Clan Úlfrstrīth

Clan Úlfrstrīth is a relatively large clan in the Scandinavian Freelands, specifically in southern Norway (at what is now modern day Krabbesund). They are a fishing, lumber, and trading clan. Before becoming warlike, the clan was named Viðrkaupeyrir, but after a warlike Furrman became their chief, it was renamed to Úlfrstrīth.

## History

### Capital:

No "capital" but the village is located in modern day Krabbesund (Village name "Tronjroppa")

### Culture:

Norse

The Clan, like other Norse clans, started when Norsemen went West to find new lands. When Norway was discovered, some went South towards the sea. Multiple fishing villages began near the coasts, including Viðrkaupeyrir, which traded in both lumber and fish from the Skagerrak.

Viðrkaupeyrir was one of the first clans that began to explore using their boats (it was popular theory that Viðrkaupeyrir was the clan that first started making small colonies, but it was actually a clan that was 17 miles West of the village), making their first colony in modern day Løkken. The colony failed after 13 years, but during the first two years of the colony, Viðrkaupeyrir was capable of making trade deals with multiple other clans.

When the Crusaders began trading with the Norse clans, Tronjroppa made a deal with Crusader merchants to exchange rare fish for paper and ink, among other smaller commodities. Things went well until a neighboring village and clan, Heilvonr, launched a sudden and devastating attack on the village, stealing their fish and burning their "tree farm" nearby.

Unlike many other clans, Viðrkaupeyrir did not retaliate or train soldiers, even after repeated attacks. Eventually, the clan was hanging on a thread after an assault that left their few farms ruined, their forest burnt, and their chief's head on a pole. Then, one day, a band of Úlfhéðnar- some of them actual wolf furrmen- were visiting the village, presumedly to trade for some fish, when it was attacked by Heilvonr. The Úlfhéðnar went into a frenzy, killing over 40 enemies in just a minute before the rival clan made a retreat. The Úlfhéðnar, lusting for more killing, followed the fleeing Norsemen and slaughtered anyone they saw, regardless of age, sex, or occupation. The members of Heilvonr fled the village in fear, and in just hours, the village was destroyed.

Overjoyed at the destruction of their enemy, Viðrkaupeyrir offered chiefdom to any of the Úlfhéðnar. One of them, a wolf furrman named Freyrskinn, accepted. Under his new rule, the clan was renamed Úlfrstrīth, and soldiers were taught how to fight. Some even become Úlfhéðnar.

After this, the clan started to rebuild, and aside from two raids from some neighbors, the clan was unharmed and rebuilt into an even bigger village. They began to trade with Crusaders and some friendlier clans once more, and they began to become rich in metal, the primary commodity they traded for. Soon, they began to build many ships that were clearly designed for battle rather than fishing. They also incorporated the bowyer techniques of the Furrmen in Russia, who are (to their knowledge) among the best archers in the world.

After 32 years, Freyrskinn died of natural causes, appointing his 11 year old son, Ulfir, as his heir. He lead for 16 years before being mortally wounded in an attack from a rival clan. In honor of his father, he named his newest son Freyrskinnsson and named him heir. After 13 years, the child was named chief. At age 17, he made his first attack- naturally on the clan that killed his father- and after two months wiped the clan off the map.

At 22, he decided he was going to try and re-build their old colony in Denmark, only to discover that the country was owned by someone else.

As if that's going to stop him.

## Weapon and Army

Clan Úlfrstrīth uses the normal weapons of the Scandinavian Freelands, with only one key difference. Rather than using Norse bows, the clan uses the somewhat better Furry bows from the East. Other than this, the weapons are standard: hatchets, wooden shields, spears, all-metal swords.

The key difference between Clan Úlfrstrīt and other Norse clans is their soldiers: about half the clan is Furrmen, and almost a quarter of soldiers are Úlfhéðnar, some of which have become the modern idea of Berserkers. The clan uses strategies mostly based on "harassing" their foes, picking off the weak as a unit before going to the stronger opponents. They are utterly brutal, using their teeth just as much as a weapon as they do swords and axes, specifically the Úlfhéðnar. As a fear tactic, soldiers intentionally soak themselves in their enemies blood during a fight.

WIP