Caelian

Fatebound Northlanders

The Caelian are relentless warriors, seafarers, and fatebound raiders who shape their destiny through strength, honor, and conquest. Every scar is a story and every battle a chance to shape their Wyrd. In the Northlands, only the strong may carve their legacy into eternity.

To be Caelian is to walk the frozen expanse with the weight of the Wyrd upon one's shoulders. A people of raiders, warriors, and seafarers, the Caelian roam the arctic northwest of Erenel, sailing the Tonarian Ocean and the Frigid North in search of new settlements to plunder. Strength is the foundation of their culture, and through conquest, survival, and the promise of an honorable end, a Caelian forges their destiny for the next generation.
Unlike some who raid for cruelty or greed, the Caelian do not see their actions as evil. They believe in taking what is owed by strength and proving their worth to the world, ensuring their clan and descendants thrive. Wyrd dictates all; the strength of one’s ancestors, the fate written at birth, and the legacy passed to future kin.
The Caelian are tall, broad-shouldered, and powerful, shaped by the brutal climate in which they thrive. Their skin is fair, often weathered and scarred from battle and harsh winters. Their eyes are typically blue or steel gray, though some northern clans have piercing green or ice-white hues. Most Caelian have raven black hair, though those who inhabit the extreme northwest may bear blond, red, or light brown locks, a mark of their distant frost born ancestry. Scars are not hidden but worn proudly, serving as badges of honor. The more one bears, the greater their worth as a warrior and mate.

Wyrd

The Wyrd is the soul’s fate, a concept that defines luck, honor, and obligation. A person's Wyrd is shaped by:

Inherited Wyrd

Passed down through bloodline and ancestry. A child born to a great warrior inherits a strong Wyrd, while the descendant of a coward inherits their shame.

Earned Wyrd

Defined by one’s actions and choices. Honorable deeds strengthen Wyrd while betrayal weakens it.

Future Wyrd

One’s Wyrd is never truly set. Only through strength, bravery, and honor can it be bettered for future kin.
Dishonor, cowardice, and breaking one's word are the greatest sins to a Caelian. A warrior who abandons their kin in battle or disrespects their ancestors condemns not only themselves but all who bear their bloodline.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Astrid, Brynhild, Freydis, Ingrid, Thora

Masculine names

Bjorn, Eirik, Halvar, Torsten, Ulfgar

Family names

Bonecarver, Drakebane, Icevein, Oathbinder, Stormborn

Wyrd names

A warrior is not truly remembered until they earn their Wyrd name, a title given after proving themselves in battle, leadership, or extraordinary feats. These titles can be given by a primal deity, jarl, or person of great influence. Examples include:

Beastslayer. One who defeated a great beast in combat.

Hollow. One who has suffered great loss but pushed onward.

Ironside. One who survived deadly wounds but fought on.

Stormsail. One who faced the ocean's wrath.

Ten Feather. One with an uncanny skill in archery.

Unshaken. One who faced overwhelming odds but did not falter.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Narn

The Caelian speak Narn, a language as harsh and unyielding as the Northlands. It is a tongue of deep, rolling consonants and elongated vowels, carrying the weight of warriors, skalds, and the ever-present Wyrd. Narn is both complex and efficient. While it boasts an extensive alphabet with long compound words, conversation among warriors can be reduced to short, guttural phrases or quick, decisive grunts. It is said that a true Caelian warrior can express an entire sentence with a single look and a well-timed growl.

Notable Caelian Phrases

"Baytur" - Idiot (Named after Baytur in the Nursery Rhyme of Auntie Ida)

“Hrolg vamdurr” - The cowards rot (Used when discussing the death of someone with great dishonor.)

“Jorvik varsk” - Frozen in time (Spoken about a great hero to mean their legend will last forever.)

"Skaeldan jorg" - To die nameless (A fate worse than death as one's legacy is forgotten.)

Lost Narn

Among the oldest Caelian clans, Lost Narn refers to the ancient runic dialect inscribed on standing stones and carved into the weapons of legendary warriors. While most modern Caelian speak Common alongside Narn, Lost Narn is known only to the most ancient Seidrs. Some believe that certain runes hold power, binding Wyrd or even calling upon forgotten spirits. Others believe Lost Narn has ties with the Utterance, an ancient language spoken by Architects, creator gods who can forge a vision into reality.

Culture and cultural heritage

Caelian society is organized into clans, each led by a Jarl who rules over multiple smaller tribes. The strongest Jarls form the Warlords' Alliance, an assembly of warriors and chieftains who swear loyalty to the Warlord of the North, the ruler of Sleet’s Landing, the capital city of the Caelian people.
Unlike monarchies, the Jarls do not rule through blood alone. Caelian succession follows tanistry, where a Jarl appoints a tanist, typically a trusted relative or warrior, who automatically succeeds them upon death. Strength is not merely inherited; it must be earned.
Though known as raiders, the Caelian value kinship and loyalty above all. A Jarl’s word is law, but every clan member bears the responsibility to uphold their people’s honor. Betrayal is punished by exile, a fate worse than death since to be cast out is to forsake one’s Wyrd.

Common Dress code

Caelian clothing is functional and resilient, crafted from fur, tanned hides, and heavy wool to endure the bitter cold. Jewelry and charms display clan loyalty, often carved from bone, iron, or precious stones looted from raids.

Warriors wear animal pelts, mammoth-hide cloaks, and chain mail reinforced with leather.

Shamans and Seidrs adorn themselves with antlers, runic tattoos, and intricate beads, symbolizing their connection to the Wyrd.

Nobles and Jarls wear engraved torcs, silver armbands, and brooches depicting clan sigils.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Courtship and Union

Before a couple may wed, they must hunt a dangerous beast together and share its spoils with the clan, a test of their strength and compatibility. A union is considered lifelong, but if one seeks separation, they must hunt the same species of beast alone, proving they no longer need their partner.

Trial of the Stag

Named after the Primal Deity Thayriel, the Keen Eyed. Young Caelian warriors must complete The Trial of the Stag, where they are cast into the wilds alone, armed with only a mundane weapon of choice and their wits. They must survive a full lunar cycle and return with proof of their kill to be considered true warriors.

The Thunderer's End

Named after the Primal Deity Ødger, the Storm Claw. A warrior who knows death is near but wishes to die with honor will perform a final, glorious act of battle before falling on their own blade. This is known as The Thunderer’s End, and warriors who die in this way are sung of in legend.

Encompassed species

• Human

Related Organizations

• Sunderwolf

Related Locations

• Northlands
• Vartungard

Relations with Others

The Caelian respect strength, but they care little for formal diplomacy, making most of their relationships tied to war, survival, and the honor found in conflict. However, those who prove themselves worthy allies or formidable foes may find themselves welcomed by Caelian as kin in spirit.

The Caelian and Krovashi have a long history of conflict, with Caelian raids targeting Krovashi outposts and cities for generations. To the Krovashi, the Caelian are bloodthirsty barbarians with no place in a civilized world, while the Caelian see Krovashi as pampered fools hiding behind gleaming armor and stone castles.

The Caelian have an uneasy history with the Thalorian. As rivals on the ocean and with differing religious beliefs, they often clash in bloody ship battles.

The Caelian and Ahn' Kalin rarely cross paths, but when they do, it is often at sea. Ahn’ Kalin merchants and astrologers see the Caelian as uncivilized marauders, while the Caelian see Ahn’ Kalin nobility as soft, and overly reliant on fate rather than action. Yet, both cultures deeply value destiny, allowing for common ground in discussions of ones Wyrd and the stars.

The Senkurai view the Caelian as lawless raiders lacking honor, while the Caelian see the Senkurai as rigid and obsessed with their Empress' rule. However, both cultures deeply value tradition, and battle prowess, making warriors on either side respect each other when they meet in combat.

Northland Clans

The following clans make up the Warlords Alliance, with one Jarl ascending to Warlord of the North and ruler of Sleets Landing. Each Jarl-led clan also represents multiple smaller tribes under the clan's banner.

Blood Eagle

Fearsome berserkers, known for their brutal execution of enemies. Led by Jarl Chipped Beak

Oakhammer

Masters of smithing and siege warfare. Led by Jarl Olaf Eight Fingers

Pale Mammoth

Fearsome warriors who tame great beasts for war. Led by Jarl Gudren Fire Eyes

Rook’s Shadow

Skalds and seers, famous for their cunning and assassins. Led by Jarl Wolvig Tenfeather.

Snow Eves

Supported by psionic capabilities and the spirits of the tundra. Led by Jarl Iobar the Ancient.

Sunderwolf

A clan without a Jarl. Led by the Mistglade Council who form a spiritual connection known as the Waelan, a dreamlike state used to safely converse over long distances.

Wolfheart

The ruling clan of Sleet's Landing. Led by Magnus Darkshield, champion of the Primal Deity Hrólfr, the Ancient Wolf, whom he freed from Sodok Taran, son of Thayriel, the Keen Eyed.