Haelsingar

Of all human ethnicities, the Haelsingar are perhaps the most controversial. To many, they are synonymous with sexism, their social position of men likened to that of slaves, and as a people overall viewed as backward and narrow-minded in their behavior. Nevertheless, the female warriors of the Haelsingar are considered exceptional fighters and are sought-after mercenaries. But how can it be that a culture is perceived so differently by outsiders? And are the rumors about this female-dominated society really all true? We aim to shed some light on the matter.

Origins

According to the Haelsingar themselves, their people were created at the dawn of the Fourth Age by Karas, the god of war, a claim dismissed by many scholars as mythological, yet one that aligns strikingly well with the martial culture and unrelenting spirit of the Haelsingar. Whether divine in origin or shaped by centuries of hardship, the Haelsingar possess a fierce identity rooted in conflict, survival, and the reverence of strength.

Their ancestral homeland lies in Borendal, a vast expanse of rugged taiga and frozen tundra in northern Mirintha. Life in Borendal is harsh. The soil is poor, the winters brutal, and the resources scarce. It is a land that does not forgive weakness, and those who survive its trials emerge hardened by necessity. Over generations, this unforgiving environment has shaped the Haelsingar into a people of endurance, tenacity, and pragmatic resolve. Their cultural values that are discipline, honor in battle, and loyalty to one's kin, reflect the demands of the land that birthed them.

Beginnings

The early history of the Haelsingar was marked not by peace, but by civil conflict. The first decades of their existence were spent in near-constant warfare, as scattered tribes clashed violently over access to the few forested regions scattered throughout Borendal’s icy expanse. These wooded areas offered critical resources like shelter, fuel, and game, and were therefore of immense strategic importance.

This unending struggle led to devastating losses, particularly among the male population. Compounded by an unexplained decline in the birth rate of male children, the imbalance forced a radical transformation in Haelsingar society. Women began to train as warriors, not merely to defend their homes, but to lead raids, command forces, and engage in battle with the same ruthlessness as any man. Over time, they became the primary defenders and leaders of their people.

Jord Eklund and her husband Lars Haelvig

In the year 106 of the Fourth Age, a woman named Jord Eklund rose to power in the Tosos tribe, becoming the first woman to be formally recognized as Johtaja, or tribal leader. Her success as a commander and political figure paved the way for a broader societal shift. Over the following decades, the matriarchal structure solidified across other tribes, as more women assumed leadership roles. At first they did so out of necessity, and eventually out of cultural tradition.

Expansion

After more than two centuries of internal strife, the various Haelsingar tribes began to see the value in unity. In the year 213, the major tribes entered into a loose confederation, aimed primarily at ending the destructive cycle of territorial wars that had long plagued them. This new alliance, though fragile at times, marked a turning point in Haelsingar history. With internal borders now respected and a shared vision emerging, the Haelsingar turned their gaze outward.

From 214 to 308, the confederation launched a series of military campaigns to the south, targeting the lands of the Willenberg Republic. These campaigns were characterized by swift raids, calculated offensives, and a level of discipline that caught many of their enemies off guard. Over time, the Haelsingar succeeded in conquering and occupying vast stretches of territory, gaining not only land but access to warmer climates, trade routes, and new resources.

These southern campaigns also had cultural consequences. As the Haelsingar expanded, they began to encounter—and subjugate—other peoples. The captured men from conquered territories were often integrated into Haelsingar society, albeit in clearly defined and subordinate roles. These early conquests helped solidify the gender dynamics that now define Haelsingar culture, as the female-led warbands brought home both prisoners and prestige.

Expansion of the Haelsingar tribes

Geographic Distribution

The borders between the Willenberg Republic and the territories of the Haelsingar tribes have remained unchanged since the ceasefire agreed upon in the year 308. Outside these regions, Haelsingar warriors can occasionally be found working as mercenaries or seeking glory and honor in battle before returning home, often with the intent of claiming high religious or political positions. Some of these few travelers are also in search of a suitable man to impregnate them before they return. Men, on the other hand, are rarely seen beyond the borders. In exceptional cases, a warrior might be accompanied by her husband, but such instances are rare, as the risks involved are generally considered too high.

Biology and Physiology

Appearance

Körperbau

Eye colors

The hair

Snapshot

Origin: United Tribes of Haelsing

Language: Concordian, Haelsing

Life span: 80 years

Height: 160 - 190 cm

Weight: 50 - 140 kg

Skin:

Eyes:

Hair:

Reproductive Biology

Society

To outsiders, the social structure of the Haelsingar often seems strange. At first glance, it seems to the layman as if men are being oppressed and have no rights at all. In reality, however, men are highly valued. Even though their rights are certainly very limited compared to other cultures, they are cared for and protected by their women (see also Insights into the Haelsingar society by Lars Helvig). The few men that currently exist among the Haelsingar are too valuable for their women to carelessly handle their lives. Therefore, it is rarely heard that a male Haelsingar tries to escape from this life. One could argue that it would have been sufficient to exempt men from military service. Originally, this was the case, but over the decades and centuries it developed more and more in a direction where men are subordinate to women in all areas of life.

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The entire society of the Haelsingar has evolved into a matriarchal organization. Women today occupy all positions in the fields of politics, military, and education, as well as the priesthood. The individual tribes decide freely about which professions men can possibly pursue. During the expansion period of the Haelsingar, it was common to kill enemy women and kidnap men. These men were integrated into society through conditioning, if possible. For this purpose, the men are introduced to their new, submissive role in society through a punishment / reward system (see also Insights into the Haelsingar society by Lars Helvig). Those who vehemently resisted integration were kept alive solely for reproduction.

Extreme cases

In the tribes of Kodingda far in the North, the basic social structure of the Haelsingar is lived out more extremely. Here, men basically have no jobs at all and are hardly allowed to move freely without their women. Reports even suggest that these men are led on a leash when they are not in their own home.

Government

As the only nation in Mirintha, the Haelsingar have no common government. The 15 city-states are all ruled by a Johtaja. Depending on the size of the tribe, several advisors assist her. These are usually three or five experienced warriors of different age groups. Together they take care of the tribe's concerns, with the word of the Johtaja carrying twice as much weight. Approximately every 2.5 months, the Johtaja meet in the capital Trelvik for a council meeting. At these gatherings, topics that affect all tribes equally are discussed. With the introduction of the tribal confederation, a non-aggression pact was also concluded between the individual tribes.

Interspecies relations

Family

Within the family, the woman is the head. She alone decides on all family matters. Whether she seeks her husband's opinion is up to her. The supreme duty of a man is to satisfy his wife. In addition, he takes care of the upbringing of the children and the household. Girls and boys are raised the same in the first few years, even though girls are given preference over a brother in case of doubt. The exception to this is the handling of weapons, which is reserved for girls. Training with weapons begins at the age of ten (see Figure 3). In the absence of the mother, from this year onwards, the daughter is in charge at home. The woman decides whether her husband is allowed to have a job. She is also free to lend her husband to another woman, be it for reproduction or just for pleasure. Often enough, a man is also married to several women. Of course, he must then equally fulfill all his duties to all women.

Two Haelsing girls at training

Culture

Ceremony of manhood

At the age of 18, every male Haelsingar undergoes the so-called ceremony of manhood, which marks the transition from boy to man. For this ceremony, a makeshift hut is set up in the middle of as large a square as possible. This hut is constructed in such a way that it is possible for the women of the village or city to follow the ceremony without the participants inside the hut being able to see the observers. The ceremony begins with the boy being thoroughly washed by two virgin women. Once this ritual cleansing has taken place, the boy swears an oath before the high priestess. In this oath, he swears to recognize his role as a man with all its consequences, to always obey women, and to put the satisfaction of the woman first in his life. As soon as this oath has been taken, the final part begins, in which the boy has to prove his manhood. Here, one to three women previously chosen by the mother may share the bed with the young man. It should be mentioned that the practices performed here are by no means limited to a bed as a place of execution. Accordingly, the hut is also equipped with various constructions that allow for alternative execution. This part of the ritual is intended to prepare the young men for their future duties - the sexual satisfaction of women. The women instruct the inexperienced young men in the art of female satisfaction. The more steadfast the young men prove to be, the more skillfully they manage, and the more willingly they serve the women, the higher their standing in society. According to stories, this third phase lasted for several hours for some participants, and these men were often later chosen as husbands by a Johtaja.

Clothing

To withstand the mostly cold temperatures of their homeland and the harsh everyday life, the Haelsingar rely on clothing made from robust materials such as linen, wool, leather, and fur. Their clothing is designed for practicality. Therefore, they hardly bother to process the raw materials finely through elaborate processes.

However, they take special care when making their armors. Armors of the Haelsingar are considered the second best armors throughout Mirintha, although they are significantly more affordable than the masterpieces of the Kerdil. The classic armor of the Haelsingar is designed to offer maximum protection without restricting flexibility too much. Therefore, the Haelsingar prefer armors made of hardened leather. Occasionally, a chain mail can also be found underneath. However, a Haelsingar warrior would find plate armor, like that of the Kerdil, both restrictive and dishonorable. The skill of the warrior makes such armor unnecessary, and whoever wears it is obviously not good enough in combat.

Diet

The diet of the Haelsingar is largely limited to foods that they can produce or hunt themselves. Fish, game, and meat from goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs form the basis. This is supplemented by simple vegetables such as carrots, leeks, onions, cabbage, or potatoes. In everyday life, hearty stews or soups are usually served. Grilled meat with steamed vegetables is also on the menu. Sweet dishes are hardly found in typical Haelsingar cuisine. However, the Haelsingar know various types of beer and mead, while wine is rarely used, as the climate is hardly suitable for growing grapes.

Belief

Just like every culture in Mirintha, the Haelsingar believe in all ten gods. They, too, have gods who are revered more than others. Karas holds a special place in their worship, as he symbolizes the essential aspects of their culture. The Haelsingar hold the belief that they were personally created by Karas.

Kära, is also highly popular among them. It's no surprise, then, that most temples are dedicated to Karas, and dedicated temples for Kära can be found in larger cities. The temples of Karas commonly employ the most handsome and enduring men. The remaining deities of Mirintha often occupy shared community temples.

Clergy

In the Haelsingar, the entire priesthood is made up of women. In the temples, there is a high priestess. Depending on the size of the temple, she is supported by several other priestesses. The high priestess in a temple of Karas must be at least 35 years old and have previously proven herself as a warrior. Since the Haelsingar live in peace with each other and their southern neighbors, this usually means that the candidates had to assert themselves in combat against various beasts of the wilderness and had to emerge successfully from different tournaments. In the places of worship of Kära, the high priestesses are not necessarily outstanding fighters.

Rituals

Unlike the other cultures, the Haelsingar have special rituals in their worship of Karas. This ritual is performed before they go into battle or go hunting, to ask for protection and success. The preparation process begins on the evening before the battle or hunt. Each warrior fasts and meditates to clear her mind and prepare for the upcoming event. They clean their weapons and hunting gear in a consecrated river to free them from any previous defeats or failures.

On the day of the ritual, all women gather in the middle of the village. The high priestess leads the ritual. She begins with a call to Karas, asking for his protection and guidance. Then they perform a ritual dance that symbolizes their readiness for battle and their determination. They paint their bodies with symbols that represent strength and courage. After the dance, they drink from a communal chalice filled with a special potion. This potion symbolizes the blood of Karas and is supposed to give them his strength and courage. The ritual ends with a communal prayer and song directed towards the sky to call the presence of Karas and ask for his blessing. After the ritual, the warriors are ready to go into battle or go hunting, strengthened by their faith and unity.

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TLDR for my players

For information about the apperance please note the section "Snapshot".

Only female characters might choose the Haelsingar as ethnicity.

Strong: +2 to your Might Pool

Skill: You are specialized in tasks related to trade.

Skill: You are trained in stealth tasks in areas of natural woodland.

Skill: You are trained in tasks related to animal handling.

Skill: You are specialized in the field of nature and can answer both simple and complex questions.

Heat Sensitivity: You are vulnerable to extreme heat and dry conditions. Tasks to endure such environments are hindered.

Additional Equipment: You have a small sun crystal that enhances photosynthesis in dark areas.

Initial Link to the Starting Adventure: From the following list of options, choose how you became involved in the first adventure.

1. You are traveling with your companions to learn more about their culture and help improve interspecies relations.
2. You are searching for a lost Augalai sapling rumored to have taken root far from Helionde.
3. A sentient tree from your homeland granted you a mission that brought you to this group.
4. You feel a deep-rooted connection to one of your companions, as if they were a kindred spirit in another life.