Ulfen
Whether they hail from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, Irrisen, or the northern reaches of Varisia, the Ulfen are famed as brawny, boorish raiders and brawlers. While true, this simplistic description does not do them justice. Superb crafters and artists, unquenchably curious explorers, wholehearted romantics, lusty lovers, generous providers, shrewd traders, masterful shipwrights, cunning strategists, wise counselors, and quick-witted competitors—Ulfen may be any of these. If there can be such a thing as a nation of heroes, surely the Ulfen are it.
In winter, Ulfen spend their time carousing and telling tales through the shrieking dark of weeks-long blizzards, cut off from the rest of the world in their longhouses, ready at any time to defend their holdings from wolves, trolls, or worse. In summer, Ulfen farm the land and hunt game, gathering surplus for the long winter months, or else go raiding, trading the longhouse for the longship. Even at peace, the Ulfen have a deep competitive streak. Competition can be entirely amicable, but even a friendly competition can turn into a vicious rivalry or outright hostility if one party feels his honor was impugned. Ulfen compete through feats of strength and stamina. Single combat, as the ultimate test of all these qualities, is quite common. This love of battle and the status Ulfen gain from defeating their foes lead some Ulfen to duel monsters instead of just their brethren in an effort to win more prestige. Troll wrestling is particularly popular among such folk, and torn-off, cauterized troll limbs are highly valued trophies of such activities. Linnorm-hunting, of course, is the ultimate expression of this tradition. Ulfen almost always adopt their forebears’ professions, laboring alongside parents, siblings, and children. To Ulfen traditionalists, marriage is the only legitimate way to change livelihoods, and leaving the family’s occupation is otherwise tantamount to abandoning the family, redeemable only through extraordinary success. Winning glory (and loot) transcends careers, however, and raiding, soldiering, or adventuring are always honorable and acceptable pursuits.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Female Given Names: Attild, Brid, Einn, Gunilla, Innveig, Maurild, Runveig, Svala, Thingerd, Yngvilda
Masculine names
Male Given Names: Birgun, Eirnar, Gundar, Hamall, Jud, Njal, Sjogun, Tholl, Varmod, Vid
Family names
Ulfen usually have two names: an individual given name and a byname, based on a notable characteristic. The cadences of Skald make two-syllable given names common, with a solid subset of strong monosyllables. An Ulfen’s first byname, acquired at birth, is a simple patronymic or matronymic erived from one parent’s name. Later bynames are based on notable deeds or characteristics. The first true byname is considered a key step toward an independent adult identity, though some children acquire individual bynames at very young ages. Ulfen rarely choose these names hemselves, and they are not always flattering. Ulfen may acquire several bynames over their lives, but only the most recent is used except in the most formal circumstances, making an unwelcome byname a strong incentive to do something remarkable to earn a new one. Bynames go anywhere in the name that seems to fit.
Matronymics and Patronymics: These bynames simply consist of one parent’s name and the suffix -sen
or -sson (for boys) or -datter, -dotter, or -dottir (for girls).
Sample Bynames: Beartooth, Firebraid, Horde-Mother, the Tall, Thickskull, Troll-Biter, Six-Ales, Wolfpelt.
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