Wintermark
“The storm can never break us.”
3) Things Winterfolk can be, grimnirs, scops, shamed, stormcrows.
4) Things you don't expect about them - riddles, poetry, laws.
Here is Wintermark, where the frozen wind howls down from the eternal storm of Sydanjaa, to face men and women stood shoulder to shoulder, standing 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 tribes - the mystic Kallevesi, 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 bannermen to lead the warriors to battle. The Grimnirs, forbidden from battle by sacred oath minister to the wounded. While the Stormcrows take wing, watching all, keeping the peoples courage in place and ensuring that no oath goes unwatched or unkept. The scops gather up the dead, raising them up in song and poem, so that their deeds will echo through the Labyrinth of Ages.
This can be a harsh land, but it does not breed harsh people. Their souls sing with poetry and they hone their minds with riddles and mysteries. They craft beauty for the dreadful arts of war, weaving runes into every axe, shield and helmet. They are the beating heart of the Empire, and their pattern of leadership laid the foundations of it's law and governance. These are the Winterfolk 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 judge others as we judge ourselves – as individuals.
- Three tears entwined. The three people of the Wintermark are indivisible, they live together and fight as one.
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. It therefore follows there are no Thor's hammers either.
- Heavy uniform shieldwalls. Each Winterfolk warrior is an individual hero and tends to fight as such, disdaining the regimented ranks of the Highguard chapters.
- Linguistically redundant. The only word they have for snow is "snow".
The Nation
Core Brief
Further Reading
- History
- Political Leadership
- Economic Interests
- Military Concerns
- Religious Beliefs
- Magical Traditions
- Hearth Magic
- Lineage And Species Attitudes
- Territories
- Children
- Music
- Costumes