Aesir

«They are the hardest of men, with a touch of the uncanny, and about a number of them were built and shaped more like trolls than human beings.» -Aldred of Brythunia

The men who dwell in Asgard are, for the most part, barbarous and savage compared to those who live in the Hyborian Kingdoms to the south. The blond-haired, blue-eyed Aesir are a virile and rough hewn northern race of hunters and axe-wielding warriors who fight by day and carouse by night. With white hot enthusiasm they pursue life, facing death fearlessly with a song on their lips. They are heavyset, proud giant men who value honour, loyalty and a good reputation above all things. The ideal person in Asgard is a young, virile slayer. He is courageous skilled and tough. He is a warrior, a hunter, a defender and a raider. Skalds recount his exploits and deeds in their songs about honor and glory and the favor of the gods. However, in times of relative peace, Aesir from some of the southern tribes can even be found trading their wares with the peoples of the northernmost provinces of Border Kingdom, Nemedia and Brythunia. Yet, in many ways, the Aesir are unlike the Hyborians to the South. For they worship the god of war Ymir, and live brutal, primitive lives and mainly raid others as the primary means of economic sustenance. Hence, many Hyborians see the Aesir and Vanir as a plague sent by the forces of evil, and not as real people. Aesir males are often tattooed from the tips of their fingers to their necks. These are often figures of trees and symbols gripping beast or other knotwork patterns of which the Aesir are fond. Tattoos are also used as a mean of personal identification and always display their tribal identity in some apparent way.

Government and Social Roles

The Aesir have many kings, for each village is like a kingdom unto itself. A king, to the Aesir, is any local warrior who can maintain a following, using both income and honour to hold on to that following. The king always leads his warriors into battle, which means that most Aesir kings die young but with barbaric honour and pride.

The chieftain has the social responsibility of enforcing the laws of Aesir society. A chieftain is expected to be generous in all things and to protect the honour of the clan against outsiders. The chieftain must be a good leader, a powerful warrior, an excellent speaker and an inspiration to his men. He is required to attend every Thing or Althing lest he lose his position.

The Hirðmenn are those who have sworn Allegiance to the king or chieftain and fight by his side.

The Jarls are the upper class, the wealthiest of Aesir. Below them are the commoners: landowners and land-workers

Commoners are of three categories:

A leiding is a man who rents or leases his land to another in return for payment in food. A leiding is usually a wealthy land-owner or farmer and his tenant can be anyone from a former slave to a chieftain. He is a free man with all the rights and duties of such in Aesir society.

A hauldr is a true free man with full rights and duties in Nordheimir society. The hauldr owns his own land and has a hereditary right to that land; his family has owned the land for at least six generations. Most people in Aesir society belong to this class of people.

A løysing is a slave who has been set free by his owner because of hard work or exceptional service. He is usually still dependent upon and owes duties to his former owner. The children of løysing parents are free. Members of this class often participate in raids and military excursions in order to supplement their wealth. The only right they lack is a hereditary right to land.

Beneath the commoners are the thralls.

Thralls are slaves;Thralls are not protected by the law but are treated as property. Killing a slave is not murder, so the killer need only replace the slave if it was owned by someone else. Children born of slaves are the property of their mothers’ owners. Slaves work hard and the only thing they are allowed to own are knives. Slaves are captured during raids into Pictland, Asgard, Nordheim, Cimmeria, the Border Kingdom and Hyperborea. Other nordheimer might become slaves if they find themselves unable to pay the mulct (fine) imposed by the Althing or unable to provide for themselves and/or their families.

Trade and Economy

War is not only their social and religious setting, war is also the basis of their economy. Annual raids is the cornerstone in their economy where they acquire precious metals, usually silver, used for trade. They pay for goods with coin or an appropriate weight in silver cut off from their jewellery. The Aesir rarely carry purses or sacks of coin because of the noise. It is easier and quieter to recast coins as a bracelet and then just slice off pieces as needed. The Aesir also engage in barter for trade goods. Of course, their preferred manner of acquiring necessities is to raid a rival for them.

The frigid northlands are not suited for agriculture and the Nordheimer do not practice anything beyond bare subsistence farming. The Aesir do not herd great herds of animals either. They hunt for their livelihood as befits a warrior race. Their wasteland realm is not as barren of life as one might suppose at first glance. The frozen mountains and icy plains support bear, mammoths, moose, reindeer and similar beasts of the wild. Wild fruits and berries supplement the Aesir diet. Dependent upon wildlife, Aesir villages, built using whatever materials are close at hand or can be readily raided, are usually erected near known animal trails and water.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Aegileifa, Ailsa, Alfgifu, Alfhildr, Arikka, Arnkatla, Arnlaug, Arselma, Asgerdr, Astridr, Asvora, Audhild, Brenda, Brita, Dalla, Dis, Driva, Erda, Edney, Eir, Elle, Eydis, Eyra, Freydis, Geirhildr, Gislaug, Gragas, Grimhild, Gulli, Gundrea, Gunne, Gyda, Hailiegh, Haldora, Halldis, Hallgerdr, Hedvig, Helga, Hildr, Inginn, Ingridr, Injerd, Jaldrud, Jorunn, Kari, Keirstin, Lif, Lofn, Maerita, Magnhildr, Malmury, Norna, Odindis, Olve, Ota, Ranveig, Rika, Ronnaug, Saeunn, Saga, Siegrid, Sif, Sigfrida, Signy, Sigrun, Sigyn, Thjodhild, Thordis, Truda, Ulfhild, Ullgerdr, Vaetilda, Valgerd, Vebjorg, Vigdis, Ydonea.

Masculine names

Aage, Agdir, Aghi, Alaf, Aleifr, Alfrigg, Arngrimr, Arnsteinn, Asgeirr, Askell, Askr, Athulf, Beini, Bergulfr, Bern, Bjorn, Brandr, Dusi, Eileifr, Einarr, Eldgrim, Eowils, Erek, Erlingr, Errict, Eyjolf, Eymundr, Eysteinn, Eyvindr, Faste, Fastulfr, Fili, Frodi, Garth, Gautvid, Geirulfr, Gert, Gjuki, Glum, Gorm, Grimr, Gunnfrodr, Guthlac, Hakon, Hafleikr, Haukr, Hjalmr, Hrafn, Hroald, Hvitr, Ingmar, Inguar, Isolfr, Joarr, Jofursteinn, Jolgeir, Ketillbjorn, Kjarr, Kleng, Lodur, Logi, Magni, Mani, Margad, Mikkel, Modi, Munin, Njord, Omolf, Osketel, Ovaegir, Radavaldr, Radorm, Raud, Reyni, Rikulfr, Riodhr, Saemund, Sigbiorn, Sigurdr, Steinn, Svadi, Sveinn, Teit, Thjodgeirr, Thjodulfr,Thoralf, Thorgaut, Tyson, Uisdean, Ulfkell, Ulfr, Unni, Vifil, Vigfus, Vigmundr, Vindr, Wulfhere.

Family names

Æsir names are usually Nordic in form. Surnames are not usually hereditary. If a surname is used it usually is simply the father’s name, such as Aevar Svensson, or Aevar, the son of Sven. Aevar’s son, in turn, might be Hrothgar Aevarsson. Girls do similar things, such as Aegilieif Svensdaughter.