Barbarians of Northfell - Northfell Clans - Ragnar's Kin

The Barbarians of Northfell are the men and women that make up the Northfell Tribes of the far north. They live and die in the frozen north, following migrations of great beasts that provide them with everything from food and clothing, to insulating their shelters from the winter storms. They are divided into family Clans that often war between each other. They consider battle to be a the greatest test of a man, and often settle differences with violence from the individual level to the clan level. Their Clan Leaders and Shamans lead the men and women of the Northfell Tribes. The Shamans guide them spiritually for the God* (to be determined) have specialized in weather and tempest magic to help the clans survive, or retreat the the many known caves in the north when great storms are coming. The Clan leaders are the strongest, boldest of the Clan members. Family lineage does not play a part, although Clans won't follow the leaders of other Clans (except in exceptional circumstances) but any clan member can become the new Leader through physical force, displays of strength, or in a contest when the current Clan Leader decides he is no longer fit to lead the Clan (Or would like to live out his days before a challenger would be stronger then he). The women of these tribes are nearly as fierce as the men, and if in a situation where they must fight, have no problem wielding the nearest weapon with deadly efficiency.

Once a summer they gather at Ragnar's Hold, to commemorate Ragnar Stormhammer leading them from the Great Blight and into the North, from which all Clan's can trace back to this originating event and all differences are put aside and a week long celebration is had by all Clans together. In the centuries since this migration north from some great threat, most of the history has been lost as to what actually led them there, but many consider them to be an old empire of men, that faced some great calamity and had to leave their lands.

For the most part the Northfell Clans rarely venture out of their lands, and despite their warlike nature usually do not threaten the nearest realms, but once in a great while a "Ragnar Reborn" will rise in their ranks and combine all the tribes on war path in honor of some tradition, perceived slight, or the will of their "war god*" - DM Kiado