Feb 9, 2023 5:24 pm
People of the Northlands
There is not as great a diversity of races and peoples in the Northlands as one sees in the Southlands or especially the distant Caliphate. Only humans and elves have any large representation, but even this is overshadowed by the fact that the Northlands are nearly entirely dominated by the human Northlanders. Elves, of a sort that many Southlanders would find alien and foreign, are represented by the Nûklanders, but these reindeer herders live to the north of the Northlands proper. There has been some limited interbreeding between the Northlanders and Nûklanders, creating a small number of half-elves. Most of these half-breeds can be found in the wilds of Estenfird where Northlander civilization abuts the southern range of the Nûklanders. Of dwarves, there are only the few enclaves in Halfstead and Trotheim, plus the occasional dwarf who has found his way into the household of a jarl. Of halflings and gnomes, none are native to the region, and it is rare that members of either of these races wander into the frozen and dangerous north.
Of the other common humanoid races found in other lands, these are nearly or entirely absent in the Northlands. No orcs, goblins, bugbears, gnolls, or other of the "monstrous" humanoids are present, save for the rare individual who has made the journey north. Likewise, half-orcs are rare to the point of being nonexistent, and would be considered either some form of troll-touched abomination or a bizarre specimen, depending on where one goes.
What one does find in terms of non-humans are giants, and lots of them. Nearly every type of giant, and several varieties of troll and other giant-related species, can be found in the Northlands. These large and dangerous creatures lurk on the edges of Northlands’ settlements and are a popular target for heroes and would-be heroes. Invariably, the giants of the Northlands are evil and Chaotic. The presence of these monsters has led to the birth of humans with giant or troll blood, unfortunates wanted by neither group and unwelcome in all but the most tolerant of halls. Still, a few of these giant- or troll-blooded unfortunates have managed to keep their innate evil in check and rise from the humblest of beginnings to become heroic companions in another — more proper — hero’s saga.
There is not as great a diversity of races and peoples in the Northlands as one sees in the Southlands or especially the distant Caliphate. Only humans and elves have any large representation, but even this is overshadowed by the fact that the Northlands are nearly entirely dominated by the human Northlanders. Elves, of a sort that many Southlanders would find alien and foreign, are represented by the Nûklanders, but these reindeer herders live to the north of the Northlands proper. There has been some limited interbreeding between the Northlanders and Nûklanders, creating a small number of half-elves. Most of these half-breeds can be found in the wilds of Estenfird where Northlander civilization abuts the southern range of the Nûklanders. Of dwarves, there are only the few enclaves in Halfstead and Trotheim, plus the occasional dwarf who has found his way into the household of a jarl. Of halflings and gnomes, none are native to the region, and it is rare that members of either of these races wander into the frozen and dangerous north.
Of the other common humanoid races found in other lands, these are nearly or entirely absent in the Northlands. No orcs, goblins, bugbears, gnolls, or other of the "monstrous" humanoids are present, save for the rare individual who has made the journey north. Likewise, half-orcs are rare to the point of being nonexistent, and would be considered either some form of troll-touched abomination or a bizarre specimen, depending on where one goes.
What one does find in terms of non-humans are giants, and lots of them. Nearly every type of giant, and several varieties of troll and other giant-related species, can be found in the Northlands. These large and dangerous creatures lurk on the edges of Northlands’ settlements and are a popular target for heroes and would-be heroes. Invariably, the giants of the Northlands are evil and Chaotic. The presence of these monsters has led to the birth of humans with giant or troll blood, unfortunates wanted by neither group and unwelcome in all but the most tolerant of halls. Still, a few of these giant- or troll-blooded unfortunates have managed to keep their innate evil in check and rise from the humblest of beginnings to become heroic companions in another — more proper — hero’s saga.
Northlanders
The most populous cultural and racial group in the Northlands are, unsurprisingly, the Northlanders themselves. Famed for their size, cleanliness, independence, and ferocity, the Northlanders stand out among the smaller, darker people of the Southlands. Most Northlanders are of above-average height and weight for a human, though they do not exceed human norms for size. In skin, eye, and hair color they tend toward the lighter shades, though dark brown hair and eyes, as well as black, are not uncommon. Northlanders are also well known for being clean and for regularly bathing. These hardy folk see no problem with diving into a winter-chilled stream, providing they can quickly exit and get back into the warmth of a hall.
Men and women wear their hair long and in braids, though women’s hair tends to be longer. Men, and women engaged in more-active pursuits, wear trousers, a long tunic, and shoes of wood or leather. Women’s clothing tends toward dresses, aprons, and smocks, and both genders wear several layers, especially in winter, as well as cloaks and hats. Although women occasionally wear men’s clothing, men rarely are seen in women’s clothing.
The Northlanders have two social classes: thralls and freemen. The latter have some gradations from simple freemen to the jarls. Thralls are in effect slaves and are owned property of a freeman. They are generally captives taken in raids of Seagestreland, the Southlands, or places beyond, though they are occasionally purchased from Caliphate traders. A thrall may own property and may purchase its freedom, or it may gain its freedom though heroic deeds, the decision of its owner, or rarely by vote of a Thing (though like other decisions passed by these bodies, the Thing does not enforce the freeing of a thrall). Thralls may also bring suit before a Thing, though they may not vote and have no right to speak unless so granted by the assembly. The child of a thrall is also a thrall, but traditionally owners free their thralls upon death. A rare few thralls are Northlanders who have been captured in a raid or who have fallen on hard times and have sold themselves into slavery to pay debts or simply to find food and shelter.
All other Northlanders are freemen, and by tradition considered equal in rights and responsibilities. Freemen can own property, make oaths, and vote or speak in the Thing. Most freemen are simple farmers known as bondi; even craftsmen usually pursue their professions as a side job when not farming. The common farmer barely makes enough to put something away for the next year, and can arm himself only with a light wooden shield, a spear, a long knife or axe, and maybe a chain shirt if he is lucky, but more often leather. Wealthier farmers are known as hirdmen and make up roughly a third of Northlander society. A hirdman has a large enough excess income to afford to arm and armor himself at a higher level, namely with a suit of chainmail, a heavy wooden shield, several spears, an axe, a sword, and possibly a riding horse as well. These are not to be confused with hirthmenn who make up the citizen militias of the Northlands nations and derive their name from the hirdmen who originally almost solely comprised their.
First among equals, jarls have enough wealth to support themselves and their families, but also a large household of specialist craftsmen, thralls, and skilled warriors. The most valued members of a jarl’s household are his huscarls — men and women sworn into his service whose support is entirely dependant on the jarl. In effect, to be a jarl a person needs not just wealth, but the ability to convince others to pledge their lives in your service and also be able to provide for their feeding, shelter, clothes, weapons, armor, and all other things they may need. A jarl rides to war (though he fights on foot), and bears the best weapons and armor such as a heavy wooden shield, a sword or axe, and a suit of finely linked chain. Many jarls also own a longship or two — sometimes more — and regularly outfit expeditions for trading or raiding.
Men and women wear their hair long and in braids, though women’s hair tends to be longer. Men, and women engaged in more-active pursuits, wear trousers, a long tunic, and shoes of wood or leather. Women’s clothing tends toward dresses, aprons, and smocks, and both genders wear several layers, especially in winter, as well as cloaks and hats. Although women occasionally wear men’s clothing, men rarely are seen in women’s clothing.
The Northlanders have two social classes: thralls and freemen. The latter have some gradations from simple freemen to the jarls. Thralls are in effect slaves and are owned property of a freeman. They are generally captives taken in raids of Seagestreland, the Southlands, or places beyond, though they are occasionally purchased from Caliphate traders. A thrall may own property and may purchase its freedom, or it may gain its freedom though heroic deeds, the decision of its owner, or rarely by vote of a Thing (though like other decisions passed by these bodies, the Thing does not enforce the freeing of a thrall). Thralls may also bring suit before a Thing, though they may not vote and have no right to speak unless so granted by the assembly. The child of a thrall is also a thrall, but traditionally owners free their thralls upon death. A rare few thralls are Northlanders who have been captured in a raid or who have fallen on hard times and have sold themselves into slavery to pay debts or simply to find food and shelter.
All other Northlanders are freemen, and by tradition considered equal in rights and responsibilities. Freemen can own property, make oaths, and vote or speak in the Thing. Most freemen are simple farmers known as bondi; even craftsmen usually pursue their professions as a side job when not farming. The common farmer barely makes enough to put something away for the next year, and can arm himself only with a light wooden shield, a spear, a long knife or axe, and maybe a chain shirt if he is lucky, but more often leather. Wealthier farmers are known as hirdmen and make up roughly a third of Northlander society. A hirdman has a large enough excess income to afford to arm and armor himself at a higher level, namely with a suit of chainmail, a heavy wooden shield, several spears, an axe, a sword, and possibly a riding horse as well. These are not to be confused with hirthmenn who make up the citizen militias of the Northlands nations and derive their name from the hirdmen who originally almost solely comprised their.
First among equals, jarls have enough wealth to support themselves and their families, but also a large household of specialist craftsmen, thralls, and skilled warriors. The most valued members of a jarl’s household are his huscarls — men and women sworn into his service whose support is entirely dependant on the jarl. In effect, to be a jarl a person needs not just wealth, but the ability to convince others to pledge their lives in your service and also be able to provide for their feeding, shelter, clothes, weapons, armor, and all other things they may need. A jarl rides to war (though he fights on foot), and bears the best weapons and armor such as a heavy wooden shield, a sword or axe, and a suit of finely linked chain. Many jarls also own a longship or two — sometimes more — and regularly outfit expeditions for trading or raiding.
Nûk, Nûklanders
Beginning at Neiuburg in Estenfird and reaching north to the Endless Glacier that marks the edge of the world lays Nûkland, the land of the Nûk. Invariably, the Northlanders know the Nûk as Nûklanders despite their claims that this name is a mistranslation (a more correct translation would be "People of the Reindeer"). The Nûklanders are a different race than the human Northlanders, a race that foreigners would describe as elven. The average Nûklander is short, slender of build, and dark of skin and hair. They have long faces with small, broad noses, pointed ears, and eyes possessing slightly folded lids. Nûklanders have a second, inner eyelid that is transparent and seems to serve to protect the eye from the sun and cold, but also gives them the look of perpetually staring (Nûklanders rarely blink). Despite their slight build, Nûklanders do not suffer from the great cold of their icy homeland; indeed, they tend not to feel the cold at all due to their innate resistance derived from their inherently magical nature.
While the Northlanders consider the Nûklanders to be natives of the area, they were in their present range when the first Northlanders wandered beyond the Wyrm Fang Mountains; the Nûklanders are in fact rather recent settlers. Nearly three thousand years ago, a new god appeared among the elven peoples of a distant land to the south. This god proclaimed he would lead his followers to a place of eternal sunshine, vast fields, and endless game. Many scoffed at this boast and called this new deity a demon, devil, or scam. A few chose to pay homage to the new god, and soon a cult formed around him. As the cult grew in power, it came into conflict with the more established elven religions. In time, this conflict transformed from simple arguments to repression of the new cult.
The Forgotten One, whose name the Nûklanders and other elves have stricken from all record, encouraged his followers to strike out against those who would oppress them, and the nation was rent in civil strife. The traditional elves won out, and the cult fled north, traveling thousands of miles and slowly working its way to the "promised land." In the frozen reaches of the North, they entered a land that has endless daylight for half the year, but night for the other half. Vast fields of heather and flowers filled the land, at least when it was not covered by fields of snow and ice. Game was abundant, at least part of the year, but became scarce when the winter winds blew in. In their rage at this betrayal, the less-enthusiastic members of the cult turned on their leaders and in a night of slaughter ended the worship of the Forgotten One.
Trapped in the frigid north and facing their death, the small group of former cultists found themselves cast out by the elven gods. Seeking some aid in this new and barren land, they called out to the night. Not to be seduced by evil as they had before, the Nûklanders pleaded with those their people once worshipped, the spirits of the land, of the sky, of the water, and of the beasts that dwelled in that frozen waste. These spirits answered their call. To this day, the Nûklanders have adhered strictly to the worship of the spirits of nature, fearing any reference to a single god may again lead them into evil and corruption.
While the Northlanders consider the Nûklanders to be natives of the area, they were in their present range when the first Northlanders wandered beyond the Wyrm Fang Mountains; the Nûklanders are in fact rather recent settlers. Nearly three thousand years ago, a new god appeared among the elven peoples of a distant land to the south. This god proclaimed he would lead his followers to a place of eternal sunshine, vast fields, and endless game. Many scoffed at this boast and called this new deity a demon, devil, or scam. A few chose to pay homage to the new god, and soon a cult formed around him. As the cult grew in power, it came into conflict with the more established elven religions. In time, this conflict transformed from simple arguments to repression of the new cult.
The Forgotten One, whose name the Nûklanders and other elves have stricken from all record, encouraged his followers to strike out against those who would oppress them, and the nation was rent in civil strife. The traditional elves won out, and the cult fled north, traveling thousands of miles and slowly working its way to the "promised land." In the frozen reaches of the North, they entered a land that has endless daylight for half the year, but night for the other half. Vast fields of heather and flowers filled the land, at least when it was not covered by fields of snow and ice. Game was abundant, at least part of the year, but became scarce when the winter winds blew in. In their rage at this betrayal, the less-enthusiastic members of the cult turned on their leaders and in a night of slaughter ended the worship of the Forgotten One.
Trapped in the frigid north and facing their death, the small group of former cultists found themselves cast out by the elven gods. Seeking some aid in this new and barren land, they called out to the night. Not to be seduced by evil as they had before, the Nûklanders pleaded with those their people once worshipped, the spirits of the land, of the sky, of the water, and of the beasts that dwelled in that frozen waste. These spirits answered their call. To this day, the Nûklanders have adhered strictly to the worship of the spirits of nature, fearing any reference to a single god may again lead them into evil and corruption.
Seagestrelanders
To the southwest of the Northlands proper lies the Seagestreland, a forested band that stretches between the shores of the North Sea and the vast plains of the Sea of Grass. This forest, and the plains beyond, is home to hundreds of warring tribes known collectively as the Seagestrelanders. These tribes are human, but of a different origin than the Northlanders, speaking several different languages, and possessing a very different culture (in fact, several different cultures). Despite the variations, the Seagestrelanders are all one people to the Northlanders, just as the Southlanders are considered one nation despite the plethora of kingdoms that make up the Southlands.
It is difficult to describe the average Seagestrelander, as there is truly no such thing. The vast majority are smaller in frame and stature than the towering Northlanders, tend toward equally pale complexions, but have darker hair and eyes. They are human, and number few mixed-races among themselves, having no half-elves or half-orcs, and rarely producing a giant- or troll-blood child.
In times past, the Seagestrelanders wandered north out of the southern expanses of the Sea of Grass, likely pushed out by the then-expanding horsemen of the Hundaei tribes. In their northward migration, some groups settled along the Dnipir River, while others took to life in the forests and along the coast of the North Sea. Others stayed on the plains and took to a mounted nomadic lifestyle similar to that of the Hundaei that drove them from their ancestral homes.
With the coming of the Northlanders, the Seagestrelanders found any further expansion north, east, or west blocked, and soon saw their coastal villages raided and plundered. Yet other Northlanders came and offered to trade for amber, gold, and slaves. It is this last trade commodity that started the constant warring among the tribes, as neighbors raided each other in order to sell their prisoners to the Northlander traders and hopefully stave off raids against themselves by wild vikings. This did not help, as the various groups of Northlanders had no central authority to stop the raiding. Thus, today the Seagestrelanders treat every approaching vessel with fear, for until they see if the dragonhead is set they do not know if this will be a fight or an exchange of goods.
The Seagestrelanders desperately need this exchange of goods, for their land is poor in mineral wealth and their metalworking skills are less than those of the Northlanders. Strange beasts and fell monsters abound in Seagestreland and on the Sea of Grass beyond. Warfare is constant between the tribes, and the advantage that well-forged weapons and armor gives can mean the life or death (or often enslavement) of a tribe — not to mention aiding in defense against vikings coming in from the sea. Furthermore, trade goods can be exchanged to Northlanders in return for aid in some battle or conquest, a practice that has often led to Northlanders fighting each other on behalf of different Seagestrelander tribes. As the Northlanders have begun to move up the Dnipir River, this need for better armament has become all the more important.
Seagestrelander Characters
Seagestrelander characters face an uphill battle in the Northlands, for it is generally assumed that any Seagestrelander found outside his home region is a thrall. The other option is to play a thrall, though this would be quite the role-playing challenge and should be attempted only by experienced and mature players. Most Seagestrelanders should be warriors, barbarians, fighters, or rangers. Clerics and adepts are not uncommon nor are other spellcasters, though any such should be played as priests of the Seagestrelander gods no matter what type of spellcaster they are.
It is difficult to describe the average Seagestrelander, as there is truly no such thing. The vast majority are smaller in frame and stature than the towering Northlanders, tend toward equally pale complexions, but have darker hair and eyes. They are human, and number few mixed-races among themselves, having no half-elves or half-orcs, and rarely producing a giant- or troll-blood child.
In times past, the Seagestrelanders wandered north out of the southern expanses of the Sea of Grass, likely pushed out by the then-expanding horsemen of the Hundaei tribes. In their northward migration, some groups settled along the Dnipir River, while others took to life in the forests and along the coast of the North Sea. Others stayed on the plains and took to a mounted nomadic lifestyle similar to that of the Hundaei that drove them from their ancestral homes.
With the coming of the Northlanders, the Seagestrelanders found any further expansion north, east, or west blocked, and soon saw their coastal villages raided and plundered. Yet other Northlanders came and offered to trade for amber, gold, and slaves. It is this last trade commodity that started the constant warring among the tribes, as neighbors raided each other in order to sell their prisoners to the Northlander traders and hopefully stave off raids against themselves by wild vikings. This did not help, as the various groups of Northlanders had no central authority to stop the raiding. Thus, today the Seagestrelanders treat every approaching vessel with fear, for until they see if the dragonhead is set they do not know if this will be a fight or an exchange of goods.
The Seagestrelanders desperately need this exchange of goods, for their land is poor in mineral wealth and their metalworking skills are less than those of the Northlanders. Strange beasts and fell monsters abound in Seagestreland and on the Sea of Grass beyond. Warfare is constant between the tribes, and the advantage that well-forged weapons and armor gives can mean the life or death (or often enslavement) of a tribe — not to mention aiding in defense against vikings coming in from the sea. Furthermore, trade goods can be exchanged to Northlanders in return for aid in some battle or conquest, a practice that has often led to Northlanders fighting each other on behalf of different Seagestrelander tribes. As the Northlanders have begun to move up the Dnipir River, this need for better armament has become all the more important.
Seagestrelander Characters
Seagestrelander characters face an uphill battle in the Northlands, for it is generally assumed that any Seagestrelander found outside his home region is a thrall. The other option is to play a thrall, though this would be quite the role-playing challenge and should be attempted only by experienced and mature players. Most Seagestrelanders should be warriors, barbarians, fighters, or rangers. Clerics and adepts are not uncommon nor are other spellcasters, though any such should be played as priests of the Seagestrelander gods no matter what type of spellcaster they are.
Giant-Blooded
The Northlanders hate giants, especially in regions plagued by hordes of these monsters, such as Estenfird or Vastavikland. Yet sometimes a union between a giant and a Northlander occurs (usually a giantess and a human male), and the result is the giant-blooded. Occasionally these abominations are born to two Northlanders, for it is said that the taint of giant blood corrupts for a dozen generations. However the unfortunate thing is conceived, it is usually killed at birth, for most Northlanders will not accept the shame of such an abomination. Still, some are allowed to live and find a place in Northlander society, though always at the fringes and never with full acceptance.
Troll-Bloods
Even as rare as the giant-blooded are, the troll-blooded are even more so. Few interactions between humans and trolls are of any nature other than killing and eating, and thus almost never produce troll-blooded offspring. Still, it does happen, and like giant-blooded, troll blood corrupts for generations, meaning that two humans can produce a troll-blooded child. The fruits of these unions are even more cursed than the giantblooded, for if there is anything the Northlanders hate more than giants, it’s trolls.
Through mercy or their own evil, some parents allow their trollblooded offspring to live, though it can be argued that the prejudice and hatred troll-bloods endure in life makes death a greater mercy. Those allowed to survive must face the hatred of their neighbors and an allconsuming drive to eat. Troll-bloods are always hungry, and due to their nature and digestive systems, they need to consume far more meat than anything else. This makes keeping a troll-blood fed throughout the long winters a daunting task, for he will eat something, and a troll-blood driven into the depths of hunger will be hard pressed to eat meat that is socially acceptable. True, they can consume carrion, but fresh meat is what a troll-blood desires the most. Settlements that host troll-bloods over the winter often find that by spring they have a dearth of rats, cats, and dogs, assuming that the livestock hasn’t already been pillaged.
Through mercy or their own evil, some parents allow their trollblooded offspring to live, though it can be argued that the prejudice and hatred troll-bloods endure in life makes death a greater mercy. Those allowed to survive must face the hatred of their neighbors and an allconsuming drive to eat. Troll-bloods are always hungry, and due to their nature and digestive systems, they need to consume far more meat than anything else. This makes keeping a troll-blood fed throughout the long winters a daunting task, for he will eat something, and a troll-blood driven into the depths of hunger will be hard pressed to eat meat that is socially acceptable. True, they can consume carrion, but fresh meat is what a troll-blood desires the most. Settlements that host troll-bloods over the winter often find that by spring they have a dearth of rats, cats, and dogs, assuming that the livestock hasn’t already been pillaged.
