Northmen
The Norskfolk
The Men of the North—called Northmen by outsiders and simply folk by their own tongue—hail from the frigid, wind-scoured continent of Jotunfir. Their world is one of enduring frost, ancient traditions, and unyielding superstitions. For centuries, their way of life remained unchanged, suspended in a state of technological regression and bound to the rhythms of hearth, clan, and god. Jotunfir is a continent of jarls and druids, where feudalism grips tight and bloodlines are recorded in saga and bone. Northmen live close to the earth, close to the spirits, and close to the past. Their myths walk beside them. Their ancestors whisper in the ice. And now, that which was myth has returned. The Jotuntyde—the legendary reawakening of the giants—has begun. The Old Gods stir in the depths of the snowscapes, and long-banished horrors emerge once more. Where once their gods were stories etched on stone, now they are seen again in the flesh—harbingers of the end. Jotunfir once bowed to the Jotunvegars, the Giantslayer Kings, a storied bloodline that unified the continent under sword and wisdom. But their lineage is broken. The Thunderthrone lies empty. Now, province-states and jarldoms squabble, each claiming divine right to lead the fight against the coming dark—none able to agree on how it must be done. Religion divides them further. Some cling to the reformed faith of the Allfather and His Children, a syncretic belief forged from the collapse of old ways. Others turn to the primordial faiths, worshiping beasts and gods of tooth, horn, and claw. Each believes theirs is the true path. Each is ready to kill for it. The North bleeds from within even as it is threatened from without. Yet the Northmen endure, as they always have—fierce, fatalistic, and forged in cold.
To play a Northman is to step into the boots of a soul forged in frost and prophecy. These are people raised on saga, shadowed by legend, and taught from birth that the world is ending—and has been ending for as long as anyone can remember. Theirs is a fatalistic culture, where glory is ephemeral but remembrance is eternal. A Northman measures worth not in coin or comfort, but in deed and legacy. Honor is paramount, but so is the telling of one’s tale. Whether you die a hero or a villain, you must matter. The worst fate for a Northman is to be forgotten. This can lead to brazen recklessness, quiet martyrdom, or boastful belligerence depending on the character's interpretation of “glory.” Many Northmen are deeply superstitious. Omens, dreams, animal signs, and ancient runes hold sway over even the wisest jarls. Consider what your character believes: do they revere the Allfather, or worship the forbidden beast-deities of old? Is your character devout, skeptical, or tormented by visions? The North is a land of blood feuds and oaths. Loyalty is often tied not to nation, but to clan, blood, and hearth. Northman characters may find it difficult to trust outsiders or forsake ancestral obligations, even in the face of logic or necessity. They are not unthinking savages, but their logic is old. What seems brutal to a southerner may be the fulfillment of an oath, or justice demanded by the gods. Northmen often wrestle with their own violence—whether they embrace it or seek to master it. To roleplay a Northman well, consider your saga-in-the-making. What tale will be sung of your deeds? What spirits guide you? What truths are you willing to kill for—or die for?
The Northmen of Jotunfir are unmistakable in both stature and presence—hewn as they are from the glacial bones of their homeland. Descended from hardy bloodlines steeped in survival, they are taller, broader, and more physically powerful than the average man of Acarus. Their frames are built for endurance in the howling blizzards and relentless cold of the north. Skin tones range from pale ivory to windburned rose, often marked with weathered lines and scars by the time adulthood is reached. Many wear the signs of frostbite and old wounds like medals, and a Northman’s face is often the story of their life. Hair is typically flaxen blond, ashen brown, or icy white, worn long in braids or shorn in harsh practicality. Among warriors and chieftains, elaborate hairstyles can indicate rank, lineage, or adherence to ancient rites. Eyes are most commonly shades of blue, gray, or steel-green, set beneath heavy brows that lend an ever-watchful or brooding appearance. It is said a Northman's stare can pierce stormclouds—a reflection of their deep-seated fatalism and calm in the face of doom. The average Northman’s body is a thing of bulk and utility—thick-boned, with powerful shoulders, hardened limbs, and calloused hands. Even the weak among them are stronger than most southerners. Fat, where present, is often corded around muscle, a practical insulation against the cold. Clothing is made from leathers, furs, and coarse woolens, dyed with charcoal, lichen, and bloodroot. Ornamental bone and antler carvings serve both decorative and ritual purposes, and many bear tattoos or scarification that bind them to clan, spirit, or god. When a Northman enters a room, he does not need to announce himself. His presence does that for him.
The Men of the North—called Northmen by outsiders and simply folk by their own tongue—hail from the frigid, wind-scoured continent of Jotunfir. Their world is one of enduring frost, ancient traditions, and unyielding superstitions. For centuries, their way of life remained unchanged, suspended in a state of technological regression and bound to the rhythms of hearth, clan, and god. Jotunfir is a continent of jarls and druids, where feudalism grips tight and bloodlines are recorded in saga and bone. Northmen live close to the earth, close to the spirits, and close to the past. Their myths walk beside them. Their ancestors whisper in the ice. And now, that which was myth has returned. The Jotuntyde—the legendary reawakening of the giants—has begun. The Old Gods stir in the depths of the snowscapes, and long-banished horrors emerge once more. Where once their gods were stories etched on stone, now they are seen again in the flesh—harbingers of the end. Jotunfir once bowed to the Jotunvegars, the Giantslayer Kings, a storied bloodline that unified the continent under sword and wisdom. But their lineage is broken. The Thunderthrone lies empty. Now, province-states and jarldoms squabble, each claiming divine right to lead the fight against the coming dark—none able to agree on how it must be done. Religion divides them further. Some cling to the reformed faith of the Allfather and His Children, a syncretic belief forged from the collapse of old ways. Others turn to the primordial faiths, worshiping beasts and gods of tooth, horn, and claw. Each believes theirs is the true path. Each is ready to kill for it. The North bleeds from within even as it is threatened from without. Yet the Northmen endure, as they always have—fierce, fatalistic, and forged in cold.
Roleplay Advice: Northman Characters
To play a Northman is to step into the boots of a soul forged in frost and prophecy. These are people raised on saga, shadowed by legend, and taught from birth that the world is ending—and has been ending for as long as anyone can remember. Theirs is a fatalistic culture, where glory is ephemeral but remembrance is eternal. A Northman measures worth not in coin or comfort, but in deed and legacy. Honor is paramount, but so is the telling of one’s tale. Whether you die a hero or a villain, you must matter. The worst fate for a Northman is to be forgotten. This can lead to brazen recklessness, quiet martyrdom, or boastful belligerence depending on the character's interpretation of “glory.” Many Northmen are deeply superstitious. Omens, dreams, animal signs, and ancient runes hold sway over even the wisest jarls. Consider what your character believes: do they revere the Allfather, or worship the forbidden beast-deities of old? Is your character devout, skeptical, or tormented by visions? The North is a land of blood feuds and oaths. Loyalty is often tied not to nation, but to clan, blood, and hearth. Northman characters may find it difficult to trust outsiders or forsake ancestral obligations, even in the face of logic or necessity. They are not unthinking savages, but their logic is old. What seems brutal to a southerner may be the fulfillment of an oath, or justice demanded by the gods. Northmen often wrestle with their own violence—whether they embrace it or seek to master it. To roleplay a Northman well, consider your saga-in-the-making. What tale will be sung of your deeds? What spirits guide you? What truths are you willing to kill for—or die for?
Physical Features
The Northmen of Jotunfir are unmistakable in both stature and presence—hewn as they are from the glacial bones of their homeland. Descended from hardy bloodlines steeped in survival, they are taller, broader, and more physically powerful than the average man of Acarus. Their frames are built for endurance in the howling blizzards and relentless cold of the north. Skin tones range from pale ivory to windburned rose, often marked with weathered lines and scars by the time adulthood is reached. Many wear the signs of frostbite and old wounds like medals, and a Northman’s face is often the story of their life. Hair is typically flaxen blond, ashen brown, or icy white, worn long in braids or shorn in harsh practicality. Among warriors and chieftains, elaborate hairstyles can indicate rank, lineage, or adherence to ancient rites. Eyes are most commonly shades of blue, gray, or steel-green, set beneath heavy brows that lend an ever-watchful or brooding appearance. It is said a Northman's stare can pierce stormclouds—a reflection of their deep-seated fatalism and calm in the face of doom. The average Northman’s body is a thing of bulk and utility—thick-boned, with powerful shoulders, hardened limbs, and calloused hands. Even the weak among them are stronger than most southerners. Fat, where present, is often corded around muscle, a practical insulation against the cold. Clothing is made from leathers, furs, and coarse woolens, dyed with charcoal, lichen, and bloodroot. Ornamental bone and antler carvings serve both decorative and ritual purposes, and many bear tattoos or scarification that bind them to clan, spirit, or god. When a Northman enters a room, he does not need to announce himself. His presence does that for him.
Race Navigation
Old-World Allies
CastilliansDwarves
Elves
Jotunfir
NorthmenHalf-Jotuns
Vessos
The VesseseThe Places Between
BeastkinOutlanders
In Mankind we Trust.
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