Vilderfolken

The Vilderfolken, also known as the wild folk, are nomadic tribes of predominantly human aedrinarians who live on the main island of Aedrinar. Devoted to the 'old ways' the Vilderfolken travel freely through various holds and live off hunter-gatherer and raiding lifestyles. Although living exclusively within the Kingdom of Aedrinar, the Vilderfolken are free from any oaths to jarls or kings but frequently make their own treaties or accept the bribes of settled lands to leave their territory be.

Tribes

In 1052, there are six existing tribes of Vildervolken in Aedrinar.

Reindeer Clan

The Reindeer Clan live in the Northern hold of Aedrinar herding reindeer across the coastline and mountainside. Famed for their warriors and sailors, the Reindeer clan has maintained peaceful relations with the settled Aedrinarans in the north and frequently offers their warriors as service to the various nobles in times of war. The Reindeer's claim to be first clan to join the Aesir in their rebellion against the forgotten gods.
Members of the reindeer clan wear furs and hides and can be identified by their crowns and jewllery made out of horns and antler. A common coming-of-age ritual is for a member to hunt their own redineer where their guardian will present them a token out of their antlers. Presenting carved antlers is also a sign of affection or courtship. In times of war, their warriors will wear reindeer skulls as helmets and adorn the antlers with jewellery and other trophies from battle. When a warrior is defeated by another member of their tribe, their trophies will be removed and added to the victor's helm instead.
Common traits for Reindeer clan members are their brown hair and freakishly tall builds, often standing close to seven foot high. Reindeer clan accents are considered exceptionally harsh by common standards and difficult for those from the mainland to understand.
Their numbers are diminshed since the brutal yuletide massacre orechestrated by the Bear Clan. The clan is currently disorganized and living in small communities along the midnight sea in the north, their current cheiftain is Sigurd Lothgarssen, the brother of Ivar Lothgarssen.

Bear Clan

The strongest and most powerful of the Vilderfolken clans, the Bear Clan are the only permanently settled tribe and rule as Jarls of the North. Smaller tribal groups still live the traditional Vilderfolken way through the north and east of Aedrinar, but the bulk of their forces live in the mountaintop fortress city of Snowhelm. The clan's rise to power has made them plenty of enemies, and has a long standing blood feud with the Reindeer Clan and a rivalry with the Wolf Clan.
Members of the bear clan are characterised by their brown and orange hair and broad features. They frequently wear black, brown, and white bear skins as clothing and use bear teeth as necklaces and statuses of power. Bear clan warriors favour axes and maces.

Raven Clan

The most mysterious and illusive of the Vilderfolken, the Raven Clan live on the northern isles of Morgenyja, Frossinturn, and Hoggormur. Their numbers are few and they tend to avoid contact with other peoples, with only small trading bands going to Morganhall. The Raven clan claim to be the original clan of Odin.
Despite their clan been named after a famously dark themed creature, many in the raven clan have albinism. Those that do not are characterized with skin pale even by Aedrinarian standards and dark hair. Raven clan members favour ranged weapons and shortblades. Headresses of bird feathers denote hierarchy in the raven clan, and in the winter they shetler in the ruins of Aesirhold.
Unlike the other clans, who favour martial ability, the Raven Clan are reknowned magic users with prominent shadow sorcerers originating in their bloodline. Many in the raven clan also practice as druids and rangers instead of fighters or barbarians.
The Raven Clan tend to stay out of the business of the other vildervolk clans, but their illusive nature and connection to the honoured gods makes them highly respected amongst the other clans who hold deep superstition about them.

Wolf Clan

The second largest vildervolk clan, the Wolf Clan live in the southern and eastern holds of Aedrinar, predominantly in woodlands and valleys. Frequently butting heads with the settled aedrinarans and other clans, the Wolf Clan have earned the reputation as been hardened and aggressive warriors scant to be crossed with. During the 40 year war, the Wolf Clan gladly joined the fray when the Aedrinarian holds allied themselves with the Commonwealth. Wolf Clan raids plundered tumbria, Marcia, and parts of the Seldrinar Supremacy.
Wolf Clan members are of generally diverse appearance but are characterised by their hairy appearance and braided beards. They are also known for getting grey hair early, usually in their 30s. Their warriors favour two weapon fighting with blades or polearms. They commonly wear wolfskin pelts and leather gear and are known as master tanners. Rumours spread that many in the wolf clan are lycanthropes, this may just be myth due to their brutal fighting style that leave their enemies "ripped to shreads."
As a generally agressive clan, the wolf clan have previously sparred with the Bear clan and have a longstanding rivalry with the goat clan. They are also responsible for wiping out the Hawk clan in the early third age after a centuries long blood feud.

Seal Clan

The most affable and well liked of the vilderfolken, the Seal Clan live on the western coast of Aedrinar and trade in seals and whales. Their longships are considered some of the best in the isles and their sailors the strongest. The Seal Clan are long standing allies of the Reindeer Clan and are supposidly the clan that Njord, god of the tides, came from.
Members of the seal clan are known for their large builds and broad shoulders. They tend to have green or grey eyes and be shorter than other aedrinarns but still tall by human standards, usually at around 6" to 6"4.

Goat Clan

A mountain dwelling clan from the east of Aedrinar, the goat clan make good use of the wilderness in the region. Primarly goat herders, the goat clan revel in ancient traditions and wear animal bones as clothing and paint their bodies with dye. Known to be territorial and agressive, the goat clan are universally disliked by settled aedrinarans and other clans alike. They are frequently slandered as 'goat fuckers' and 'hornskulls.'
Goat clan members are known for dwarf like builds of broad features. Their skill in climbing and survival is unparralleled and are experts in using terrain to their advantage. Those who journey through the Eastern Hold must be careful not to wonder too far into goat clan territory or face the rattle of their bones.