Like humans only taller, more muscular and bulkier by nature. Rare is the Northman lower in hight than the regular human. Usually they're everything from 1 to 4 heads taller than the tallest of men. Natural immunity towards cold and most sicknesses, able to stomach most things without getting ill. A rare few are rumored to develop Elemental magic by themselves, such individuals stand a high chance of being chosen as clan leaders.
The cattle of the region is their best known export. Cows, just bigger, hardier, hairier and smarter and having way bigger ram like horns. When traveling the lands of Snárfold its not uncommon to see groups of Northmen riding across the fields on these beasts, called Auðumbla. Their fur, though not the most pleasant to the skin is by far the warmest.
Basic Information
Growth Rate & Stages
In general these folks tend to live 30 - 40 years longer than humans. They grow up just as quick but tend to stay fit for longer.
Ecology and Habitats
Usually these people tend to thrive in cold enviroments, finding ways to thrive where others would not. Farming hardy root vegetables and herbs, herding sheeps, goats and Auðumbla, the latter also being the most traded, both for its distinct meat and its very warm and rather soft furs. The Northfolk are also quite good hunters, trappers and gatherers, while also being concious of the dangers of overhunting. Though vast cities are few, their villages are numerous and clanship holdings even more so.
As a result of the cold climate their architecture is somewhat special. Often they dig underground and make their dwellings a few meters down for added insulation, with often triangular roofs covered with peat reaching all the way down to the ground. They're adorned with painstakingly intricate and beautifully carved wooden walls, doors and windshields depicting creatures of myth.
The more ornate, the more prestige.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Omnivore, though they all have a big appetite for meat, most of their meals consist of meat. Either wild game, fish or Auðumbla with root-vegetables on the side. Being both farmers and cattle herders, its perhaps the latter they're most famous for. Breeding and herding their Auðumbla across the northern thundra, the steep vallies of Snárfold and the The Frozen Fjords.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The Northfolk is diverse, quite a few live their lives as a semi-nomadic clansmen, herding their Auðumbla over vast distances. Others gather in villages and clanships dotted throughout the Frozen Fjords and the Fist of Tyrus. The biggest clanships is that of Snárfold and Frostweald, of Frostweald Isle.
Two distinct concepts of Clan heritage exist together and functioned as one: Firstly there is the ‘Landnámsmaðr’, this is the right of a Clan member to settle in Clan territory and find protection there. Alongside this there is the heritage of the individual Chief. This is called ‘Fólkhagi’ and places the Chief as the head of the Clan and as overall owner of its lands.
The Chief’s succession is decided and governed by a system known as ‘þing’(Thing this is an ancient law of succession whereby an heir is chosen from a group of individuals with hereditary claims. This group would typically consist of people whose great grandparents had, themselves been Chiefs. It is the existing Chief’s task to choose an heir or ‘Goði’ from this group who is regarded as the persons most suited to succession.
This system ensures that a strong leader was always chosen. Indeed, throughout the lifetime of the Chief the Goði would be second in command, taking full responsibility for the Clan during the Chiefs absence.
Beneath the Chief were the Chieftains, from which the Goði had been selected; these are the heads of the individual houses from which the Clan was formed. The eldest of these was called the ‘Ellri’ and in most cases they became the Goði. The Captain of the Clan was selected from any of the above. The ‘Félagi’ were the gentlemen of the clan, beneath them existing the main body of the clan itself.
The Clan is a symbol of unity and strength; it is also structured on egalitarian principles.
Although the body of the clan is regarded as its kin there are natural divisions within it, which, although it rarely affected the individuals standing nevertheless existed. Those members of the clan with blood ties were the ‘Kin’. They share the Clan surname. Sometimes individuals or small family groups would come into the Clan who has no blood relation and are merely seeking protection or sanctuary. These are the ‘The Broken’ of the Clan, sometimes a smaller neighbouring Clan, which had suffered some natural or man-made devastation and were unable to survive alone, or else simply individuals with no specific allegiance.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Northfolk is most often found in their homelands northwest in Aeidas. Northfolk clans and pety kingdoms can be found from the northern borders of Westfold and Themoria where the Northfolk Kingdom of Snárfold lies between high mountains. Further Northwest, their terretories stretches along the Frozen Fjords, towards the great plains of thundra that is the Fist of Tyrus and the Frostweald Isle.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Origin/Ancestry
Human
Lifespan
120
Average Height
2.4 meters
Average Weight
130 kg
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