Rögnarey

In the middle of the Corteau Canyon lies a settlement called **Rögnarey**, where the amazonian tribe of the Norskyries lives. The Norskyries have developed a special form of fighting in which they weave axe blades into their long braids of hair and attack their opponents with rotating movements similar to ballet pirouettes to inflict severe flesh wounds. They refer to this style of fighting as the *Meat Cutter Dance*. This technique is made possible by their extremely hard and resilient necks aswell a their superhumanly strong musculature and body tension. They are said to have descended from the primordial nordic godmother Freygga.

The longer the hair of a woman from the Rognarey tribe is the bigger her physical strenght social status becomes. Cutting her hair means robbing a Norskyrie of her power and pride. Luckily for them, their hair might be supple, elastic and of enviable volume, but at the same time it is harder than steel. It is said that a garrot made from a single Norskyrie hair could strangle a fully grown ogre.

## History

The Norskyries have been in Zemyland for as far back as anyone can remember, though the inhabitants of Biblion often claim to have arrived before them.

Although often treated as a race of fey, there is compelling evidence suggesting they were in fact created by the old Northman goddess Freygga, who is still worshipped by some Northmen derived cultures like the Zemylanders and Hyperboreans.

The Norskyries once travelled beyond the Canyon more frequently, but ever since the snow elves and Hyperboreans defeated some of their allies among the fey lords, the Norskyries have become even more isolationist.

Few in number and very remote, there was a time when few other than Biblion and the snow elves even knew they existed outside of myths and legends, but adventurers from the Zemyland nations of Platinum and Gold eventually made contact and found them willing to sometimes leave their remote realm to work as mercenaries against old enemies and new.

## Government

The Norskyries roam their glacial home in small family units. The sole known settlement in their realm is the village of Rognarey, which serves as a social gathering point, trade location, and religious center for the Norskyries.

## Economy

The Norskyries are self-sufficient and don’t need to trade with outsiders. They have a few ceremonial surface forges for creating and maintaining weapons and armor, but where they get the raw material is a mystery. Likewise little lives in the territories claimed by the Norskyries, leading some to believe there is more to the Norskyrie’s glacier than meets the eye. Some believe there are subterranean chambers bustling with strange wildlife, or perhaps even entrances to another realm in their territory.

## Foreign Relations

### Princedom of Platinum and the Kingdom of Gold

The Norskyries occasionally do mercenary work for Platinum and Gold, essentially the only non-hostile contact they have with outsiders.

### Avangar, Aine Saevherne, New Hyperborea

These nations are the most likely to be on the receiving end of mercenary fighters from Rognarey. However, Norskyries are rare enough that few in these nations have encountered one, or have particularly strong opinions on the race.

### Corteau Canyon

Despite the fact that Nerim territory surrounds Norskyrie territory on all sides, the two races generally ignore each other. Norskyries can sometimes be seen travelling through Nerim land, but the Nerim have no valid reason to enter Rognarey, and rumor has it that those that have tried were swiftly defeated.

## Geography

Few outsiders have seen the Norskyrie homeland. It is often described as either a glacier, or snow covered plateau at the bottom of the large valley located on the eastern side of the mountain range known as “Corteau Canyon”. Some think it may be a frozen lake or a massive, magically created structure. How it remains intact in an area with such high salt content in the area remains a mystery.

The Norskyries have a few structures on the surface of the glacier, but many believe they have more within the glacier, or in a magic realm that connects to the region at various points.

## Demographics

### Norskyries

The only inhabitants of the territory, they resemble tall human females, but are unnaturally strong and quick, and seemingly immune to cold. Many consider them to be fey, but the Norskyries consider themselves descended from Freygga, who is a goddess in several northeastern cultures, though the interpretation of which powerful beings are gods, demons, fey lords, frauds, and myths varies by culture.

## Religion

Norskyries consider themselves descended from Freygga, and although the nuances of their faith are unknown, it seems they believe Freygga has similar attributes to other northeastern cultures who worship her.

Freygga is associated with prophecy, motherhood, beauty, war, cats, and death. Norskyries seem to worship her mostly by life experience. Those who have served as mercenaries with Platinum are known for their vanity, promiscuity, recklessness in combat, and strange obsession with the dead and dying. They are also often accompanied by giant cats, similar to their goddess.

How they worship Freygga in their homeland is unknown, but it is rumored that some of their shamans can see into the future.

## Military

Norskyries are reckoned by some to be among the best fighters in the world. Despite their feminine build, they are stronger and tougher than any human, and unnaturally quick as well. It is unclear how long they live for, but some have been recorded for living for centuries, and there is rumors they can reincarnate in some manner. Regardless of whether this is true, it is rare to encounter one who isn’t a combat veteran with considerable knowledge of different fighting skills and battlefield tactics.

Norskyries disdain crossbows and firearms, and rarely attack directly with magic, but they are highly skilled in the use of axes, swords, shields, spears, javelins, and bows. An unusual tactic some are fond of is the so-called Meat Cutter Dance where they use blades attached to their long braids to supplement the weapons in their hands.

Norskyries sometimes ride giant cats into battle or use them to pull chariots. The cats appear to be intelligent to an extent and have been seen spying on enemy camps, hunting enemy scouts, and even assassinating specific targets without direct supervision.