The Clan Domain of Ringmark
by Jacob SkytteRingmark is situated in the extreme north end of Noslo Island in the Kingdom of Ostland. The domain includes four hexes of light forest and three hexes of hills. The (relative) abundance of wood means that Ringmark exports some wood to the neighbouring domains of Sumarland and Hammersholm. Foreigners clearly proclaiming their peaceful intentions would be allowed at the court, but since they are unaware of this it is a rare occurrence indeed. Other Ostlanders are welcomed. In the past Clan Ringmark raided Alphatian countries, but since his marriage the jarl has mostly raided the Norwold coast. His men are left to raid any place they see fit though.
Head of Domain: Herjolk Eirikson is the jarl of Ringmark and he rules from his great hall of Fjallasen.
Population: 3500 people live in Ringmark. Of these 400 are thralls, 2200 are non-warrior freemen, and 900 are warriors. 2000 people will take up arms during conflicts. The jarl does not keep personal thralls, but he does allow his subjects to.
FJALLASEN
A village of 400, Fjallasen is located by Noerrebugt (Northern Bay). To the east are hills and to the west is the forest. Fjallasen has some farmland, but is mostly a community of fishers. The jarl's men fish when not raiding.
Herjolk Eirikson
Lawful 10th level Fighter (Str 15, Int 11, Wis 13, Dex 7, Con 15, Cha 15, AC 6, hp 45)
Personality Traits: Peaceful/Violent 13/7, Reverent/Godless 14/6, Trusting/Suspicious 13/7, Loyal/Unreliable 15/5, Dogmatic/Open-Minded 5/15
39 years old, Black hair, Purple eyes
Herjolk is the only son of jarl Eirik Horse-Strangler and Tristella, a former Alphatian thrall. During a raid on Helskir, Eirik grabbed the terrified Tristella and brought her back with him to become a serving girl. Eirik, however, became infatuated with the foreign beauty, and she with his rough charm. Eventually he elevated her from thrall to his wife. Herjolk has inherited his mother's good looks and his father's physique. He hardly looks like a northman, more like a pure Alphatian, and this is often the cause of many good-natured jokes among his men. Herjolk takes this calmly, knowing it is a sign of affection more than anything else.
Though Herjolk has much of his mother's peaceful temper, he is a northman raider, and does personally lead a raid or two each year. Most of the time though, he leaves the raiding to his trusted house guard. Five years ago Herjolk broke his right leg during a raid, and it has never really mended right. This makes him slow in combat, but he usually makes up for it with brute strength. He refuses clerical healing, believing it is the will of the Gods.
In combat Herjolk wears chain mail and wields a two-handed sword+1 called "Aske's Værn" (the Guard of Aske). The sword is inscribed with an Algir rune (upon activation the weapon can automatically parry one attack within 10 rounds). Herjolk cannot activate this rune, however, since he is not a godi.
Rune MagicThe Ostlanders have knowledge of rituals involving so-called Rune Magic. The cults of the Ostland pantheon know rituals that allow them to recognise, use and sometimes create Runes. These Runes are a special sort of magic that grant various benefits, depending on the type of Rune, when invoked. Rune Magic is clerical and consists of the following spells: Interpret Runes (2nd level), allowing the godi to ask for guidance; Bless Rune (2nd level), which activates a given Rune but requires the godi to have knowledge of its uses; Know Rune (3rd level), a spell that allows a godi to learn a single Rune, it is accompanied by a taxing ritual that costs a point of Constitution; and Inscribe Rune (3rd level), which allows the godi to create an object bearing a given Rune. Rune Magic is very powerful magic, 24 so-called Power Runes of Odin are fairly well known, but there are many, many more. In fact it is said that everything in existence has a corresponding Rune. |
Herjolk has a sister, Ingeborg Tristellasdottir, and was married to Katla Gudrunsdottir, who died during childbirth three years ago. He has three children, all of them girls: Asta Katlasdottir (19), Yrsa Katlasdottir (12) and Thordis Katlasdottir (3).
Asta (Lawful F3; Energetic/Lazy 16/4, Courageous/Fearful 15/5, Reverent/Godless 15/5) joined the Royal Household at the Court of Cnute two years ago. She is among the shield-maidens, but is finding it hard to advance due to her exotic looks (like her father she looks more like a pure Alphatian than a healthy Northland maiden).
Yrsa (Lawful MU1; Peaceful/Violent 13/7, Courageous/Fearful 8/12, Honest/Deceitful 14/6) is following in the footsteps of her grandmother and aunt, and is just beginning to learn magic. She is rather scared of weapons and big fighters. She has just learned Protection from Evil and practices casting it in private.
Tristella
Lawful 9th level Magic-User (Str 6, Int 14, Wis 13, Dex 15, Con 11, Cha 15, AC 7, hp 23)
Personality Traits: Peaceful/Violent 15/5, Forgiving/Vengeful 14/6, Loyal/Unreliable 14/6
58 years old, Black hair (streaked with white), Purple eyes
A former Alphatian thrall of Herjolk's father, jarl Eirik Horse-Strangler, Tristella eventually gave in to Eirik and became his wife. She has been treated respectfully but cautiously ever since, because of her magical abilities. Tristella does not openly display her powers, so most of the men do not hold anything against her. She occasionally misses her former life, but Eirik never let her leave Ringmark for fear that she wouldn't return, and now she wouldn't know what to do back in Helskir.
When Tristella discovers the potential for magic in members of her family, she quietly starts tutoring them. This was a major cause of argument between her and her husband that resulted in their having separate sleeping areas, but she did get her will. After Eirik's death, 10 years ago, her son Herjolk became jarl, and she is very proud of the man he has become. In combat situations Tristella fights with a dagger. She wears a ring of protection+1.
Spells usually carried:
1st level: Hold Portal, Light, Protection from Evil
2nd level: Detect Evil, Locate Object, Wizard Lock
3rd level: Hold Person, Protection from Normal Missiles, Water Breathing
4th level: Confusion, Wizard Eye
5th level: Feeblemind
Ingeborg Tristellasdottir
Lawful 7th level Magic-User (Str 12, Int 13, Wis 11, Dex 17, Con 13, Cha 14, AC 7, hp 29)
Personality Traits: Cautious/Rash 16/4, Modest/Proud 14/6, Peaceful/Violent 15/5, Loyal/Unreliable 14/6, Dogmatic/Open-Minded 4/16, Trusting/Suspicious 5/15
34 years old, Black hair, Purple eyes
Herjolk's sister Ingeborg looks much like her mother, Tristella. When she was small her father Eirik wanted her to become a great warrior woman, but her careful nature did not lend itself well to fighting. Her mother, seeing her magical potential, took her aside one day and explained a few things to her. This turned her to magic, but not before several arguments among her parents. Tristella's quiet insistence won out eventually, and Ingeborg learned the ways of the wizard.
Ingeborg is graceful and charming and has turned many a northman head in her time. She is very guarded among the powerful warriors however, and most of them are intimidated by her magical abilities. This means that she has never married. Currently she is quite satisfied advising her brother and tutoring her niece Yrsa in the ways of magic. If Ingeborg should be attacked, she can defend herself with the dagger she always carries. She is unskilled though, doing only half damage.
Spells usually carried:
1st level: Hold Portal, Protection from Evil, Sleep
2nd level: Detect Evil, Wizard Lock
3rd level: Haste, Protection from Normal Missiles
4th level: Confusion