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<quote>“The storm can never break us.”</quote>
<quote>“The storms can never break us.”</quote>
 
Here is Wintermark, where the frozen wind howls down from the eternal storm of Sydanjaa to face a people stood shoulder to shoulder, holding steadfast against the cold. Revelling in battle, the indomitable Winterfolk stare down every threat with their heads unbowed, for they know that death is only the long sleep before the dawn. Always courageous, they commit themselves to every challenge, matching wits and weapons against worthy foes, forging victory from adversity on the anvil of the north.


Three peoples call Wintermark their home: the mystic [[Kallavesi]], whose spiritual insight brings wisdom to the nation; the bold [[Steinr]], whose courage and indomitable spirit defends the nation; and the resourceful [[Suaq]], artful hunters whose cunning helps the nation get the better of her enemies. The three retain their culture and heritage but live and fight together, defeating any danger the frozen wastes might throw at them.
The Winterfolk are three great peoples - the wise [[Kallavesi]], the bold [[Steinr]] and the clever [[Suaq]] - wrought into a single mighty nation. Their banner flies the three rings joined together - three peoples bound with one breath, three voices raised together against the storm. Strength, wisdom, cunning, entwined together to form an unbreakable cord.


In Wintermark you are judged on every deed. It is a land of ancient mysteries and obscure riddles. It is a land where men and women stand steadfast against the cold and know that sometimes there is no-one to rely on but yourself. This is a nation where a warrior faces down an enemy chieftain, knowing she’ll be outflanked in the process, but knowing that her courage will turn the tide of the battle.
Wise Shamans untangle the skeins to peer into the future. The Thanes appoint banner bearers to lead the warriors to battle. The Grimnirs, forbidden from battle by sacred oath, minister to the wounded. All the while, the [[Wintermark Religious Beliefs|stormcrows]] watch, keeping the people's [[Courage]] in place and ensuring that no oath goes unheard or unkept. At the end, the scops gather up the dead, raising them up in song and poem, so that their deeds will echo through the halls of the dead.


In Wintermark there's a firm belief that if only the other nations followed their example, the Empire would rule the world.
This can be a harsh land, but it does not breed harsh people. They hone their minds with riddles and mysteries and their souls sing with poetry. They craft beauty for the dreadful arts of war, weaving [[runes]] into every axe, shield and helmet. Their wise traditions of weregild and moot laid the foundations of the Empire's law and governance. They are the beating heart of the Empire, and they know that if only the other nations followed their example, the Empire would rule the world.


==Five Things about Wintermark==
==Five things about Wintermark==
*'''Scions sired by a storm.''' Wintermark is a harsh land. Mastering it has made us strong.
*'''Scions sired by a storm.''' Wintermark is a harsh land. Mastering it has made us strong.
*'''A hero’s tale ends with a good death.''' We glory in battle; we stand tall and do not skulk from danger.
*'''A hero's tale ends with a good death.''' We glory in battle; we stand tall and do not skulk from danger.
*'''Cold cannot compromise.''' We do not compromise even with ourselves. Not even age or injury turn us from our undertaking.
*'''Cold cannot compromise.''' We do not compromise even with ourselves. Not even age or injury turn us from our undertaking.
*'''A hero has a name.''' We judge others as we judge ourselves – as individuals.
*'''A hero has a name.''' We prize individuality; your name is the beginning of your story.
*'''Three tears entwined.''' The three people of the Wintermark are indivisible, they live together and fight as one.
*'''Three tears entwined.''' The three peoples of the Wintermark are indivisible; they live together and fight as one.


== What the Winterfolk are not ==
==What the Winterfolk are not ==
*'''Vikings.''' There are no longships, raiders or horned helmets here. Although the Steinr have a similar look, they are closer to Saxons. There is no God of Thunder, or anyone else from the Norse pantheon.
*'''Vikings.''' The Steinr are inspired by the Saxons and the Rohirrim from Lord of the Rings and they follow the Imperial Religion. There are no longships, raiders or horned helmets, and Thor and the Norse pantheon are actively excluded from the brief.
*'''Heavy uniform shieldwalls.''' Each Winterfolk warrior is an individual hero and tends to fight as such, disdaining the regimented ranks of the Highguard chapters.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Wintermark Clothing.jpg|caption=Three tears entwined.|align=right|width=450}}
*'''Linguistically redundant.''' The only word they have for snow is "snow".
{{Wintermark Links}}
 
{{pdf}}
==The Nation==
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterSteinr6.jpg|align=right|title=Film: The Lord of the Rings|width=250}}
* [[Wintermark People|The People]]
* [[Wintermark Culture and Customs|Culture and Customs]]
* [[Wintermark History|History]]
* [[Wintermark Political Leadership|Political Leadership]]
* [[Wintermark Economic Interests|Economic Interests]]
* [[Wintermark Military Concerns|Military Concerns]]
* [[Wintermark Religious Beliefs|Religious Beliefs]]
* [[Wintermark Magical Traditions|Magical Traditions]]
* [[Wintermark Hearth Magic and the Egregore|Hearth Magic and the Egregore]]
* [[Wintermark Look and Feel|Look and Feel]]
* [[Wintermark Lineage and Species Attitudes|Lineage And Species Attitudes]]
* [[Wintermark Territories|Territories]]
* [[Wintermark Children|Children]]
* [[Wintermark Music|Music]]
* [[Wintermark Costumes|Costumes]]


[[Category:Wintermark]]
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Nations]]

Latest revision as of 21:33, 13 July 2022

Wintermark-Hall.jpg

“The storm can never break us.”

Here is Wintermark, where the frozen wind howls down from the eternal storm of Sydanjaa to face a people stood shoulder to shoulder, holding steadfast against the cold. Revelling in battle, the indomitable Winterfolk stare down every threat with their heads unbowed, for they know that death is only the long sleep before the dawn. Always courageous, they commit themselves to every challenge, matching wits and weapons against worthy foes, forging victory from adversity on the anvil of the north.

The Winterfolk are three great peoples - the wise Kallavesi, the bold Steinr and the clever Suaq - wrought into a single mighty nation. Their banner flies the three rings joined together - three peoples bound with one breath, three voices raised together against the storm. Strength, wisdom, cunning, entwined together to form an unbreakable cord.

Wise Shamans untangle the skeins to peer into the future. The Thanes appoint banner bearers to lead the warriors to battle. The Grimnirs, forbidden from battle by sacred oath, minister to the wounded. All the while, the stormcrows watch, keeping the people's Courage in place and ensuring that no oath goes unheard or unkept. At the end, the scops gather up the dead, raising them up in song and poem, so that their deeds will echo through the halls of the dead.

This can be a harsh land, but it does not breed harsh people. They hone their minds with riddles and mysteries and their souls sing with poetry. They craft beauty for the dreadful arts of war, weaving runes into every axe, shield and helmet. Their wise traditions of weregild and moot laid the foundations of the Empire's law and governance. They are the beating heart of the Empire, and they know that if only the other nations followed their example, the Empire would rule the world.

Five things about Wintermark

  • Scions sired by a storm. Wintermark is a harsh land. Mastering it has made us strong.
  • A hero's tale ends with a good death. We glory in battle; we stand tall and do not skulk from danger.
  • Cold cannot compromise. We do not compromise even with ourselves. Not even age or injury turn us from our undertaking.
  • A hero has a name. We prize individuality; your name is the beginning of your story.
  • Three tears entwined. The three peoples of the Wintermark are indivisible; they live together and fight as one.

What the Winterfolk are not

  • Vikings. The Steinr are inspired by the Saxons and the Rohirrim from Lord of the Rings and they follow the Imperial Religion. There are no longships, raiders or horned helmets, and Thor and the Norse pantheon are actively excluded from the brief.
Wintermark Clothing.jpg
Three tears entwined.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Further Reading

This selection of articles can be downloaded as a PDF book (or as html only)