Barbarian Snow Varangians
Overview
The Varangians (Βάραγγοι, Várangoi)
The Snow Barbarians of the South who also take to longships in their raids further north.The Varangians are the hardy humans who dwell on the Frozen Lands of the Dei Carpi (God's Wrist). These snow-bound areas make for a hard life, and the barbarians who dwell here often have to compete with Orc and Bugbear Tribes in the area for food.
The Verbal tradition of the Varangian state that their lands were once lush and green with a varied climate and herds of wildlife that moved the very earth when they approached. It was a land of plenty, with a mild climate and clear skies. In less than a day the very Earth below them froze solid. The grass withered, the trees petrified, which allowed the people to use them more readily as fire wood. Only the hardy pines and conifers survived. The animal's froze in place, and many of the elderly, infirm died where they stood. Babes froze in their cribs.
The Frozen Generation now reigns in these permanently ice-bound lands. They seek answers for what happened, and justice.
Alliances
The Varangians were forced to forge a loose alliance with the Dwarves of the Southern Ramparts, and this allowed them to survive. They now meet with the Dwarves every year during Winter to re-affirm their Treaty with the Kharazad, called the Thousand Wind-Forge Accord.
Impacts of the Accord
As the Accord has been in place for at least nine generations of Barbarians, the effects of it on Barbarian life are well entrenched. The Barbarians have stronger weaponry, and more skill in building now, and they still roam the Wrist seeking out enemies and food, however, now their warriors create Runeforged Items to develop their personal renown and honor among their people.Languages
The Varangian Barbarians can choose to learn Frost speak as well as Verongian the local dialect of Kharazad.
Birthright Selection
The Varangians allow a baby to choose different courses for life. The main two are chosen by selecting one of two stones - one blue and one white, the choice selects the individual's path.
If a blue stone is chosen, then the soul has chosen the Way of the Sea. The Barbarian in this case is focused on Sea, Ocean, Lake and River skills that allow them to raid at will into the world around them. These Varangians are the Sea-Fated.The most well traveled, and talented in sea-combat - making them very dangerous sea-raiders and pirates.
The Sea-Fated Varangian can choose from the following kits as a Warrior, Ranger, or Rogue.
SEA RANGER -Ranger - PHRB11 Complete Book of Rangers (69)
BUCCANEER -Rogue - PHRB2 Complete Book of Thieves (34)
PIRATE/OUTLAW -Warrior - PHRB1 Complete Book of Fighters (30)
SWASHBUCKLER -Warrior - PHRB1 Complete Book of Fighters (34)
If they choose to be a Barbarian - then Sea-Fated Barbarian is available:
The Varangian who chooses the White Stone, has chosen the Way to Snow, and is trained in survival on the land, facing the adversities of the Frozen heartland of the Varangian Peoples, as a Snow-Fated Warrior.
The Snow-Fated Varangian can choose from the following kits as a Warrior, Ranger, or Rogue.
WILDERNESS WARRIOR -Warrior - PHRB1 Complete Book of Fighters (35)
EXPLORER -Ranger - PHRB11 Complete Book of Rangers (49)
PATHFINDER -Ranger - PHRB11 Complete Book of Rangers (67)
SCOUT - Rogue - PHRB1 Complete Book of Thieves (37)
SKALD - Bard - PHBR7 Complete Bard's Handbook (47)
Or the Snow Fated can choose be a Barbarian.
Barbarian Secondary Skill - Rune Forging
All adventuring Barbarians Gain Runeforging as a part of their training - indeed it is often the reason why they start adventuring - in order to obtain the materials needed to forge their amazing weaponry.Dwarf Runes 1 Intelligence 2 The Complete Book of Dwarves (pg. 43) CDwarf 43
Varangians have developed their own skills with the power of the Dwarven Rune Wheel - it is totally different in function to normal runes. This allows them to 'forge' a Weapon of Renown. It is not something known by the Dwarves, but fundamentally the Barbarian carves Runes into the blade, and then empowers those runes with the dust of destroyed magical items. It is thought that the Gods then bless the weapon as the Barbarian has started to bring the World back into a natural balance - freed from magic.
Sea-Fated Barbarian
The Sea Fated Varangian develops the following seamanship, and water based non weapon proficiencies: The Sea-Fated moved many of the barbarian survivors of the Flash Freeze into the ocean which had not frozen. They changed the survival chances of their people and generations later, they remain sea-based raiders. All Sea-Fated Varangian start with Swimming and Fishing as bonus Non-weapon Proficiencies.They are expected to obtain Navigation, and Seamanship, by Level 3
By Level 7 they are expected to have either:
Boating, (1 Wisdom +1 The Complete Thief's Handbook (pg. 17))
or Boatwrighting (1 Intelligence -2 The Complete Book of Dwarves (pg. 42))
and Canoe-making (1 Wisdom +2 Maztica A Journey to the True World (pg. 56))
or Canoeing (1 Dexterity 0 Maztica A Journey to the True World (pg. 57))
By Level 9 the Sea-Fated are expected to also have gained (mainly from experience):
Astronomy (2 Intelligence 0 War Captain's Companion: Book I (pg. 7)) as well.
Barbarian Horde Variant
A Sea Fated Varangian will attract the normal number of Barbarians for a Horde, but for every 30 men there will be a Longship to carry them, and for every 60 men there will be a Drakkar Longship. Each vessel will also have an extra captain of 5th Level. A successful sea raid based horde will result in the Barbarian being entitled to the title Commodore- Raider.
Equipment Change A Sea-Fated Varangian will gain a Sunstone after having learned Navigation. The Sunstone has the effect of allowing the Barbarian to navigate successfully regardless of weather - except by night. (Source: https://phys.org/news/2011-11-viking-sunstone-myth.html)
Snow-Fated Barbarian
A Snow Fated Varangian is a Varangian who has chosen the white stone - and is therefore devoted to the land. They are an avenging Reaver against the Humanoids and seek to destroy the magical forces that caused the loss of their idyllic lifestyle.
A Snow Fated Varangian is dedicated to being self-reliant, able to survive in any conditions. They are seeking to empower their people and regain the world lost to them. They will gain the following secondary skills as bonus skills for free: Running 1 Constitution -6 Player's Handbook (pg. 63) PHB 63
Hunting 1 Wisdom -1 Player's Handbook (pg. 59) PHB 59
By Level 3 they are expected to have gained:
Direction Sense 1 Wisdom 1 Player's Handbook (pg. 56) PHB 56, and
Fire-building 1 Wisdom -1 Player's Handbook (pg. 58) PHB 58
By level 7 they are expected to gain:
Distance Sense 1 Wisdom 0 The Complete Ranger's Handbook (pg. 83) CRang 83 and
Signalling 1 Intelligence -2 The Complete Ranger's Handbook (pg. 85) CRang 85
By level 9 they must gain: Weather Sense 1 Wisdom -1 Player's Handbook (pg. 65) PHB 65
Comments