Skadi

The Cetoilais woman avoided the powerful downward swing. The grace that was her birthright saved her once more. Her arms still rang with the aftershock of the parried blow. Her spear's steel shaft had been bent beneath its force. She eyed her opponent, an immense, thickset woman wearing skins of bear and wolf. Tattoos bled together on her wide face, and though she had a patch over one eye, her opponent knew better than to underestimate the northerner in combat. The saying, after all, is true. "For love, Cetoile; for strength, Skadi."

Cetoile's northern border is marked by the Alblezard Range, so say the Cetoilais. The Skaden think differently; they allow the Cetoilais to claim the mountains, but only because they have no present interest in claiming them for Skadi. This border has been contested for centuries, at times half-heartedly and at times with ferverent vigor.

Society

Skaden society is a tribal one. Tribes are settled, rather than nomadic. Chiefs are decided through combat, but any prospective chief must have hunted a mammoth or snow lion alone, and then challenge the current chief to the holmgang. Cetoilais scholars estimate the number of tribes in Skadi to be around two hundred, with the number of individuals within a tribe numbering between a dozen and one hundred.
The vast, cold land of Skadi has a number of resources. Small communities dot the cool landscape, hunting the animals inland and making use of the lumber provided by the perennial alpine forests. Skaden warriors are particularly skilled at the creation and use of boats, which is fortuitous given their position on the northern shores of the Plinan Sea. Seal hunting is common in coastal areas. Skadi is mainly known in other parts of Ereb for the choleric mercenaries it produces.
Every Skaden person is expected to be able to defend themselves. Skadi is a land that is largely mountainous, and rich in ore. This has contributed to several facades of Skaden life. There are several deities of the forge and smithery, and Skaden raiders take slaves from other tribes (under a strict code of battle), and from foreign caravans and countries (under no code). These slaves are often used in mines, and in their construction.
Skaden culture prizes strength, honour, bravery, honesty and skill. These values are found entrenched in much of society.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Demonym

Skaden

Government System

Tribalism

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Barter system

Neighboring Nations

• Cetoile

5e Rules

Language. Skaden.
Ability Score Increase. STR +1, CON +1.
Regional Features. Seafarer, Shieldsworn, Ravenmarked.