User:Cloud Xan/Vaeringjar
Work in progress.
Stage: Concept
Contents
Væringjar
The Væringjar reside on the southern ice sheets, known to citizens of mainland Ilfenna simply as “The Sheets”. In the Væringjar tongue it takes the name “Isenkungarike” and the people of the Væringjar have adapted well to live with the harsh conditions and the local wildlife. Most settlements of the Væringjar are far north of the sheets and though winters still bring harsh conditions, the summers bring some green to the land. Further south the settlements are built and maintained by a more ancient race whom the Væringjar were quick to ally with: the Úlfrsläkt (Wolfkin).
The Væringjar live in a warrior society, every man, woman and child is expected to fight if called. Usually the Væringjar live in clans, spread across Isenkungarike, however in times of great need these clans forget their differences and fight for the good of their people.
Unit Tree
| Level 0 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
| Fyrd | Bóndi | Jarl | Hertug | |
| Carl | Huscarl | |||
| Åskarl | ||||
| Jór | Kalven | Rökr | Vårrökr | |
| Fimbuljór | ||||
| Tyrjór | Gungir | |||
| Fana Cultivate | ||||
| Dís | Vanadís | Valkyrja |
Descriptions
Fyrd
The Fyrd is a peasant militia, raised in times of dire need. Though poorly equipped and fighting only in thin furs they serve their purpose well, whatever it may be.
Bóndi
Bóndi are the core of the true army. Fighting with spears to save on metal, a rare sight in the icy wasteland. Their furs are little thicker than a member of the Fyrd but they are equipped with a small shield, providing defence against the wild winds if nothing else.
Jarl
Jarls are nobles, though in the Væringjar society this is merely a title appointed to those who can afford the steel for a sword. Used to fighting against the spears of the Bóndi, they have developed a fighting style which involves as much piercing as it does slashing, a deadly combination against calvary.
Hertug
The highest position of power a noble can rise to without mounting a horse is that of Hertug. Veteran fighters in their own right, with the funds to forge expensive metal items. Instead of an encumbering shield they wear armour, a rare sight in the Væringjar ranks.
Carl
Carls are experienced warriors, and are honoured with the mighty axe accordingly. Not only a symbol of rank, the axe is a useful tool.
Huscarl
Huscarls are more than just warriors. They are bound to a noble, effectively guards. With immense discipline they hold the front lines better than any other warrior, and are able to alternate between wielding an axe and shield in their weaker hand. This fighting style optimises their defence and offence, and is very off putting for those who fight against them.
Åskarl
The Åskarl are the chosen of the God Thor. Armed with a warhammer, they abandon nearly all their defense for pure brute force, a difficult trade for any seasoned warrior. Though these hammermen are not to be taken lightly, a single blow can shatter bone, combined with a religious piety rarely seen in any man.
Jór
Jórs are the mounted force of the Væringjar, rather than charging into enemy lines, they prefer the art of light but swift strikes. Perfect for harrying flanks and taking villages.
Kalven
Kalven are to calvary what Jarls are to infantry, nobles with money to burn. Their horses are well fed and rested before battles, but this is no cheap deal, and as such, axes are a viable alternative.
Rökr
The horse lords of the Væringjar are rightly feared. Experienced troop leaders and veteran warriors, a deadly combination to any enemy. Riding the finest mounts they can strike both hard and fast, leading from the front of the battle.
Vårökr
Few can claim to have seen the mighty warlords of The Sheets fight, fewer still live to tell of them. Heavily armoured and a true elite warrior, the Vårökr is fearsome alone, but leading his entourage of Huscarls is a terror rarely unleashed in battle. Where a Vårökr rides only death follows
Fimbuljór
Fimbuljór are prized riders, likened to Carls and Huscarls in their ability. The fight with dual axes, and without the typical shield, but their horsemanship makes up for this lack, horse and rider fighting together as closely as brothers.
Tyrjór
Those with little money keep their trusted spear and continue with their practised fighting style. This does mean they better fighters, as they don’t need to adapt to a new weapon. On the field they are more commonly called the Spearhead, a jocular reference to their weaponry.
Gungir
Gungir are riders who stick with the tested spear, though the use of ranged weapons is frowned upon these allow their honour to bend enough to let them throw their spears, as well as using them as melee weapons.
Fana Cultivate
Few warriors are given the honour of bearing the standard of the Væringjar, those that do are some of the most elite, and must be, as to let the banner fall is to suffer a fate worse than a thousand deaths. While it remains aloft, however, all troops who fight nearby will be motivated to perform feats of battle above what they should.
Dís
Some women are chosen at birth to fight, and are immediately separated from their families, and trained by the Valkyrja in the ways of warfare. By the age they are ready to fight, they are already experienced with the sword and skilled riders.
Vanadís
Known as the wardens of fate, the sword of a Vanadís can be just that. Many believe their fighting prowess to be a work of magic. But the answer is a simple mundane one – years of practice on and off the fields of battle. Few human females grow to become heroes, the Vanadís are living exceptions to the rule.
Valkyrja
The Valkyrja have always been steeped in legend, said to be the ones to bring fallen heroes to the halls of the afterlife. This is purely a mistranslation of history, they may be the envoys of death, but not of their own heroes. Away from war many chose to become the consort of a Vårökr, but usually this is to sate their lust as much as their partner’s.
Úlfrsläkt
Description coming soon!
Unit Tree
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Úlfsläkt | Úlfrfang | Vulcan |
| Vulfen | ||
| Månesläkt | Månefang | Vyrkin |
| Fenrisúlfr |
Descriptions
Úlfsläkt
Úlfsläkt are the warriors and fighting by tooth and claw is not just a metaphor for them. They are rarely intelligent, and few can actually speak, but there is little need for them to, all they need to do is kill.
Úlfrfang
Intelligence is rare among the Úlfsläkt, but those few with it make the best of it. The Úlfrfang are those who have begun to, still relying on tooth and claw to attack, but with all the cunning of a human.
Vulcan
A Vulcan is not only the leader of its pack, but a honed fighter. Most have the intelligence of normal humans, and are capable of speech. Honoured as pseudo-clan leaders the Væringjar give them small amounts of metal for use as they wish, the Vulcan have it made into claws, aiding them to piece through armoured troops.
Vulfen
Similar to the Vulcan, the Vulfen are pack leaders, and receive metal from their allies. The Vulfen have this fashioned into light armour by the Væringjar smiths. Though this does hinder their movement slightly, it provides some much-needed defence.
Månesläkt
The Væringjar’s honour does not allow them to use weapons such as bows in battle, even the Gungir’s use of thrown spears is constantly debated. However the Úlfrsläkt have no such disagreement with such weapons. The Væringjar make bows for their allies, and even began training them.
Månefang
The Úlfrsläkt are a very cunning race, and the Vulcan, Vulfen, Vyrkin and Fenrisúlfr whom lead packs only gave their most intelligent to learn the ways of the bow. As such these warrior learnt quickly, and retained the knowledge too. They also learnt that they had a natural ability to use such weapons and started to hit targets even when their trainers missed.
Vyrkin
The Vyrkin are pack leaders, honoured with metal like their fellow leaders the Vyrkin are the only ones who reject the offer, and instead have more arrows forged so they can train more than any other bow-kin of their race. The Vyrkin become as reliable as the mythical Elves with their bows and nearly all of it through sheer hard work.
Fenrirsúlfr
Out of all the pack leaders the Fenrirsúlfr are the most respected. The Væringjar see them as avatars for the God Fenrir. As such they are given far more metal than the other pack leaders, which they have crafted into arrow tips. Though the Vyrkin are more reliable at striking a target, the Fenrirsúlfr can easily cripple a warrior with a well placed arrow, leaving them easily torn by tooth and claw.
Hunting Animals
Unit Tree
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Hrafn | Fimbulhrafn |
Descriptions
Hrafn
The Væringjar often use ravens as hunting animals, trained to track, follow and even harry their quarry.
Fimbulhrafn
Some ravens actually have as much intelligence as the average Úlfrsläkt and, with more than a little ingenuity, can communicate back small details and messages. These ravens are usually bigger and more vicious as well, making them adept scouts.
Special
Abilities
Standard Bearer
Unit: Fana Cultivate
+xx% to resistances of ZoC units (max 50%)
Traits
Dim
Race: Úlfrsläkt
20% More Experience needed to advance. +5% HP. +1 MP.
Vicious
Race: Úlfrsläkt
+1 Damage on melee attacks. 10% More Exp. needed to advance.
Natural
Race: Úlfrsläkt
+1 Damage on all attacks. -5% HP. 10% More Exp. needed to advance.
Mindful
Race: Úlfrsläkt
-5% HP.