Wolves of the Shadow
Wolves
of the Shadow
(Myrkir Vargar) The Wolves of the Shadow are famous as ferocious warri
ors, skilled in taking advantage of terrain in battle, using
simple – yet effective – team tactics to strike down their
enemies at the best possible moment. Among the Wolves of
the Shadow there are many Úlfheðnar, warrior-shamans
that fight covered only in wolves’ pelts.
The Wolves use simple equipment of low quality and
they wear wolves pelts and fangs as clothes or ornaments.
This makes them even more feral and savage in the eyes of
the other clans.
The clan lives in harmony with nature, following the
Nine Virtues. According to the Wolves reuniting the clans
under a single ruler would weaken the lineage and would
be a terrible shame in the eyes of Æsir and Vanir. They
truly enjoy the natural competition between the warriors
of the North.
The Savagery of the Hunt
The Wolves of the Shadow clan arose from the families
of hunters that traditionally lived in the Svitjod region,
especially the great inland forests.
The Wolves lives following the ways of their ances
tors, they are nomadic hunters and their encampments
moves between the clearings of the great forest. Over
time, these routes between fixed locations have
become a true border, recognized by other clans. The
Wolves consider this region a holy hunting ground:
whoever hunts or disturb the forest faces a swift and
silent death.
Warrior Shadows
True to their traditions the clan didn’t grow in num
bers, nor expanded its boundaries, but the Wolves of
the Shadow are still a great threat or a powerful ally
to the other great clans. It’s a very well know fact that
some of the fiercest, bravest and most skilled warrior
of Midgardr live among the Wolves.
According to the Wolves of the Shadow there’s no
difference between hunting and waging a war: the
youngsters are trained, since childhood, to consider
both with the same attention and dedication. The
life and training of these young warriors is marked by
extreme tests of survival, to improve their body and
mind.36 37
The Wolves of the Shadow are true masters in
taking advantage of terrain and weather. yet, even on
an open battlefield, the “packs” showed their mettle,
fighting as coordinated units and crushing the enemies
under their impetus. A true Wolf never leaves a prey
behind. It doesn’t matter if it’s an animal of an enemy,
both will hear only a rustle of leaves or a light step
before death caught it.
The Time of the Wolves
Talking of peace was, perhaps, possible once, but
now that the Great Winter is here the Time of
the Wolves is at hand. According to the most rad
ical packs the mention of wolves in the Voluspa is
no mere coincidence. Many, especially among the
youngest and most ferocious warriors of the clan,
believe that it’s time for the Wolves of the Shadow
to show the Gods their valor and secure their places
among the Einherjar. At the same time the infidels
usurpers of the Odhinn’s Eye have shown their true
colors of blasphemous traitors, lapdogs of the witch,
the whore of the Westerners. She dripped hexes and
lies in their ears, turning them against the Allfather,
from whom they shamelessly claim to descend.
According to the “letter” of the legends, this cold
climate can only be a sign of the wrath of the Gods
that so many people of Midgardr denied.
The constant snowfalls and the days growing shorter
and shorter are a great boon for the raiding packs. They
attack outposts and caravans of the Odhinn’s Eye as
payback for the massacres in the villages traditionally
affiliated with the Wolves of the Shadow.
Despite the public excitement, the truth is very
different: many families are in dreadful conditions,
the clan always survived by hunting and exchanging
the loot from their raids and both are now impossible
with this weather.
The chieftain – also known as “pack leader” –
Koltønn (“ashen tooth”) – also know as Ginnungason
(“son of the abyss”) – and many elders know how crit
ical the situation is and, for now, are trying to calm
down the warriors. Koltønn has to take some impor
tant decisions, soon, for the survival of the clan, before
a young and radical Wolf decide to challenge him.
Koltønn Ginnungason, "Ashen Tooth, Son of Nothing"36 37
Relationships with Other Clans
Bear Warriors
The Wolves of the Shadow consider the Bear Warriors
as the key factor in the war against the Odhinn’s Eye.
Securing an alliance with the fearsome Berserkers
of the northern mountains, the Wolves of the Shadow
would be able to stop hiding in the forest and face
the Odhinn’s eye on the battlefield. Even the army of
King Asbjørn won’t be able to resist a joint attack from
wolves, Bears and Jotuns.
Gjallarhorn
According to the scarce news from the nearby islands,
it seem that the people of Jutland are too busy protect
ing their borders to bother with their old allies.
The Wolves fear that the Gjallarhorns might come
to rescue the Odhinn’s Eye, once their problems are
over. The two clans together will be unstoppable.
Some Wolves of the Shadow are more optimist and
believe that, when faced with King Asbjørn’s heresy,
the Gjallarhorn clan would abandon its old allies and
help the Wolves.
Icy Crows
The Wolves of the Shadow have the utmost respect for
the Icy Crows. Even a rude answer to a Crow repre
sent a great dishonor for a Wolf. The Crows spread the
word of the Gods and they are feared and respected for
this. Many wolves are in awe of the Crows because, the
rumors say, they are able to cast terrible curses upon
those that disrespect them.
For these reasons, the Wolves’ leader has tried to
persuade the crows to stand up against the Infidels of
the Odhinn’s Eye.
If the Icy Crow would deny King Asbjørn their
favor, it’s highly possible that many families would
abandon the clan, making the defeat of the heretic
King much easier.
Jötunn Sons
The wolves consider the Jötunn Sons as potential
allies in the impending war against the Odhinn’s Eye,
despite their reputation as tricksters.
In recent years the Wolves allowed the Jötunn Sons
to stay in their villages, whereas they previously drove
them off as outcasts.
In spite of this grant, many Wolves – especially the
older ones – consider the Jötunn Sons to be a threat
and don’t trust them, but not openly.
Odhinn’s Eye
The Wolves of the Shadow are about to wage a true
all-out war against the Odhinn’s Eye.
More and more villages across the Svitjob – once
faithful to the Odhinn’s Eye, now enraged by the blas
phemy that corrupted the court – are leaving the clan
to join the Wolves.
The only reason to delay is that Koltønn knows that
facing the great army of King Asbjørn without allies
would cost the life of too many of his warriors, perhaps
all of them. Forging powerful alliances might tip the
scales in favor of the Wolves and, at that time, nothing
could stop them from fighting to the bitter end.
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