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The World Serpent

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Arcane Magic in New Midgard

Magic in the realm of New Midgard is has an interesting place. The followers of the Old Gods find the arcane arts to be a gift from Freya or, perhaps, a curse from Loki, particularly as it manifests in Sorcerers. Wizards, on the other hand, are a different story altogether since they commit their lives to the study of the arts, and may be considered as "bypassing the will of the gods" in order to empower themselves. Simply put, they are beyond most people's comprehension. Outliers may think of them as blasphemers that are a threat to the realm, and go so far as to have them hanged. Even if they speak this way, their fear usually holds them at bay. The Church of the First Principal generally accepts the arcane arts (accept for necromancy or blood magic).

Wizards typically learn one of two ways: they either learn from the Academy (see below) or, a wizard mentor (often someone who doesn’t agree with the Academy’s methods, or, is an apostate that was kicked out of the Academy).

Academy of the Nine

Located in West Mastiff's District of Svardiholm, the Acadamy of the Nine is a campus for the studies of arcane magic. Nine separate buildings, eight holding classrooms dedicated to each of the schools of magic. Each of the eight schools sit in the exact positions of an octogram, with pathways connecting them almost as if they were ley lines. One door-less tower sits in the middle, where the Council of the Nine Archmagi operate the academy. The academy has rigid structure, and when students complete their courses and write their thesis they receive their spell book. The Nine frown upon wizards who have not completed their schooling, sometimes, branding them as apostates (depending on how the Council votes). Outsiders feel that the Academy’s syllabus is far too rigid and it stunts the development and creative uses of magic. Historically, the Academy is politically neutral until they think they need to act and when they do act it is after a long period of debates and deliberation.

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Holy Orders

- The Monastic Order of Freya-

In the wooded Fylkk mountains there is a monastery dedicated to the warrior ways of Freya. Isolated in the treacherous mountains just finding a way up without dying is a feat in and of itself.

But that's the easy part.

Once tested, and accepted, it is said that 1 in 10 actually make it through the training. Although, this is only rumor. Nobody truly knows what is involved because each monk takes on a geas to never speak on the test or the training, or any other secrets.

The monks of this order wear blue and silver robes, and they command respect as they are some of the best warriors in the world.

-The Sons of Odin-

The mighty champions of Thor can be found patrolling the Reach, always willing to fight for the weak and to free the enslaved. Throughout history, they have been known to defy the orders of many jarls, claiming that the only lord they would ever kneel down to is Thor himself - but he would never ask it. They have little respect for feudalism, or anything else that would impose on a person's free will.

Often times they wear red cloaks, heavy armor that leave their strong arms exposed, but they always wield mighty hammers and are on the look out for mjolnir, in case Thor has lost it again.

-Temple of the Covered Eye-

Odin's most devout followers carry out rituals of sacrifice in these holy temples to the Allfather. These temples contain the oldest of tomes, rich in religious and historical lore. Typically they are willing to share this information with people of all faiths for a donation.

-The Brotherhood of the First Principal-

While the Church of Hyperion is focused on their flock and spreading the Light, the BFP is dedicated to researching Demonology. Holy Warriors, Champions and clerics of great faith that take their job seriously by seeking out the most evil beings in existence to the point of obsession. They can be identified by their golden and red armor often emblazoned with a brazier of fire.

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The Reach - Arenfest

Arenfest is a large town in the northern part of the Reach. It is run by Baron Julian Ledven and Mayor Wendal Yurip. It is mostly known for being town for trade, primarily in furs and leather working and a large tannery. The people of Arenfest worship the Old Gods and there is a temple to Freya – although, most of the Old Gods are respected here. Peoples that live in the outskirts come in to town regularly to conduct their trade, and buy supplies, seed for their farms (at an up marked price), and feed for their ranches.  

That is not all that Arenfest has to offer though, as there are a couple of inns that feature lively taverns for entertainment, blacksmiths, and a mysterious wizard's tower about a day's travel to the south. Just outside the edge of town there is an old ruined keep called Tyrenkarg.

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Deities and Domains

Odin, LN

Odin, the Allfather is the creator of man. Seeker of knowledge and wisdom which he went through great pains to acquire (including sacrificing one of his eyes) and he passes down to all in the form of poetry. His seat is in Valhalla where half of the warriors who die in battle go in the afterlife.  

Edicts bring about civilization, seek knowledge, follow the law

Anathema destroy tomes of knowledge, steal, undermine a law-abiding court

Follower Alignments LG, LN, LE

Devotee Benefits

Divine font heal or harm

Divine skill Society

Favored Weapon spear

Domains air, ambition, creation, knowledge

Cleric spells 1st level protection, 3rd heroism, 7th divine vessel

Freya, CG

Freya is the most beautiful of the gods but also one of the most fierce. She sees to the other half of mortals that died in combat in Folksvanger. The Valkyries are also under her command. Freya is also known to be a powerful sorceress.  

Edicts honor in combat, appreciate natural beauty and love in all forms, seek the powers of the arcane

Anathema letting someone die of age or sickness, disfigurement, destruction of the arcane

Follower Alignments LG, NG, CG

Devotee Benefits

Divine font heal

Divine skill intimidation

Favored Weapon long sword

Domains confidence , magic, might, passion

Cleric spells 1st level magic weapon, 3rd level haste, 7th level spell turning

Thor, CG

Thor, the god of thunder and protector of the people. The son of Odin often acts first and thinks later but he is synonymous with good, might, and his might hammer, Mjolnir.  

Edicts protect those who cannot protect themselves, maintain your strength and always be ready for a fight, drink good mead

Anathema backing down from a one on one fight, letting the weak suffer, allowing your weapon to be stolen

Follower Alignments LG, NG, CG

Devotee Benefits

Divine font heal

Divine skill athletics

Favored Weapon hammer

Domains confidence, might, truth, zeal

Cleric spells1st level shocking grasp, 3rd level lightning bolt , 6th level chain lightning

Loki, CE

Sometimes he helps the other gods. Sometimes he torments them. One time, he killed one; Baldr, Thor's brother. Loki is a shape-shifter, a cunning deceiver, a master manipulator. Everything he has brought forth into the realms seems to spell doom for all the gods. Not Thor's brother. Not half-giant. Not Odin's son.

Edicts it is better to trick another into doing your foul deeds, do not allow others to get in the way of your progress, castles and thrones were built to crumble

Anathema get caught in your nefarious dealings, trade a secret freely, show mercy

Follower Alignments NE, CE, CN

Devotee Benefits

Divine font harm

Divine skill deception

Favored Weapon dagger

Domains destruction, fire, indulgence, trickery

Cleric spells 1st level illusory disguise, 2nd level invisibility, 3rd level enthrall, 5th level hallucination, 6th level mislead

Hel, LN

The daughter of Loki and a jotun, she is the ruler of Hel. Blue skinned and muscular in appearance, she rules over those who died of sickness and old age. Hel has many servants who tend to the dead and she rules with an iron fist. She holds the dead god Baldr as prisoner in her realm.  

Edicts strive to understand ancient prophecies (Ragnarok), destroy the undead, lay bodies to rest

Anathema create undead, rob a tomb, desecrate a corpse

Follower Alignments LN, N, LE

Devotee Benefits

Divine font harm or heal

Divine skill medicine

Favored Weapon staff

Domains death, fate, healing, knowledge

Cleric spells 1st level mindlink, 3rd level ghostly weapon, 4th level phantasmal killer 

Hyperion, NG

Hyperion is the Light and the Creator, Keeper of the worldsoul, author of The First Principal. There have been a great many interpretations of Hyperion, however, he mostly represents as a force of good and all good deeds come from Him, as well as critical thought and sentience.  

Edicts good deeds matter more than faith; lead by example, be peaceful, be pious

Anathema refuse to accept surrender, ignore the needy, broker with evil

Follower Alignments LG, NG, CG

Devotee Benefits

Divine font heal

Divine skill diplomacy

Favored Weapon whip

Domains creation, family, healing, protection

Cleric spells 1st level color spray, 3rd level enthrall, 4th level creation

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Religions

The Old Gods

Chased or driven from another world by Ragnarok, the Old Gods escaped fate and resettled here, on New Midgard.

Odin, the All-Father who is wise, cunning and all-knowing

Odin is considered to be one of the most powerful of the gods. Often depicted in a wide brimmed hat with an eye-patch (usually concealed by the hat), with a raven and a wolf. Or he is riding the skies on his eight legged steed and wielding a spear as he flies into battle. Odin is the ruler of Asgard, and his wife is Frigg, with home he had a son named Baldr. Odin also is the keeper of Valhalla, where warriors go when they die, however, half of the dead warriors are to go to Folkvangr which is overseen by the powerful goddess Freya. While Odin oversees Vallhalla, it is also said that he created the first humans by slaying a primordial being.Odin is revered by many, but especially skalds, for Odin is said to have become a poet when he drank the Mead of Poetry.

Frigg, Wife of Odin, master of secrets, seer of the future

Frigg's tale is one of tragedy, for with Odin she bore a son and named him Baldr. A god in his own right, Frigg, being able to see the future was haunted by visons of Baldr's death. Obsessed, she asked every plant, stone, and metal to not harm Baldr. However, Loki discovers this and is not pleased, so, he appears to Frigg in the form of a woman. Frigg tells the "woman" that weapons and wood will not harm Baldr, for she has received oaths from them all. Except one, because it seemed too young. The mistletoe. Loki comes upon gods that are trying to harm Baldr with weapons for fun. Loki gives Baldr's brother the mistletoe shaped into an arrow, who shoots it at him and kills him.

Freya, The Lady, goddess of war, death, love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, and sorcery

Freya is one of the most powerful of the gods, often depicted in a cloak of falcon feathers and accompanied by her boar Hildisvini. She rules the heavenly field Folkvanger in Asgard. Her husband, the god Oor is often gone, and she cries tears of red gold for him, and searches for him under aliases. In spite of her sensitivity, she can be quick to wrath, and her power is such that even Thor and Loki do not want to incur her wrath for she is a great sorceress and commands the Valkyrie.

Thor, God of Thunder

You know Thor.

Loki, the Trickster God

Much can be said of Loki's deeds, and he was considered to be sometimes helpful, sometimes malicious, but once he killed Baldr he was bound up for eternity, with a serpent dripping venom onto him in ceaseless torture. When he writhes in pain earthquakes occur. It is said, with the onset of Ragnarok Like is foretold to slip free and fight against the gods along side the uprising of the jotnar (giants). Loki is a deviant, and is said to have had relations with a jotun (giant), who sired the wolf that will eat the sun, Fenrir, the world serpent Jormungandr, and the demi-goddess Hel.

Hel, Goddess of Death

Hel, the daughter of Loki and the giant Angrbooa was ordered to rule over Hel in Niflheim by Odin, where she is in charge of the dishonorable dead (those that did not die in battle).

Hyperion, the First Principal

Introduced by distant nations and by the influence of Imperator Magne, The First Principal is the fastest growing faith in Skelljar.

In the dualistic faith of light and darkness, Hyperion represents Light. He created light, stars, moon, skies and the world.

He does have children as guardians of each of these realms, yet Hyperion is the almighty creator. This god also watches over the seasons and movement of the worlds, tending to life.

The First Principal is a faith that is rooted in mysticism, and the belief in the God of all, and the worldsoul which binds everything together. Hyperion is the name of The One and The Good, ineffable and unknowable. The First Principal's philosophy has a wide variety of interpretations, and while the worldsoul binds all together, it does not discount individuality and separate souls attached to all mortals – that will be accepted into the whole of the worldsoul. The First Principal does not believe in evil or an evil deity comparing Good to light, and Evil to dark. In so much as darkness is simply the absence of light, evil is the absence of good.

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Factions

Assassins

Black Dahlia Society - Secretive even for an assassin's guild, the BDS prefers to manipulate the world of politics via killing important people. Nobody knows who they are or what they represent, but whispers always spread when someone is found dead with black petals under their tongue.

Runninghoods: The methodical Runninghoods are a blood for gold business. That being said, they don't accept contracts immediately, they first ask for a down-payment while they research the target – then come back with a quote. Once the contract is signed the Runninghoods do not cease their hunt until the target is dead. From time to time, a particularly difficult target will become a "cold hit" which the hoods may outsource out for a cut of the price, should they run across someone that is trustworthy and capable.Most people do not know their base of operations or how to contact them, but rumor has it that they operate out of some sort of a legitimate shop as a front to their business.

Rangers

Ranger Lodges: There is a wide variance in how each lodge is run due to several reasons. Each is in a different region, with different laws to obey (or skirt around), and unique environments and threats that must be dealt with. One code is to be upheld: protect the locals from the wild, and do not kill unnecessarily. An example would be, a wolf pack is killing a farmer's sheep, killing those wolves would serve no purpose as more will keep coming – it would be the ranger's duty to find out why the wolves are switching territories, what is the reason that they have left their usual territory? Did some troll encroach, and push them out? Slay the troll. Is the wolf's prey dying off for ecological reasons? Find a druid to help out.Rangers are often travelling alone so they are expected to use discretion. A Lodge would never grant payment or title to a ranger that could not be trusted to use sound judgment.Lodges have certain offerings to the public such as dried meats and furs. The Lodges are typically self-sustaining but some Lords do see their value (or, they want to curry favor with the small folk) and put some of their tax money toward improving their local lodge, or contract them out to help with expansion (although some frown upon this).On the solstices, the Lodge Leaders all meet at a different lodge to discuss threats that they have seen and share tactics, swap stories, and drink ale.Society finds the rangers to be honorable people of integrity, but strange. They might approach a ranger with all sorts of strange problems and they would be expected to handle it. Children often dream of becoming a ranger, or a warrior, if they are raised in the Old Ways.Lodge naming conventions are as follows [Greatest Monster Slain] Lodge of [Region]. Example: Frost Giant Lodge of The Reach.

Thieves

The Silver Agency – This thieves' guild is one that is unique. Not known to get into open fights, or racketeering, they tend to steal from the elite then donate to orphanages – which is where they get their best recruits. Captains will oversee the training of orphans, and they use the children as needed – distractions in public, or as servants to gain access into the homes of the wealthy. They tend to disguise themselves as needed, usually looking like beggars and using a unique version of Thieves Cant to identify each other. Their direct political power may be lacking, but they make up for it in a wide network of beggars and children who stumble upon the greatest of secrets and intel.

The Cleaners - Posing as a union for construction and sanitation workers, they swiftly move in and force them to pay for insurance on their job sites or face the consequences. If they refuse, they threaten, blackmail, or undercut their prices and completely take over the work on their own. As a result, only the wealthiest can afford construction or sanitation services. They are often dressed in fine clothes and use easy to conceal weaponry.

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Introduction

Hel Bound

We begin our journey within the young Empire of Skelljar (SKEL-yar). Twenty-two winters ago, a war that has endured for generations came to an end, with one lord sitting on top. You see, this lord, he was the wealthiest, his land was the richest, and when famine struck he did not hold to the time honored traditions to yield and feed the people - no, he held his grain stocks as people starved. The other lords were forced to kneel, and this southern lord, jarl Magne Voll declared himself Imperator Magne over all of Skelljar. Magne has rejected the Old Gods and has introduced a new faith from across the sea; Hyperion, the First Principal. Twenty-two years of peace hangs by a thread, but Imperator Magne holds all of the cards, and those who believe in the Old Ways cannot abide a life bending the knee, for to die old and weak is a slow painful march to Hel.

The ReachYou will start in a region called The Reach, which is roughly 100 miles north of Skelljar's capital as the crow flies. It holds several towns, villages, the Warely Timberwood, mountains and blasted lands to the north east where orc tribes dwell. The largest town nearby is Arenfest, then there is the village of Bamor, and Mjorindell. One city lies just outside the Reach, called Holmshammer which is a coastal city with rich vineyards and a busy port.In the Reach, the Old Gods are the dominant faith.