NPC - Rigmar the Wolf-Queen

NPC - Rigmar the Wolf-Queen

Among the hunters of the Schnai and Fruzti runs a cult dedicated to the Wolf-God. Those who follow this deity bear the taint of the wolf in their blood and as an outward sign in their human form bear upon them the wolf medalion. Rigmar wears her openly as she is the Queen of Wolves among the Schnai and dwells in the wilderness beyond the furthest outpost or settlement.

Rigmar is the daughter of the former Wolf-Queen (the Wolf-King is always chosen from the Fruzti and though he also dwells in the wilderness he dwells apart from the queen except during certain times of Luna's fullness). When either the king or queen is slain or dies their mate chooses to die as well and a new pair of leaders is selected.

Rigmar is young as is the new king. She has possessed the wolf-taint in her blood since birth and is a powerful creature when she summons her wolf aspect. In her human form she is a hunter and a northern ranger as are all members of the cult.

Item - Wolf Amulets

Item - Wolf Amulets

Among the hunters the Fruztii and Schnai there is a small secret society of lycanthropes who have broken from Votan and Ve as well as the rest of the northern pantheon. Instead they follow the Wolf-God whose home is the wilderness beyond the Corusk Mountains. To control their lycanthropy the followers wear amulets shaped in the form of a ceremonial wolf mask.

The copper amulet is the most common and those wearing it can resist the compulsion to change to their werewolf form during the time of the full moon.

The gold amulet denotes members of the Wolf-God's clergy. It grants certain powers and protections making it harder for even enchanted weapons to damage and the ability to charm and command wolves.

The silver amulet is worn by the leaders of the cult granting immunity to the power of silver to damage the wearer, the ability to command lesser werewolves and wolves and allows the wearer to transform into a monstrous werewolf of great size and strength.

Historical -- The Battle of Shamblefield - 108cy

Historical -- The Battle of Shamblefield - 108cy

The Friztii warchief Eiirik The Red leads his people against the might of the Great Kingdom. In front are three of Votan's holy champions, Berserks, who could not be wounded by normal weapons and had the ability to transform  into massive bears during battle. It was only t he enchanted weaponry of Caldni Vir and his officers that managed to slay them and stop the Fruztii advance. 

Eiirik was also slain in the battle and the Schnai forces which had been delayed, or so they said, retreated before joining the fight. In this way the strength of the Fruztii were greatly diminished and the Schnai achieved dominance over them.

NPC - Selbie - Fruzti Farmer

NPC - Selbie Fruzti Farmer

While the Fruzti are known as Barbarian Raiders among the southern lands of the Flanaess the bulk of their population are farmers and fishers. Selbie is a young woman but a much respected farmer. She has a smattering of the Sedr magic which all Fruzti women seem to have at least a hint. The druidess Olgy of her small village Granblomstran works with her both in her ability with the Sedr and her natural affinity with growing things. Selbie is the merest of apprentices in either.

All Fruzti learn to fight as there is no real safety in the north. Selbie nows how to raise a shield, which end of the spear is the pointy bit and is working on a vest of leather armor. She has no plans or desire to move from the village and at seventeen is betrothed to Engenwulf the son of another prosperous farmer. 

Those from Granblomstran and other small farming villages like it who have the wanderlust tend to become hunters, scouts or mountaineers rather than sea-raiders. They are more likely to own horses and know how to ride than their coastal kindred and head inland, west and south rather than east toward the ships and sea.

NPC - Sassa Dragonshield Fruzti Warrior

NPC - Sassa Dragonshield Fruzti Warrior

Sassa is known as the Shield of Sylvi and is a distant cousin who lives near to her among those of the Sarjar tribe. Currently she is with Sylvi on the Styrkarsarjar and is one of the thirty taking captured orc boats to shore to explore the orc's island and gather supplies.

The fight was quick and the orcs easily defeated by the experienced crew of the Styrkarsarjar but the huge war leader managed to bloody Sassa in the fight.

She is a stouty warrior, expert in the sword and shield and bears a legendary shield that is passed down in her family. The Dragonshield grants immunity to the breath of dragons but against more mundane adversaries it enhances her protection even more than her chain shirt and ringed leather. It is said that no arrow will wound her while she bears her shield. Added to the shield is her belt that give her the strength of an ogre and it said only those of exceptional strength may bear the Dragonshield.

NPC - Harald the Old

Harald the Old

- Ftr 9th Lvl - HP 91 - AC (8) {3 with Chainmail} [2 with chainmail and shield] +1 To Hit and To Damage due to strength. Cannot be knocked unconscious in combat nor can he be held, slowed or trapped by spells. If detect magic is used Harald personally radiates magic from his body.

Harald has lived a long life and feels the approaching years with trepidation in his heart. Always he has put himself in the forefront of battle. He has gone on long and dangerous raids, adventures, quests and while his fame has become great a glorious death in battle has eluded him. Votan, he who chooses the slain to fight for him in the next world, calls to him and Harald is eager to answer that call.

Armor and items of renown and power Harald once possessed, but he has set those aside, gifted them to friends and kin, so that the death-wound may find him. He wears finely crafted mail and helm, a sturdy shield and a thick cloak of red, but the only item of power he carries is his bastard sword, Steel-Cleaver.

Steel-Cleaver - Bastard Sword +3(To-Hit)/+5(To-Hit & Damage) versus Giants and Giant-Kin - Any successful hit by Steel-Cleaver has a 20% chance of destroying any nonmagical shield, helm or piece of metal armor that is struck. The bonuses apply (To-Hit only and not To-Damage except against Giants and Giant-kin - Steal-cleaver is then a +5 to hit and damage weapon but does not destroy armor).

While Harald is eager for a glorious death he will use all his considerable skill and combat knowledge to defeat his opponents. He will never surrender and Votan has blessed him so that he cannot be knocked unconscious in combat or even magically held, slowed or trapped.

Currently Harald is a warrior sailing with the Styrkarsarjar and has volunteered, eagerly, to join the thirty who are to go ashore to find supplies and water, but Harald is really looking for death. The pig-faced orcs they fought are nothing to him but somewhere on this island he feels there must be a worthy foe.

NPC - Ingvar Votan's Warrior

NPC - Ingvar Votan's Warrior

There are few Fruzti as large as Ingvar. He stands over  seven feet tall and is broad and heavy. He wields a two-handed axe in each hand and is said to be as strong as an ogre. There is an eagle which he calls Fiske that is always near.

It is rumored that Ingvar is Votan's son, half-God and half-human. This is true and Fiske is a sending of Votan to keep an eye on Ingvar. So far Ingvar tends to take after his uncle Tor and is a bit of a hot head though a fine drinking companion.

Currently Ingvar is on the Styrkarsarjar and joining the expedition going ashore. He enjoyed the fight with the pig-orcs and is looking for more sport.

NPC - The Styrkarsarjar Crew - Hillevi the Archer

NPC - The Styrkarsarjar Crew - Hillevi the Archer

Like the other members of the Styrkarsvarjar crew Hillevi or "Evi" is a Tor'ist though still not very experienced priestess of Tor. She is on her 2nd season of raiding and is still learning the trade. While she is trained with shield, sword, spear and axe she immediately showed great proficiency with the war bow. Unsurprising as she was always known as a great huntress as a youth and upon entering the women's lodge at 13 joined her clan's hunters and quickly gained some small reknown. 

The Shipmaster, Asger, is a cousin, as are most of the crew since it is a clan-ship but it was her skill with bow that brought her membership in the crew. 

Hellevi is part of thirty going ashore in hope of bringing meat to the table as something fresh would be welcome and no one likes that taste of orc no matter how much they resemble pigs. She doesn't mind doing a bit of hunting but she is more interested in honing her skills in combat and in preistcraft. 

NPC - The Styrkarsarjar Crew - Shipmaster Asger

NPC - The Styrkarsarjar Crew 

NPC - The Styrkarsarjar Crew - Shipmaster Asger

Shipmaster Asger is a Fruzti warrior-priest of Tor the Volke God of Storms. Tor is a popular deity of worship among the Schnai and marginally less devoted to by the Cruski. The majority of Tor's worshippers are male and those who go out upon the waters, but most of the Volke spend time sailing in one form or another, so among men the worship of Tor is second only to Vatun, Veli or Ve, and among Battle-Maidens, those women of the Volke dedictaed to warfare, Tor is their primary deity, though all the pantheon is respected and offered up prayers and sacrfices during their holy days.

Asger is young for a Shipmaster but after the death of his father the elders of his clan chose him as the best replacement. Among the Fruzti longships are owned by families rather than individuals and the captain or Shipmaster is chosen by a council of clan elders, but once chosen the Shipmaster is in charge of the ship till his or her death.

Asger has proven to be an excpetional leader and Shipmaster. He had raided with his father since the age of fourteen and now in his late thirties he has seen a dozen raid seasons come and go. This is the first time he has been lost.

The strange island before him with its pig-faced orc inhabitants and towering mountain of smoke and fire calls to him and if his duties as Shipmaster didn't preclude it he would have set off with the thirty raiders to explore and bring back supplies. 

NPC - Solveig Sylvi-sister

NPC - Solveig Sylvi-sister 

Solveig is a young warrior and younger sister to Sylvo of Fruzti who is an experienced warrior and war-leader. Unbeknowest to Sylvi or to any of the crew of the longship Styrkarsarjar but for two other sword-sisters onboard, Solveig is a member of the Valkyr, a secret cult of Votan worshippers who practice Votan's form of Sedr magic. Sylvi does not suspect and would frown on her sisters membership in the cult.

The other two Valkyr are Yeva and Helka, both about the same age as Solveig. All three are good friends and joined the Valkyr together when they were first inducted into the warrior's hall of their tribe of Fruzti. 

Solveig is slightly headstrong and desires to prove herself in battle, especially if her sister is around. She and her two Valkyr companions have volunteered to be part of the group that will take the captured pig-orc boats to the beach and search for fresh water and provisions.

Ship - The Styrkarsarjar - The Sea Strength

Ship - The Styrkarsarjar - The Sea Strength

The Strykarsarjar is a Fruzti longship, In late 579cy it joined a force of several dozen ships and sailed south to raid and trade down the eastern coast of the Flanaess, but during a terrible fog became seperated from the others and has sailed into the deeper and unknown waters of the east.

Luckily an island was spotted and good harborage found in time to ride out a beastly storm. The island possessed a fire mountain throwing a black plume of smoke into the air and appeared to be of a good size. On arrival the ship was attacked by several boatloads of pig-faced orcs, perhaps expecting to come upon some stranded merchantman or trade ship. The Fruzti warriors, skalds, and priests put them all to the sword and axe and seized a number of the small-craft for their own use.

The ships compliment is 63. Two skalds, seven priests, three druids and fifty-one warriors of varying experience. They are all members of the Sarjar tribe or allies of good standing. The ship master is the Tor-ish priest Asger and a good number of the Sarjar tribe of Fruzti are Tor worshippers and four of the other priests are of Tor while one is a follower of Veylund and the other of Fray the Oerth-Mother. The skalds are servants of Votan as are all Fruzti skalds while most of the female warriors (23 of the compliment) know at least a smattering of the Sedr magic.

The ship is low on supplies of fresh water as several kegs came loose in the storm and where cracked open. Sylvi, the leader of the warriors, plans to take half the crew to the beach in three of the captured pig-orc boats and find some drinkable water and fresh-meat. Loot would be nice as well but the pig-orcs possessed little of value and she expects nothing more to bloody their spears.

NPC - Sylvi of Fruzti

NPC - Sylvi of Fruzti

Sylvi comes from a family where almost all women follow the warriors path of Tor, Votan's son. She is the oldest of five sisters, all warriors, while her two brothers are blacksmith-priests of Veylund. 

She has traveled south with her younger sister Solveig on a raid of the Sothron lands (as they call the coast of the eastern Flanaess) and their ship became lost in a fog. Currently they are harboring in a secluded bay of a small island. The natives seem to be a pig-like kind of orc and a great mountain belches black smoke into the sky constantly from somewhere inland. 

While they've already been attacked twice by boatloads of the pig-faced orcs Sylvi and the others have beaten them off with no trouble and have a mind to go exploring. Her sister Solveig thinks it a waste of time as she cannot see what loot they will gain from it, but fresh water and food would not be amiss.

The ship is rather large and around 60 warriors and priests and a pair of skalds are on board. They have three of the pig-orc boats lashed to their sides and rather than beach their ship it has been decided to take half the crew and at they very least restock some supplies.

Project - Sedr Magic of the Cruski, Fruztii and Schnai

Project - Sedr Magic of the Cruski, Fruztii and Schnai

Often called "Suel Barbarians" these people of the north-eastern Flanaess are at most distant relations to those of the Suel Imperium. During the time before the Rain of Colorless Fire they served at times as mercenary tribes but more often waged intermittent war upon the Suel. At the height of the Imperium's power they were driven from their lands far to the north-east where they dwell today.

These three tribal-nations worship the same pantheon of Gods though each has their own patron, one of three brother deities. Veli is worshiped by Cruski, Votan by the Friztii and Ve by the Schnai. Many other other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped though among all three Fray the Oerth-Mother is highest among all three.

Fray it is who gave the tribes magic, the Sedr, though it is said she taught it first to Votan while his brothers disdained its use, so that today it is among the Fruztii that men and women practice the art, while among the Cruskii and Schnai the Sedr is held secret by the women of the tribes.

Sedr magic has three branches, the Seeing, the Ice Magic and the Bone Summoning. Most who practice the art learn evenly of all three though some become drawn to one particular craft of the others. Women who use the Sedr magic are called Volle or witches and men are called Vola or warlocks. Skalds, the bardic-priests of Votan, Veli and Ve wield some of the Sedr magic but also possess the gift of priestcraft from their patron deity.

The first branch, the Seeing involves ritual divination, but also the ability to walk among the lands of the dead and speak with those dwelling there.

The second branch is Ice Magic and it is both strong in defense and offense for the wielder granting spells that allow casting of frozen bolts of ice, granting resistance or immunity to cold, summoning frozen elementals, creating sheets or barriers of ice and so forth.

The last branch is Bone Summoning, necromancy, and the wielder summons the dead and commands them.

NOTE:

"Suel Barbarians" is something applied to them by outsiders but the reality is that they were barbarian tribes that both raided the Suel and served them at times as allied or mercenary forces, They worship none of the "Suel" pantheon. Votan, Veli and Ve are brother Gods and Fray is a mother Goddess, but there are many, many lesser Gods in this pantheon. Among the tribes they either refer to themselves as the Volke (Fruz) or the Manskr (Schnai and Cruztii) and never "Suel Barbarian" which is a terrible insult.

Project - Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Brenna

Project - Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Brenna

Brenna is originally from the Timberway among the Fruztii or Frost tribes, but she followed a spirit quest and found herself in Blackmoor near the Land of Black Ice and a welcome addition to the Sisterhood. Her way of magic is different from the witches of Blackmoor and is strongly linked to totems, rituals and amulets. The way of the Sedr magic practiced by the Fruz, has strong tinges of necromancy among its traditions and she wears the bones of dead heroes with which she summon them to fight for her if need be.

Her powers are also those of seeress and she can set her spirit to walk among the lands of the dead to ask questions of the past or project her sight to catch visions of the future. Finally he greatest strengths and protections come from the cold and she is granted both ice magic and power of elementals from the land of eternal cold.

She is familiar with the Grey and knows portals to its realm where the intersect with that of the frozen planes of Ice.