Thulm

Thulm is vast, wide and mostly covered in a
thick blanket of ice and snow called Ekivitr or Nasni’s Veil. The country is
divided into two; in winter, Ekivitr covers two thirds of the country’s land
where as Thejland, the southern thawed lands, is generally warmer. The
wandering goddess, Nasni, is their patron and the nomadic Thulmian culture has
developed its wandering lifestyle to honour her. Thulmian tribes wander up and
down the country at the will of Ekivitr, herding cattle or hunting and mining.

The riches ore veins are scattered throughout the mountain ranges Malmrvida and
Isafeldr.  The Thulmians find Malmrvida
ore to be their greatest export, as non-native caravans and miners struggle not
only with the cold, but the dangerous mountain pathways, wildlife and starvation.  Thulmians combat the temperatures with thick
woolen tunics, furs, leather hides and nalbinding wraps.

The Thulmian tribes are sometimes quite insular and cold to outsiders, but will never turn one away from shelter and food.  Masters of
crafts in Thulmian tribes usually only teach those of Thulmian blood, however,

if an individual is to show their worth and honour the traditions of their tribe, they may be persuaded to impart some of their knowledge in recognition to their commitment to Nasni and the ways of Thulm.

In battle, Nasni has been known to gift a spirit of the dead, human or animal,
to those who honour her best in battle, causing them to fly into a beserking
rage as the two separate spirits torment the body. Because of Nasni’s ties to
those who are dead, dying and in pain, despite varying ways of doing so, all
tribes of Thulm honour the dead, especially animal spirits.

## Tribal Structure

Thulm is divided into
tribes and thus has no firm single leader. They're very close to Nasni and
usually find that their religious leaders (weiha) take the head of things. The
Weiha is usually female and thus Thulm can be considered a matriarchy but some
chosen male Weiha can and do lead when a female isn't at hand.

### Weiha/Vidkin

(Way-ha/ Vid-kin)~ Religious leaders

Weiha (or affectionately know as ‘Vidkin’) are those closest to Nasni. They’re generally the leaders of their tribe and are expected to lead their people no matter where they are or who else is around them. Usually, the Weiha are female, but men have been known to take the role when there isn't a female Weiha present. They are custodians of ritual knowledge for the Thulmians.

### Banahogg

(Bana-Hog)

Banahogg are rare and sanctioned only by Weiha. They are usually trusted individuals by their Weiha to sacrifice or kill in Nasni's name similar to assassins. Banahogg are celebrated individuals as they deliver those worthy to Nasni's arms. They regard death, killing, pain and sacrifice as an art form. Banahogg are usually kept secret.

### Smidmadr

(smid-madder) ~ Crafters

Below Weiha and Banahogg, Smidmadr are next in the power order of the tribe. Those with a craft are highly regarded as it is their knowledge and skill which carry the survival of the tribe on their back. Smidmadr teach only those who they deem worthy, a Weiha cannot make them impart their knowledge.

### Kaupmadr

(cow-p-madder) ~ Traders

Kaupmadr are also held in high regard as it is their travelling and diplomatic senses which allow the flow of trade to run smoothly. The kaupmadr also supply the tribes with things they cannot get in Thulm, such as Olvany's powerful herbs and honey for the mead in Olfossa.

### Vigamadr

(veega-madder) ~ Fighters/hunters

Vigamadr are hunters and gatherers as well as basic protective forces for tribes. It is the Vigamadr which help run the tribes day to day by providing food, furs and helping build shelters. They may be at the 'bottom' of the tribal order but they are never looked down upon.

## ***Festivals***

Thulmians live at the mercy of the seasons, travelling south
as the ice swallows their summer travelling grounds, then North again when the
ice retreats. As their goddess travels, so do they. Where other cultures
celebrate the harvest or first growth, Thulmians celebrate moving on. They have
four main festivals.

### **Adrsnoer - First Snow**

When the first flakes of snow fall in the early autumn,
Thulmians know that Nasni is drawing her veil over the land again. This is the
time to say farewell to summer. Any animals that cannot be kept through the
winter are killed and their meat preserved or eaten. The last summer fruits and
berries are cooked into preserved to last through the winter. Great fires are
lit in tribute to the departing sun. During the First Snow celebrations
Thulmians symbolically burn representations of things they intend to leave
behind. Those who have disagreed in the past year wrap their differences in
cloth and throw them into the fire to show that they no longer matter. The
whole tribe must work together to get through the dark half of the year.
Couples who wish to part will burn something from their old relationship to
symbolise that it ends with no bad feeling. The winter is harsh, even in
southern Thulm. Anything unnecessary, physical or emotional, goes into the fire
and is left behind when the tribe moves South.

### **Nasninott - Nasni's Night**

At the deepest point in the winter, Thulmians believe that
Nasni walks among them. Outsiders speculate that this is because so many of the
old and sick die in the depths of winter called to Nasni's embrace. The
Thulmians themselves insist that the death is merely a side effect. In the
long, dark nights Nasni comes to her children and in her mercy she ends the
suffering of those who cannot survive the cold. On the longest night of the
year the Thulmians leave offerings for Nasni - a cup of mead and sweet honey
cakes, sometimes accompanied by jewellery or precious stones shaped like the
animal spirits that Nasni gifts to her favoured children. While the goddess
walks outside, Thulmians gather around the fire to tell stories of those who
have passed. This is the time for sagas telling of long dead heroes and tales
of the glory days of loved ones who went to Nasni's halls in the past year.

### **Nyrlaufsblad - New Buds**

The spring festival is celebrated at a different time by
each tribe. When someone finds the first sign of new growth, an early snowdrop,
green buds on a tree or a clump of crocuses, they pick a single bloom and take
it to the Weiha. This first sign of growth is placed at the head of the table,
like an honoured guest, while the tribe prepare a feast. After weeks of
carefully hoarding winter stores this is a chance for the tribe to let loose,
eat, drink, sing and welcome the sun back into their lives. This is also the
time when the tribe prepares to go north again, following the retreating ice
sheet. It is seen as an auspicious time for things to begin. Contracts,
marriages and apprenticeships that start at New Buds are seen as particularly
favoured. Children conceived at the festival are thought to be blessed with
long life.

### **Lengstdagr - Night of the Midnight Sun**

Strictly speaking only those in the far north of Thulm will
see the midnight sun, but the festival is celebrated wherever the tribe happens
to be. Thulmians know that summer will not last for long so they take the
chance to revel in the warmth while they can. On the longest day they gather in
a great outdoor celebration. There is drinking, dancing, music and song lasting
right through the night. It is the mark of a proper warrior that you can stay awake
until morning.

## ***Important Events***

### **Battle**

Though they serve a death goddess, Thulmians are not eager
to die in battle, but nor do they fear it. Nasni calls all living creatures in
the end. For the warriors in her service the highest honour is not to die
gloriously, but to live long enough to send many foes to Nasni's halls. Before
battle the Weiha call down Nasni's blessings on her armies. They paint to faces
of their warriors with staves of power to put
fear into their enemies and lend strength to their blade arms. No Thulmian
would dream of going into battle unsanctioned if they have any choice.

### **Death**

Thulmians understand death in a way that no other culture
can. Many people think that their worship of Nasni makes them a bloodthirsty
people, eager to die. This is a misconception. It is simply that Thulmians know
that no one can avoid Nasni's call forever. As Nasni's chosen people they have
no reason to fear the next world.

When a Thulmian dies their tribe mourn hold a raucous wake
to celebrate the person's achievements in life. Dead warriors get increasingly
elaborate tales of battle, merchant tales tell of the good deals they have
made, and for Weiha the stories tell of how well they served the tribe. It is
thought that the better the stories told at the wake, the higher honour the
person will be given in Nasni's halls. Thulmian wakes are known for two things
- the amount of alcohol drunk and the tallness of the tales told.

## ***Thulmian Customs***

Thulm is a hard land. It's people understand that survival
means working together, and so hospitality is considered sacred. To turn a
traveler away is the worst possible insult. Even the poorest families keep a
spare set of clothes for travelers coming in from bad weather. No matter how
low the stores, there is always something for a weary guest to eat and
somewhere for them to rest. To allow harm to a guest who has been welcomed
under your roof is almost the most dishonorable thing a Thulmian can do. The
only crime worse is for a guest to attack their host. Even the bitterest of
enemies call truce when they stay under the same roof.

A constantly moving people, Thulmians know that few things
are permanent. Marriages last for as long as the couple wishes to stay
together. It is unusual, but far from unheard of, for someone to leave the
tribe they were born in. Only death is forever.

*With Special Thanks to Ellen Clegg*