Jarl Juulnir (yarl yool-neer)
God of the Hearth and of the Long Winter
Material demigod of arctic settlements, family, festivity, gift-giving and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, Juulnir is an ancient jarl of a now-forgotten Kalevan tribe. In addition to being a protector of children and households, he is commonly worshipped as a provider god in colder climates who rely more on hunting than agriculture.
Juulnir is the namesake of Juultide: a popular yearly holiday that celebrates his defeat of eight great Kindercatch Lords, ending an era of misery, darkness and stolen children.
Jarl Juulnir's alignment is Lawful Good.Appearance & Heraldry
See also: Jarl Juulnir & The Hearthblades Image Gallery (External)By all accounts, Juulnir was a ludicrously tall, broadly muscular humanoid, possibly of human-arakh ancestry, with a large white beard.
Heraldry often includes holly, ivy, mistletoe, his greatsword Klinge-Klange, deer-drawn sleighs, the Dawn Star above the Damskrohn Mountains or the decapitated head of a kindercatch demon.Worship
Jarl Juulnir's paladins are known as Hearthblades and his clerics are known as Lamplighters. They play a similar role to the Harvest Witches and Cathars of Ninalta & Saint Ajora—protecting and providing for smaller, more remote townships—though they focus more on hunting & gathering than agriculture in the harsher climates where The Great Jarl is worshipped.
As Juulnir was a Kalevan jarl, he is usually worshipped in tandem with Kaleva, and the two churches are invariably cooperative. Amongst other things, Juulnir is an exemplar of Kalevan grit, honour and huntsmanship.Domains
Jarl Juulnir's primary Domain is Family. His secondary domains are Community, Might, Sun, Star, Protection and Indulgence.Favoured Weapon
The Great Jarl's favoured weapon is the greatsword. His Relic greatsword is Klinge-Klange. It is a near-impossibly large greatsword decorated with bells and gooseberry vines, whose berries grow interminably and can heal many ailments and injuries.History
Juulnir is said to be the strongest jarl of the ancient Kalevans, and indeed most of his clerics and paladins may be found on Valamon. (Emphasis on ‘most’: this odd regional worship did spread prior to the Deluge, and exists in altered forms in other parts of Materia, for example his persona 'Father Hearthswatch' in Æthermark, Oztroja, the Islands of Agåntyr and some Middish provinces.)
His now-forgotten Kalevan clan occupied land where the Veil was particularly thin. During one particularly long, woebegotten winter, they were set upon by a pack of eight strong, horned, long-tongued fae. Known as the Kindercatch, the clan’s children were their prize. One by one, Juulnir hunted down all eight abductors and defeated them in single combat. Now said to be his servants, they can take ungulate form to pull his sleigh, and must spend an entire night each winter, usually called Juultide, returning toys from their victims to Materia’s children.
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