Expanding the Northern Reaches: the Huskarl
by Marc Saindon(re-skin of the Samurai 5e Fighter Archetype in Xanathar's Guide)
One of the problems with the Monk class is that, despite Ki being universal, it is intrisincally tied to an oriental setting and if you're not playing in Ochalea, your character is a bit out of place. The same applies to the Samurai subclass -- if you're not campaigning in Myoshima or Yasuke, it becomes harder to integrate.
The subclass should have been called something like 'Aristocratic Fighter': you're a noble, you're trained for fighter since childhood in a disciplined way, but you've also been given practical skills in logistics to help your patron run his Dominion. This can be a Samurai bound to a Daimyo, a Knight serving a Baron, or a Huskarl serving a Jarl.
In the Northern Reaches, as a Huskarl, you're not some frenzied Berserker, an outcast Mercenary, half-naked Beastmaster in a hide loin cloth, or an illiterate Barbarian. You're sponsored by a Jarl. He gives you a ring as proof of this (recalling both the Nibelungen and LOTR) or a well-crafted bracelet. You got access to better weapons and armors. You're automatically invited to all of his parties. You live in his Great Hall, or if the Jarl is prosperous enough, in the Hall of the Jarl's Champion (the top Huskarl, not the subclass). In wars, you serve in the command staff, either as an aide or guard to the Jarl, or as an officer with delegated units. In peaceful intervals, you count the loot and collect taxes, train yourself in combat and engage in various tough guy contests (arm wrestling, flyting, drinking, axe throwing). You maintain order during the Jarl's court sessions and the Thing (assembly). You pursue romance within your caste, trying to secure properties and holdings through mariage, to gain alliances that maybe will help you become your own Jarl some day.
A select few Huskarls might even serve as bodyguards and elite troops for important rulers, like the emperor of Thyatis.
Huskarls are probably more common in Soderfjord, where the many Jarls need the best possible troops but can only logistically maintain small armies year-round, where as Vestland as a larger kingdom has the resources to maintain a much larger permanent army (of less skilled Fighters). The insular nature of Ostland means that several small armies are maintained in each island rather than large forces, so the Huskarl would also be a popular career path (after Raider). A Huskarl might also set up shop in the Isle of Dawn colonies, hoping to gather enough resources to have the capacity to declare a Jarl (without his neighbors laughing).
(art from: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/35/03/f1/3503f1cded50a099e967de61b16fa14f.jpg)