The Suthurmenn
Dec 27, 2016 4:17:10 GMT
Post by Eirikr Norling on Dec 27, 2016 4:17:10 GMT
NAME: The Suthurmenn
KINGDOM AT A GLANCE:
Located in the far south among the ice and tundra at the end of the world, the Suthurmenn reside. A patchwork of fiefs, kingdoms, and warlords the South Lands, or Suthurland in their language, are harsh and unforgiving. Winters are brutal, summers short, and the land unsuited for planting. As such, most of the population takes to raiding northwards into the more 'civilized' areas of the world. Coastal raiders, they plunder the villages and towns along the water-ways for riches and goods to haul back to their homes. The southern kingdoms know when dragon prows appear upon the waves that all is lost.
The Suthurmenn have come.
Located in the far south among the ice and tundra at the end of the world, the Suthurmenn reside. A patchwork of fiefs, kingdoms, and warlords the South Lands, or Suthurland in their language, are harsh and unforgiving. Winters are brutal, summers short, and the land unsuited for planting. As such, most of the population takes to raiding northwards into the more 'civilized' areas of the world. Coastal raiders, they plunder the villages and towns along the water-ways for riches and goods to haul back to their homes. The southern kingdoms know when dragon prows appear upon the waves that all is lost.
The Suthurmenn have come.
SIZE AND LOCATION: The Suthermenn occupy a decent sized area of land, but most is not arable or livable and their population is relatively small.
WEALTH: The wealth of the various groups of Suthurmenn varies widely. Some chieftains are very poor while others are very wealthy. Luck and fate have a great deal to do with the income of the Suthurmenn for a bad storm or poor raids can easily cripple the wealthiest of kings and jarls.
STABILITY: The Suthurmenn are far from stable, but thankfully are not volatile in such instability. Kings and Jarls tend to maneuver for power and wars are far from rare, but all agree that true wealth and power comes from the North.
DANGER TO TRAVELERS: Suthurmenn are, ironically enough, fairly indifferent to travelers, though they can be friendly to traders. Visitors should be cautious, however, for such welcomes vary from region to region.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: The Suthurmenn have no centralized government, instead they are ruled by a patchwork of warlords, kings, and jarls. Any given area may be independent or tied to a regional liege lord.
FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION: The Suthurmenn are ruled with some variety depending on region. Some areas are more oppressed than others while some have more lenient leadership. The region does, however, practice slavery with the slaves being individuals taken from raids and conquest. Oddly enough, contrary to many societies around the globe, the Suthurmenn make no difference between genders meaning a woman has just as much right and likelihood of becoming a warrior, or even warlord, as a man.
COMMON SPECIES: Human
MILITARY FOCUS: Suthurmenn military strength is entirely devised of individual warriors doubling as experienced sailors. The troops are primarily armed with shields and spears, though axes are not uncommon. Swords are rare, though not unseen. Armor is primarily leather, if worn at all, and hand-held round shields. Helmets are uncommon and metal armor is rare, often reserved for the wealthier members of their warrior society.
TECHNOLOGY: Medieval
PLAYER CONTROLLED: The entire Suthurmenn 'kingdom' is not capable of full player control, but individual clans are. This doesn't stop someone from ruling a 'majority' of clans to create a powerbase, but anyone can rally the 'silent' clans to their own cause, meaning full unification impossible.