0% found this document useful (0 votes)
135 views103 pagesWolves of The Sea
Livro de RPG (Role-Playing Game), da série Wolrd of Darkness
Uploaded by
GlaucioAranhaCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
135 views103 pagesWolves of The Sea
Livro de RPG (Role-Playing Game), da série Wolrd of Darkness
Uploaded by
GlaucioAranhaCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
/ 103
By: Grorrrey C. GRABOWSKI, JASON LANGLOIS AND
RomaN A. RANIERI, WITH Jess HEINIG CrepITS
Writers: Geoffrey C. Grabowski, Jason Langlois and Roman.
A Renn
Addonal Material: Jess Henig
‘Developers: Richard E. Dansky and Jess Heinig
Editor: Aileen E. Miles
‘Art Directors Lawrence Selly
‘Atos Richard Kane Ferguson, Fed Harper, Cline Langley,
Bien LeBlanc, Alex Shean, Ron Spencer
Layout and Typesetting: Allen E. Miles
Cover Art: Richard Kane Fergwon
Front and Back Cover Design: Aileen E. Miles
Playtstng: Jason Cros, lan Dunteman, Chis White
735 PARK NORTH BLYD,
SUITE 128
CunasTON, CA 30021
USA
Game STUDIO
© 1999 White Wolf Publishing, nc. Al rights reserved
Reproduction without the written permission ofthe publisher
'sexpressy forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and
for blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for
personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire the Masquerade,
‘Vampire the Dark Ages, Mage the Ascension and World of|
Darknessare registered trademarks of White Wolf Publishing,
Inc. All rights reserved. Werewolf the Apocalypse, Wraith
the Oblivion, Changeling the Dreaming, Werewolf the Wild
West, Trinity, Wolves ofthe Sea and World of Darkness the
Bygone Bestiary are trademarks of White Wolf Publishing,
Inc. Allrights reserved. All characters, names, places and text
herein are copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing, Inc
The mention of or reference to any company or product
in these pages is nota challenge tothe trademark or copyright
concerned.
‘This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters
and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements ate fic-
tion and intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader
discretion is advised
Check out White Wolf online at
hetp:ifwow.white-wolfcom alt-games.whitewolf and
rec.games.fp.storyteller
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WOLVES OF THE SEA
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Ed “Big Game Hunting” Hall, because he's still Ragin’
Justin “Cardiovascular” Achilli— beware the dread disease!
Phil “Magickally Fucked” Brucato, for getting exactly that
when all the Orphans came home at the wrong time.
Andrew “Derails” Bates, ‘cause that’s where it’s at in the
Battleground.
Aileen “Editor-in-Waiting” Miles, who getsagreatbig THANK
YOU for not biting my head off (yet).
Ken “Uh... where are the vampires?” Cliffe —it’slike being
oma quiz show.
Rich "Backin Myday” Dansky, for reminding us how bloody
long he's been at this job.
Mark "Something Boring is Happening” Cenceyk, for point
ing out the inevitable problems of leelandic litigation. Zzzgh!
Aah!
Ethan “Aquaman” Skemp, who landed the very sogey book.
TanSI" Lemke, the sweet supplierofthacbrand-new monthly
addiction.
Aarnor’s THANK:
Geoffrey Grabowski woud like to thank Rob Barset, Dr
Kathryn Grabousi, and Dr. D.L. Ashliman for their dvect
and indirect conebsions to this text. ENTS
“A Trai. OF FrozeN Bioop”: HAUTALA’s SAGA
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE? VIKING CuLTURE
CuapTer Two: CusToMs AND THE DARK AGES
CyapTer THREE: CHARACTER CREATION
Cuaprer Four: SYSTEMS
CHAPTER Five: TEMPLATES
Appenpix: Noras.& SCANDINAVIAN EINHERJAR BY RomaN A, RANIERI
‘The wind howled with the voice of death.
Gauttala pulled his cloak tighter to his chest as
the lorig ship neared the ice-choked shore. The air
was cold, freesing: but not as frigid as the ir
Fenwe ofzaces fre fet olong, tire brek of tho neck As
a Sivm, he voas constantly avoare of the need to
provchis worth to this band of fierce Vloesernen.
Ceikk the VOolf moved easily across the icy deck
to stand beside his secondirreormmeand. The
chill deepersed. “Ae you sure that this is the right island?” Erik growled,
Hautala flinched. “Yes, Captain. This is the only island
they could have reached before this morning's sunrise.”
Erik pulled open his own cloak and tossed it aside,
showing his disdain for the cold as well as his second-in
command, and ignored the ice that instantly began toform on
his leather vest. He was not known a the Wolf simply fr his
bloodlust in atte, but also for his temper in all other matters
as well
“But are we in time?”
Hautala hesitated, unsure of the response his truthful
answer would provoke. Buchis honor demanded that he speak
the harsh truth at any cost.
“Coptain, | fear that even now itis too late. The eangr
surely have killed your daughter or made her one oftheir own,
T pray that she is dead.”
Erik’s massive hand crushed the ice from the front of
Hiautala’s cloak as he pulled the smaller man toward him.
“Guard your tongue, Hautala els I remove itand feed it
to my dogs. My daughter is alive and well. They took her for
‘ransom. Lam sure of it. Ifthey have harmed her in any way,
not even Odin will find enough of their bodies to feed his
“Calm yourself, Captain. I spoke only to prepare you for
what we might find. Do you not remember what happened to
King Hrothgarsson's daughter
Erik's fingers tightened dangerously neat to Hautala’s
windpipe. “It will not be the same now. Hrothgarsson was a
sweak fool. He waited too long to give chase. We Norsemen
have always been the hunters, never the hunted..
Hrothgarsson forgo that and his daughter paid with her life
for his cowardice.”
Hautala pulled back to lessen the presture on his throat.
Captain, [fought beside you in many battles, and came with
you now prepared to die to save your daughter. Why do you
dishonor me in this fashion?”
Erik's features softened in the waning light ofthe winter's
day. "Yes, Hautala," he said, barely abovea whisper, “youhave
served me well a a warrior and as friend. But your constant
whining for caution enrages me. Warriors cate not for caution,
‘We win our bateles in blood.
“As do the var, Captain.”
Erik stared at the smaller man for a moment before
shoving him aside. Hautala opened his mouth, then thought
better of it. Now was not the time to confront Erik
There was too litle daylight left, and the night, Hautala
feared, would prove to be much to0 long.
‘The western sky was all but consumed in fie when the
bow of the ship seraped against the island's rocky shore.
Hautala signaled, and two men leaped into the icy water and
began pullingthe hull away from the seductive grip ofthe tide
WOLVES OF THE SEA
on.
MS “Ready yourselves, men,” Erikyelled ashe drew his sword
fiom ts sheath, “abouny of gold tothe man whose blade kills
the most vag!”
‘The warriors roared in one voice. “To Odin and to Sime
Evksdeter!”
“Thatshe may tillbe the lvingdaughter of Erk,” Hautala
whispered to himself
“Then let us make quick work ofour vengeance while the
sunlighe sil gleams upon our blades.”
‘The ferocity ofthe men’s war cry filled the approaching
darkness and scattered the few living creatures that called the
island home. But even as he drew his own sword and fell into
seep behind his captain, Hautala knew they were rushing to a
hartle they had litele chance of winning, unless Freyja could
somehow temper The Wolf's own blind, vengeful hunger for
blood.
Themen crested the lowhillofcoarsesand that separated
the shore from the island’ rocky terrain when Erik stopped
them.
“Where!” he asked, turning to his second-in-command.
“Look fora cave," Hautala answered,
they could escape the sun.”
“We search foracave,” Erikbellowed. "Look sharp. but
lee no man enter the cave before me. The fist kill shall be
‘The men surged into the silent heart ofthe island as ifa
trconuresladen vault was in their sights, Bellows and shouts
isthe only place
filled the deepening twilight. The hunt had begun. Soon,
ood, rom the living orfrom the walking dead, would flow as
water. Hautala could only hope that if his own blood was
spilled this night, it would mean his death, and not the far
‘worse fate of an eternal vargr
“Here!”
Ac fiest the call echoed from the rocks, giving no direc-
tion. Then Olaf raised his sword above his head and shouted
‘gun, "Here! Captain. Pve found the cave... and this.”
Haaucala felt his heart shudder within his chest when the
young warrior lifted a woman's shavil into the ai. Te was torn
snd bloodied, bur there was no mistaking the white wool, nor
theblue threads woven along the border ofthe cloth. All the
men had been there when Erik had taken this shawl from the
sacked holdings of an Irish nobleman, proclaiming that ic
would make a fine gift for his daughter, Signe,
Erik screamed in rage and ran toward Olaf.“Show me the
cave!” he bellowed
“No, Captain!” Hautala yelled, “we must have a plan. If
we rush into the darkness, the wang will slaughter us!”
“Enough of your cowardice, Hautala,” Erk raged, the
heat ofhis anger blazing within hiscold, steel gray eyes. "Stay
Irhind if you must, and may your worthless soul go to Hel’
hall for your fear!”
Erik turned roward the caveand screamed a war ery ofhis
family. The crew echoed his shout, then leaped down the
rocky slope behind him.
Hautala hesitated.
Hisheart and mind fought a terrible battle. Hisheart tried
toforce hisbody forward, stung bythe insult his bravery His
‘mind held his body back, certain that a berserk attack would
fail
Suddenly, just as Erk and his men reached the edge ofthe
shadows cast by the larger rocks, «figure appeared inside the
mouth of the cave,
‘The Norsemen stopped: It was Signe Eriksdotter
“Father,” she called, her voice quavering, "do youcome to
strike me down?”
Eriktook single step forward, loweringhisswordslightly.
igne, have they harmed you? Are you well!”
“Yes, father. I am well. Please, put your weapon away.
Come to me. Hold me.”
Erik's jaw deopped in disbelief as he hesitantly came
forward, “But we found your shaw,” he stammered, *the
blood.”
“L stand here before your own eyes, unharmed, Please,
father. I long to be safe within your strong arms. Please
embrace me.”
‘Tears formed in Erik's eyes as his love for his daughter
overcame his warriors instinet. He pointed his sword away
from Signe, but did not return i to its sheath
Signe smiled as her father’s massive arms encircled her in
the treasured hug she remembered from her childhood. His
harsh beard scratched against her soft cheek as she reached up
to remove his helmet.
Almost too fast to see, two sargr rushed out from behind
Signe, grabbing Brik’sarms. Erik bellowed in age and began to
struggle. Signe clenched his beard in her fstsand wrenchedhis
hhead to the side. Long fangs glistened in the dim light as she
lunged at her father’s unprotected neck.
“Nol” screamed Hautala, “Get back into the sunlight!”
‘The Norsemen glanced around, realising suddenly that
the settingsun had moved, thrusting them into the shadow of
the rocks. Before they could regain the light, several wgr
charged at them like a pack of starving wolves. Many brave
warriors were pulled to the groundasthey swungtheir weapons
vainly. Theie screams of fustetion and agony echoed in the
small canyon of tumbled rocks.
Hautala howled mightily, rushing down the rocks toward
the carnage. He came to a skidding stop at the edge of the
shadows. The scenes of horror froze him where he sto. Vangr
feasted atthe throats of struggling Norse warriors. Gleaming
blood spurted from severed jugular veins asthe vampires fed
with languorous motions, sucking up the precious liquid. A lone vargr rose from the dead bodies of defeated:
‘Norsemen and slunk toward Hautala. He stumbled back-
wards, flailing wildly as he fell. The vargr leaped, its
fully-extended fangsglincing like sharp daggers. Hautalaswung,
his sword with all his might, slicing through the neck of the
svarer that was about to land on top of him. The headless body
landed a few feet to Hautala's left, The carcass smoked as the
waning, yer still potent sunlighe seared the rotting flesh,
Hautala scrambled back further away from the deadly
shadows, then got to his feet. He shuddered at the ghastly
ccarmage as the remaining vargr moved away from the drained,
lifeless bodies of the Norsemen. They parted as Signe moved
forward
“Houcala, my father's trusted friend and comrade, comet
me, [have known your face since Lwas but an infant. Kiss my
cheeks again as you did when I was a small child,
"You vile demon!” spat Hautala, "you are not the Si
who played at my feet as a young girl. She is dead!”
"No. Not dead. I am gloriously alive! More alive than J
have ever been before. As a wallurie!”
Haueala eumed, and began to run along the rocks, keep-
ing well clear of the shadows. An image had leaped from his
‘memory, and with it, aplan. He hadseen astunted scrub forest
not far from the pot where he and the Norsemen had beached
their long ship. Ifhe hurried, he could gather dry wood, stand ss
in the sunlight sil shining weakly high on the rocks, set the Pie
wood aflame and hurl it down upon the vampires NY
“The slippery, rock-strewn terrain challenged every stepas Ww (Gr ty
w
Hautala raced against the setting sun. He had tobe careful. A Me
broken ankle oF dislocated knee would leave him neatly
Ihelples as nighe fell. And he knew that with the darkness the
targr would swarm upon him like a flock of ravenous wultutes
He gathered huge a armful of branches and parched shrubs,
desperation allowing him to carey more than he could have
under normal circumstances. Moving as quickly as he dared
Hautala dashed from the dying forest to the rocks above the
cave, then back again, gaining speed with each trip
eye mensured the descend of the sun.
The vampires called up to him, enticing him to come
Jown among the shadows and receive the Embrace into their
clan, but none dared leave the protection of the shadows.
Hautala ignored them with the intensity of a man resolved
upon a single goal. Soon, their entreaties turned to curses as
they guessed his plan,
Finally, Haucala stopped, hoping that he had amassed
enough fuel to turn the vampires hellish eave into acleansing
infemo. The frosty air wheezed into is shivering lungs as he
fumbled in his fur ves forthe pouch that held his flint. His
hands trembled ashe struck the flint into‘ small pile of dried
moss. On the fifth strike, the moss caught fire. Hautala
careflly brought the burning moss to his mound of branches
and shruts. As the wood and leaves ignited, he heaved them
down into the mouth of the cave.
WOLVES OF THI The vampites screeched with rage, and with terror as
rmany of the blasing projectiles found their marks, seting
aflame the dead flesh of che vargr. Vampires in buming agony
‘need into che depths of the cave, unintentionally igniting
even more of cher unliving ranks.
Hautala collapsed in exhaustion after heaving down his
Insbranch. The eave burned brightly ftom withinas wood and
dead bodies fueled the pyre. In the flickering light, he could
derect no movement down below. When he had regained
enough strength, Hautala rose to his feer and headed back to
the waiting long ship. Only a faint glow remained on the
vwester horizon when he eventually xeached the shore. The
darkness ofnight was nearly complete. Hautalatooka few deep
‘breaths, then set is shoulder against the bow of the ship and
shoved with all his remaining strength,
The heavy wooden bull moved not an inch.
Hautala gasped, chen shoved again,
He had to get off this accused island. How deep was that
cave? How many atergangers had survived his fire?
He shoved nd shoved until head nothingleft- His only
hope now was to wait for high tide to lift che hull enough for
him to push it back into the sea
Suedenly, a voice echoed across the baren rocks from a
distance not very far away.
“Hautala!” itcalled
Te was the voice of Erk
“L was wrong to think you a coward, You are the bravest,
cleverest warrior have ever known. Come, Join with me once
again, old friend.” Geeetings to the host,
CDhe guest has arrived,
an vohich seat shall he sit?
Rash is he voho at urknioven do00rs
Relies ort his good luck
- The Bee carreel There was a land north of old Europe, a land of frozen
winters and endless howling nights. A land where onee men
ofiron, free men, strongand proud, would take to the seawhen
the ice had leftche fords. They sailed south, totake riches from
the churches ofthe weak Christ-god and the coffers offat, dull
lords. Those who faltered went down to Hels hall, but those
‘who found success won both richesand fame everlasting, as all
of Europe leamed to speak the word “Northman” with feat:
trembling lips
Now the golden days re gone. The Christ-god has swept
away the worship of real men’s gods and made the people fat
and lazy. The old songs have been forgotten, and the blood of
heroes is wasted on these piss-ant dwarves who brag them:
selves Nordmanni. But in the shadows and che wilderness,
theireyes gleaming redfire from che ice-choked Scandinavian
night, the teal heroes are waiting.
And the heroes of old have not forgotten.
‘WHAT IS THIS BOOK?
Wolves of the Sea details Scandinavian culture during
the golden age of Viking, berween 850 and 1050 AD. This
book also details the eargr, the Einherjar holdouts from the
days of legend. From their sea-tossed ships and from halls
hhidden deep in the wildemess, the slain warriors who rise
through the grace of Odin's blood carry on the Old Ways in
and the Church of the Cheist-god.
Wichin these pages, the Storyteller and player alike will
find aguide tothe life and culture of he Scandinavian people
from the fall of the Western Roman Empire until the era of
Dark Ages: A culture of wolves whose lust for pride, for
freedom, and forrapaciousindependence wouldnot be equaled
in the West until the American pioneers.
‘The Vikings came out of the frozen landsof the North, in
Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Scandinavia, seeking wealth
and conflict. Theirs was a society of rugged and enduring men
and women who revered bloody-handed gods and valued
courage and action above all other virtues. For two hundred
years, they traded and pillaged across the coasts of England,
Spainand other Buropean countries, demanded tribute, sacked
‘owns and monasteries, and yet also engaged in setclementand
‘commerce. Like giants they strode across history, their ax-
wielding berserks and canny explorers performing feats
bravery and prowess.
By the time of Dark Ages, the Scandinavians have
settled down or been beaten back from the landssouth oftheir
hhomes, and the spread of Christianity is slowly assimil
theirculture. The old days of terrible gods and ailing
are gone; now, merchants, farmers and even priests make up
the bulk of the populace. A few still eemember the old ways,
buttheyareadying breed, pushed out by the inexorable spread
of Christ's word.
WOLVES OF THE SEA ‘Ofcourse, amonyga people so fierce and proud, there are
bound to bea few who refuse co lay down their arms, whose
prisons burn. so brightly chat thei fires eanmot be extin-
fuithed. Among these hearty few are the erue wolves ofthe
North, and they draw the atention of those who would
preserve heirtalents and gifts foreterity. Embraced for their
outage, their kill at survival and their uneelenting ferocey,
the inheriar of Scandinavia preserve the old ways, surtound-
ing themselves with wartiors who refuse to bow before the
vance of Christendom. Infest-covered woods and isolated
isles they make theirhomes, some even continue totravel the
sealanesas unholy
above the glacial North, the brood of On ridesthe waves in
dks, hunting for glory, gold and blood.
‘Chapter L: Viking Culture cakes look at pre-Christian
Scandinavian culture, and Scandinavian culture in general
‘Whatdidthe Norse feel and chink, how didtheirsociety work,
soul how did they live when they weren't engaged in pillage
snd apne abroad?
Chapter 2: Customs and the Modern Era details the
customs and practices ofthe vargrof the modern high Noth,
with their strange democracy and thei fierce loyaey to tele
antigu religion.
‘Chapter 3: Character Creation covers making
dinavian character, be ica raider fom the goldenage of Viking
+9 an anachonisticvarg to a modern Scandinavian gentle
snan, trading his wares in che mavkerplaces of a reviving
western Europe
‘Chapter 4 Systems helps Sorytellers with the mechant-
cal jstens for modeling the feats ofthe Norse and the vargr
of faner-day Scandinavia.
sors, When the sun sets forall of winter
‘Chapter 5: Templates showscases some beginning-level
vwogr characters for contemporary Dark Ages games which
can help evoke a feel for the Norse setting. They can be used
as new player characters in a Dark Ages game, or a allies or
antagonists in an existing chronik
Appendix: Notable Scandinavian Binherjar details che
exploits of famous einherjar of the North throughout the ages.
The most modem of scourges and the most ancient of heroes
are detailed,
Gute TO PRONUNCIATION
Old Norse and Old Icelandic use some characters which
are likely to be unfamiliar to speakers of the modern English
language.
Dorp — Thorn, Pronounced like the TH in ‘thorn.
Dor d—Edh, Pronounced like the TH in ‘breathe’,
A or 8 — Ash, Pronounced like the ‘A’ in ‘ash’.
Lexicon
Afterganger — A common Scandinavian term for a
vampire
Althing — The leclandic national assembly, which met
each year tomake importantdecisionseoneeming the lelan-
dic people, since they had no kings or ars
Drakkar—A longshipsmaller than a knorr, usually used
for Viking and piracy
Einherjar — In Norse myth, the spirits of dhe slain
warriors in Valhal, who will fight at Ragnarok. Amon,
dinavian vampires, some warriors style themselves inher.
Einvig — Unlimited personal combat. A duel to the
death with no restrictions
Godi — The closest Icelandic equivalent to ajar Gods
hha certain rights and responsibilities in the Icelandic demo-
cratic process, and acted as patrons to smallholders, bur were
‘not nobles as we would understand them.
Hit — The boon-companions of lord. They eat at his
table, sleep in his bal, take his gifts of weapons, armor and
‘wealth, and derive their postions from him. So long ashe can
feast them and gift them, they must stand beside him ro the
death, both on and off the field of bate.
Holmgang — A highly stylized ricual chat can be
scribed as eitheraduel or tial by combat, ependingon your
point of view. Combatants exchange sword or ax blows until
one is unable to continue.
Huskarl — A member of the hird, a warrior who makes
the bargain of mead and glory for loyal service to lon.
Jarl — A noble of unspecified holdings, usually herween
those of landed knight and a baron or eal. Unlike ahuskarl,
«ajar does not derive his position from his lord, but from his
Ireeditary holdings. While there were formal differences, the
mark ofa jarl was the ability to keep a ball and men, and the
line between jor! and frecholder was often blurry.
Knore—A longship largerthan adralar, usually used for
trade.
Outlaw — Beyond the law. A punishment for certain
serious crimes. An outlaw has no right to wergild if slain, and
his killer need not announce the deed.
Soul-Bite — To drain another's spit essence, the term
for Diablerie among the vampires of Scandinavia,
‘Thegn — The lesser partner in the Norse equivalent of a
feudal contract. A king's jars are his thegns. Among vampires,
a che is one who labors under the Blood Oath.
Thing — The local assembly of a district. Democratic or
semi-democrati, the ding manages affairs of justice and vari
‘ous other issues of local interest
‘Vange — Norse for “wolf.” Used to refer to outlaws,
bandits and members of Clan Gangeel, as well as more mun
dane wolves,
t0 Vike — To vike, orto go Viking, isa verb describing
the activity of traveling abroad, usualy by ship, to grow rich
and gain glory by sack and pillage
INTRODUCTION ‘Viking —One who vikes. A generic denizen of the High
North who does not engage in acts of henditry and rapine is
"Norse or Scandinavian. Everyone outside of academia ignores
this, however, and so the book uses Viking in both its techni
cal sense and in the generic sense of being an alternative to
Noms or Scandinavian,
RECOMMENDED READING?
A great deal has been written about the Viking age,
ranging from contemporary accounts of their depredations to
modern guides purporting toreveal to thecredulousreaderthe
sectets of Scandinavian sex magic. Because this book cannot
hope to cover its topic in 2 more than glossary fashion, the
following list of books is suggested for those Storytellers who
‘want to gain a more complete understanding of Norse culture
Fiction
Hrolf Kraki’s Saga. Poul Anderson. Baen Books, 1988.
ISBN 0-671-65426-8,
A transliteration ofthe saga ofthe Danish national hero
King Hrolf. Anderson makes the saga accessible for a reader
who has only passing familiarity with Norse culture of the
period
Rheingold. Stephen Grundy. Bantam Spectra, 1995.
ISBN 0-553-56945-7
‘A transliteration and combination of the Volsungasaga
and the Nibehungenticd, combining the better parts of both
narratives, Lengthy, bu easier fora modern reader to compre-
hhend when compared to the originals.
Northworld, David Drake. Ace, 1990. ISBN 0-441-84830.3
Northworld 2: Vengeance. David Drake. Ace, 1991
ISBN 0-441-58615-5
Northworld 3: Justice. David Drake. Ace, 1992.
‘An SF adaptation of various Norse myths and sagas.
Don't laugh — the books are extremely accessible compared
to the traditional versions of the stories, and worth some
attention simply for the adaptation into the Sci-Fi geare.
LITERATURE
‘The Prose Edda. Snorti Sturluson. trans. Jean I. Young.
University of California Press, 1954. ISBN 0-520.01232-1
Written by Snorei Sturluson for reasons which are the
subject of intense academic debate, the Snorri Edda isa guide
to Norse myth and the composition of saga literature in
written form. Snorr's text succeeded far beyond his expecta-
tions. Snorti single-handedly founded (and nearly
single-handedly wrote) a genre of Icelandic literature that
preserved for posterity many of the stories and legends that
were dying out with Christian influence and the passing of
time. The text of the Prose Edda can be challenging, but the
degree to which it is central to our understanding of Scandi-
navian mythology cannot be overstated. In many cases, the
Snort Edda isthe sole source of information about Norse
cosmology and religious myth,
WOLVES OF THE SEA
Beowulf Penguin Classics, 1973. ISBN 0-14-044268-5
Heavily Christianized, and not strietly a Norse sag,
Beowulfisrelatively accesible and widely available, Ifyou are
reluctant to read saga literature, Beowul’s popularity as an
academic text means a great number of highly readable ei
tions are available
Volsungasaga. trans. Jesse L. Byock. University of C
fornia Pres, 1990. ISBN 0-540-06904-8
The classic Norse saga ofthe Rheingold and the doom it
broughtto those who ownedit. Anexcellentteadand a perfect
introduction to the Norse tradition of heroic narrative.
Volsungasaga and the later Nibelungenlied formed the coe of
Wagner's Ring Cyle operas
Nibelungenlied trans. Margaret Armour. Heritage Press
1991.
A later, German version ofthe Volsungasaga. Composed
in the Medieval heroic tradition ather than the Nore style,
the Nibelungentied is closer to the Song of Roland or the
Arthurian narratives than tothe sagas from which i springs.
‘The body count would make Chow Yun-Fat blink and the
story is less coherent than that of Volangasaga. On the othet
hand, i has the strength of well-developed characters like
Hagen and Fokker the Gleeman.
Brennu Njalssaga
Often translated into English as The Sag of Burt Njal or
Njal's Saga. Usually considered the mos literary ofthe sagas.
itis defintely a fine look at the complex legal system of the
Icelandic anarchy. The complex narrative essentially culm
nates in Nial’s voluneary mareycom to stop a feu. This is
roughly like saying cha dhe King Arthur cyle isabout aman
‘whose wife has an affair with his bestfriend, Well worth
reading, especially to give a feel fr Ielandic litigation,
LaxdBlasaga.
Exilssaga
ther well-recommended sagas. LaxdElasaya is available
online, and in translation by Penguin and no doubt from
several other academic publishers. Egilsaga, also available
from Penguin, is available online only in Old Icelandic.
REFERENCE,
There isa great deal of reference material written on the
Vikings, detailing everything from their ability to sail across
the North Atlantic to their daily lie, Unfortunately, the
Scandinavians began to record thir history vey lat, and 0
while we havea grat deal of cultural material, we have very
litte hiseorial fact.
‘A History of the Vikings. Gwyn Jones. Oxford University
Press, 1968. ISBN 0-19-285139-X
Jones’ work provides fine, relatively accesible overview
of dhe topic. This text was the basic reference in common
between the writers on this project. Everyday Life in the Viking Age. Jaqueline Simpson,
GT, Putnam's Sons, 1967
‘Aimed towards a youth audience, this book has plenty of
information on everything from the games Vikings played to
the daily routine of theie lives. A great resource for anyone
tuying to get a sense of the Vikings.
Norse Gods and Giants. Inge and Edgar Darin d’Aulaine
Doubleday, 1967. ISBN 0-385-04908-0
“Assnoptie work intended fora young audience, with lots
of beautiful and colorful illustrations, d’Aulaire's work is a
summary of the Norse myths for a casual reader.
‘Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas and Power. Jesse L.
Byock. University of California Press, 1988. ISBN 0-520-
05420-2
Abhighly academie work detailing che intricate structure
of obligation and advocacy that was the Icelandic Free State
Almost certainly not available without special order, this book
makes a superlative reference for Storytellers with a firm
‘grounding in the sagas and Scandinavian culture, who want to
seta game in Iceland. This book focuses a great deal on detail
and Icelandic legal structure
‘The Penguin Atlas of Medieval History. Colin McEvedy
Penguin Books, 1961.
The text is centered on Western Europe (so there is little
writing about Vikings), but the maps are an invaluable guide
to the ebb and flow of kingdoms and culture across the
Medieval world. A must for any Dark Ages Storyteller.
INTERNET RESOURC
Forevery specialized hobby, there fsatleastone homepage
{and quite possibly more). Norse studies is no exception.
Below are a few pages worthy of note, mst of which have
extensive Links sections,
‘The Heevamal.
bheep:fasatru.orgfhavannal.hem!
hhttp:/members.aol.com/nkpage/nikweb. hem
highone.ftml
hntpiffhome.c2i.net/espenjofhomejeddafha al_e-htm
The Sayings of the High One.” The Haevamcel is a
collection of sayings credited to Odin, and apart of the larger
Elder Edda Profoundly reflective of Norse culture and atti-
tudes, aswell as containinga greatdealofcommonsense worth
reading in the present day. This one text is « must-read
players ot Storytellers who wish to play characters in ot
influenced by Viking-era Scandinavia. While the three ver
sions ate not identical, they are similar — the multiple
pointers were included to allow for web rot
‘The Norse Classics Page. hhtp:/members.ao}.com/
nkpage/nikweb-hean/norse-hem
A large collection. Contains the Elder and Snorti Eddas,
Nibelngenled, Volsungasaga, and several Beowulf. Also links
to Saxo Grammaticus’ History of Denmark and Tacitus’
Germania
INTRODUCTION DL. Ashliman’s Folktales. hp:)jrww pitt.edu/~dash)
folktexts html
‘A collection of academic translations of folktales fom
around the world, with a very strong emphasis on Germany
and Scandinavia. This site contains multiple translations,
including some hard-to-find material
University of Kansas translations FIP site. fips/
ukanaix.ce.ukans.edu/pubjhistory/Europe/Medieval/teansla-
tions!
‘Most of the major tales of the European hetoie corpus are
presenton thisFTPsite, from the LaxdBlasaga and Erybygiasage
to El Cid. A must for any Dark Ages player or Storyteller
interested in European heroic legend,
Fween England and Scotland, on June 8.
iF place and kill the monks, beginning the
y raiders sack the monastery atfona fora third
Hitering 68 monks; the survivors finally lee the
-omes an all-too-farmiliar pattern.
settlement is established in Duibliggs
'# 850: Norsemen setele in England, atcempting toc:
and colonize London, Rochester, Canterbury and.
chester.
‘© 852: Vikings sack St-Wandrille de Fontenelle a
# 853: The brothers Olaf and Ivar establish Dublin
bank of the Liffey in Ireland,
# 858: Vikings sack St.- Wandrille de Fontenelle y
‘This time, the monks flee with their relics, un
suffer the constant attacks.
‘859: Hasteinn and Bjom lead 62 ships from France
through Spain, the Iberian coast, along North Africa, and.
into taly. After sacking half a dozen cities, the ships make
their way home to France in 862. Two-thirds ofthe fleet
is lost, but Hasteinn and Bjorn return home fabulously
wealthy and famous.
870: King Edmund of East Anglia iscaprured by Vikings.
Refusing to renounce his faith, hei tied toatree and shot
to death with arrows.
*# 874: The brothers Ingolfand Leif, based on reports from
other sailors blown off course, setout for Iceland and begin
colonization.
AA Vixine Era Timex:
#876: Members of the Lasombra clan sein motion a plan ¢0
(Chrisianize the Vikings in order to mitigate their threat ro
Europe, TThis later leads to the formation of the Varangian
Guard, asthe Vikings become mercenaries forthe Christian
+ 885: Danes offer to leave Paris unharmed in exchange for
passage up the Seine, The French refuse, and the Danes
attack Paris.
‘= 890: Concernedby the spread of Viking savagery the Ventrue
of England apply cher nfluence wo strengthen the local itary
for defense
* 892: King Alfred the Great, of Wessex, builds.a series of
lefenses throughout Europe. Fortsand organizedmilitiaare
sed to ward off the Vikings.
396, King Altfed designs a new flet of ships and, for the
regularly defeats the Norse in sea combat.
ast convocation of Ventruedecidesto undermine the
Vikings by assimilating them. Vikings are offered the epporeu-
tity to take postions of power and responsibly, contingent
‘upon their defense ofthe established order
910: King Edward, son of Alfred the Great, kills the
Danish ing Halfan and brings a halo Viking powerin
England
central government
#937: Vikings in B
invade England,
jon in Vertrue court assuresiisien-
gg and Etheed, ir wo thd Bglsh
assumes kingship of
ter later ended by the Vikings. | #991: Olaf Tryggvason strikes England, and eagracts @
ddanegeld (ransom) from Ethelred, totaling 16800 pounds
of silver.
‘© 994: Olaf Trygavason and Svein Forkbeard
danegeld of 12,000 pounds af silver from Ethelreds
+996; Olaf Tryggvason iselected Kingof Norland See
about converting the populace to Christianity
+ 1002: The Danes gather 18,000 pounds of silteRin
anegeld from England.
+1005: Saling west with directions from thmichen
Bjami, Leif Eriksson (a Christianized Vikingjgadlson of
rik the Red) arrives in Vinland — the Aerie over
fourhundred years before Columbus. :
+ 1007: Danegeld in England reaches 27,000 . of
silver.
10185 in Forkbeard attacks England; Ethelred flees
nd ‘Swein and his son Knut capture England, Svein falls
rse and dies shortly thereafter, but his son
1» 1014: Sigtyrez Silkbeard attacks Ireland at Clontarf,
Dublin, but loses badly.
3, son of Svein Forkbear,isacknovledged as
and
ute the Great sends his Vikings home. By this
e to kingship spells the end of much of the old
dei ways of the Vikings, and their culture is sub-
“ae. Christianized malitary structure of Europe
‘The \fg era ends Srom the east came ships all eager for battle,
VOith grim gapirig beads carved ist gold,
NP Dhe bat tle began, the berserkers hovoling,
» "YWotl-coats! and voildty casting theic spears.
- Accounted by Snorer Sturtuson Living in an almose perpetually fozen land with limited
food and! metal, the Norse mustely on thei own resourceful-
ness and unflinching courage to survive. Naturally, with theit
longships and fierce independence, they quickly took to
raiding ouside culturesforsustenance and wealth. Yereven in
their hoary homes, they survive by farming and herding,
spreading to colonize other lands as opportunities present
themselves. Where their wandedlust inteesects with other
cultures, they engage in trade; when the encroachment of
Europe spreads inco their eriories, they extract bute, For
over two hundred years they dominate the sea lanes and inoxt
of the lands of the far north,
‘The Viking warrior is engraved in the minds of men.
everywhere asa fierce sailor with ax, shield and mail amor
Quick to anger and prising action over contemplation, they
epitomize the terrifying fighters and raiders that sweep across
Europe and the oceans. Yer, even with ther brtal ways and
bloody wars, chey evolve a powerully independent and riu-
alistic culture. The towns of Scandinavia develop a system of
obligation and responsibility that hints at the democratic
process. The legal sytem of [celand flourishes and the blood:
feud turns intoa means of setling disputes instead of simple
tool for revenge. Skalds compose stores thatesound through-
our the ages with the myths and legends ofa stalwart, proud
people. This dichotomy of honor and bloody handed warfare
meets to define che Vikings as a complex. and compelling
people. Naturally, he vampires among them are just as vi
cious, deadly and imposing
SCANDINAVIAN
CIVILIZATION
The root of any culture lies in the way that its people
gather their daily bread. Scandinavia isno exception. A harsh
land with short, mild summers and long, dark and beutal
winters, the climate and geography of the High North
‘way of life chat made the Norse a grim people,
land. In the Age of Migrations, it drove the Ger
south, to push against the Roman empire in an attempt (often
successful) to gain new lands. In the Viking age, conditions
once again sent young men against the shores of Europe in
search of wealth from pillage and rade, newlands tosettle, and
above all che undying fame of glorious deeds. By the time of
Dark Ages, such incursions have trickled off, bucthe vampires
host rememberand practice the old wayscontinue torevel
in the glory of past deeds. AGRICULTURE
AND GEOGRAPHY
‘The main source of food for Scandinavia is agriculture,
and « pot subsistence it is in the medieval era. The crop
rotation system and wet climate make grain dificult to cui
vate, and winters are in many cases so severe that in the spring
the farmer must carry his livestock in hisarms from his cottage
out to the pasturage.
‘Notonly are the weatherconditions harsh in Scandinavia,
but arable land is scarce as well. In Norway and Iceland
‘especialy, arable land is a precious commodity, passed down
through a family and protected by law and tradition against tax
and confiscation. With so little surplus wealth to be had at
home, the Norse are driven to trade or raid abroad ifthey wish,
ry necessities
sflife. Likewise, the rugged character of the land prevents easy
conquest by aspiring local empire builders, and makes the
seurdy individualism and the community-oriented democracy
an justice that characterizes Viking-era Scandinavia requi-
site for survival rather than a freedom to be aspired to. The
Norse do, however, recognize what a priceless asset thei
libery is and are extremely contemptuous, like most nomads
tosecute personal wealth, orn some cases the:
from marginal regions, of what they see asthe soft and slavish
life of the more organized civilizations to the south.
Finally, while the geography and politics of Scandinavia
make quiver full of offspring (especially sons) desirable, they
also encourage sending second, third, fifth and further sons out
into the world to seck their fortune elsewhere after reaching
adulthood. Thus are born a great mass of men who seek forcune
and glory undying under the banner of some great or famous
lord or hero. It is these second offspring, as well as outlaws,
politcal refugees and other outcasts who crew vessels and
‘expeditions headed south and east, bound for plunder and
trade oF seeking new lands to settle.
For einherar, the sertlements of the north are dangerous
‘but thrilling places. A vampire must be clever and strong to
survive, just like the people upon whom she feeds. Hunting is
difficult because of the lengthy summer days, the stubborn
independence ofthe people and the small size of communities.
Conversely, the Scandinavians highly respect strength and
power; in a small agrarian community, 2 vampire has the
‘opportunity to use her powers to establish a small fiefdom,
demanding blood-sacrifce from the farmers in exchange for
protection, and hallowed trad
cases, the child is
ately after birth and hed
should be left out on
som the spot if the child
for the dogs or not.
pi mind just how
petiod, There iff
dlsabled in a soci
the congenitally
rgin of survival is
Church. censure ag
notional conver
be for us
From the rai in Lindisfarne in 793 until the end of the
Viking age in 1070, all of Europe ftom Spain to Pars lives in
fearofthe Vikingflees Alone andinfleerstumberingaslittle
astwo to as many as 50, the ships ofthese reavers wreak to
centuries of terror and bloodshed on the European landscape.
Those places char are strongly held, they aid; those placesthat
ae divided, like teland and Britain, are invaded an settled
Viking raids are noc a matter of nacional policy, rather
they are private ventures. Individuals attach themselves to a
prestigious leader in search of riches and fame, The leaders
then head south when the weather permits, oing as farsouth
as they dare and plundering hundreds of miles up the great
rivers of Europe
These raids for swag and glory ean be epic, in their own
squalid way, [n 844, fleet of 150 ships plundets as far up the
Garonnesiveras Toulouse, posibly aspartofacivil war taking
place at that time in France. The fleet then sails south and,
after much skirmishing and pillage, sails up the Guadalquivie
tosack Seville, though the Vikings end up besieged and are
Icky to slip the noose of Abs al-Rhaman II's troops.
Bio Ironside, who seems to have operated from the isle
of Oscellus, plunders the Seine in 856-7 and is besieged by
Charles the Bald, though the siege is lifted by the teachery of
Charles! nobles. Besieged again by another Viking named
‘Weland operating at Charles’ request, Bim and his men are
forced to flee, leaving Weland 11,000 pounds of silver richer
both from Charles’ danegeld and Bjden's ransom. Bjorn then
embarks ona four-year odyssey ofrapine that takes his 62 ship
flotilla to Spain, North Aftica and lealy. The Vikings fail 0
WOLVES OF THE SEA
take Seville butdo manage tosack Algeciras, Narbonne, Pisa,
Luna, Pamplona and most of the coastline between Norway
and the hatbor of Egyptian Alexandria
Thelife ofthe Vikingisn'tal plunder and glory, however.
Vikings who arrive in numbers t90 small to panic the local
rltia run the risk of simply being rounded up like criminals
and hung out of hand. For every man who goes a-Viking and
comes home rich, there is another (oF two, o five) who dies
without glory ona farmer's spear or the gallows, or who drowns
ina capsized ship. OF Bjém Ironsides’ 62 ships of raiders, only
20 return, their crews thinned considerably, Of course, those
who come back live ae so unfathomably rch they often have
problems conceiving of how to spend it. The risk must seem
worth it to many the third son ofa fisherman-farmer whose
onlyalternativeisalieof workingasahired man, ifheislucky
ora bondsman ifhis luck runs sour.
FARDENT CAPITALISM
Sooner or late, the Scandinavians go everywhere. Some-
times they go there to steal everything small enough to carry
and burn the cuins, and other times they go to sell goods to
anyone who stands stil lng enough for them to make their
pitch, Noronly are they the most rapacious raiders in Europe,
the Norse are its mest ardent capitalists. Equaled only by the
Arabs (who are some of their most regular trading partners)
the Scandinavian peoples are merchants extraondinare.
Whether they are selling the wool and cheese
or previously owned valuables from the city afew days sil up
‘the coast, the Scandinavian merchants are eager and willing
to travel to make deals happen. tn the Viking age, the tade
routes of the Norse stretch by sea from North America 00
Spain. To the east, they stretch across the Baltic and down the
sreatrivers of Rusia to the Black Sea. And those are only the
regular routes; the daring trade farther abrond than. that:
Vinland, Greenland, leeland, Byzantium, Persia, the Maghreb,
France, Iberia, Ireland, England, The lstincludesevery nation
in Europe and the Middle East witha coastline or navigable
‘The Vikings travel and trade and sack across a great deal
of the known world, to the point of discovering a few new
places in their search for wealth, During the period of theit
ascendancy, the Scandinavians are substantially closer «0
having an actual cash economy than anyone else north of
Constantinople or Spain. Cash is a regular medium of e
change in the High North, and even a cotter is likely to use
coinage as well as kind in is purchases. The degree to which
cash economies are ingrained into Norse culture is demon
strated by the leelanders, who maintain an economy based on
legal ounces of silver on an iskand practically bereft of actual
coinage (though other goodsand jewels are sometimes used for
trade)
The importance of capitalism to the Norse is hard to
overstate Perhaps because of their individualistic outlook or
the highly marginal nacure the Scandinavian region under
indinavia wsharlis ound to his
table and sword that
AND THE QuEsT FOR GLORY
Mead is sweet, but biter when paid for
—Norse aphorism,
Hand in hand with Norse individualism and capitalism
gothe cule of personal magnetism and the quest for immortal
ity through fame and glory
Powerful influence is held by those who promise riches
and renown to their followers. Indeed, Norse culture centers
on deeds and actions, and those who act with surety draw the
tdmitation of their fellows through tales and sagas. Most
Viking raids are led by one or two very charismatic men who
attract followers to themselves through force of personality
and the promise of celebrity and swag,
The men who follow these leaders and form the coteries
of petty kings and heroes throughout history are of two types
The frst ate the simple followers, who work with a leader of
their own free will in exchange fora shate of the proceeds.
These follow 3s the fortunes ofa leaderrise and
fall, no one man any more or less loyal than another.
closest followers, however, are different
sand, they have thrown their lot in
In return for heir loyalty throughout their
lives, the hird receive special consideration. Ifthe leader isa
Viking or other reaver
the leader isa petty king, then the!
well as ale, and their loed gifts
-oats of fine mail, weapons; food
Jer can fulfil his side of the
elory and riches, the hirdate pledged
his men in all things, and die with him Because a postion inthe hird isso rewarding ifthe leader
is successful, there are always plenty of young men eager for
¢lory and riches willing to cas chei lot in with a would-be
hero. Thisis the origin ofthe armies that second and third sons
‘competing for a succession seem to be able to conjure from
nowhere. Each such warband is full of men eager to win the
property and privilege of a huskarl. This bargain, mead and
riches for loyalty and service, leads many young men to lonely
deaths under foreign skies. Bue the rewards for those who
succeed are more than enough of a lure to keep youths
dreaming of fame and riches despite all odds,
Binherjar who keep halls no doube find the bargain of the
shoul, of boundless strength and ageless youth, easy ro incor-
porate into the rituals of the hird. Whether the vampires
inform theirmortal minionsoftheirconditionsornot,the cult
of personal loyalty is tailor-made for the brood of Odin.
Manipulative Ventrue and Lasombra ate likely to indulge in
bands of followers conditioned withthe Blood Oath, buteven
Gangrel warriors who take up the postion offard ean be found
with ghoulish warbands. Primarily, the fact that the exchange
of service and loyalty for generous gifts is a central part of
Norse culture helps the whole process of creating ghouls seem
much more natural, Hird members may be openly promised
the Blood as part of the contract between the lord and his
vwarband. Altemately, it ay be putin their mead under some
false pretense during the ceremonies celebrating theit joining
thewarhand, asparcofsome three-night ritual ofloyaley. Thus
do the ritual’ effects on the warrior add to and reinforce the
Blood Oath.
The quest for the immortality of fame iss important to
the Vikingsasthe questforwealthandpower.Like the ancient
Greeks, the Norse know well the temporality of life. Their
‘marginal existence leaves them no illusions about their own
mortality. andthe Norse view ofthe underworldgivesthem no
hope for a better life after death. Thus they like the ancient
Greeks, seek the immorality of legend. The Heevamsl, the
wisdom-sayings of Odin, says “Cattle die, kindred die, every
man is mortal: But I know one thing that never dies, he glory
of the great deed.” To die, even as a rich man, is to become
nothing more than clay, o¢ to go to Hel's hall and drink only
dlust from empty cups. To die in a great endeavor isto gain
itamortality through the memory of one's deed. The brave
hope to live forever in saga, and to fare to Valhal to join the
einkerja after death, to fight beside the ABsiragainst the runs
ind the fire-demons on the day of Ragnarck.
‘The almost atheistic approach towards death makes the
Nore much more accepting of the einherjar condition than
the Christians of Europe, While the afiergangersare often seen
as unnatural and more than mildly repulsive, those who
choose their state asa way to survive through the course of
centuries are not considered unholy. They may be thought of
as dangerous, bestial, vain and cowardly in the face of death
and old age, but einherja lords are still abe to live openly and
WOLY
FeMaLe LeAbeRs IN SCANDINAVIA
While the lot of Scandinavian women is often
painted as a grim one, there are precious few, male ot
female, whose lot in the High North during the Viking
period is not grim. Norse culture certainly offers far
more opportunity to highbom women than any Euro-
pean. or Mediterranean culture. Not just limited to
merely being the power behind the throne, women
openly hold power all over Scandinavia during the
Viking age, primaily because of the cule of personal
‘magnetism. While women rarely fare onto the battle-
field or go a-Viking, wisdom is considered at least as
and subjugating the Daneg im England,
it for the Anglo-Saxon peoples. Ar the
gah in June of 918, Ethel! and her
Prepared to strike at the hare of the
‘These two notables are only a few of the docens of
‘women who hold thrones in the Scandinavian region.
during the Viking Age. Despite Norse lawsprohibising
‘women from speaking outatshngs orholding lands, the
practicality of the Norse supports strong women. Any
woman able to gather a group of freemen or wealthy
‘enough to control several dozen farms is certainly too
powerful to be challenged by the fine points ofthe law
Only with the coming of Christianity and the
feudalization of the petty kingdoms of Scendinavia
does a woman's ability to hold power decline. Even s0,
the region is more accepting of strong females than
Continental Europe.
to send someone to the marketplace without the servant
getting stoned. Respecting strength and charisma, the Norse
are far more likely to consider the vampiric condition a
blessing — eternal vigor, incredible powers and the ability to
heal rapidly — rather than a curse. Norsk Po.itics
AND SOCIETY
Until che end of the Viking Bra, when the Scandinavian
region becomes feudalized, che politics of Scandinavia are the
polities of petty kingdoms and apiculeural communities From
Denmark to northem Norway, history progresses for over a
thousand years as pety king succeeding petty king, Each lord
fights his wars, conquersoris conquered by hisneighbors. When
kingdom is weak, i dissolves in civil war, ucession crises, oF
from the predation of its neighbors. Large scale unification
sated somewhat before Cristinization, first in Denmark,
then in Norway under Hata Hardradi. Arguably, the unfica-
tion of Norway (which disintegrated again after Harald’ het,
Bink Bloodaxe, proved unable to hold the kingslom together)
wasjustapasingphenomenan,similartoKing Hrol?s legendary
work unifying Denmark, However, oncedone,itwouldactract
imitatorsandhopefls andthe unification of Norway asasingle
kingdom eventually became a reality
Tue “District”
1e basis of Scandinavian politics is the district, similar
to a European county or set of several small holdings
While the name applied to this region varies from location to
location, its size and general purpose remain constant. At the
center ofeach isagathering place that servesasa marketplace,
‘ameeting place forthe local thing and no doubt asa muster for
‘whatever passes asthe militia during times of strife.
The foundation of Scandinavian society sits smallholders,
fiercely independent householders who are usually farmets,
fishermen of a combination of both. Because the smallholders
are fe and unbeholden men, a rough democracy isthe general
rule. Disputes and crimes ae put before a local asembly, usualy
under the watchful eye of one ofthe king’s husks to assure fir
playandanoutcomeacceptableto the powersthatbe.Inlcel
wich ts extremely chaotic colonial setlements, there areno}
and cases are instead appealed co the local thing or (if they are
thought very important) broughtbefore the four" Quarter Courts”
‘of the Alling. Fairplay in Iceland is a matter of wealth and
reputation —aman must have the help ofa respected local who
can make sure that the thing or Athi’ verdicts are upheld
Social einkerar no doubt have some difficulty unles they
live as full Aledged petry kings. Householders are expected to
show up at the thing, not osend one of theirhired men, While
1 vampire may be able to convince the local thing to meet at
night (Presence ishelpfullon such occasions), heisquite likely
to operate ata major disadvantage in the tangle of under and
over the table deals and rapidly-shifting alliances chat com-
prise Scandinavian local polities, simply because ofhis inability to involve himself in the deals taking place during che day
outside of the thing.
THRALLS
Like all pre-modemn agriculture, Scandinavian agricul-
ture is based in parton forced labor. While Scandinavia uses
Jess enforced labor than continental Europe, slavery is still
commonly practiced in the Norse world. Slavery dies out
uickly in Iceland due to local conditions; with large amounts
of arable land and the lack of central ans and lords, men are
free to farm and live as they please. Slavery in Scandinavia
ends with the introduction of Christianity, though many,
thrall and freeman alike, are reduced to peasantry instead, 0
this may not be as much of a net gai as it seems.
‘The thrals in Norse society have grim lives ahead of them,
‘Theyare property, andcan be boughtor sold. Ifkilled, they have
no bloodprice, though their owners are entitled to compensa-
tion. They may marry, but their children are born thrall.
“Manumission —freeing of slaves, or the purchase of freedom —
ispermitted, btthere snolegally fixed price offreedom (though
nodoubs there were local conventions). Thrall are aso used for
the occasional human sacifces demanded by the Norse reli-
ion, and to feed the appetites of ravenous einheja. Indeed, a
‘vampire witha store of silver or trade goods can simply purchase
thrall from a local smallholder, much like farmer might buy
cattle — and to much the same ends.
Allin all, he bondsman’s life is a grim one, though itis
not withoutsome highlights. The condition of a man's thalls
is as important an indicator of a man’s status as chat of his
livestockand hall. In the materialistic Norse world, thismeans
that evenif the lordisgoinghungry, thethrallsare likely toeat
1s well as he can afford, to keep up appearances. Also, there is
noethnic characterto thralldom in the Norse world. Anyone
‘ean become a bondsman, and many a saga hero spends a time
consigned to chains by the misfortunes of war or shipwreck
‘The Norse make no attempt to prerend that thei thrall are
subhuman, in need oftheir protection, or destined by Odin ot
God to serve them, The thrlls are just unlucky enough to be
oon the bottom — any man who finds himself in debe or
helpless ina hostile land may well be enthalled. While eis
seems lke a small favor in return fora large curse, ito doubt
rakes the lives of many thealls a good deal easier, as well a
‘making manumission possible. After all, thrall is less likely
to revolt if there's hope for eventual salvation
‘Vampire lords, ofcourse, keep thrals for different reasons
than their human counterparts. A small stable of thrall makes
for easy and excellent feeding; since thrall are propeety, killing
the veselisonly an inconvenience. Entire generations of thrall
are spawned to feed the appetites oftheir vampitelords since the
children of thalls are themselves thalls as well. Thalls also
perform mundane tasks and upkeep, expecially during the day,
‘without need of pay. A vampire who has no deste to support a
band of raucous and hungry huskars may keep thrall instead, as
the thalls do not require constant gifs of silver and weaponty,
WOLVES OF THE SEA
Particularly sadistic and jaded einherja send their ealls into
competitions of butte and endurance; while a valued Auskar!
cannothe wasted on such fvolitesathralliseasilyeplaceable,
and the entertainment of warching humans debase themselves
and fight bloodil co che death isthe kind of entertainment that
‘most intrigues old vampires
JARLS
A jarl is a landed noble whose possessions range (to
provide a Continental scale) somewhere between those of a
landed knight and those of a baron or earl. Large enough to
‘keep a hall and a table for full-time hired men, the jarl lives on
the produce of his lands, the fees of justice, the proceed of
warfare and posiblytaxesonthe local marketplace. In eeland
the chieftains (called go) do likewise, subsisting mainly on
the rents of their lands and the proceeds of arbitration. A jar!
usually lives in a (very) loose semi-feudal relationship with a
local petty ruler. The lines between successful farmer, jarl and
king are blurry, however — Viking-age Scandinavia is a
golden land of opportunity and adventure, provided thatthe
budding social climber is prepated to engage in a certain
amount of bloody-handed apne. farmer succesful enouh
to keep a large table and a halls effectively a art and aking
is little more than a highly successful jarl.
Jarl is the social class most suited to social einherjar:
powtrfl enough to support hited men and a hal, but not so
powerfl as to artract the envy of other pery kings eager to
‘exploit the eimherjar’s daytime weakness. Even sargy, especially
these opposed to the Christianization, may choose to keep an
isolated hall to support their campaigns.
KINGS
‘The Scandinavian concept of leadership i spictual as
well asa temporal one —a chieftain, be he peery king, jar! or
{00i, isthe leader of his people, the bringer of good harvests,
andisintimately connected with the health ofhis community
Life in Scandinavia ismeager in the extreme, anda chieftain’s
performance of ritual religious duties is considered an impor-
tant safeguard for his people's welfare. Be wamed —a leader
whose luck fails him may be driven out or even sacrificed to
‘Odin of Ponar to bring good weather and harvests
Thebenefisofleadershipare many, though Vikingkings,
like jar, are considerably poorer than their Continental
cousins, While a petty king can subsison che fees of hisofice
and the produce ofhis personal holdings, those who wish tobe
steat or glorious are most often driven to trade or plunder.
Succession in Scandinavia is iregular, to say the least
Huskas of the king’ hied, sons, strong-willed wives and
daughters all have equal chanees at gaining control of the
kingdom after the reigning lord's death. Sometimes the king
appoints an heir abparent or divides the kingdom into equal
portions for his offspring or loyal followers before his death.
Reganiless of attempts to the contrary, civil strife (if not open
warfare) isthe rule and not the exception. The refugees and members ofthe losing sides in these civil was othe ranks
of the raiders and migrants who lap at the edge of European
jon during the Viking ea.
‘When exerting long-term control over lange areas of
story, disputed succession is not in the hest interest of
n vampire masters. A vampire who doesnot take up the
leofpertykingshiphimaselmustprepareforthe problems
cesion. Often, this means kiling or neutralizing the
opposing (uncontrolled or undesirable) parties, while maneu-
erg the vampire’ favored (and properly roomed) candidate
intopositiontotake the throne. With the powerof Disciplines
like Dominate and Presence, and the ability to hunt and kill
snoral adversaries with relative ease, chisisnota very dificult
proposition —untilarivaleinkejarbecomesinvolved. Backed
sides ofabatce forkingship can
disorganized feuding families to irregular
armies, asthe unbreathing lords pll the stings oftheir agents
to make theit puppets workin tandem, Naturally, onee ran
dom insults and the occasional murder are swapped for
fal hall burning and massed slaughter, blood-feud and
he final result. In such situations, one side or another
ally destroyed utterly before the
einherjar may back down feom such a
hisunwittingservitorsandstrikingout
amicable certtory elsewhere (either by settling or by
1), but eherar pride more often results in aconilict
byfeuding vampires, se
atter is resolved. In
FEUD AND THE
Norse CONCEPT
OF HONOR
he Norse makesforatightly
snuch of their culture, The Scandinavian region is incredibly
harsh, a land of extremely limited agriculeur
‘brutally frigid winters and dfficule terain. Only individuals of
equally rugged disposition can survive here. The crushing
cople far more watlike,
and Germanic peoples co che south. Land of limited arabi
‘means that people must band together in order to surv
sugh resources to actually empower anysortof
en late frost of a poor harvest results in
starvation, only those brave enough to fight for their ives will
survive; they kill without he: 2, raiding
other towns for food and mor ly-knityet
violent, only rigid codes of honor and behavior keep men from
killing each other outtight.
‘This sense of self-reliance and individualism is best ex
pressed through the Norse concept of personal honor and the
feud tradition. The Norse ideal of honor is unswerving and fatalistic; it stressesuncompromising bravery inthe face of any
andall danger, absolute adherence tooathsand promises, total
loyalty co fiends and family, grim acceptance of hardship and
a personal dignity that tolerates neither mockery nor failure.
‘The degree to which itis honored varies from individual to
individual, but the Norse sense of honor is far eloser to the
Roman ideal than to the Japanese. There is no implicit
acceptance of duplicity and subterfuge as the grease that
makes society run; there sno superficial appearance of adher-
ence ta rigid moral code, onlyhonor or disgrace. Also unlike
Japan, while che Scandinavian ethical code is aselfish one, it
is ultimately practical. No self-respecting warrior considers
suicide when there is something to be done, no matter how
hopeless the task. To commit suicide is to admit fear, and
cowardice is the only sin the Crow-glutter admit.
Central to the Scandinavian concept of honor is the
tradition of feud. When an individual is wronged, restitution
must be made. In some cass, particularly in leeland, this may
bbe nothing more than a settlement in kind, negotiated by @
third party. In the case of severe offenses (especially those
committed intentionally), cooler heads cannot be brought to
bear on the question while still satisfying the demands of
hhonor. The result: a feud.
‘Some feuds start between individuals and without blood-
shed. Eventually, however, most ofthem come down to blood
and family. The mechanisms simple: An individual who feels
‘wronged etaliates as best he can either against the person by
whom he was wronged or against someone or something close
to that person. The target of retaliation responds, and
bellicose chain ensues, as each party secks to equal or better
INSULTS AND THE BRAG
1m insult or brag in the
ty inclination is that
uttering idle words.
eof the fears chat they wll
to outdo ispeers in prom-
x the words are uttered,
KA young warrior who
nents banner during an
e banner, or hell go to
id chat he will, and that’s
undertake, each attem
ised acts of heroism,
however, there is no}
says he will capture
‘upcoming battle will
Helshall forerying.
the way iis. Accordinl
hhad brief but glorious eareers.
the other. As individuals ate killed or request aid from theie
fiends and relatives, the feud expands, and takes on a more
encompassing character. Eventually, the main point of the
feud becomes irrelevant or falls by the wayside as greater
‘numbers of participants become involved,
Some feuds are short-lived, but othersdrag on for genera-
tions of bloodletting and revenge. Particularly in Iceland,
where no centralized authority exists, an intricate system of
feud and arbitration has developed to keep the peace. The
Icelandic feud system resolves interpersonal disputes in the
absence ofa king or other agency of enforcement. In the rest
cof Scandinavia, feud is recognized and (at least until the
coming of Christianity) legitimate, though local rulers in
difierent times and places suppress oF attempt to suppress
certain feuds, o feuding in general.
STARTING 4 FEup
Feuds can and do begin over any number of issues.
Seduction, livestock and property theft, murder, insult; any-
thing that the offended party feels merits retaliation can mark
the beginning of a feud. Depending on the nature of the
disagreement, the feud might begin immediately, or it might
hold offfor some time and begin when calculated to bring the
‘most discomfort to the target. A feud usually takes a public
exchange of insults, followed by an equally public murder, to
really light fire. However, the root cause ofthe feud and the
temperaments of those involved also have a great deal to do
with the dispute's evolution,
Icshould be understood thar, even outside of leland, feud
isa socially stabilizing force, rather than a socially destabilizing
‘one. While feuds, when they occur are bloody andlong-tunning
affair, the threat ofcertain retaliation preventsa great deal more
violence than it encourages. Even when long-running feuds do
erupt, they (ike going Viking) provide an outlet for economic
and social pressure in the fragile agrarian communities of
Scandinavia without resorting to open, extended warfare.
Bioop FEupING
Not every feud isabloodbath. Even the most heated feud
between desperate enemies has peviods where the combatants
engage in little mote than stock theft and rumor mongering
while they search for alles, file lawsuits or seek che king's
justice, and artempr to renew exhausted resources. Some
feuds, especially Icelandic feuds, are litle more than long:
running legal battles. These sorts of disagreements over
boundary stones and the disposition of a stolen heifer are the
primary function ofthe local thing, a5 well asthe day to day
concern of petty kings, einherjar or otherwise.
Frankly, however, Vampire: The Dark Ages characters
aren't likely to be pressing suc with the next farmer down the
fjord over the ownership ofa couple ofewes that seem tohave
gone missing. Their feuds will be the stuf of saga, with
surprising betrayals, desperate alliances and bloody resolu-
tions. The material that follows is tailored accordingly. Storytellers who want a more mundane Chronicle are prob
ably willing rodo research into period regional stock, property
and agriculture law in any case
‘VAMPIRES AND FeuD
Given the pasion and tragedy ofthe immortal unliving,
i’sno wonder that vampires become caught up in feuds both
long-running and terifying in their intensity. Indeed, che
smoral pawns of
generational feuds that serve the purposes of their shadowy
inherjr manipulators. For creatures with great deal oftime,
th at the hands of mortals and a taste for
cis a superlative form of entertainment
umpires may find themselves in the midst of
ch Notse einkerjar do not have the courts and
protocols of nobility, their puppeteering struggles are no less
intense. Indeed, for a northern vampire to carry out a feud
against an opponent, entire families and lines of friends are
called into plays often, the puppetmaster must rely upon close
ad acquaintances, not the faceless pawns of the
Europeans’ games. A carefully-chosen word of discord here, a
jdt against someone's honor there, and suddenly a bloody
relatives
feud emerges, which the vampire hopes to use to eliminate an
wdversary — or simply asa distraction from other plots. The
sgl vampire jars manipulate linesof suecession and marriage
inorder to ensure the proper blood:-ties to bring in more allies
when a feud erupts, while outsiders are scrutinized for any
potential disruptions that they may cause. When the minions
fall and the feud is played our, circles of brothers and sons are
dead, houses are burned and village leaders are ousted. Such
turmoil, of course, makes it easier for the vampire to exert
personal control and t
that many northern
must work through hidden manipulation) show a skill for
bloody-handed orchestration that would raise the eyebrows of
European Magisters with appreciation.
avoid scrutiny. Small wonder, then,
(especially the few women, who
The vampiticjars ofthe north arenotallshadow-players,
though, Passions run hot among the Nor
the breasts ofthe undying. While an eineyar may arrange a
feud in order to gain a particular objective (ousting aerouble
some leaderordestroying he pawns ofa rival) awarlorisjust
aslikely rounderake a personal vendetta against another who
has slighted him. With the scope of vampiric power and the
assistance of allies bound by the Blood Oath, such reer
tions are often swift and brutal. Sell, a determined circle of
ja's attentions with
the proper preparations and equipment. uch eventscaneven,
lead the vampire to rake a personal hand in the feud, instead
of merely directing aides and lackeys. Indeed, when the scu-
smen and horter in
‘mortal warriors can stand againstane
¢
CHAPTER ONE: VIKING CULTURE ation threatens to spiral out of control, the Norse lords ofthe
night tend tostep in todirect matters personally, as befits their
warrior heritage. Weak isthe leader who will not confront his
enemy directly steel bared and achallenge on the lips. Should
a feud with an adversary — vampiric or otherwise — move
beyond the reach ofa vampiric jr, that emherjar may well don
hisarmor and gird himselffor personal battle, siding directly
to the heart of the marter in his enemy's home.
Biooperice
As in the Germanic and Celtic cultures, murder in
‘Scandinavia canbe litle more chan a business transaction. Each
personslife hasacertain value, based on socal lassand generally
modified by circumstance, including the numberof elativesand
hired men that both the heirs and the murderer could easily call,
‘omifitcame to feud. This bloodprice, called werd, is usualy set
by the local ching or ruler when the case is brought to their
attention. The heirs ofthe deceased can ether take the amount,
Cor refuse payment and demand some other restitution, usually @
duel, feud or declaration of Ourlawry. Likewise, the perperraror
ofthe crime ean refuse to pay the weg, chough the altemative
is almost certainly becoming an outlaw.
Dependingon the circumstances, demandsforwergildean
aise from strange quarters indeed. Wergild can be and often is
demanded for men slain on the battlefield or during Viking
raids, if cheir killer can be named and sufficient witnesses to
the act produced, One can even demand wergild fom the hird
of a lord; such a request i valid and proper — although itis
likely to be lost in laughter. A petitioner who makes such a
demand had best be prepared to back up his words with force,
lor to be thrown out of the halon his eat.
While wergilds vary from individual to individual and
phice to place, there ate some benchmarks. A Norwegian
