Skaldia
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Geography
Skaldia is a large nation to the east of Terre d'Ange that stretches from the northern coast down to the mountainous border of Caerdicci Unitas. Geographically it's largely hilly forest with a harsh winter climate that cuts off all travel during the colder months, particularly in the north. While this position would normally be a stategic one considering the amount and diversity of land, the Skaldi are uninterested in real economic or mercantile development.
There are well-built roads, built by the old Tiberian Empire, that travel through the mountain passes but are difficult, if not impossible to traverse as soon as the snow begins to fall. Since there's also a severe danger of avalanches, most of the Skaldi are effectively trapped in their own nation.
The Culture
The Skaldi are a barbaric, fierce, warlike people. They have no proper written language or alphabet, though they have a crude system of carved runes called the "futhark" in order to write down important symboles or information. They worship the ancient pagan gods of their people, including such deities as Odhinn All-Father, Freja, and Baldur. Though they're considered barbaric by D'Angeline standards, the Skaldi think the same as the D'Angelines and have a general contempt for most other nations.
The People
Physically, the Skaldi are a hardy, tough people who are impressed by size and strength over beauty or elegance. They live in a tribal system, each one spread out over a certain area of territory and often raiding and pillaging the neighbouring tribes for fun and profit. Of course, this doesn't profit the nation as a whole, though it certainly does toughen them up.
They tend to be fairly large in size, even the women. The men often wear beards, particularly in the winter, and both men and women often wear their hair long. As far as physical appearance goes, their culture is quite diverse - the northern tribes often have blond hair and blue eyes while the southern ones have darker hair and eye color. For clothing, the Skaldi tend to wear thick layers of crude or rough-spun fabric in the forms of tunics, leggings, and robes or dresses on the women. They also tend to wear animal furs, particularly those of predator animals such as wolves or bears.
Allies and Enemies
The relations between Skaldia and the other nations are rocky at best. While the Skaldi chieftains don't have much in the way of unity among the tribes, they occasionally are gathered together by a powerful or persuasive chieftain and can unite to war against their neighbours; in such a situation their sheer size makes for a devastating attack force, considering thier women and children pack up their entire camps and move along with them as well, forming a huge horde. Conquest and glory are foremost in the eyes of the Skaldi.
Slavery
Unlike the other nations, the Skaldi keep slaves, though their slaves are often fair-treated. A bustling trade market in kidnapped Caerdicci and D'Angeline slaves continues often through the tribes, much to the dismay of their respective nations.
The System
At current, the Skaldi have formed a sort of semi-stable government in Berolinum, comprised of ambassadors from each tribe who travel to and from their settlement to exchange news and information as well as several Elders who encourage the growth of the nation in general. The Elders also send a delegation to other countries nominally to work out potential trade routes and alliances, but more commonly and accurately guessed, to spy on defenses and potential invasion routes.
Skaldic Terms
- Allthing: a meeting between the heads of Skaldi tribes and steadings in order to discuss things of importance. Each tribe chief is allowed to bring two of his thanes and one headwoman to the meeting itself, though the campments outside are typically much larger. The Allthing has fallen out of general use in more modern days, given the similar nature of the Elder Council in Berolinum.
- holmgang': A combative challenge between two men. A circle is drawn in a field and the men are given one sword and three shields; the first to shed the other's blood is the winner in the dispute, or if the other steps foot outside the circle.
- Gambrivii, Manni, Marsi, Suevi, Vandalii: These are the more prominent and largest Skaldi tribes, each about equal in power and strength to the other with their own thane (chieftain) commanding it.
- Selig: "blessed", a term given as a substitute surname to Skaldi warriors who show tremendous courage and bravery in battle. It was first used by Waldemar Selig, and after his death was used by other predominant warriors to display their prowess. The equivalent would be 'The Great' or 'The Conquerer' rather than an actual last name.
- -dottir, -son: Almost all Skaldi last names end with dottir, if female, and -son, if male, using their father as a referance for the last name. Waldemar Berundson is the son of Berund, Jori Waldemarsdottir is the daughter of Waldemar, etc.
