Åskland

Byrn

**Åskland** is a geographical region, home to a patchwork of barbaric, human tribes. It is a nation in the sense of a people, but it isn't a single political entity.

The **Åsklanders** who inhabit the region are a playable sub-faction of the Warriors of the Dark Gods in the game The 9th Age: Fantasy Battle.

Åskland has a rich history, much of it shared with the neighbouring nation of Sonnstahl. They are known for their raids and their assossiation with the Dark Gods.

## History

At end of the Eighth Age, armies of Åsklanders marched upon mainland Vetia under the banner of the Dark Gods. Together with Makhar and ogres, they fought against Sunna and her allies at the Battle of Volsk. The Åsklanders were the first to charge over a bridge of ice made by the wizards of the army. They were however driven back by the archers of Queen Genoveva. Eventually the allies of Sunna were victorious, as the bridge crumbled under the heat of the sun.

Åskland have a long history of being enemies to the Empire of Sonnstahl, though the relations have improved lately.

## Geography

Åskland is said to be a harsh land, situated in northern Vetia, on a peninsula north of the Sea of Storms. It borders the Jotun Peaks to the north.

The city of Thrymfjord is found in Åskland. *Presumably it is the capitol of Thrymland*, a kingdom in the region which is noted for being more civilised than the neighbouring tribes.

## Government

Åskland is no singular nation but a patchwork of different tribes, with different agendas. They are ruled by kings, jarls and hersirs.

The right to rule is determined through trials and challenges, ensuring that only the strongest and wisest lead the tribe. Though the support of the Huskarls, the veterans of the tribe, is also necessary.

## Politics

Many tribes of Åskland today have friendly ties to Sonnstahl, through relationships forged between their leaders and the nobility of the Empire. One such example is Thrymland, which is tied to Breidmark through the marriage of Lady Annelie and Prince Olvir Hrogtharson.

## Culture

The culture of Åskland is recorded in their sagas and runestones. These give detailed accounts of their tradition, myth, ethics and politics. Supposedly, the culture of Åskland and Sonnstahl have a common history and root.

The language spoken in Åskland is also shared with Sonnstahl. The Åsklander touge is a variant of Karin, the same language family that Sonnsprache is part of.

Hunting is an old and indispensable tradition in Åskland. It forges deep bonds between the people and their hunting packs.

## Religion

Much like the culture of Åsklanders, their religion too appears to have common origin with that of Sonnstahl. Worship of Sunna and her pantheon is believed to have originated in Åskland, and later spread from there. Such worship remains in the region, though in different forms and through different rituals than what may be seen in the rest of Vetia.

Gradually however, Åskland has shifted towards worship of the Dark Gods, with temples an whole tribes having been turned. Tribes dedicated to a single of the Dark Gods is common.

It is also fairly common for Åsklanders to take the pact with a Dark God. These often return to their tribes as Warriors and participate in their raids, though their reasons for doing this are unclear.

The Seidkennars of the Åsklander tribes act as voices to their gods. They are storyteller and wizards, but are also said to speak with the creatures of land.

## Economy

Åskland is known for their raids of neighbouring lands. They also raid by sea using their longboats, sometimes travelling as far as Silexia.

However, the Åsklanders are also traders. Their trading ships can be found as far away as Avras and Aldan.

## Military

The armies of Åskland are known to consist of fierce fighters. They are wild warriors and berserkers. Though they also possess an uncommon ability to fight in great numbers without getting in each other's way. They also use their round shield to form effective shield walls by interlocking them.

Each Åsklander, man and woman, is said to be skilled fighters with both bow and axe. They are made strong by the harsh living conditions of the homeland.

The forces of the Åsklanders is also often bolstered by an assortment of beasts. From trolls, to wargs, krakens, giants and even the mighty Jötunn.

## Sources

1. ↑ The World Hymn: The 8th Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p130*)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Introduction (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p2*) Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":0" defined multiple times with different content
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Diary of Lady Annelie, daughter of the Count of Breidmark (*The 9th Scroll, issue 7, p5*)
4. ↑ Jorge Zamoran; An account of the peoples, nations and monsters which inhabit the world: Other Nations (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p142*)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Meradus Gercator (962 A.S.) Map of the Lands and People of the 9th Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p125*)
6. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Åsklander Chief (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p4*)
7. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Huskarls (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p9*)
8. ↑ Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, seventh session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 17, p10*)
9. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Warhounds (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p8*)
10. ↑ Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, ninth session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 21, p19*)
11. ↑ Atharsaga, part 1 (*T9A:FB Warriors of the Dark Gods, v0204.2, p20*)
12. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Warriors (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p10*)
13. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Seidhkennar (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p5*)
14. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Åsklander Horsemen (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p11*)
15. ↑ Liam Quiverpike; Extract from the final act of the Fall of The Corsair King (*T9A:FB Warriors of the Dark Gods, v0204.2, p54*)
16. ↑ Account by Shepkin Tikhonovich, Volskayan Voivoda (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p2*)
17. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Åsklanders (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p8*)
18. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Trolls (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p11*)
19. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Wargs (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p10*)
20. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Kraken (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p14*)
21. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Marauding Giant (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p13*)
22. ↑ Lionel Bethune, My Time in the North (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p14*)