North Realms

The North Realms are not united in any way, though they do all share similar cultures and a group of closely related languages collectively called Northern (or the North tongue). The North Realm cultures (and language) are all descended from the Old Kingdoms.

Lands

 * Aujum
 * Bjarmaland
 * Hunaland
 * Kvenland
 * Nidavellir
 * Reidgotaland
 * Sviarland
 * Thule

The Northern Calendar
The Northern calendar is divided into twelve months, or moons—six moons of winter, six of summer. Each moon consists of thirty days, with four days in between the middle of summer called Sumarauki. This is the time of the summer solstice, and the beginning of a new year. The months are generally known simply by a number, such as First Moon (which was dedicated to the goddess Eostre).
 * First Moon-Third Moon: summer


 * Fourth Moon-Ninth Moon: winter

The North Realmers consider the day to begin at sunset. They do not have a concept of week, though they do have the fortnight (half month).
 * Tenth Moon-Twelfth Moon: summer

They measure age in number of winters, as winters are harsh and surviving one is an ordeal.

Northern Religion
The North Realmers worship the Vanir as gods. They erroneously believe the Vanir can hear their prayers and will answer them. However, they also believe it is their own responsibility to impress the gods. They believe valkyries will take those who win glory and honor to Valhalla, a hall of the honored dead in Vanaheim. Those who die without glory and honor are drawn into the gates of Hel in Niflheim.

Because of the focus on glory and honor, men are expected to make their own way in the world. A father rich enough to own a sword would place it in his son’s crib and tell the babe he has nothing but what he can take.

The gods demand sacrifices, and thus food, weapons, treasure, animals, and people are sometimes offered. The North Realmers have no official priests, but vӧlvur and nobles serve as intermediaries to divine will and thus fulfill this function. Vӧlvur also serve as the tribe healers, a function they perform with herbal poultices, primitive spells and invocations (many of which do not actually work), and prayers.