Cruski - Ice Barbarians

Fierce seafarers and relentless raiders, the Ice Barbarians of the Thillonrian Peninsula carve their legacy in blood and ice, thriving in harsh lands while waging war against their foes on both land and sea.

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History

The land now known as the Ice Barbarians was once a fractured collection of petty rulers, locked in constant conflict. This chaos persisted until approximately a century ago when Thorvik Ironheart, a jarl of the small and harsh settlement of Glot, embarked on a campaign to unite the warring jarls under his rule. Claiming divine ancestry from Vatun, the Great God of the North, Thorvik established the first true King of Cruski. Since then, the kingship has remained within his bloodline, though not strictly hereditary—anyone descended from Thorvik may be elected King or Queen of Cruski at the great Cruskthing, the tribal assembly that determines leadership.

Politics and Society

The Ice Barbarians are relentless raiders, indiscriminate in their targets. They raid their Frost and Snow Barbarian cousins one season, then join them the next to pillage Ratik, Stonefist, or the North Province. The Hold of Stonefist is a frequent battleground during High Summer, as the Ice Barbarians view its warriors as both hated foes and worthy adversaries.

A deep and long-standing enmity exists between the Ice Barbarians and the Sea Barons, whose ships they attack on sight. The Sea Barons, however, are formidable adversaries, often inflicting heavy losses on the Cruski. In recent years, alliances between the Cruski, Frost, and Snow Barbarians have grown in response to the increasing naval defenses of the Great Kingdom and the Sea Barons.

Kings and queens who seek to maintain their rule do so by granting their jarls great autonomy, intervening only in matters of diplomacy, war, and major raids. When the throne is vacant, the Cruskthing convenes to elect a new king from among Thorvik Ironheart’s descendants.

Religion

The Cruski worship the Suel pantheon, with Vatun revered as their chief deity. Vatun’s dominion over winter, war, and kingship makes him an ideal patron for these fierce warriors.

Military

The Ice Barbarian warriors are primarily infantry, wielding axes, bows, swords, and spears. Cavalry, though rarer, make use of scything axes—vicious weapons akin to battleaxes, modified for extended reach and devastating slashes.

Naval supremacy is crucial to their warfare, and their swift longships allow them to launch rapid coastal raids, striking deep into enemy territory before disappearing back into the sea. As a result, their armies rarely venture far inland.

Notable Locales

Each spring, the northern coasts of Cruski are assaulted by a peculiar phenomenon—great icebergs drifting southward, carrying within them a breed of cold-adapted trolls. These frozen monoliths, riddled with twisting tunnels, crack and melt upon the shores, releasing their monstrous inhabitants. These annual incursions, while dangerous, are also a welcome break from the monotony of winter, giving warriors the chance for battle before raiding season begins.

Economy and Way of Life

The Ice Barbarians thrive in their seaside and mountain settlements, sustaining themselves through hunting, fishing, and whaling. Their exceptional shipbuilding skills support both trade and their most infamous pursuit—piracy. Seasonal raids against southern lands provide not only wealth but also the thrill of battle, which every Cruski warrior craves.

In past generations, these raids were viewed by the more civilized kingdoms as minor nuisances, warranting only localized defenses. However, recent rumors of secret meetings between the Cruski and the Schnai have unsettled southern rulers. Whispers suggest that the two Barbarian factions may be planning a massive assault, possibly targeting the Sea Baronies or even the Lordship of the Isles. If true, the southern realms would pay handsomely for intelligence on this growing threat.

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Proper Name: Kingdom of the Cruski

Ruler: Queen Tharla of the Cruski (human)

Government: Independent feudal monarchy with hereditary rulership, though with little actual control over jarls who act independently of one another; the queen controls the area around the capital, and farms within 30-50 miles

Major Settlements: Glot; Jotsplat

Resources: Furs, copper, gems (I), rare wood (sablewood, not exported)

Population: Human, Halfling, Elf

Law: CN

Allies: Schnai (Snow Barbarians) (sometimes)

Enemies: Sea Barons, Stonehold, Aerdiaak, Fruztii (sometimes), Ratik (sometimes), Schnai (sometimes)

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