Fånga Clan
The Snarling Teeth of Orri
Fånga Clan is one of the five Great Orrian Clans that populated and controlled the country-continent of Orri. Situated further north than any other Orrian clan, the Fånga endure cold winds, intense snowstorms and fierce predators regularly. The result is a culture of hardened survivors and ferocious warriors.
Because their land is relatively barren of natural resources, the Fånga soon began using their superior martial skill to raid villages on nearby coasts. They quickly developed a reputation as brutal pillagers amongst neighbouring nations, and their flag has become an omen of ill-fate for small settlements.
Rite of Passage
In order to remain a member of Fånga Clan, every child nearing adulthood must prove themself worthy of the clan's fearsome reputation by venturing north of the Nordvæg and killing a saber cat. The child will not be permitted to return home without the fangs of the beast; they must either succeed, or perish in the attempt. Many Fånga choose to wear the teeth of their first kill as pendants or as armour adornments.
Northern Defense
The Nordvæg, or North Wall.
The vast expanse of land north of Fånga's territory is yet unsettled by humans, in no small part because of the dangerous creatures that inhabit it. Both the Fånga and Skapa clans were plagued by frequent attacks from predators like snow cats, dire wolves and even greater threats, such as giants. In response, the Fånga and Skapa worked together to construct a twenty-foot-tall, fortified wall of fir tree logs called the Nordvæg. The wall spans nearly from one coast of Orri to the other; it runs parallel to and north of the Kväva River and is bookended by the Elvfjell and Tannfjell mountain ranges to the west and east. Fånga warriors patrol the wall in shifts, and Skapa builders perform repairs as needed.
Structure
Like every Great Clan, the Fånga are ruled by a jarl. From the regional capitol, the jarl holds jurisdiction over all of the clan's land. A jarl is typically attended by a thane, or advisor, who offers council and acts as interim ruler if the jarl needs to leave the capitol.
Though other clans' villages are overseen by lendmenn, no one in Fånga Clan holds this title. The few Fång villages that exist outside of Fæstning serve mainly as outposts and supply stations for raiding parties; anyone who chooses to live there long-term still answers to the Fång jarl.
Orri has never been ruled by a High King. Instead, each of the Great Clans lives semi-autonomously, each governing themselves but united with the other clans by the Orrian Accord. In times of crisis, any of the jarls can call a moot, to which every jarl is obliged to attend. The issue can than be discussed, debated or argued by the combined leadership of the entire nation.
Assets
The region settled by the Fånga offers little by way of natural resources except for reasonably rich mineral and ore deposits. The Fånga are capable miners, smelters and metalworkers, allowing them to easily create the weapons, armour and equipment needed to fend off northern dangers. They are also adjacent to several of Orri's great fir tree forests, so they can build their own longboats, cabins and structures without relying on Skapa Clan for the lumber.
Demography and Population
Of all the Orrian clans, Fånga Clan's population is by far the smallest. Its largest and only city of note is Fæsting, the fortified capital home to 2,500 Fånga. The surrounding territory is dotted with small settlements, averaging about 100 inhabitants each. The harsh climate makes farming impossible, and ore is smelted and forged in Faesting, so the smaller settlements typically serve only as either military lookouts or mining pits. Most Fånga wish to live either near the North Wall or near the east coast, so as to not miss out on the action if the wall is attacked or if a raiding party sets sail.
Military
Many would consider the entire Fånga Clan to be a military, and they are not entirely wrong. The deadly predators in and around Fång territory require everyone who lives there to be prepared for wild animal attacks, and as such everyone is armed and capable. However, many Fånga devote their lives to a craft besides martial training, such as hunting, sailing, or blacksmithing.
Technological Level
Fånga Clan surpasses every other clan in terms of weapons and combat equipment; the high volume of production keeps their warriors equipped and has allowed Fång smiths to improve and perfect their designs over generations.
Like all Orrian Clans, the Fånga rely heavily on longboats for travel and transportation of goods.
Religion
The Orrian Clans hold a belief system descended from Ashraism. Rather than worshipping Ashra as a chief deity, the Orri revere Ashra's five Solars as gods in their own right. These five "gods" make up the Orrian Pantheon, and are named as follows:
Veja, Goddess of Fertility and Agriculture (Vita, Angel of Life)
Låch, God of Fire and Light (Lux, Angel of Light)
Fornak, God of Creation and Invention (Fornax, Angel of the Forge)
Proceyya, Goddess of Wind, Rain and Sea (Procella, Angel of the Tempest)
Bellor, God of War and Conquest (Bellum, Angel of War)
The sixth and final god in the Orrian Pantheon is Lura, the trickster god. It is said that Lura can take any shape or form and exists only to toy with the lives of mortals and meddle with the work of the other gods. When misfortune occurs, many Orrians are quick to blame Lura for their ill luck.
Fånga Clan offers the most praise to Bellor, seeking his divine blessing upon their raids and conquests. Bellor's sigil is a double-sided axe head, and this emblem can be seen painted on some Fång longboats, shields and amulets. It is typical for Fång raids to begin with a war-song bellowed in Bellor's honour.
Foreign Relations
Fång raiders in action.
Overall, Fånga Clan gets along with the other Great Clans. Fånga wouldn't be able to survive without imports from the southern regions, and likewise the northern defence would be nothing without the Fång warriors. Most Fånga know not to raid other Orrian settlements, as mandated by the Orrian Accord.
The rest of the nearby world would describe the Fånga as vicious barbarians, savage looters and pillagers who devastate coastal villages and strip them of everything valuable. Most of the neighbouring nations know the difference between the Fånga and the other Great Clans, but to the uninformed, Fånga Clan makes Orri look like an entire continent of killers.
Agriculture & Industry
While Fånga territory offers nothing by way of crops or agriculture, it atones partially with its deposits of mineral and ore. The rocky and mountainous terrain is rich with precious stones and metals which, in addition to using themselves, the Fång can trade to the other clans for important supplies like grain, wool and alcohol.
Fæsting, which itself began as a mining settlement, hosts several great blast furnaces where ore is smelted and metal equipment can be made in large quantities. The mine tunnels beneath the city have expanded tremendously over the centuries, creating a sprawling underground network of shafts and passages. Additional ore and precious stones are transported in from the nearby mountain ranges by ox and wagon.
Trade & Transport
Because Orri's natural resources are largely region-specific, the five Great Clans supplement each other's needs by means of barter and trade. For centuries, the rule was very simple: each clan shared what it had with the others, and so each clan had all it needed. However, things began to change when foreign merchants first made their way to the Gulf of Mjor and began trading with Prata and Hurrikaani clans. Though reluctant at first, the Orrian traders eventually did start accepting foreign currency for their wares. Coins now see semi-common use in the other clans, but the Fånga Clan remains solely committed to the bartering system.
Goods are typically transported between Orrian clans by wagon, but large wares such as lumber require shipment by boat. With an ancestral dependance on sailing, nearly every clan's capital is built with access to the water and can be reached by boat without trouble.
Education
There are no official educational institutions anywhere in Orri. Everything, from language to trades to history, is passed on orally from each generation to the next. Some jarls keep libraries or historical archives, but they are typically small, mostly containing logs and records written in Orrian runes. Journal-keeping is not unheard-of, but certainly not commonplace for the average Orrian.
Orrian expertise in the trades and in warfare is recognized by most of the civilized world, and have been known to travel to Orri seeking an apprenticeships from locals in various fields.
Infrastructure
Most of the buildings in Orrian settlements are cabin-style wooden homes and longhouses, often with stone foundations. Roads in or near the Pratan capital Åbenhamn are inlayed with stone, but the rest of Orri is typically limited to dirt or gravel roads. However, Orri's reasonably flat terrain means that travel by road is still very manageable.
More than any other clan, the Fånga prioritize function over form. Their buildings are simple but sturdy, and they make effective use of perimeter walls and watchtowers to defend against northern predators. In addition to their own structures, Fånga Clan is also jointly responsible, along with Skapa Clan, for the Nordvæg, a 20-foot wall built of thick fir tree logs to repel predators and other dangers.
Hvad du ikke kan beskytte, er ikke dit
(What you can't protect isn't yours)
FÅNGA CLAN
Type
Geopolitical, Clan
Capital
Alternative Names
The Fangs
Training Level
Semi-trained
Demonym
Fång
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Economic System
Barter system
Major Exports
- Metals and minerals
- Precious gems
- Weapons and equipment
Major Imports
- Grain and crops
- Horses
- Alcohol
- Wool
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Fånga Clan's capitol city Fæstning.
South Orri, before The Impact.
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