Nordheimer

Those of the southern lands claim that those who dwell here now — Æsir and Vanir alike — are descended from a race of snow apes, from a time long forgotten. These wise sages claim that these shaggy remnants were once men themselves in the times before the Cataclysm, and that over the vast march of time, the primeval savages became true men anew, and eventually became the Nordheimer. Most likely, visitors to the North saw men clad in the furs of white bears and apes that still haunt the mountains of Nordheim, but legend cannot be argued with.

Whether the sons of apes or a fairer offshoot from the line of Bori, the Nordheimer swept across the North and laid claim to much of these cold lands, though in the east they met their equals in the Hyperboreans, and in the south west they were put in their place by the dour Cimmerians, whose rocky hills had little to offer. And thus, the Nordheimer remained where they were, bordered by enemies, locked to their wintry realm.

## A Way of Life

Folk of the northern reaches of Nordheim have a less formalized society, and hold to a more nomadic mode of existence not unlike that of Hyrkania or even the eastern lands of Iranistan or Ghulistan, though they could be no more different culturally. Gone are the social distinctions of king or queen, jarl, huscarl, landowner, trades-folk, free-folk, and slaves. Nowhere can be found the elaborate system of fealty based on distribution of wealth, oaths sworn on arm-rings, and promises of glory. It is said that Nordheimer are perhaps the most democratic of the folk of the Hyborian world, but only in the farthest north is this particularly true, with the social order determined solely by one’s worth to the overall struggle for survival.

Rather than being defined by the land they inhabit or the oaths they have sworn, the northern branch of the Nordheimer people are gathered into nomadic tribes of anywhere between 50 and 500 members, rarely more and usually somewhere in the middle. They move across the vast snow- and ice-bound countryside in tents and yurts made of wood and horsehide owned and cared for across many generations, usually from hides or animals captured or traded for in the southern reaches of their land.

Each tribe is led by a chief, usually one of the greatest warriors or wisest elders, though rarely are decisions made autocratically. A council of all the best hunters and crafters in the tribe is assembled to make important decisions, and they inevitably lean towards the survival of the village, urging caution and prudence. There is no established means of ousting a leader; it is generally handled through consensus or by careful deliberation by the existing leader, and rarely is the role of chieftain achieved through combat. In most cases, the new leader must be blessed by the religious leader of the tribe, always a priestess.

Raiding is also important part of there culture, looting for bronze coins and other treasures. Caring very little for death, providing its glorious in battle - only then will they sit in the great feast hall next to Ymir

## **Stereotype Summary**

Nordheimer are most civilised of the north, and famous for raiding.

They are considered a mid level conflict character played with others

## **Based On**

Howard based the Nordheimer on alternative culture of the viking, mostly a view from the 1930's

## **Game Mechanics**

* Perk: Northern Raider
* Disadvantage: Must build in own biome
* Natural Biome: The North
* Prefered God: Ymir
* Restricted Gods: Set, Yog,

## Further Information Resource

https://www.modiphius.net/products/conan-the-barbarian-pdf