The Skaari
Descending from the Skarr Tribe of the Artean Men. The Skaari are the tall, fair haired race of Men in The Savage Lands of Bulgaard. Adapting well to the brutal and savage terrain of their Northern homeland. The Skaari are unequaled as Hunters, and Warriors. What they lack in refined infrastructure, they make up for with a strict code of honor. One that every Skaari boy and girl grows up learning. And living up to. The Heartland Men regard them as a terror of ancient days. Brutal, uncivilized barbarians that scorn the civilized world. But in truth. The Skaari live by an older, more honest way of life. And only raided when necessity made it impossible not to.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Guldi, Vildikerthr, Frydis, Eyr, Eydis
Masculine names
Olfaarserk, Kraag, Fyr, Ergaar, Riglaaf, Bjorgaar, Murgir,
Family names
Skaari do not have family names. But will refer to someone in conversation by the name of their father followed by son. Or for women, the name of their mother followed by daughter.
Example. Kjor Toriksson. Hlaadgirth Ruldaasdottr.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Skaadic or Skaadgaald as the Skaari would refer to it. Is the primary language of Bulgaard. Dialection is relatively indescernable due to the consistent interaction between the Skaari ethnicities.
Culture and cultural heritage
The Skaari retain many cultural tones from that of the Artean Men they descend from. And are one of the two oldest culture groups to do so. The practice of entire villages administering their own punishments for violations of the law. The practice of duels to resolve conflicts between individuals. The practice of burning the dead on pyres. The practice of trading goods and services for goods and services. The electing of a Kvitgifr or Law-Giver as the tittle translates from Skaadgaaldr, is a keepsake custom from Artea. And the keeping of what they call a Raaginskjol or Gods-Hut where they keep carved impressions of the gods and spirits together also comes from Artea.
Shared customary codes and values
The Skaari code of Honor, Haarjaanskaapr, is the rigid code by which every Skaari Man and Woman lives their life. Its tenets are simple, but demanding.
1.) Speak the Truth.
2.) Earn what you need and what you want.
3.) Provide for your kin and community.
4.) Honor and acknowledge the Gods, but don't rely on them.
5.) Prove yourself worthy of respect.
6.) Keep every promise made.
7.) Take no disrespect.
8.) Die with honor.
Average technological level
Metallurgy, Masonry, Carpentry, Ship Building, Writing, Navigation, Farming.
Art & Architecture
Artistic tradition is diverse between the different sub ethnic cultures. But the Skaari as a whole, carve in homage to the spirits of nature that they revere more than the gods themselves. The Wolf, the Bear, the Raven, the Kraken, the Eagle, the Stag, and the Boar. They also carve the images of these spirits into the outside walls of their homes in order to ward off malicious spirits.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
All Skaari entrust the upholding of law to a Kvitgifr or Law-Giver. Who studies the laws and customs of all the peoples of the Skaari Men.
The Skaari elect their Chieftains and Jaarls. Choosing them based on merit and renown. Hence the importance of personal reputation and honesty of character. Candidates of disrepute would not even be considered.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When Skaari complete their Aambringr, they get to receive runic tattoos all along their bodies. Their are many kinds of tattoos that can be as small as the first digit of the marriage finger. Or big enough to overtake their entire skin. Some Skaari warriors have their entire skin covered in runic tattoos.
Coming of Age Rites
There is only one coming of age rite to the Skaari. The Aambringr. Or, the Claiming. A time in the lives of the Skaari when their boys and girls at the ages of 8 to 10 were to be taken by the Frustgottaar, or Frost Priests. Grouping the children together into groups of five to seven. They would be then thrust into the wilderness, and told to survive for an entire month. At all costs. While the children did all in their power to survive in the wilderness, the Frost Priests would watch from hidden places. Some say through the eyes of animals. The children were to not only individually survive, but also to help each other. The idea of the entire ordeal being to instill in them a sense of personal strength, wit, and companionship or community among their fellow Aambringr children. One key ideal they are to maintain is honesty. Since the Frost Priests could see all that was happening. If the children lied. They would be dishonored. And thrown out into the wilderness again, until they understood the importance of honesty. Those that returned after their month. And proved themselves staunch survivors, and honest Skaari. They would be blessed by the Frost Priests. And marked with honorary runic tattoos that chronicle their exploits. The Skaari that survive the Aambringr are declared to their communities and families, as warriors. And become the pride of their kin.
Funerary and Memorial customs
The Skaari do not bury their dead. They burn them on large pyres and invoke Kroth, the Burned God, to bring them to the great otherworldly hall of Hronhjoll, where the warrior dead await the call of Kroth to return to the world. To fight on the Aandidaag, the Final Day. When all the foes of the Gods and Man would awake and wage war upon the world. "On that day. The honored dead would pour forth from the mouth of the sun. Each afire, and each one unstoppable. And all evil will quake, and fly in fear." Or so the Frost Priests say.
Common Taboos
The Skaari abhor kin slaughter, and lying. But nothing more so than slavery. The Skaari view the keeping of slaves as the practice of weaklings and lazy fools. To the Skaari mindset, the slave is entitled to the fruits of the labor their masters would have them do. Not their masters.
Common Myths and Legends
The Skaari believe the first of their people, the Skarr Tribe from ancient Artea, had been guided to The Savage Lands of Bulgaard in order to change them. To challenge them and their descendants. The Skaari Legends claim that Kroth, the Burned God, commanded Oar, the Sunken God, to bring the Skarr Tribes fleet onto the shores of Bulgaard. Where the Gods themselves, and the Spirits of the Land, Sea, and Sky, would challenge the Skaari peoples till the end of time. With tests of wit, strength, and honor. To ready them for the Final Day.
The Skaari burn their dead because of their Legend of Kroth, the Burned God. Who challenged Wisdom itself, and Wisdom set him on fire for Seven Days and Seven Nights. Seven Dusks he burned, and Seven Dawns he returned. From then on, all who die in honorable battle, are burned in tribute to Kroth. Who has sworn upon the sky that he would bring them to Hronhjoll. Where they would await the call of the Final Day. And aid their descendants in honorable war.
The Skaari believe that the First Men that fled from Artea, became smitten with feminine Spirits of Nature. After winning their affections by wit, deed, or honesty of word. They would lend a spiritual connection to the land. A story that some outsiders who've heard it, believe this explains why the Skaari are able to thrive in Bulgaard while all others fall to its hardships.
Historical figures
Skaadr the Defiant - Who was the First Chieftain of the Skaari. And the carver of the Aambring Runes.
Jutaag Drugrson - Who discovered farming, and laid claim to the Aagaas Valley of Bulgaard for his kin and people. Who today call themselves Jut-Skaari.
Rigr Iron-Leg - who discovered the vast nodes of Iron and other metals in the north. Claiming the region for his people, the Rig-Skaari would call Righeim.
Gotil Scorntooth - who fought off the Rig-Skaari of the far north, and the Jut-Skaari south of their territory in the northern Aagaas Valley. Who today call themselves Got-Skaari.
Faalsgaar Fool-Grin - Who led a vast colonization of southern Bulgaard. And began rebuilding the ancient ships. His people now call themselves, Faal-Skaari.
Riglaaf Bjorbrottaar - First True King of all the Skaari. United the Skaari peoples of Bulgaard and created a nation out of the harsh and savage lands. Though his bloodline faded, and the institution of monarchy fallen to the wayside. The Skaari still honor him.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Skaari Men find long hair, muscular body tone, and strength of body and work ethic attractive.
Skaari Women find long, well kept hair, well developed muscle, and strength of body and work ethic attractive.
Gender Ideals
Skaari Men and Women do not segregate work and responsibilities between genders. Both genders fight, farm, fish, hunt, clean, and lead together. By Skaari social ideals, all must contribute, or none will be tolerated.
Courtship Ideals
A Skaari seeking a spouse must prove themselves to the prospective lover. If neither prove useless to each other. Then the two will take a period of time to get to know each other. If they like who they learn each other to be. They announce that they will marry.
Relationship Ideals
There is no difference in labor or obligation for Skaari Men and Women. In the household. Both heads contribute to the homes upkeep, maintenance, and growth. If a spouse becomes lazy or unpleasant to the other. The injured party has the right to divorce. But its rare in Skaari society. Bulgaard being so harsh a place, all work and fight to survive and contribute to the community. Many travelers to Bulgaard have noted the rugged beauty of a Marriage between a Skaari Man and Woman. A close bond built of a strive to survive and thrive.
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Encompassed species
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