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Common Ethnic Traits

  • Suggested Naming Conventions: Northern Germanic languages (Danish, Swedish, Faroese, Icelandic, and Norwegian). Slavic names could also work.

  • Hair Color: Blonde and red. Where did you think the Eugencians got those traits from, the Tamians?

  • Eye Colors: Blue

  • Complexion: Light-Medium. Varies between tribe to tribe. Some are very pale and burn easily, never really tanning, others have a natural, light gold tan which rarely burns or changes via sun exposure.

  • Height Average: Being of the tallest human race in Estellon, and possibly anywhere else, the average height of Vanard men and women is around 185.6 cm (6 ft 1.1 in). They are a towering people.

  • The First Men: The Vanards believe themselves to be the first men created by the gods. Although this is most likely not the case, you should never try to tell a Vanard this. A great deal of pride goes into this narrative. And nobody could dispute the Vanards are cut from a cloth of heroes and stoic survivors who carve out an extravagant living for themselves in the harshest, wintery climates. If you want to start a bar fight with a Vanard, just know that you've been warned. Otherwise, its best to take this boast with a smile and a nod.

  • The warm summer snows: While southern races such as the Darsians and Shongari may have trouble in a mildly cool temperature, the Darsians don't seem phased by the frigid winters that blanket their homelands. Well, they may only be able to be comfortable for a short duration while shirtless in a blizzard, but Vanards do in fact have an affinity for the cold that few other races possess. Just don't take them where it's hot.

  • Potential Sorcerer Bloodlines: Accursed, Boreal, Draconic (Mostly White and Silver dragons), Elemental (Water, Earth), Fey, Orc, Stormborn.

 

Synopsis:

The men who walked Estellon before the original Tamian settlers were described by their Elf neighbors to be tall, hardy creatures. Quick to acts of savagery, though not without a certain honor. They once inhabited the Central and Eastern lands of Estellon. Waring with elf tribes as well as each other off and on through the early centuries. And then the Tamians pushed into central Estellon, pushing many further north to carve out a living in the harsher climates. Those who stayed, would become shorter, more docile, and too much like the elves for their pure blooded kin. But you already know the Eugencian's tale by now. As for the Vanards, who traveled north, they soon grew used to the rugged climate. The unforgiving winters forced them to become even more hardy. The savage beasts gave them competition for survival. And this gave them their cunning. And gods of the land taught them how to prosper. But in these days, the lands of Venrir were warmer than they are today. For this was a time before the Ice Elves of Kul'Moras had begun their campaign to cover the north in eternal winter. It was a time where the Vanard peoples could remember the warmth of their summers. When villages and hamlets flourished under the ancient gods. Sure, times of violence were never too far apart for them, but then again, all early human tribes would occasionally war. This was merely the way they would remain, while in the rest of the world, kingdoms began to rise. First, the high elves. Then the ancient Eugencian empire as an elvin vassal state. Although they would never be successful in taming the barbaric northern lands. Soon, they too fell, and a new empire from even further south began to climb its way up north. And they had dragons. A creature that would change life in the north forever. But even the Ancient Shiori conquests in Venrir had failed. For Vanard tribes could set aside their differences and unite when needed. After the Shiori conquests however, it was decided that the north be left to the Vanards. And there they would be left to their gods. Until the old gods grew silent.

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The north had begun to grow colder. And good farmland was becoming scarce. Without the guidance of the gods, the oracles began to turn to the world goddess, Esmeranda. But she to grew silent shortly after. It only got harder to survive as the winters grew longer. And soon, with no other options for survival, they began to raid one another. The southern nations never knew of the infighting going on up north. Or perhaps those who did, merely didn't distinguish this as being any different from how they usually behaved. That was until one day, a dragon headed boat beached silently at the chapel of Gharnfarm in Scarlough. They came, not as conquerers as their Eugencian cousins normally would. But as Raiders. With no respect for the Foster Father's flock, they butchered mercilessly, and stole blindly, then left as soon as they had arrived. The chapel in ashes, and the world stunned. For you see, many of the Vanard Tribes had begun to set aside their differences. As the world grew fat and rich, they realized they had much more to offer than the other Vanard Tribes did. And so, they took to the seas for survival. Vanard men and Dwarves began to raid coastal settlements and priories all over Estellon and even as far as Northern Nomeria. Although many would write them off as mere barbarians, few would note that they struck with tactical precision and ingenious strategy. For the world had not seen this type of warfare. One just as effective psychologically as it was practically. They Vanards knew better than to tangle with armies when they could. And their successes had taught Estellon a valuable lesson. Build from stone. It burns less easily. So like it or not, Vanards are perhaps indirectly responsible for many of the infrastructure we see in modern Estellon today. But once they have accumulated enough wealth, the world began to see a very different type of Vanard. Soon, they were arriving as traders, not conquerers. They opted to buy the food and livestock their people needed to survive rather than take it. Sure, the raids continued here and there, but they grew less frequent. But you could just as easily buy them to stand as mercenaries and fight off the Vanard and Sea Dwarf Raiders. The sight of the Vanard mercenary was becoming increasingly common through out Estellon. But to the rest of the world, they were still barbarians. Then the unthinkable happened. They assimilated. Noria united into a legitimate kingdom. And they began to trade in mithril. Suddenly, the Vanards had something the rest of the world wanted. And non to soon. The Snow Elves had finally carved their way through western Venrir, and the threat of Kul'Moras became known across the world.

 

As the world began to understand Vanard peoples, they learned quite a bit about the wild men. They were survivors, first and foremost. Capable of acts of heroism to rival even the greatest atrocities that have left a stigma on their name which even lasts to this day. For the high elves, Venrir will always be the territory where diplomacy goes to die. The Vanards exhibit only the worst of human traits in their mind. But Vanard warriors and berserkers who go on to adventure for money, have gone on to inspire many other humans because of their formidable auras and iron willed resolve. Even if they actually have trouble distinguishing between what constitutes as a mercenary and an adventurer. Because in Venrir, they're all the same. acts of heroism seem to come naturally to Vanards. When Vanards act in the face of danger, they aren't generally trying to prove themselves. Vanards just seem used to danger, and generally have experience acting in it. This of course doesn't mean they are above boasting about the deeds afterwards. Or even the deeds their great ancestors may have enacted. Vanards are braggarts by nature, and seem to love boisterously one upping others in their tails. Its just their way of bonding with others, and they expect those around them to do the same. They love the back and forth bantering and measuring of one's masculinity through deed. (And no, it is not considered weird in Vanard society for women to be masculine and engage in this.) Freedom, slyness, and courage are what Vanard heroes exemplify to their peoples. And despite their ruthlessness, the Vanard men and women continue to revere the concept of honor.

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