So, my character idea is a Human Swordmage that is similar to a viking. Warrior that happened to be adept at magic and channels it through the sword, ect.
Which brings us to the topic question. Are there any lands that would have humans that are like vikings? I dont quite mean the stereotypical kind you see on TV. I just mean a warrior culture from a colder environment that isnt quite as developed as places like Neverwinter and Baldurs Gate. The Nord race from the Elder Scrolls series is another example.
There's the Uthgardt could probably qualify as well, with a more tribal and less naval theme. They're in the North in general, but tends towards a semi-nomadic existance, so I'm not sure that's quite what you had in mind. Same goes for the Reghed barbarians... or something like that, who live up around Ten Towns. If you don't mind the lack of naval influence, those two could work, otherwise, I'd suggest the Illuskans. At any rate, the Sword Coast North, the Silver Marches, and just the North in general would probably be the best region for what you're looking for.
Ill look into those that were mentioned and see what fits well. thanks
I think they get into an allegiance in the 2nd to 3rd book.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080110
The Illuskans are a pretty good approximation for sure, but somehow, really wide spread w/ the advent of portals and other "convenient" plot devices. They got as far out as Rashemen I believe, clearing the better part of the northern continent.
Stigger mentioned the Uthgardt which are also very Viking-esque, a bit more primitive and barbaric though, beast totems and the like.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frx/20050428a
Rus as vikings? If you squint hard enough... yeah, I guess you could make that argument fairly well, so long as you give them Russian accents at the table.
The real world vikings who made it into the interior of europe were called the Rus. So are the Northmen who traveled by portal to Rashemen.
You have Fyodor of Rashemen (Starlight and Shadows trilogy) and Wulfgar, son of Beornegar (Icewind Dale trilogy and many others) as great examples if you feel like reading some of the novels. Otherwise pick up a source guide and check out the areas.
So are the Northmen who traveled by portal to Rashemen.
Those guys are all related? Didnt know that. How long ago was that because they aren't very similar I think.
Of course, 'Viking' just means going out for trade, exploration, piracy and pillaging, etc.
Those guys are all related? Didnt know that. How long ago was that because they aren't very similar I think.
-105 DR (Year of the Bloody Goad)
An Illuskan tribe known as the Rus, led by their chieftain Yvengi, stumble upon a malfunctioning portal in the Whalebones. It deposited them on the eastern shore of Lake Ashane in far away Rashemen.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080110
Anyway, yeah, Illuskans are all over the damn place and their lineage/cultures has morphed a few times over w/ little real sense behind it. "Uh, a wizard did it" seems to be the convenient mantra to explain plot device 'x', but people just love 'em, so, who knows.
The Rus kinda' fit given all their berserker lodges too in that respect, but attributing that savagery culturually to that area is suspect. A lot of that typical "viking berserker" horror IRL is attributed to generous amounts of mead & psilocybin (makes is easier to justify mass violence psychologically), cultural elitism (Dane Law, lesser races, etc.), lack of resources (raid or starve often) and plenty of other independent variables. Now, on Faerun, no one knows, but for some reason, the big primal, savages apparently come from Rashemen. Shouldn't the true die hards be more than just Illuskan humans w/ levels in Barbarian to net Rage from outside the Unapproachable East?
Granted, Rashemen is unforgiving and all, but Icewind Dale and the North coasts (their origins, right?) aren't exactly picniks either. All they did was fight. Even now, the northern Moonshaes (Illuskan) fight routinely vs. the souther Moonshaes (Ffolk). Uthgardt remanants are fairly brutal & tribal factioned as well. Silvermarches & the North are defined by warfare.
Consdier, Orc hordes time and time again. Isn't that what whiped out quite a few kingdoms in traditionally Illuskan territory? I mean, Hordebreaker (PrC, Silvermarches) probably gives a good nod to that maybe. Who knows.
Oh, and for those considering playing one, particularly a tank, Jotunbrud (feat, Races of Faerun) is pretty damn close to actual "tank" in terms of sheer mass and combat potential. Well worth the feat.
My but those Illuskan got around... more like Vikings than I thought they were then. :D
True, very true. Long ships, axes, meadhalls, 'x' son of 'y', gifts of fury, etc.
Not exactly a discrete comparison I guess. But, if the shoe fits and all...
Ever since 2nd ed, it didn't take long for us to realize that most Faerunian cultures are more or less lifted and slightly tweaked Earthen ones, Illuskans and Mulani being the really obvious winners I guess. But even then, Calimshites, Tashalans, etc. are only a National Geographic away from RL standards. I don't mind it, nay, I actually prefer it. Makes DM'ing easier and gives me a better bearing on, excuse the expression, "keeping it real".
Illusks: It occured to me when I was plugging the New World, Leif Erikson bit that perhaps your travel mention was the model they used for FR. I mean, hopscotching from Scandanavia to the UK to Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, etc. w/out the benefit of any weather, healing, or transportive magics during the Dark Ages must've been a pain in the ass. The Illusks cleared all of North Faerun, which by continental standards is enormous, and the terrain forbidding...but a portal here and a portal there never hurt.
Funny too, it's the dominant language in Silverymoon (PGtF) which I always thought of like the Athens of the North, more civilized and learned, whereas the Illusks don't come off as so cerebral and progressive (you know, pillaging up and down a coast and all that jazz).
The remnants of that once-great human civilization can be found throughout the north in truly ancient human ruins, and the last survivors of that group left fairly undiluted by others are the Rauthym and the Reghedman.
All in theory, based on what little evidence (and some of Brian's original GHotR) we have. ;)
They pretty much dumped the entire Human Creator race into the sea to accomodate themselves (in theory, of course).
There is NO greater evil then that which puts it's own selfish desires above all others.
There is NO greater evil then that which puts it's own selfish desires above all others.
Well, everyone does that to a degree.
Not defending the Jhaamdath incident, though.
-While none of that is necessarily on topic, it made me think of Netheril...And, the fishing villages that Netheril first was always gave me, at least, a semi-Viking feeling. Barbarian fishermen...
Genocide is the correct thing to do?
They murdered innocent women and children. Had they gone to war and killed soldiers over it, I could see your point, but they condemned an entire people for the stupidity of a few.
Whats your point?
-My point is to start a new thread, so we can talk about it! ;) :P