Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cyber-Dave Mar 12, 2009 23:13:32	So, I know they worship Tempus. My question is, does anyone know, do they also worship animal/spirit totems? I am trying to figure out how well primal classes work them. Stuff like Shamans and Barbarians specifically. The Northlanders are pretty much vikings. The barbarian class is very much based off the concept of a viking berserker. However, berskers were warriors sworn to Odin who basically "channeled spirits" (usually the bear or wolf) in order to rage during battle ala 4e barbarians. So, I am trying to figure out, what relation do Northlanders have to spirits in Forgotten Realms? I can't really seem to find very much information on them other then the fact that they come from the Moonshaes, worship Tempus, and pretty much act like vikings.
#2 crossroads_wanderer Mar 13, 2009 0:16:02	Yeah, they also worship Uthgar, who has different totem animals under his domain. I'm not positive, but I think there is also a form of ancestor worship, so they are connected to the spirits as well.
#3 sfdragon Mar 13, 2009 2:04:20	how far north?? Barbarians of Icewind dale north? or Uthgardt barbarian tribes of the north north?? the barbarians tribes of the north, the elk(not to be confused with the uthgardt elk) worship Tempos, A few mind you would worship others. the Uthgarst Elk worship Auril the Uthgardt wolf worships Malar the rest of the Uthgardt worship Uthgardt, they also worship Tempus, and maybe the Red Knight.
#4 wannabesuperman Mar 13, 2009 7:21:48	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/frnovel/954417400 This is what you're looking for. Read this novel. It's pre-Spellplague, but as you'll find out in the book, some things withstand the test of time.
#5 Cyber-Dave Mar 13, 2009 11:53:14	how far north?? ...the Northlander refers to a specific culture, not a people who come from the north. Its one of the two cultures of humans that live in the Moonshae isles. One is the Ffolk, the other are the Northlanders. Ffolk sort of seem like Celts. Northlanders are a spitting image of Vikings.
#6 Cyber-Dave Mar 13, 2009 11:55:53	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/frnovel/954417400 This is what you're looking for. Read this novel. It's pre-Spellplague, but as you'll find out in the book, some things withstand the test of time. I am going to be honest... I hate D&D novels. I just read a couple of the post spell plague ones (because I needed some information on Aboleth Sovereignty) and I had totally forgot how awful D&D fiction is. I am in no rush to read another D&D novel. Would you mind perhaps just summing up the parts that deal with Northlander spirit worship? EDIT: And, do the Northlanders of the Moonshae Isles (I'm talking Norlanders specifically) worship Uthgar? That is not the impression I got. I thought that was only the Uthgardt tribes...
#7 markustay63 Mar 13, 2009 13:21:40	No, they do not. AFAIK, the ones from the Moonshaes worship Talos exclusively. There are various 'Beast-cults' associated with Chauntea's Earthmother Aspect in the Moonshaes, but that is only with the Ffolk, not the Northlanders. If you want, since they exist on all the Islands, you could say that these beast-cults have transferred to the Northlander's version of Talos-worship, but that would be Homebrew. You have Leviathan (Whale-like), Kamerynn (Unicorn), and 'The Pack' (Wild Hunt with wolves) for Chauntea (Earthmother), and Kazgoroth (Tyrannosaur-like, but is under Malar's jurisdiction). Malar's presence in the Moonshaes indicates that it is entirely possible that some of Uthgar's beast cults may have transferred to the islands (once again, that would be a DM decision, but highly plausible).
#8 Cyber-Dave Mar 13, 2009 14:04:09	No, they do not. AFAIK, the ones from the Moonshaes worship Talos exclusively. There are various 'Beast-cults' associated with Chauntea's Earthmother Aspect in the Moonshaes, but that is only with the Ffolk, not the Northlanders. If you want, since they exist on all the Islands, you could say that these beast-cults have transferred to the Northlander's version of Talos-worship, but that would be Homebrew. You have Leviathan (Whale-like), Kamerynn (Unicorn), and 'The Pack' (Wild Hunt with wolves) for Chauntea (Earthmother), and Kazgoroth (Tyrannosaur-like, but is under Malar's jurisdiction). Malar's presence in the Moonshaes indicates that it is entirely possible that some of Uthgar's beast cults may have transferred to the islands (once again, that would be a DM decision, but highly plausible). Thank you very much. This is awesome. So, if I may ask for your help again: your ideas are awesome for the FR game i run. However, this particular line of questioning is actually not for my game, but for a character I am creating for a LFR game in my area. As such, I can't just add in homebrew stuff. I sort of need to stick as close to the RAW as possible. So, my question is, what is the best way to flavor a "barbarian" class among the Northlanders of Norland? I mean, the concept of Berzerker warriors of Talos certainly seems to fit! They are pretty much Vikings, and the concept of Berzerkers comes from the Vikings. However, with the Northlanders worshiping Talos exclusively, I am not really sure how to explain the "primal" fluff of the barbarian class... It would be easy if I chose Alaron for my characters birth place. There the Ffolk culture and the Northlander culture have fused due to intermarriage. But, I sort of wanted to play one that comes from Norland specifically. That is to say, still a warlike Northlander who believes conflict is the gauntlet by which his faith to Talos can be tested. More of a "pure-bred" Northlander if you will. And, I am really not sure how to explain the "primal" fluff or power source of the barbarian in relation to that. EDIT: Looking into things a little more, it really seems like they took the more primal aspects of Viking culture and put those into the Uthgardt tribes, and kept the Northmen a little more cosmopolitan. Does a primal berserker warrior even fit with the Northmen fluff? And, if not, what regional background would one pick to play an Uthgardt?
#9 markustay63 Mar 13, 2009 14:50:04	Easy-Peasy, Lemon Sqeezy. :D In 4e, Talos = Grumsh! Thats a great connection, since 'barbarian' is really an Orc/Grumsh thing. However, its a bit strage to have your Northlander Barabrians worshipping Grumsh (even if it appears to be okay in 4e). So we need to tinker a little... Another name for Talos is Bhaelros, used in the southern lands of Intrigue (which aren't all that far from the Moonsahes). This is a more 'primal' aspect of Talos, and is almost like a amalgam of Grumsh and Talos (Eureka!). There are also barabrian tribes in Calimshan - called the 'Lion Tribes', because most worshp an aspect of Nobanion or Sharess. However, one tribe - the Sala-min - also venerates Bhaelros, and put him above all others (all tribes pay him lip-service, because he is part of the regions pantheon). Thers your connection. We have a canon example of at least one tribe of 'Beast Worshippers' also reveling in the wanton destruction of Talos (as Bhaelros). All you need do is suggest that an aspct of Talos/Grumsh - Bhaelros - is also worshipped among the Northlanders. These 'brotherhoods' of Beserkers would follow Bhael'ros, Talos's even more chaotic aspect (who is similar to Grumsh, except in physical apearance - he looks more like a barabarian). Since Talos is already worshipped there, and Bhaelros is simply another name for that God, you aren't changing a thing - you are simply establishing a line of canon your PC concept has derived from. ;)
#10 Cyber-Dave Mar 13, 2009 14:55:17	Neat, that works. Something else I found that seems kind of pertinent: "The fearless Lord of Battle views war as a force of nature that shapes and reshapes civilization." If war is a force of nature, it would seem logical that at least some of his more primal followers might see nature as a force of war, no?
#11 markustay63 Mar 13, 2009 14:56:38	Absolutely. Bhaelros is the aspect that pushes that particular dogma.
#12 Cyber-Dave Mar 13, 2009 15:42:08	Ok, so my fluff is set. Eric Bjorn, son or Fenrik Bjorn the shipwright, is almost ready to be played. :D