Clans of Angrose

The noble houses of the Clans of Angrose

Ruling: Garrick Ironbeard of Ironbeard House
Champions: Olfar Coldsteel of House Coldsteel 
Economy: Buffy of House Redwater 
Magic: A Great Khan named Explosion Death Murder God Dynamight of House Murder Death Kill
Military: Bjorn Wolfkind of House Wolfkind
Diplomatic: Yrsa Fukkarund of House Fukkarund
Religion: Fafnir Dragonstone of House Dragonstone

General Information:

Archetype and Culture: Discount Norse and Scandinavian, The Clans of Angrose are a proud and fierce people, feared by many for their incredible ferocity and battle-hardened nature. Despite being divided into dozens of clans that often feud with each other, the Angrose people are united by their shared history and customs, even if that bond rarely equates to any real unity. They are a people who have faced much adversity throughout their history, from harsh winters and unforgiving terrain to bloody wars and most recently, the ravages of the Cult of Martius. The Angrose people are a people of the sea, and their livelihoods are often tied to fishing, whaling, and raiding. Their longships are renowned for their speed and agility, and they are often used to launch surprise attacks on other nations or to raid neighboring clans. These raids are not just about plunder and wealth, but also about honor and pride. For the Angrose people, success in battle is a source of great pride and respect within their society. The Angrose culture is steeped in tradition, and their customs are deeply rooted in their history and mythology. They worship Beor, the dwarven God of battle, creation, labor and more, while also worshipping minor spirits such as and beasts of the Shadowfell or Feywild that they emulate, oppose or appease. Despite their reputation as fierce warriors and raiders, the Angrose people are also known for their hospitality and generosity. They value their family and community above all else and are fiercely protective of their loved ones. In times of hardship or famine, they will often band together to help each other out, sharing resources and providing aid to those in need. This strong sense of community is what has allowed the Clans of Angrose to survive and thrive in the harsh, unforgiving landscape they call home.

History: Angrose has a rich and tumultuous history that spans several ages. During the Age of Apostasy, the dwarves ruled over Angrose with an iron fist, using humans as slave labor to mine precious resources. They built powerful fortifications and clashed with the elven empire, but eventually disappeared without a trace during the Devastation, leaving the humans to fend for themselves. In the Age of Armistice, the few remaining dwarves integrated themselves into human society and helped defend against the constant threat of animalistic dragons emerging from the comets that began to frequently crash into Angrose. Angrose remains a deeply divided nation that was conquered by the Cult of Martius, with the clans rallying around Garrick Ironbeard to wage guerilla warfare. They eventually joined the other peoples of Europa in a great battle to destroy the cult, but infighting between the clans has returned and Garrick's lax rule has left the nation vulnerable to raiding and power struggles. The dragon problem also persists, with comets continuing to fall and hatch new threats. One comet, Nioggdrasil, brings about a severe degree of intelligence and sentience in the dragons it hatches, leading to danger and chaos for the people of Angrose.

Client Race: The dwarves in Angrose are a small but resilient race that have a deep connection to the mountains and the earth. They are known for their skill in mining, crafting, and metalwork, and they are often sought after for their knowledge and expertise in these fields. Unlike many other non-human races, the dwarves of Angrose have integrated into human society and have even formed close bonds with their former human slaves. disappearIn the centuries that followed, the remaining dwarves of Angrose slowly emerged from hiding and began to rebuild their society. They formed close relationships with the humans of the region and used their skills to help defend the land from threats both internal and external. While they are still the least numerous non-human race in Europa, the dwarves of Angrose have become respected members of society and are known for their loyalty and their unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

Leader: Garrick Ironbeard is a legendary figure in Angrose, revered by dwarves and humans alike for his leadership during the war against Martius and his ongoing efforts to defend the nation from any who would threaten it. As Jarl over all of Angrose, Garrick has proved himself to be a skilled warrior and artificer, creating weapons and armor of unparalleled quality that have allowed his people to survive in the harsh northern lands. He is known to be a tough and uncompromising leader, demanding loyalty and obedience from his subjects, but also fair and just in his dealings with them. Despite his many responsibilities as Jarl, Garrick's true passion lies in hunting dragons, a pursuit that he has become famous for throughout Europa. He has traveled to many different lands in search of the fiercest and most dangerous dragons, always returning to Angrose with tales of his exploits and trophies to adorn his halls. Many young dwarves and humans look up to Garrick as a hero and role model, and his exploits have become the stuff of legend throughout the nation. Garrick's love of dragon hunting has sometimes put him at odds with the other jarls of Angrose, who see it as a frivolous pursuit that distracts him from his duties. However, his skill and reputation as a warrior have made it difficult for them to challenge his authority, and most of them grudgingly accept his eccentricities as part of his leadership style. Despite his sometimes abrasive personality, Garrick is widely respected for his bravery and dedication to his people, and many believe that his leadership will be essential in the years to come as Angrose faces new threats from outside its borders, or possibly from within once again.

Source of Power: The warriors of Angrose are feared and respected throughout Europa for their unmatched ferocity and endurance on the battlefield. The people of Angrose have a strong warrior culture, valuing strength, courage, and martial prowess above all else. This culture is instilled in their people from a young age, with children being taught to fight and hunt from an early age, and the most skilled and daring warriors being revered as heroes and leaders. Their longships are a common sight on the seas surrounding Angrose, as they travel far and wide to raid and plunder the coasts of other nations. Their raids are swift and brutal, with the warriors descending upon their enemies like a storm, striking with lightning speed before disappearing back into the mist. They are known for their incredible stamina, able to row their longships for days on end without rest, and then fight on land for hours without showing any sign of exhaustion. In battle, the warriors of Angrose are a force to be reckoned with. They charge into the fray with reckless abandon, their axes and swords able to pierce Saxon steel. They are not afraid to take on larger foes, and have been known to topple giants and trolls with their sheer strength and determination. Their berserker rage is legendary, as they scream and howl like wild beasts, able to hack and slash through the vastly numerically superior armies of Rusonia. They are well-versed in guerrilla warfare, a strategy they learned when the Cult of Martius conquered their homeland, able to strike quickly and disappear just as fast, and are adept at ambushes and surprise attacks.

Religion: Beor, the God who created the dwarves, is deeply revered in the land of Angrose. The dwarves in particular hold him in high regard, as he is credited with bringing them into existence and gifting them with their many skills and talents. Beor is seen as a hardworking and industrious God, one who values strength, resilience, and a fierce devotion to one's craft. He is also known to be a patron of battle, and many warriors in Angrose call upon his name before heading into combat. In addition to being a God of battle and the forge, Beor is also associated with artificers and those who seek to build. He is believed to have taught the dwarves many of their most advanced building techniques, and his influence can be seen in everything from their weapons and armor to their homes and tools. For this reason, many artificers and masons make offerings to Beor in hopes of gaining his favor and inspiration. Despite his importance to the people of Angrose, Beor is not an overly involved deity. He is said to spend much of his time attempting to break free from his stellar prison, and his followers must rely on their own strength and ingenuity to make their way in the world. Nevertheless, his teachings and values continue to shape the culture of Angrose, and his influence is felt in every aspect of life in the frozen land.

Capital: Trondhiem, the capital of Angrose, is a sprawling city nestled in a valley between the jagged peaks of mountain ranges. Its icy river, running behind the city, and the fjord in front of it provide vital access to the different seas, enabling trade and travel to flourish. The city is a bustling hub of activity, with markets, taverns, and artisan shops lining the streets. Despite being the heart of Angrose, Trondhiem retains a wild, untamed feel, with large portions of the city still underdeveloped, and many of its inhabitants living in huts and tents on the frozen plains outside the city walls. Trondhiem is a city of contrasts, where the wealthy and powerful live in grand stone buildings with ornate decorations, and the poorer citizens survive in basic wooden huts. The city is famous for its impressive walls and fortifications, which protect it from the fierce winters and hostile neighbors. The gates of the city are guarded by fierce warriors, ever-vigilant against the threat of attack. Despite its harsh living conditions, the people of Trondhiem are known for their strong sense of community and pride in their city. They take great pride in their craftsmenship, with artisans and masons producing some of the finest metalwork, and carvings in all of Europa. The city is also renowned for its feasting and revelry, with grand banquets and festivals held throughout the year to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the victories of its warriors.

History of Angrose:

The Age of Apostasy: During the Age of Apostasy, Angrose was a powerful nation. Its rulers, the dwarves, lived in their mountain holds and used humans as slave labor to mine precious metals and gems from deep within the earth. These humans were often forced to work in cramped and dangerous conditions, with little regard for their safety or wellbeing. They were treated as nothing more than expendable tools, worked from a young age until they dropped dead or were no longer useful. Despite the harsh conditions, the dwarves of Angrose were able to build huge citadels and fortifications to protect their lands. Beor, the god who created the dwarves, traveled between the mountain holds, gifting knowledge and artifacts to his children. He helped them to perfect their craft, creating incredible weapons and intricate works of art that were the envy of other nations. The dwarves of Angrose were not content to stay hidden away in their mountain holds, however. They often clashed with the elven empire, raiding their lands through tunnels and ships, stealing slaves and wealth. The elves, in turn, could not hope to break apart the dwarves' powerful runes and stone battlements, leading to a stalemate in every one of the many wars fought between the two races. Life as a human slave in the mines of Angrose was brutal and unforgiving. The mines were often deep underground, with little light and no fresh air. The work was hard and dangerous, and many slaves died from exhaustion, starvation, or cave-ins. The dwarves overseeing the mines were often cruel and indifferent to their human charges, seeing them as little more than a means to an end. For the commoner dwarves who worked as masons and artificers, life was a great deal better. They had more autonomy and control over their work, and were able to enjoy a level of comfort that only kings in the modern age of Europa enjoy.

The Devastation: During the Devastation, Angrose was in the midst of another war with the elven empire. The dwarves, who had been ruling over the land for centuries, had always been able to hold their own against the elves, using their intricate tunnels and sturdy ships to raid their enemies' lands and steal slaves and wealth. However, this time the war was different. As the dwarves were fighting off the elven forces, they suddenly began to notice that their human slaves were revolting. The dwarves were taken aback by this sudden uprising, as they had always thought the humans to be docile and obedient. As the humans continued to rebel, the dwarves decided to seal themselves off in their mountain holds, hiding away in their fortified vaults and citadels. They knew that they could not trust their human slaves, and that they needed to protect themselves and their precious artifacts from the uprising. However, as they closed their doors and retreated into their secret enclaves, they had no idea what was coming. When the humans finally managed to break into the dwarves' holds, they found that there was no one there. The dwarves had simply disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing behind but strange runes and cryptic spells etched into the walls of their now-deserted fortresses. The humans ransacked what little they could find before leaving to join the fight for freedom elsewhere in Europa. The few remaining dwarves that had not sealed themselves off were able to hide out in secret mountain caves and other hiding places until finally the genocidal humans were freed from Martius' grip on their minds and returned home to find most holds and homes in disarray, collapsing under the weight of the mountains without the proper maintenance. To this day, no one knows what happened to the dwarves of Angrose. Some say that they were wiped out in a magical cataclysm, while others believe that they simply vanished into another dimension. Whatever the case may be, the disappearance of the dwarves left a great void in Angrose. The humans that had once been their slaves were now free, but they were left with a land that had been torn apart by centuries of war and strife.

The Age of Armistice: During the Age of Armistice, the dwarves of Angrose that had managed to escape the Devastation had integrated themselves into human society. The dwarves were highly valued for their expertise in craftsmanship and engineering, which they had used to build and maintain their now-collapsed mountain holds. They quickly found new homes among the humans, using their knowledge to help build new settlements and fortifications along the coast. Together, the humans and dwarves worked to defend their communities from the new threat of the animalistic dragons that emerged from the comets that began to frequently crash into their land. These dragons were a constant menace to the people of Angrose. They would swoop down from the sky and attack without warning, decimating entire villages and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Despite their ferocity, however, the people of Angrose were determined to fight back. They developed new tactics and weapons to combat the dragons, relying on their own strength and resourcefulness to survive and outsmart the simple dragons. One of the most significant events during this time was the appearance of the comet Nioggdrasil. This comet burned far brighter than any other, with seven tails stretching out behind it. For seven days, it made its slow journey across the sky of Angrose, and during that time, the animalistic dragons gained a degree of intelligence and sentience that made them many times more dangerous. They were able to coordinate their attacks, speaking with each other in strange tongues and even conquering whole tribes and villages to use against others. To combat this new threat, the people of Angrose had to come up with new strategies and tactics. They learned to track the comets, predicting where they would crash and preparing for the dragons that would emerge. They also searched for the shards of Nioggdrasil, which would allow dragons to retain their intelligence even after the comet had passed, hoping to keep them out of the hands of the dragons. In this way, they were able to survive and even thrive in the face of such a fierce and relentless enemy.

The Year 539AD: In the current setting, Angrose remains a nation deeply divided between its many jarls and clans. It was subject to being conquered by the Cult of Martius, who shattered and slaughtered their jarls, raising their dead warriors up as zombies to fight their own people. Despite a great resistance, the disparate clans were no match for such a unified and powerful force as the Cult, and they could only watch from the treeline as the Cult constructed a massive temple to Martius, designed to free their God from his prison. The clans were able to rally around Garrick Ironbeard, a dwarf warrior and artificer of great renown, who was one of the legendary "Heroes of Europa". Garrick led the clans in waging guerilla warfare in an effort to slow down the cult until help could arrive, and eventually it did. The clans joined the other peoples of Europa at the battle of the Dread Harbor, where they fought with bravery and skill, despite their limited numbers. After the battle, Angrose hosted the army of allies in a grand feast, starting a tradition that every 7 years the Heroes and nobles of Europa would gather to remember this shared victory. However, despite the success, Angrose remains a deeply divided nation. The chieftains and clans are consumed with the idea of rebuilding and gaining power, and infighting between clans has returned under the lax rule of Garrick, who would rather hunt dragons than unify his people. Furthermore, the dragon problem that began during the Age of Armistice persists. Comets continue to fall from the sky, hatching all manner of animalistic dragons that threaten the people of Angrose. One comet, called Nioggdrasil, burns far brighter than all the rest and has seven tails. When it makes its slow journey across the sky of Angrose, all of the animalistic dragons gain a severe degree of intelligence and sentience that allows them to hunt and conquer the peoples of Angrose, or spread out into Europa, leading whole broods of lesser dragons with them. These dragons lose their intelligence once the comet leaves, but they can regain it if they happen upon a shard of Nioggdrasil, a fallen piece of strange scales that makes them intelligent for as long as they possess it.