Norse

The Norse are a diverse Culture from Kromwell, Hrímgrund, and Hestere Regions whose raids and subsequent settlements significantly impact the cultures of Jord and are felt as far as the Kingdom Of Albion to the Volklanden Kingdom, and Cimmerian Tribal lands. The Norse of Jord are Split into two factions, The Viking culture and the Hevonen People.


The Vikings:

The term Viking applies only to those who Live along the coastal regions, and take to the sea for the purpose of acquiring wealth by raiding in other lands, and the word is primarily used by all the people of Jord to describe them. Most Norseman are not Viking, and those who traded with other cultures were known as just NorsemanThe Viking use the famed Longship to Raid along the coast of the Drcki Sea. This ship is the lifes blood of the Viking people and has been deployed in fast raids as far as the Akul Sea to the south and the Keisean sea to the north. This ship is light and fast and carries a low draft that makes it an excellent river vessel as well.

The Hevonen:

The Hevonen are famous as skilled horsemen, raiders, and masters and breeders. Among the horses of the Hevonen are the famed Ratsuvaki, the noblest and fastest horses who have ever roamed Jord; Miekka was the greatest of all Ratsuvaki. There are very few Ratsuvaki left in Jord since the Great War, but there is enough that a breeding population is present. The armies of Hevonen are almost exclusively cavalry, divided into irregular units termed Riddare. The Hevonen armies are more of a very well trained militia called upon in times of war, with the actual standing army relatively small. The professional career-soldiers of Hevonen are limited to the royal bodyguard at Kromwel.
History and Culture:

Beginning in the Age of Awakening and continuing on until present day, the Norseman raided coastal and inland regions and conducted trade as far as the Orient Empire, even serving as the elite Guard for the Cimmerian Tribal Lords. Their influence on the cultures they interacted with was substantial in virtually every aspect of life, most notably in the regions of The Volklanden Kingdoms , The Kingdom of Albion, The Celtic Tribes , and The Cimmerian Tribes. They founded Kromwel, colonized the land of the Norseman, established the area of the Tribes of Villrnor (A wilder offshoot of the Vikings), and settled in numerous communities throughout Jord.
During the Great war the Norseman experienced Massive losses, most notably at the Battle of Kromwell. Some estimates are as high as 75% Losses. Many cities and villages were completely destroyed.
The Norse society is divided into three classes, the Jarls (aristocracy), Karls (lower class), and Thralls (slaves). Thralls are mostly unheard of since the Great War now only limited to Thralls who are used in the fighting pits. Women have greater freedoms in Norse culture than in many others. Women can inherit property, choose where and how to live if unmarried, represent themselves in legal cases, and own their own businesses (such as breweries, taverns, shops, and farms). Women are the prophetesses of either the goddess Freyja or the god Odin and interpret the gods’ messages for the people. Marriages are arranged by the men of the clan, and a woman can choose her own mate. Women’s dress and jewelry are similar to men of their social class. Women are responsible for raising children and keeping the house but both men and women prepare meals for the family.
Most Norseman are farmers, or raiders but there are also blacksmiths, armorers, brewers, merchants, weavers, luthiers (those who made stringed instruments), drum-makers, poets, musicians, craftsmen, carpenters, jewelers, and many other occupations. A significant source of income is trading amber, the fossilized resin of the pine tree, which they have in abundance. Amber frequently washes up on the shores and is worked into jewelry or sold in semi-processed form, especially to The Celtic Tribes and The Cimmerian People.
Norseman enjoy leisure time as much as any other culture and play sports, board games, and organize festivals. Sports include mock-combat, wrestling, mountain climbing, swimming, javelin-throwing, hunting, a spectacle known as horse-fighting whose details are unclear, and a field game known as Knattleik which is played on ice with a stick. Their board games include dice, games of strategy along the lines of chess, and chess itself. Contrary to the popular image of the Norse as filthy and savage, they are actually quite refined and pay a great deal of attention to hygiene and appearance. Once trade was established with the east, Viking Jarls often wore silk and expensive jewelry. They braid their hair, are well groomed, and wear fine cloaks and intricately-crafted jewelry in the form of necklaces and arm- and wristbands.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Astrid: beautiful, loved Bodil: penance and fight Frida: peace Gertrud: spear Gro: to grow Estrid: god and beautiful Hilda: the fighter Gudrun: god and rune Gunhild: fight Helga: sacred Inga: of the god Inge Liv: of life Randi: shield or shrine Signe: the one who is victorious Sigrid: victorious horsewoman Revna: raven Sif: wife and bride Tora: of the god Thor Tove: dove Thyra: helpful Thurid: Thor and beautiful Yrsa: wild or she bear Ulfhild: wolf or battle Åse: goddess

Masculine names

Arne: eagle Birger: keeper Bjørn: bear Bo: the resident Erik: absolute ruler Frode: wise and clever Gorm: he who worships god Halfdan: the half Danish Harald: lord and ruler Knud: knot Kåre: with curly hair Leif: descendant Njal: giant Roar: fame and spear Rune: secret Sten: stone Skarde: with cleft chin Sune: son Svend: freeman who is in the service of another Troels: Thor’s arrow Toke: Thor and helmet Torsten: Thor and stone Trygve: trustworthy Ulf: wolf Ødger: wealth and spear Åge: man that ploughs; ancestor

Family names

Norse family names:
Anger Asgeir (Gods’, Aesir’s javelin) Ango(t) Asgaut Anquetil Asketill (Gods’, Aesir’s cauldron Auber Osbern (Gods’, Aesir’s bear, warrior) Aumont (See Osmond) Azouf, Auzoux Asulf (Gods’, Aesir’s wolf, warrior) Aze Brument, Le Brument Brúdmaðr (bridegroom) Burnouf Brynjolf (Hardened [with a breastplate] wolf,warrior. Ernouf Arnulf (wolf eagle). May also be Frankish/Saxon. Estur Frigard Gaument Hvalman (whaler) Godefroy Godfrid (under God’s protection). Gonnor Gounouf Gunnulf (fighting wolf, warrior) Guillhouf Vilulf (wolf’s [warrior’s] will) Harang Harou Harulf (the army’s wolf, warrior) Hastain Hastein (high stone) Havard Havard (the high warden) Hérou Herulf Houlegate Holgata (hollow path) Ingouf, Igouf, Yngouf, Ygouf, Youf Ingolf (God Ing’s wolf, warrior) Néel Njall Onfroy, Onfroi Unfrid (the one who gives peace) Osmond, Osmont Osmund (unde God’s protection) Osouf, Ozouf Osulf (God’s wolf, warrior) Quétil, Quétel Ketill (the sacred cauldron) Rabec Renouf Ragnulf (adviser wolf, warrior) Thérou(l)de, Thouroude, Troude, Trudeau, Torde Thorvald (powerful by Thor) Tostain, Toutain Thorstein (Thor’s Stone) Tourquétil, Turquétil, Turquéty Thorketill (Thor’s Cauldron) Tougard, Turgard Thorgard (the one who is under Thor’s protection) Turgot Thorgaut Turgis Thorgisl (Thor’s hostage) Varanger Varangr (nickname for ‘sailor’) Varangot Derivative of Varange (nottom of a boat, nickname for ‘sailor’) or composition of Var- (vigilant) and -Asgaut. Yver Ivar