Norskjarg
Now the top dogs of the region once restricted to northern regions they are now the majority of the populace.
The Norskjaeg now make the majority of the population and have held the power in the region ever since they swore loyalty to the League when the old kingdom of Scalia resisted the invaders. In return, they were granted increased independence as the Lords of the Ostfjorn, and founded the Kingdom of Fjallir, an old name for the region in the native tongue.
The Norskjaeg are fiercely communal, for to survive the harsh winters they lived by a storage economy to ensure there would be enough food for the community, as no one could contribute enough to sustain themselves, without sacrifices time for tool making and other necessities, this was managed not by the great chieftains or kings, as great open lands made it near impossible to exert such control, instead it was managed by local chiefs, community tings and the people themselves. This bred a culture of honesty and trust between each member of the villiage and one in which authority was derived solely by contribution to the cause, and why leaders are to them not seen as sources of absolute authority, but as trusted caretakers and bread givers. Humility to them is considered a great virtue, and a braggart is somebody to be avoided, this can be seen in many ways in their culture, it is custom that if one values an object and pays for it one will offer more, to show respect to the merchant or artisan, who in turn can show their humility and haggle a lower “fairer” price, such ritual shows of humility and respect are fairly common to them, though often strange to outsiders.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Astrid: beautiful, loved
Bodil: penance and fight
Frida: peace
Gertrud: spear
Gro: to grow
Estrid: god and beautiful
Hilda: the fighter
Gudrun: god and rune
Gunhild: fight
Helga: sacred
Inga: of the god Inge
Liv: of life
Randi: shield or shrine
Signe: the one who is victorious
Sigrid: victorious horsewoman
Revna: raven
Sif: wife and bride
Masculine names
Arne: eagle
Birger: keeper
Bjørn: bear
Bo: the resident
Erik: an absolute ruler
Frode: wise and clever
Gorm: he who worships god
Halffhru: the half Fhrunla.
Harald: lord and ruler
Knud: knot
Kåre: with curly hair
Leif: descendant
Njal: giant
Roar: fame and spear
Rune: secret
Sten: stone
Skarde: with cleft chin
Sune: son
Family names
Family names are derived from old professions that the family engages, though it is less common these days that the child takes their parent's labor of necessity, the old names of these families still live on. With it being the norm that the first last name is taken from the father and the middle name from the mother. Names such as Svend(Farmer in service to a lord), Frimjand(Peasent who owns land), Beck(Carpenter), Hjymar(Old Fhrunla word for Brewer), Barker(Old Basrian word for herder), Sort(Dyer), Karter(Deliveryman), Fjalla(fisher), Kemp(Soldier), Mjøller(Miller), Waller(The best translation would be builder).
When one marries their patronymic or matronymic is replaced by their respective spouse.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
There is a strong warrior culture in these lands, with the Norskjaer having long lived as raiders in north before they gained control of the southern lands. Many quarrels are solved in duels till wounded, though some fight to the death over great grievances.
Honor and respect are held in great esteem, but always it is relation to the community, a man has honor because he trusts and gives to his people, and respect is earned with honor, in return those respected are honored. But in turn a man who in turn only takes from his people will be ousted as "udskud", branded and send into the waste to die or redeem themselves elsewhere.
Shared customary codes and values
It is always expected that the stranger who approaches to show humility and respect first, and then the host or the approached must show it in kind. If one approaches another without such respect it is a great slight and one that is amble ground to deny service or throw before the door. But the more common approach is often simply to equally rude or a fistfight to settle the matter. Though if the approaching person is of higher status, it is the approached who must first show deference and respect, but it is always expected respect and kindness be returned in kind.
If somebody seeks shelter from the cold, it is expected to let them in, but such an act is also expected to be repayed, for the Norskjaer believe any good deed must be repaid either in favor, service or gold.
To have weapons upon your person is common, but to wear armor means you are looking for a fight, and thus highly discouraged, and illegal.
To the Norskjaer all great efforts are efforts of the community, success and failure is dependent on all, and never on an individual, and so too is praise and shame lauded, extending into many paths of life, and has made a strong and trusting bond between those who work together, for they must be strong together to succeed in their eyes. To them it is shame to admit failure, it is a way to ensure success, for the chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and all links break under duress in time.
Common Dress code
Outside one wears heavy and thick coats, whereas indoors it is expected that one takes off the coats, such dressing is usually sleeveless for both men and woman, as a sign embracing the warmth of the host, and not wanting to leave in undue hurry.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Being a relatively poor region, despite growing interest in northern trade, though the strong sense of communal goals has made it so that most efforts that may have required great capital are funded via "Sammenkald", calls to local community centers where plans are laid for projects and what can be gained and then if support is rallied the gathered give what they can, and once the project is done they reap the rewards as is deemed appropriate by their contribution. The most common of such activities being major fishing tribes, in which supplies and nets are repaired or for the particularly bold, a whale hunt.
Jagtstotten
At the start of summer, hunters who seek to enter the deep woods cut a lock of their hair, and spun into a talisman, this ancient tradition was once performed by the druidic circles of the land, a way to signal to the spirits that those who hunted would honor it's laws and were part of it's life cycle, now it is a deed done alone, and once summer returns, the old lock talisman is buried in the woods with gifts. For if the talisman is lost, the old stories say that the hunter was deemed unworthy and that to return to the woods would spell his doom.Ideals
Beauty Ideals
There is less emphasis on personal beauty, from makeup and personal care, and more on good quality clothing, which varies based upon the occasion. As it is considered vain and lazy if you look like your nails, or makeup gets in the way of performing everyday tasks. Whereas nice clothes are just taken off in a hurry before work clothes are put on. This also extends to hair, as such men usually cut theirs short and women wear their hair in buns. The most common attractions in the land are people of a more stout build, with men expected to be strong and women on more motherly attributes.
Though many in high society have been influenced by the southerners and the norm amongst them is more on slim and fit builds.
Gender Ideals
Men are expected to be providers and hard workers, they are expected to be fierce and hard, he is the patriarch of his family and his word is the law on what direction the family may take. For it is he who works the hard and physical labor. Whereas women are expected to support their husbands, they are to be the heart of the family, to make him food and care for him when he returns from a long day, it is her prerogative to raise the children and take care of business from home. But on matters of the home, it is her who has the final say, for as she works hard to take care of the family she knows what is best for it at its hearth, and no man has a say in this.
Courtship Ideals
Relations are a very informal affair to people, courtship is expected to be a long affair, and not something prearranged is the more common practice in the south. To the Norskjaeg such customs are strange to behold, it most common that people meet during the Sjulstand a monthly celebration of surviving a lunar cycle, though fairly old and with its original purpose long diminish the celebration is more of an excuse to go out and have fun in this day and age. Here young people are forced to mingle during the dances, and during the feasting, all unmarried are mixed up with a stranger who they must share a cup with, in truth one could easily say that there is much more social pressure that brings people together, rather than more strict contracts.
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