Whitla

Whitla are fair-skinned, tall and muscular humans with light hair and sturdy bodies. Most of them have their home on the icy islands of Whitland, where they hail from, but they inhabit many other regions as well – most prominently the 13 kingdoms of Frigg. They are adventurers, pioneers with longboats and have a long tradition of expansion and exploration. In their homelands, their kings lead a society of hunters, fishermen, farmers and smiths. They usually are assisted by shamans that call forth the spirits of the land and the animals. They build their homes out of wood, but if the country is especially hard, they don’t have any problems with living in homes carved out of ice or stone. Their heroes are far-sung by skalds and their mead-halls are filled with song and laughter, and someone that meets them in battle may find their death sooner than expected. Looks: Adult Whitla range in between 1,70m and 2,10m. Their build is usually either bulky or muscular. Their skin ranges from a very light ivory colour to a more reddish misty rose colour. Whitla have mostly brownish eyes, with green and blue variants being relatively common. Their hair are oftentimes light blonde, and some Whitla dye their hair even lighter with the help of water that’s high in lime. Reddish brown and straight ginger hair is also common. Clothing and Armament: Whitla mostly wear furs and simple linen clothing, preferring simple brown, beige and white colours. More fashionable clothing is dyed blue and yellow, with red mostly being reserved for kings, travelling folk or wealthy merchants. Whitlan clothing oftentimes has a hood, as well as a cape, in order to fight off harder weathers, and thick fur overcoats made from bear or northland cattle hides are seen during the harsh winters that Whitla endure. In battle, Whitla will oftentimes favor lighter armor, like hardened leather harnesses or mail. However, some Whitla also sport half plate armor. Most Whitla will be seen fighting with Hand or Battle axes and shields, throwing javelins or using a bow, and no Whitla will leave their village without at least a dagger or a short sword at their side. Culture and Art: Whitla have a rich culture of Craftsmanship and Artisanry based on folklore and practicality. They are skilled wood- and bone-carvers, shipwrights and potters, but they also make great beekeepers and weavers. Of special notice is the Whitlan profession of Skalds. Skalds are warrior-bards, who travel the world in search for heroic deeds and interesting songs that they can add to their peoples’ collective mythology. Whitlan architecture is mostly based on woodworks, with masonry mostly being reserved for foundations, if not emitted completely in favor of stilts. Shingles or thatch are preferred roofing, and the beams supporting the buildings are oftentimes decorated with carvings depicting heroic deeds, the owners of the buildings, or just artistic expressions, oftentimes depictions of beasts or other creatures. Whitlan houses usually sport two major rooms: a common room for eating, cooking, sleeping and socializing, and a small room for livestock. Beneath the floorboards is usually a shallow cellar, used to store dried food, pickles, tools and other wares. These are usually stored in wooden crates or earthenware pots. In the center of a Whitlan settlement usually lies a longhouse, which is basically a larger, more open building of the same design as a normal house, with a roof shaped like an upturned ship (sometimes these buildings actually are made from old longboats). This building usually doubles as the town leader’s home, as well as the city hall. It is sometimes accompanied by a tavern or a meadhall.