Valgard

Valgard is a blend of Medieval Scandinavian Myth and History and Elves from LotR. Alfarians are elegent, intellectual and bloodthirsty, they are never crude nor common.

Valgard is a northern city that lies between Jarnfell and Rusavik, north of vastly profitable grass and farmland.

Valgard is spread out over miles of high rocky terrain where individual districts are separated by winding paths, extruding crags, sacred groves, and solidary keeps, inns, and academies. A public transportation system moves people and goods throughout the city. Lush stables for the Alfarian's pampered Nordsvensk horses can be found at every wayside stop. The entire city is protected by a wall that sits more than three stories below the lowest inhabited structure. The wall of Valgard runs around the mountainside, where the rock wall is to the outside and rockface of the interior. Guard towers are continually manned every few hundred yards. The architecture of the city is a blend of gold stone with dark slate and soaring wooden stave structures with wood shingle rooves. It is said that if one climbs to the highest point of the main castle that they might touch the very heart of the moon.

Valgard is the breadbasket of the northern people, and their rolling grasslands provide cereal crops such as barley, oats, and winter wheat. The average Alfarian eats meat only on festival days, but they have access to a wide selection of imported foods, as they are one of the few cereal crop regions. Alfarian's have a wide and varied diet and, like the Euresu and Dyrlings, are food snobs. Read More

Personality

The Alfarians as a people are highly skilled leaders, easily learning such skills as oration, mediation, tactics, mathematics, linguistics, management, economics, and deployment. They share a set of personality traits that include focus, confidence, integrity, inspiration, innovation, passion, and -very necessary- patience.

Outwardly the Alfarians project an aura of calm wisdom, practice lavish forms of hospitality, and follow the expectations of the Havamal diligently. Inwardly, it is only through intense concentration, physical/martial activity, and steely control that they keep their innate arrogance and violence quietly locked away. Strangely enough, the rest of the north seem to understand this element of Alfarian nature and are careful not to prick their tempers beyond what they can bear. The natural talents of the Alfarians make them a deadly and secretive enemy, able to develop plots within plots, and serve revenge upon a cold platter.

Any Alfarians who must interact with other kingdoms live two separate lives, the one they show the public and the one they keep in private. In public, they are tall proud warriors, who make an effort to become skilled in combat, act in all ways that are considered Drengr, sharpen their skills in flyting, and host lavish feasts. In private they prefer their studies and hobbies that include drafting, mechanics, calligraphy, alchemy, and all other medieval activities such as cooking, blacksmithing, and weaving that might be perfected through skill and practice.

The Alfarian moral and ethical line divides between those of the North and those not of the North. Honor, law, respect, kinship, these things are reserved for their own people, not those of other regions with different values. And while the Alfarin may have some martial respect for the Euresu, be fascinated by Zephrin sciences, and have no beef with the Sythians, it does not change that the other races are not of the North.

The Alfarians are traditionally ruled by a King and Queen, though there have been cases of two kings and two queens.

Appearance

Alfarians are pale skinned with light blond hair and pale eyes. They are above average in height with a Slender-Average Body Type and high boned sharp facial features.

Alfarians prefer a style of clothing that creates an elongated look. Their clothing is chosen both for functionality and showmanship. The overall combination of their items is intended to emphasize their tall and lean frames. Men prefer long, form-fitting embroidered tunics below the knee, belted at the hips with cloaks that drape. Tunics may be as long as ankle length, but they are never closed up in the front or back like a robe would be. (Male fashion styles are a blend of LotR Rohan and LotR Elves).

Women utilize wide varieties of the styles from Earth's middle ages, 1100-1300, with long tunic shaped gowns, cotehardies, sideless surcoats, long braids, and sometimes veils. They prefer high-quality clothing with tasteful designs and decorations. There is a large market for Zuberi fabrics and trim, especially trim shot with metals.

They are likely to use fur and knot-work, as well as gold and silver jewelry that display their wealth. Any fur they wear will be of the finest tanning and of the rarest creatures. Men prefer hard leather boots rather than soft leather or wrapped leggings. The women like hand tools slippers and delicate sandals when the weather is good.

Traditions

The Alfarians spiritual beliefs center around two trees, a silver ash tree and a golden elm tree from whom the first people, Ask and Embla, were created. This duality of shadow and light is played out in the Alfarian personality, their cultural tendencies and in their goddess, Yrsa, who is traditionally depicted as half beautiful woman and half-blind and aging crone. She has a white raven known as Speki (wisdom) and a black raven known as Frœði (knowledge).

The Alfarians believe that an apocalyptic event known as Ragnorok has already happened and that the next afterlife will be found in Hodmimir's Holt, a sacred grove where the ash and elm will be, and a new first people, Lif and Lifthrasir will be reborn. Consequently, all Alfarians are burned on the funeral pyre and then their ashes are buried in the ground with a newly planted tree. Ancestor worship is a strong part of the people's belief and most farms and most villages include a Vårdträd, a sacred guardian tree.

The Valgarin Code includes the virtues of Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Hospitality, Discipline, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance.

Expanded Lore

Further reading and links for the culture obsessed.

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Small Council NPCs

Role	Description
Thord Vamassae Ruler	King Thord is an older Alfarian, nearly 100, but still handsome and strong who is beloved by his people. He has two twin daughters who are as pale-skinned as the moon with sun-kissed hair. Thord rules in the same manner as one might expect an Alfarian to rule, with reason and logic.
Asfrid Athvar Diplomat	Lady Asfrid Athvar is the daughter of the previous diplomat who served the country well, and has followed in her father's footsteps. She is young for the position, being only 40, but a skilled orator able to sway crowds and bring reason to discourse.
Thora Choearil Warlord	General Choeril is one of the Riddari knights. A strong powerful fighter who one her spurs in previous battles and proved that she possesses a deep tactical mind and an understanding of her enemies. She is usually seen in the company of the much younger Asfrid.
Arngrim Huethuil Coinmaster	"Its all a game to be played" is a phrase Arngrim Heuthuil has been known to say. The unusually diminutive Alfarian cares little for wealth other than the acquisition of it. It is the challenge of the financial and merchant markets that excites Arngrim who has a particular appreciation for southern fruits.
Grimwald Andyrl Spy Master	Its difficult to be an Alfarian and still be unnoticed, but Grimwald manages it. He is as average an Alfarian as any spy could hope to be. He could easily blend into most neighboring city-states and earned his rank by the effective application of his skillful infiltration of the Alfarian enemies.

Phrases

Of the North

A catch all phrase that refers to those of Valgard, Rusavik, Jarnfell and occasionally Albion and Khonzhou.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Another way to refer to the northern border of Essealas.

Erlander

People of northern birth who live in Valgard but are not Alfarian, a word that refers to local Foundlings.

Skraelings

People who are not of northern birth and do not know what it means to be of the north. Can refer to anyone but the Bretons and Rus, and may or man not apply to the Frem, Halsteins or Jurchen depending on the context and politics. Not a polite term.

Terms and phrases associated with this city-state will develop during role-play. If you would like to submit a phrase you use regularly please DM Branwyn.Emerald

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