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The Clanless

To the North there are a number of packs that are in fact, clanless. The small packs get along for the most part and have not formed a clan because each feel that they have their own calling that Gaia and the Great Wolf have set them on. They feel that no clan or clan leader is better than them and don’t take kindly to clans that look down on them or try to tell them what to do. They work with other clanless packs for a common good, and show respect to clans that respect their right to rule themselves. To generalize any more about the clanless is to do a disservice to them all. Independent and individual entities, Clanless packs have existed for generations and have made clear their desire to remain as such.
Some well-known clanless packs are the Longfangs and Bloodfangs, but they are not the only ones. A few examples include Pack Goldmine, Whitestag, and Silverspring.

Goldpine: 
A clanless pack that lives in the northern most part of the great forest, they got their name from the unique Pineed trees that grow in a swampy area of the forest that have needles that turn golden yellow. The swamp is not like the dirge, and is in fact a spring of life and Gaia’s gifts. Near their village is a Great Gold Pine Tree that was said to have been planted by Gaia herself. This tree is protected by a group of warriors whose only purpose is to protect this tree from any and all threats. When a warrior grows too old that the others feel they can no longer protect the Pine, he takes a journey to Onsallas to meet with the Longfangs. It is here that a unique honor battle takes place. The Goldpine warrior challenges an Ulfednar to single combat, though over the ages, this practice has largely become ceremonial. In olden days, the battle was said to be to the death: a Goldpine warrior capable of besting an Ulfednar had earned a warrior’s departure and would venture into the swamp to meet an honorable end, whereas an Ulfednar bested by a Goldpine seen as past his prime would be deemed unfit for battle in Pack Longfang. A Goldpine slain in this combat was also given a warrior’s funeral, though was undeserving of a death against the Mordok. In recent generations, however, this practice has taken a more progressive turn: The battle has become to first blood, and the Ulfednar traditionally throws the fight in order to allow the Goldpine the honor of a death in the swamp without giving his own life or detracting from the numbers of Pack Longfang simply for tradition.

Whitestag: 
“And she looked to see the Great Wolf who was singing a song full of rage and sorrow, for he had brought down a Great White Stag.”

Whitestag gets its name from the beast that was thought to be in the story of how Gaia and the Great Wolf joined. The pack has good hunting land, full of game and timber. When a new chieftain is chosen, he and the hunters will go on a stag hunt. The pack will feast on the stag and the chief will take the fur and antlers as the sign of his office. On his death, the antlers are placed on the walls of the great hall with the others of the chieftains of old. The chieftain rules from a seat known as, “The Chair of Sorrow and Rage.” This chair is made of fine carved oak with the image of the Great Wolf over a stag, singing to Luna. It is lined with snow-white fur and adorned with White antlers that is said to be the stag that was brought down by the first Chieftain, who took the name Whitestag because he saw it as a gift from Gaia.
If a hunter kills a white stag, he or she has the right to challenge the Chief for the right to lead. The Priestess of the Pack sets a task and the winner is Chieftain.
In pack Whitestag, there is no higher calling than to be a hunter. Even warriors strive to learn the ways of the hunt. The Great Wolf was a hunter, not a warrior, and Gaia admired his ability to provide, where a warrior only seeks to shed blood.
In an odd turn of events, Runeseer Solvig was viewed as High Priestess of Pack Whitestag. About 30 years ago, the pack’s priestess had visions of doom and went to ask for Solvig’s council. After a reading of the runes, she went back home and the hunters were made ready for an unknown attacker. That night, a blood moon had shown bright and the pack survived. In the morning several dozen mordok were burned. When Solvig passed, the chieftain and five hunters of pack Whitestag made their way to Onsallas to show respect.

Silverspring:
A fairly young pack, Silverspring came across their home only about 45 years ago. In an exodus from Clan Shattered Spear regarding what they feel was the unfair branding of their Champion, Pack Silverspring established a small settlement near a brook to the north of their homeland. It is said that they took their name because of the way the moonlight glistened on the water, which they saw as a sign from Luna that this land was blessed. While relations remain tense with Clan Shattered Spear to this day, many still call members of Pack Silverspring family, while others don’t even recognize them as a separate entity.
Due to their age, Pack Silverspring has yet to establish much of a reputation for themselves, although their Daughters specializing in healing magics have come to be well-respected in the surrounding territory.

Pack Redwind: 
“And the wind bled as it carried away the remains of that great battle. A strong red wind.”

The pack known as Redwind originally began as two separate packs, so small that they were barely worthy of the classification. They were affiliated with two different Clans. One was from Clan Axhound, and the other was from Clan Whiteoak. The two packs were looked down on in their respective clans because of their small sizes, and the fact that neither of them had achieved any great victories or glory. They were patrolling the edge of the swamp separately, having been assigned there by their respective clans, when a large-scale Mordok attack suddenly occurred at the intersection of their route. The two packs, realizing that they had no chance alone, came together to combat the threat. The resulting battle was extremely close, but the packs managed to win, only because they had joined as a group, both Axhound and Whiteoak. They decided that they had achieved a victory by working together, and they would form an independent pack as a result. The pack was called Redwind, a name decided on through mutual agreement between the two original packs. They both recalled how, after the battle with the Mordok, the field that they had been fighting on was so full of blood from their fighters and the Mordok that when the wind blew, it was a red color. The name reminds them of their victory over the Mordok which made them one pack. The culture that they formed is a mix between the Whiteoak caste system and the more ritualistic traditions of the Axhound, reflecting the direct backgrounds of the pack’s membership. However, no divisions are made that depend upon the Clan of origin. It is skill that shows what status a person has in the society of the Redwind.

Clan Goldenfield

Clanleader: Hoskuld Goldenfield
High Priestess: Svanhild Goldenfield
Warleader: Brenna Tallgrain

Clan Goldenfield is a small clan in the east of Mardrun. They are bordered to the east by Clan Spiritclaw, to the west by Clan Nightriver, Clan Riverhead in the northwest, and the Great Forest to the north.

The people of Clan Goldenfield, unique among all Ulven, are not warriors. Instead, they focus almost solely on agriculture, growing a great quantity of grains of all types, as well as vegetables and fruits. Their abundance of “golden fields” marked their people in the far past and eventually allowed for their unification under one leader and name. They are masters of their craft, easily the most skilled farmers on Mardrun. Consequently, they have an unbreakable tie to the land that stretches back many generations. It is said that a Goldenfield farmer can tell the fertility of any soil by crumbling it through his fingers, and can say, beyond the shadow of doubt, what will grow best there. It is also said that any Goldenfield child learns to till a field before they learn to walk, though this rumor is taken with a grain of salt by other clans.

Being primarily working people, Clan Goldenfield’s Ulven generally do not wear facial markings, as their intense labor would soon destroy the paint. They also do not wear clothes of many colors, preferring brown and black over more eye-catching hues. This is because work stains do not show as easily on those colors. However, on special occasions such as feast days or mating ceremonies they may wear more delicate clothing and marks, which are overall light brown or green in color. They are commonly stylized to look like types of grain such as wheat or barley, but with an artistic flourish that belies the more simple nature of the Clan.

Any Ulven from Clan Goldenfield, despite their differences from most Ulven, will still exhibit extreme pride in their work, and will not stand for criticism of their way of life, which on occasion is forthcoming from other clans. This criticism is often meant in jest, despite the interpretations internalized by members of Clan Goldenfield: There is no clan on Mardrun who has not turned to the Goldenfield farmers to see them through a famine or to help them rebuild after Mordok raids. Clan Goldenfield’s decision to ally with the colonists and Clan Nightriver in the Civil War was a major blow to the Grimward war machine due to an increased need for production.

Recent/Current Events:
Year 264
Despite their avoidance of direct conflict in the war, Clan Goldenfield was instrumental in the victory won by the Coalition. One of the earlier clans to join with Nightriver, Clan Goldenfield made it known from the beginning that their contribution would be that of farmers and food, not of warriors, and they made good on that promise. Late in the harvest season, however, Clan Goldenfield drew the attention and ire of Clan Riverhead’s Daughters of Gaia, called upon to help investigate a mysterious blight that had ravaged the Goldenfield crop and left much of the Coalition reeling in its wake. The Riverhead representatives made known their belief that the blight was a punishment from Gaia herself, urging her children to return to the natural order of things. Despite this, however, Clanleader Hoskuld Goldenfield stood strong in his alliance with Nightriver, promising whatever aid he was able.

Year 265
The year was starting the same as usual: waiting for the thaw, planning what crops to plant where, and telling stories within their huts. This normalcy was interrupted by the notificatin that there were Undead on Mardrun, which spurred Warleader Brenna Tallgrain to send a couple warpacks to assist in destroying the abominations before they became more of a problem. For the only kind of good undead in the eyes of Clan Goldenfield, is a destroyed one.

Meanwhile, the Clan Watchwolves of Luna seeks aid in the form of food, clothing, and shelter after the fall of their western half. Feeling their pain and seeing the struggle of the now barely existing clan, Clanleader Hoskuld Goldenfield and High Priestess Svanhild Goldenfield personally intervene and send supplies and aid to the wounded, hungry and cold to their southern neighbors while their workforce continues to harvest as much food, wood, and other supplies before the next snowfall.

Year 266
Once again, the clan waits for the forces of winter to subside, however their longtime allies in Clan Riverhead ask for aid to help deal with the increased Mordok raids. Warleader Brenna Tallgrain sends what warpacks she is able to scrape together and help, in an usually odd choice of evacuating what Clan Riverhead civilians that can be saved. Many within the clan questioned his method, but the hardened Warleader felt as if this was only the beginning of a much worse fate for their neighbors. Sure enough, by the end of the summer Clan Riverhead is all but memory as the Mordok flood and destory anything in their path.

Due to such a threat now looming to the north, the clan moves to strengthen their defenses and horde up as much supplies as possible for the possibly bloody winter. During the beginning of fall though, word reaches Clanleader Hoskuld Goldenfield of Clan Ironmound calling for a Grand Moot, an event that hasn’t been done in living memory of the Ulven. Hoskuld, the current Clan Riverhead High Priestess,and a company of diplomats travel to Clan Ironmounds capital to add their voice and more clout to the call, since his very own clan could be the next to fall to the Mordok menace to the north of their clan borders.

Year 267
With the Grand Moot over and actions decided, Clan Goldenfield begins its duty to help supply the united front of Ulven forces. Thankfully they built up enough spare supplies to help take a significant load off the united front for the Great Forest counter offensive. Even more fortunate is the early spring thaw that comes with the turn of the year, allowing the clan to begin their usual planting well ahead of schedule. With this extra time, the Packs decide to further expand their fields further into the great forest as the Mordok are driven out by the end of Spring to help with the winter crops.

This pattern continues throughout the year, planting and harvesting as efficiently as they are able to. By the end of the year, the clan could have filled its storehouses twelve times over with the amount of supplies generated for the war effort. However, the attacks into the swamp are halted and it seems that such a huge increase in demand will begin to drop as forces stay and defend on the Shield of Mardrun.

Year 268
Many in the clan take the winter to relax and recover from the nearly year long rush of harvesting supplies from every possible source known and at their disposal. In February, that relaxation is shattered with the announcement of Clan Grimward and Clan Ironmound forming an alliance called the Ironward Alliance, joining forces to create a martial powerhouse. Many other clans begin their scramble to also solidify an alliance to protect themselves from those who formed such a bond. It was a bit of a surprise though that Clanleader Branthur Nightriver hismelf came to discuss a possible alliance with Clanleader Hoskuld Goldenfield. The initial meeting was well received and correspondence continued throughout the entire year. By the time late fall was rolling around and the late harvests began, the announcement of the Goldenriver Trade Alliance came to the ears of Clan Goldenfield’s citizens. Many are eager to see what this new economic powerhouse will achieve and feeling safer with Clan Nightriver as a dependable ally.

Clan Squallborn

Clanleader: Bodil Squallborn
High Priestess: Jorunn Squallborn
Warleader: Calder Whitecap

Recent/Current Events:
Year 264
Limited by their small numbers, Clan Squallborn was still instrumental in the fighting against Clan Stormjarl by using their naval presence to establish a blockade around their foe, helping besiege their territory. When the blockade was eventually broken by the combined might of Clan Stormjarl and New Aldoria, the Squallborn ships found new ways to be effective, such as depositing Whiteoak raiders on the colonies’ shores to raid some of the smaller settlements. After being left out of the negotiations for the end of the war, Clan Squallborn has been very vocal about their anger with both Clans Nightriver and Clan Grimward and has made threats to refuse to sign the document.

Year 265
The Ulven Civil War has ended, however not in Clan Squallborn’s favor. The terms and conditions set forth by Clan Nightriver and its allies are scoffed at and Clan Leader Bodil Squallborn refuses to pay back the reparations agreed upon by Clan Grimward and Clan Whiteoak. Feeling safe and secure in their seclusion on the other side of the continent, the Clan votes to not sign the treaty and keep all the wartime profits gained from raiding Clan Stormjarl to themselves.

This however leaves Clan Squallborn open to an invasion led by Clan Stormjarl, New Aldoria, and supporting allies in claiming one third of their land. Even worse for the clan, these lands that were taken were most of their fertile farmland that the clan held possession of. While their warriors fought back with great ferocity, they were only able to halt the invasion after it was too late. The cries for aid from Clan Leader Bodil Squallborn for reinforcements from their former allies fell upon deaf ears and were ignored, due to their own hubris.

Year 266
Winter is harsh for Clan Squallborn, even with the invaders in their ancestral home the Clan continues to hold the line against any further advancement into their lands. However, many packs feel it would be suicide to attempt a full on assualt against the combined forces of New Aldoria and Clan Stormjarl, leaving only a few packs with enough courage to dare raids to gain supplies so that they can survive the rest of the winter. Thankfully, those who did raid were able to gain some supplies and survive better than their fellow Clanmates.

With the spring came a new enemy, the Mordok, and they came in overwhelming force from the Great Forest. Thankfully every other able bodied warrior went on the defensive once the nearly endless forces descended from the Dirge Swamp, leaving Clan Squallborn to defend against the raids. However, once again these enemies pressed Clan Squallborn to use up almost all of its supplies in order to drive back the Mordok. Thankfully some outside forces were able to donate supplies in return for a promise to assist in the assault on the Mordok in the coming year. A promise they vowed to uphold.

Year 267
The time to deliver on their promise to help drive back the Mordok back into the Dirge Swamp has come, and the few warriors that Clan Squallborn had are sent. The fights are brutal, bloody, and long, often leaving many of the warpacks in shambles after a confrontation. However, they succeed along with many other warpacks to drive the Mordok out of the Great Forest and back north. Once the Mordok are back beyond Clan Whiteoak’s Borders, the Clan then begins to focus on trying to rebuild, realizing that the land that was taken will never be reclaimed. They attempt to turn some promising land in the Great Forest into farmland, however are only able to just barely sustain the clan.

In September, the time for war has come and the Clan once again sends its forces north to help bring the fight to the Mordok. Unfortunately fortune was not in the Ulven’s favor, for the Mordok fought back harder than ever, devastating the combined Ulven armies. By the time December came around, the remaining forces of Clan Squallborn were a mere memory of what they once were.

Year 268
After pushing back the Mordok and keeping them at bay at the Shield of Mardrun, the Clan’s resources reached its limit. With both the winter and the war, food stores and other supplies became nearly non-existent for the common villager. Many packs began to decentralize from the Clan structure during the first half of the year in order to just survive. By the time that September rolled around the Clan was barely surviving and needed to find a way to survive.

Clan Leader Bodil Squallborn decided to take a desperate gamble, and sent Warleader Calder Whitecap to the Clan Stormjarl and Clan Grimward meeting. He gave the Warleader a critical mission to decide what clan to join under in order to save their people. Many within the clan structure didn’t like the idea but understood it, with a large portion expecting Clan Grimward to be the ones they formed under. To the surprise of many, Clan Stormjarl ended up being the chosen Clan to form under.

This led to a large uprising of dismay and anger, resulting in the packs under Pack Squallborn issuing an Aettinjav, an ancient Ulven challenge of clan leadership. Many different challenges were issued, even the dreaded Wolf’s Maw, and only a couple were not won. The rest of the packs that were defeated bared their throat to Clan Stormjarl, some less willing than others. With that, the once proud sea raiders of Clan Squallborn became part of their once long time rivals of Clan Stormjarl.

Clan Riverhead

Clanleader: Hakon Riverhead (Deceased)
High Priestess: Camilla Birchborne (Replaced Lyrri Riverhead)
Warleader: Brynjar Riverhead (Retired)

This little clan sits on the shores of a small lake at the end of the Great Wolf’s Hackles. All rivers in this region originate at this lake.

Recent/Current Events:
Year 264
Investigating troubling rumors of human interaction with the Mordok, Clan Riverhead took it upon itself to increase the patrols in the Great Forest, on the look out for any suspicious activity. While the rumors eventually proved to be true, the neutral clan was unable to take much action to resolve the issue due to the war raging across the continent. As Mordok activity died down near the end of the year, the hunters of Clan Riverhead have grown worried at the lack of activity, while thankful for the current respite.

Year 265
The start of the year is one of a collective sigh of relief from all the members of Clan Riverhead, however this sense of relaxation tends to die off quickly with the Mordok seemingly vanishing from the northern borders of Clans Shattered Spear and Clan Whiteoak. Those within the clan begin to suspect something may be afoot north of their neighboring clans, but they can only speculate as to what the true intentions are of these beings. However, their worry and fears soon turn into rage and frustration at Clan Ironmounds inability to contain the Creeping Corruption as it begins to spread throughout the land. Some within Clan Riverhead itself call it Divine Justice for disturbing the bounty of Gaia from their mining operations.

However, this outrage quickly is thrown to the side when Clan Stormjarl and New Aldoria attack Clan Squallborn and take its lands. Many Riverhead Chieftains move their political resources to try and pressure others to send aid to Clan Squallborn, and to pressure Clan Squallborn to sign the peace treaty so that they could save the lands that they have left.

Once again though, Clan Riverhead’s attention shifts to its neighbor Clan Axehound when the clan begins to raid and pillage Clan Whiteoak during an overwhelming siege by the Mordok. But little did the clan realize that this was all part of a tactic, a tactic that would spell doom for Clan Riverhead.

Year 266
Mordok are now raiding more and more frequently from the forests that surround Clan Riverheads lands, even from the south in the foothills of the Great Wolf’s Hackles. However, when the spring thaw finally hits the lands of Clan Riverhead, it brings along a seemingly endless wave of Mordok with it. The clan’s meager martial forces are only barely able to hold back the tide of destruction and death that descends upon them. However, a decent amount of Clan Riverhead is able to evacuate to both Clan Shattered Spear and Clan Goldenoak thanks to the efforts of Pack Longfang, Clan Ironmound, Clan Shattered Spear and Clan Goldenoak.

Even with that aid, the clan continues to be hunted and destroyed by the Mordok forces and before the end of summer can even arrive, Clan Riverhead is no more…

But… There is still hope of returning as the now Pack Riverhead of Clan Shattered Spear continues to plan and have hope of one day returning to their rightful status as the purest of the Ulven Clans.

Clan Axhound

Clanleader: Trygve Axhound
High Priestess: Eira Blackeye
Warleader: Hoskul Axhound

Axhound is a smaller clan than most, but this should not be used as a reason to discount them. Until recently Axhound had been locked in a generations long feud with their Whiteoak, their neighbors to the north. For years no one truly remembered what started the feud, but it was eventually revealed that at one time the two clans were one under the name Axhound; though there are some competing stories about why Whiteoak split from the mother clan so long ago.

This proximity to an ancient foe caused Axhound to place heavy emphasis on their martial forces. The warriors of Clan Axhound are well regarded for their hit-and-run raiding style tactics. They used this expertise to harangue the Whiteoak villages along their border for generations and eventually this specialized fighting style found itself to be very useful during the Ulven Civil War

Axhound sided with Nightriver and the Colonists during the Civil War and found themselves directly opposed to their ancestral foe, Whiteoak.

Recent/Current Events:
264: Clan Axhound has spent most of the past year in heated conflict with their ancestral rivals, Clan Whiteoak. Despite a number of fairly successful raids at the end of the year 263, Clan Axhound was unable to capitalize on these opportunities due to their small numbers and lack of aid from their allies. Border skirmishes have eroded away a substantial amount of Axhound’s small but fierce military, dwindling their numbers and their supplies in the process. In a precarious position with the looming winter, an Axhound representative managed to force herself into the Armistice meeting at the end of the year, supposedly securing reparations for her clan.

268:
Thanks to the work of Pack Redwind, an odd pack made of both Axhound and Whiteoak Ulven, as well as their many supporters a tenuous truce was struck between the two Clans. Over the next few years this truce proved to be lasting and at times during the Dirge War the banners of Axhound and Whiteoak have been seen supporting each other on the field of battle.

Clan Steinjottun

Clanleader: Halvar Steinjottun
High Priestess: Ingrid Hawkrite
Warleader: Hillevi Steinjottun

Clan Steinjotunn is a Clan located in the northeastern part of Mardrun, between Clans Axhound and Squallborn. Within their relatively small territory lies a rich and honored history, which the Ulven who inhabit it hold dear.

The Steinjotunn are a clan steeped in the lore and study of the forest and the wilds, primarily because they live in close proximity to the Great Forest. As such, many of their people are hunters, trappers, herbalists, and wood-based craftspeople, using the Great Forest as their livelihoods while still respecting its ancient groves and sacred places, some of which are carefully tended to by Ulven sent by other Clans.

HARSH LANDS

The lands of Clan Steinjottun are harsh to say the least, they start with the thick, overgrown edges of The Great Forest, move through the rocky, aggressive crags of their central lands, and terminate in stark and defiant bluffs and fjords that stand in direct opposition to the forces of the ocean that seek to wear them down. To the outside eye all of the lands present within Steinjottun territory seem to be nearly impassible, if not completely uninhabitable. It is on these lands, which seem to be almost the pure personification of rough living, that Steinjottun has not only grown, but found a niche within they can prosper.

Faced with overcoming the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of simply living in their native lands, the packs and families of Clan Steinjottun have grown up strong, not necessarily in a martial sense, but surely in their clever and cunning ability to survive in hostile conditions. Throughout nearly all of their territories, Steinjottun packs found that the ground they live upon is far too rocky to be worked into viable and lasting farmlands and when they tried to clear out space in the fertile lands of The Great Forest they found they spent an inordinate amount of energy in simply trying to hold back the quick return of the Forest as it spilled back into any fresh clearings. Knowing that large scale farming would never be in their future, the early members of Clan Steinjottun turned to hunting and tracking what food they needed. Mostly small game persisted throughout the Steinjottun lands, but due to a lack of larger predators, numerous herds of stout and mountainous goats found a home throughout the lands, subsisting primarily on tufts of thick hedge grasses that spring insubordinately from between the rocky crags of the landscape. Over the generations the packs of Clan Steinjottun have grown adept at tracking these herds across their vast lands, turning them quickly into the most skilled trackers in all of Mardrun, none more so than Pack Fleetfoot who carved their living out of the rockiest and most inhospitable areas of the Steinjottun territories.

HUNTERS, TRACKERS, & ARCHERS

Pack Fleetfoot has a saying that seems on it’s surface to be boastful, but in actuality carries a deep truth that has allowed them to survive in their harsh native lands, “If someone says that feet don’t leave prints on rocks, they aren’t looking close enough.” The tracking methods of Pack Fleetfoot are their most closely guarded secret and not a lot is known of how they train their scouts and hunters, but one thing is known; From the time they can walk, the pups of Pack Fleetfoot are taught two things: First, when you walk, make no sound and leave no trace and second, with every step you take, you keep your eyes and ears open. It is from this mentality that Pack Fleetfoot is able to earn their namesake and through their generations of training they have carved themselves a niche as the pinnacle of all Trackers. While Steinjottun as a whole prides itself on the merits of its scouts and trackers, everyone is aware that if you want the best, Pack Fleetfoot is the only way to go. If you want to know the direction an adversary moved their forces, you hire a scout. If you want to know which direction an adversary moved their forces, how many stand within their ranks, and how many of their soldiers are wearing armor you hire a Steinjottun Tracker. If you want to know all of the above as well as the quality and state of repair of your adversary’s armor, exactly between which hours they sleep, when they change their guard, and how dark they like their bean brew, then you hire a Fleetfoot Tracker. If there is information to gather, a Fleetfoot Tracker will find it and they will leave no trace of their presence.

Clan Steinjotunn is famous for its crack archers, said by some to be the best Ulven archers on Mardrun. They maintain a military force dissimilar from other Clans, using those archers to their fullest with warriors in a defensive support role alongside them. In the Civil War, however, though allied with the Coalition they have been relatively inactive, participating in only small attacks against Clan Squallborn and the raids on Clan Whiteoak earlier in the year 264.

STAPLES OF TRADE

In addition to the prowess of their hunters and trackers, Steinjottun is known for their hearty, salted jerkies. It did not take long for Steinjottun hunters to understand the need to cure their meats so they could be kept as rations to last through the more harsh winter months. Several packs along the coastal bluffs found their livelihood in the collection of salt from the sea and the mists it casts high into the air as it collides with their cliff sides. Acquiring salt and using it in the near artisanal curing of meats became the way of life of many Steinjottun Ulven and through the generations the word of the craft goat jerkies of Clan Steinjottun began to spill beyond their borders, eventually finding its way to the ears of the Ulven of Clan Goldenfield. Steinjottun jerkies quickly became a hot commodity among Clan Goldenfield and within a short period of time, bustling and lasting trade routes appeared between the two clans, meats began moving south to Goldenfield, while grains and vegetables moved north to the hearty, salted Steinjottun Ulven.

PROFESSIONAL FALCONERS:

Arguably the greatest achievement accomplished by Clan Steinjotunn during its long history has been the development of incredible degrees of animal breeding, exemplified in their training of messenger hawks, said by all to be the fastest and most intelligent on the whole of the continent. Hawk breeders and trainers are highly respected and oftentimes well-to-do individuals within their communities. The occupations are often passed down through a family from parent to offspring.

One day there was a simple event that changed the direction of not only one, but several Steinjottun packs that lived along the top of the tall bluffs. A young salt catcher was looking out over the ocean and he saw a small sea hawk unlatch itself from the cliff side and plummet with sure purpose toward the rocky, tumultuous waters below. The salt catcher gasped as the hawk hit the water with surprising force and watched as he rose back into the air after a few moments with a large fish between his talons. This sight taught the salt catcher two things: one, these waters held a bounty that they previously thought unable to survive in their shallow, rocky areas, and two, the cliff dwelling sea hawks could prove to be a very useful tool. Over the next generations several Steinjottun packs became well known for their keen ability to raise and train hawks. Initially all hawks were used as an extension of a fisherman’s arm which lead not only to a new food source for Steinjottun, but also to a bond between Ulven and hawk that had not yet been seen on Mardrun, nor has been rivalled since.

Over the years the hawks came to be used for other tasks and it didn’t take long for hawk masters to realize the incredible messaging tool they had been cultivating. As use of Steinjottun hawks became more widespread things reached the point where the name Steinjottun quickly became synonymous with secure hawk messengers throughout all of Mardrun. Their hawks have flown messages across vast battlefields that have turned the tide of wars. They have carried messages across the continent to mourn the loss of Clan Leaders. They have carried warnings of impending Mordok attacks. When one has a message to send they can rely on two things: Steinjottun will send any message for an agreeable and fair price with no questions asked and you can rest easy with the guarantee that in the end the only people with your information will be yourself and your intended recipients. The security of their messaging service is of the utmost importance to a Steinjottun Hawk Master and they will, without hesitation, put their name and their honor on the line to guarantee that security.

HAWK HUNTERS:

Deep within the craggy center of Clan Steinjottun lives one Pack that has always taken their hawk mastery to new heights. In a village known as Hawk’s Basin, Pack Bloodhawk has throughout the generations pushed new innovations in the world of hawk training. Originally Pack Bloodhawk began as a collection of highly skilled and incredibly talented hawk messengers. For a long period of time they were held in high regard as the only true option if one wanted to send a message across Mardrun. Eventually, as the years progressed, other clans and packs began to train their own hawks and though they were never as secure and effective as Bloodhawk messengers, it was significantly cheaper and didn’t require in depth negotiation for a clan to use their own hawks.

Demand for Bloodhawk Messengers declined and it’s not known if it was anger from hurt pride, or simply pragmatism that lead to the training of the first Hunting Bloodhawk, but it would be an understatement to say that they have had anything short of a large impact on flighted messengers ever since. Under strictly negotiated contracts, The Hunting Bloodhawks of Clan Steinjottun have been employed to hunt, kill, and retrieve hawk messengers sent by adversaries for many years. Little is known of Hunting Bloodhawks other than their small size, incredible speed, and the razor sharp blades that their trainers and handlers strap to their legs. The methods utilized by Bloodhawk trainers is one of the most closely guarded secrets of Pack Bloodhawk and Clan Steinjottun as a whole.

There is one main area in which Steinjottun as a whole differs from much of the Ulven population of Mardrun. When a male Steinjottun pup is seen to have a connection and an affinity for the mana stream he is not treated as an oddity; he is not pushed to repress what he has been given. Though Steinjottun as a whole does not have a strong interest in the machinations of the arcane or divine energies, they do not deny the benefit of the gifts that affinities to these powers brings. Any blessing, regardless of how small is something to be cultivated and utilized to help the individual and the clan survive and flourish. More so than probably any other Clan, Steinjottun is seen as pragmatic in its views of the use of magic. It is more of a tool to be used instead of a gift reserved solely for the Daughters of Gaia.

As a whole, Clan Steinjottun is a group of hearty Ulven who make use of whatever tools, cunning, and gifts they are given to help them survive and flourish within their tough homeland. Where one Ulven may miss a broken twig or a bent piece of grass, a Fleetfoot Tracker sees an arrow pointing toward dinner. Where one man may see a seabird, a Bloodhawk Hawk Master sees an invaluable tool that can be molded and shaped into whatever niche they may need to fill. Unlike almost any other Ulven, when a male Steinjottun connects to the mana stream and expresses an affinity for magic, they are seen as being given the gift of a leg up. A pragmatic desire to flourish where they can has lead to a robust and varied culture within the borders of Clan Steinjottun.

COLORS & MARKINGS

The Steinjotunn prefer to wear browns, blacks, and greens, in order to effectively camouflage themselves in forestland. In deep winter, some of their number have been known to wear white and brown, changing the colors to fit the season. Their facial paint markings are generally green, and any hawk breeder or trainer is entitled to three black streaks, in an approximation of a wing, to show their occupation and high status.

Recent/Current Events:
Year 264
Appearing to most to be an ally mostly in word, Clan Steinjottun’s involvement in the war has often gone overlooked by those unfamiliar with the small clan. The presence of Steinjottun scouts in the Great Forest has been felt more than it has been seen, keeping tabs on the Mordok population present within and helping to disseminate that information as quickly as possible. The highly trained messenger hawks provided by Clan Steinjottun have likely saved a number of lives as well, facilitating communications throughout the war and allowing troops to more effectively be moved to where they are needed. Despite their smaller presence in the actual battles, Steinjottun is excited about the end of the war, hoping that the treaty will herald in times of peace that will allow them to return in force to their duties within the Great Forest.

Year 265
With the treaty signed, Clan Steinjottun lets out a collective sigh of relief and prepares to return to life as they once knew it. Scouts, small warpacks, Blood hawk trainers, and couriers arrive slowly back to the rugged and rough land that they called home, and are given a hero’s welcome when they arrive at their villages. While some never hear back from loved ones, they do hear of the stories and bravery they showed in their final hours, often saving many others with their endurance and tenacity against Clan Grimward and its allies.

Many return to their normal routines, training hawks, hunting in the crags and the Great Forest, spear fishing, and tanning hides. With such a return to a simple life, many are content to stay to themselves, enjoying the peace today.

Year 266
The beginning of the year starts out just as harsh as always, however when summer finally roles around and Clan Riverhead falls, many in the clan begin preparations. Many start hunting large game to stock up on preserved meats, others harvest fish and other seaside food, but Warleader Hillevi Steinjottun begins training his most powerful warriors and scouts. Some Pack Leaders question what the old weathered Warleader does this but speaks only these words of wisdom that silence those in doubt, “I have lived through many years, many storms, and many battles… My bones and gut tell me a storm like we have never seen is coming to the Ulven as a whole… I see no reason to ignore that.”

Soon the orders for stocking lumber, preserved foods, wild game, and more comes from the Clanleader, and many flood the surrounding hillsides and Great Forest to meet the demand. Even though the Mordok presence within the Great Forest was overwhelming, thanks to the efforts of Pack Fleetfoot and other scouts the amount of raids and damage done by marauding Mordok bands were negated to a minimum.

Year 267
The Grand Moot decided to move forward and not only drive back the Mordok from the Great Forest and back into the Dirge Swamp, but bring the war to them. Hearing that decision, Warleader Hillevi Steinjottun is said to have laughed loudly at his prediction coming true. When the combined forces of all the Ulven Clans and its allies came forward, they were extremely surprised to see elite hunters, archers, and scouts already laying ambushes and couriers either carrying or delivering Mordok or allied troop movements to Warpack Leaders. Many clans began to see the rough and seclusive clan in a new light, some more so than others at their effective ability to almost seemingly disappearing into the woods just as soon as they had appeared.

Thanks to Warleader Hillevi’s foresight, Clan Steinjottun was more than prepared for the building of the outposts. Even more shocking was the cunning old Ulven’s decision to have sent his scouts and hunters well ahead of the invading forces, plotting out enemy movements, number, and threat level. Sadly, those efforts fell flat when the Mordok released their own type of commanders that led their forces with almost a fanatical fervor. Halting the advance of the Ulven front. With great effort and loss of life of some of the best trackers and scouts, Clan Steinjottun was able to get the necessary information to help coordinate a tactical retreat back to the Shield of Mardrun.

Year 268
After the failed attempt to press into the swamp and attack the Mordok in their own territory, the clan left the shield, except for it’s promised garrison at the outpost, and returned home to once again lick their wounds and burn their honored dead. However, what they did not expect was to see their neighbor, Clan Squallborn, so close to falling apart. Without wasting much time, Clanleader Halvar Steingjottun sent a group of diplomats to try and convince some of the neighboring packs of Clan Squallborn to join with Clan Steinjottun.

After the Attenjav in October, the efforts put forward to claim a bordering pack was met with the success of Pack Tallpine joining under the umbrella of Clan Steinjottun. While the prickly Pack Tallpine took time to adapt and adjust to their new leadership, they soon came to appreciate the clan’s leadership not for their martial strength, but for their cunning.