catastrophes. The secrets of potions and poultices have been handed down to her practitioners over generations, and those secret arts are still practiced today. Most practitioners of the Seer’s ancient arts are females called Seidkonur, but there have been a few males called Seidmenn. The Seer’s practitioners are highly respected by Nords, and their influence often rivals a jarl’s own authority.
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#### Hel

There is a fifth goddess who is not spoken of by good Nordic people. Unlike the rest, she has given her name and flaunts her power whenever she can. It is said that, long ago, the Alfather and the Mother entered into a contract to take on a human hjakona of unsurpassed beauty and incredible skill on the battlefield. While the hjakona’s name is now lost to history, a child was produced from that union, and the hjakona died during birth. The child was named Hel to describe the grief that the Alfather experienced at the loss of his hjakona.

The exact details of the issues between Hel and the Alfather are lost to time, but what is known is that the Alfather refused Hel a place among the deities in Valhalla. Enraged, Hel created her own eternal land and named it Helviti.

Hel actively works against the Nordic pantheon and attempts to lure Nords to her side by promising power, wealth, and acceptance. Nords who actively worship Hel do so in privacy. They would never make their devotions known, as they would be immediately hunted down by any self-respecting Nord. The practitioners who worship Hel are almost exclusively Blood, Dark, and Mental magic users. Even some Marked have been tricked into believing a demon is Hel herself. In all cases, the Dark Arts are used to lure others to their cause by any means necessary.

### Afterlife

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> #### Valhalla, the Hall of Warriors
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> Valhalla, the Hall of Warriors, is the eternity that every warrior pursues. It is said that in the Halls of Valhalla, there is no higher seat than to sit at the table of the Alfather, enjoy his mead, and live in the eternal throes of righteous battle and contests of strength.
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> The Alfather decides who will sit at his table, and it is said that he watches the lives of valiant warriors closely. Any warrior who dies in glorious battle, axe still in hand, without dishonor, is allowed entrance into those hallowed halls.
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> ### Folvangr, the Golden Fields
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> Folvangr is ruled over by the Mother, and it is said to be a place of peace and prosperity. Those who find their way into the Fields of Folvangr long to serve the goddess in much the same way they lived. Their work is simple and shared as they prepare meals and drinks for those who have arrived in Valhalla. Their rest is easy and is often described as walking in fields of wildflowers, fishing peacefully on the banks of a crystal lake, and enjoying a sense of peace that they may not have obtained in this life. During Feast Nights, those in Folvangr will make their way to the Halls of Valhalla to reunite with those they knew on the mortal plane. Many women, the old and feeble, or the sick and dying, are often comforted by thoughts of the Fields of Folvangr waiting for them.
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> #### Helviti - The Dread Night
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> Among the righteous Nord, Hel is a place of dread. It is the Afterlife for all Nords who have lived a life of cowardice, deceit, murder or committed other villainous acts. Those that are damned to Helviti are without honor, and their name is stricken from the history of their people. Furthermore, any surviving family of the damned is shunned and forced into exile with nothing provided to them.
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> Hel rules Helviti, and she welcomes all who are not welcomed by her estranged family. What lies in wait for those who arrive in Helviti differs depending on who you ask. Those who follow the ‘True Pantheon’ describe Helviti as a place of smoke, fire, and dread night. Those who worship Hel describe Helviti as a place of endless feasts, sensual pleasures, and never-ending games of power and deception.
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## Racial Relations

Nordic settlements can be found throughout the frozen north and at any location where there is a body of water in which they can launch their raiding campaigns. While some have been known to sell themselves into mercenary work, a Nord will always be discontent if there is no snow beneath their feet or a ship deck taking them into battle.

Historically, Nords were loyal to those within the clan and saw all others as either territorial threats that would consume locally sparse resources or as potential raid targets. Due to proximity, this often brought Nordic clans into conflict with one another for thralls, goods, territories, pride, and glory. Most Nords live by their given word, and they do honor promises given so long as it does not restrict their lifestyles. Most regions that have been subjected to the Nords’s raiding efforts around the world do not trust Nordic people. They’re met with suspicion and, in most cases, aggression, and the feeling is mutual.

The only exception to the continual antagonistic relationship the Nords maintain with all other races is a somewhat neutral relationship with the Jotunn, also known as Frost Giants. According to Nord legend, during an early age, the Nords and Pureblood Giants had allied together. It was during this alliance that the Nords learned of a betrayal from the Champion Giants who had abandoned their Pureblood rulers for their honorless deceit. These freshly dubbed Frost Giants stood with the Nords and, according to legend, saved their race from potential annihilation. The Nords have never forgotten the honor of the Frost Giant and the deception of the Purebloods, earning them the name Jotunn by the Nords.

During a first encounter, it is difficult to determine how a Nord clan will respond to a Jotunn. Some may respond from a neutral but positive standpoint, while Nords who have had good experiences with the race as a whole might even eagerly welcome giants into their trust. It is not uncommon to find Jotunns and Nords trading, hunting, or raiding together. Skalds even sing songs of a Jarl who had wed a female Jotunn, but those are stories of yore.

Nords have a particular animosity with the Caledonii in an ongoing feud over land claims that date back generations. To call a Nord a ‘Caledonii’ or a Caledonii a ‘Nord’ is an insult of great disrespect and has been the source of many skirmishes between these two groups of people. It is highly unlikely that a Nord clan will see any other people group as anything but a raid target, especially if they live within walking or sailing distance of a clan.

At times and out of necessity, temporary alliances may form with other racial groups. The Mac Tirad Vargan enjoys a special affinity with Nords because of their perceived relationship with the Hunter. While a Mac Tirad would never be allowed to live among the Nords, they can often be found living nearby and working alongside the Nordic people. Alliances with Nords are always short-lived, and usually, the former ally finds their own home being raided by their former Nordic ally. The Nords do not see this practice as treacherous if their former ally allowed them to gain intelligence about their home. Nords do honor official ‘Councils’ as momentary peace with other races if there are trade or alliance agreements to deal with.

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> ### Slavery
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> There are two things that offer the greatest of glories in raiding, the battle itself and, secondarily, taking thralls (slaves). Economically, there was nothing of more importance than the Nord slave trade. Thralls were seen as cattle and treated as such. Highly skilled thralls were often treated well and with some measure of respect, whereas common thralls were treated just better than the animals they often tended. Depending on the owner’s wishes, a slave could earn their freedom with terms set by the owner.
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## Perception of Magic

What most call magic, the Nords call Seidr. It is a power that comes from their gods, spoken and brought about through their Seidkonur (female) and Seidmenn (males). The Seer provides Seidr to her practitioners through spiritual rites and rituals. Seidkonur and Seidmenn are given great respect among the Nords and have often been adopted by rival tribes after a successful raid. It is not uncommon for a Seidkonur to be a primary advisor to a sitting jarl.

Seidr is believed to be the source of a Nord shifter’s ability. A shifter is normally seen as one who has been greatly blessed by the Hunter himself. Nord shifters are treated with a sense of respect and, in some ways, seen as touched by the gods. There are many legends of the Hunter appearing to Nord shifters, sending them on quests, and granting them favors because of the connection.

All spheres of magic are open to the Nords. Neutral magic spheres are the most common among the Nords as they reflect the Seer's natural state of connecting to the elements of nature - wind, water, earth, fire, and nature itself. Holy magic practitioners see the Seer opposed to the Seer's half-sister, Hel, in their struggle for their Father’s affections. Marked Coven of the Mother reflects the desire of the Seer to one day become a mother herself. Evil magic (Blood, Dark, and Mental; Coven of the Four Lords) is exclusively practiced by worshipers of Hel.

## Lore Contribution

> **Credit for Lore Contribution:** Ruecifer, Rivani, Rook, Tystan, & Tor
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