The Hrimgar - The Ice-Hardened
Meaning: "Frost Protectors" or "Spear of Frost."
The Hrimgar are towering, blue- or white-skinned humans who thrive in the icy, unforgiving north of Nytheria. Known for their brutal and savage ways, they have adapted to the harsh climate through sheer strength and resilience. Their culture revolves around survival, warfare, and reverence for the primal forces of nature. The Hrimgar’s size and ferocity make them both feared and respected across the world.
Height and Build
Height: 3 to 4 meters
The tallest of the human subraces, the Hrimgar are physically imposing, with broad shoulders and muscular builds that embody power and endurance.
Physical Characteristics
Appearance:
Skin: Ranges from pale blue to icy white, often rough and weathered by the elements.
Hair: Typically stark white or gray, often long or braided for practicality in the cold.
Eyes: Bright and piercing, resembling frozen ice or stormy skies, with a faint glow in low light.
Build:
Towering and muscular, their size and raw strength are honed for survival in an unforgiving environment.
Culture and Society
Tribal Structure:
The Hrimgar are organized into clans, each led by a Chieftain, chosen through combat or remarkable feats of survival and leadership.
Clans are semi-nomadic, migrating seasonally between hunting grounds, fishing villages, and fortified camps.
Beliefs and Spirituality:
They revere the Iceborn Pantheon, a collection of gods representing frost, storms, and survival.
The Hrimgar see storms and blizzards as divine trials, strengthening their resolve and weeding out the weak.
Lifestyle:
Their lives are centered around hunting, raiding, and crafting tools and shelters from the limited resources of the frozen tundra.
Strong bonds within clans foster a sense of loyalty, but conflicts between clans are common.
Abilities
Cold Resistance:
Naturally immune to cold-related ailments, the Hrimgar thrive in extreme cold where others would perish.
Physical Prowess:
Their towering stature and raw strength make them formidable warriors, capable of overpowering most foes in combat.
Survival Skills:
Masters of tracking, hunting, and wilderness survival, they can sustain themselves with minimal resources in the harshest conditions.
Battle Rage:
In battle, some Hrimgar enter a frenzied state, enhancing their strength and dulling their pain, though at the cost of self-control.
Weapons and Armor
Weapons:
They wield large, brutal weapons such as great axes, spears, and clubs made from bone, ice, and scavenged metal.
Many weapons are adorned with runes or charms believed to invoke the favor of the Iceborn Pantheon.
Armor:
Thick furs and layered hides offer protection from both the cold and enemy attacks.
Elite warriors may wear scavenged metal plates or armor forged with the help of Frost Dwarves, reinforced with bone or enchanted ice.
Relationships with Other Races
Frost Elves:
The Hrimgar respect the Frost Elves for their resilience but view their artistry as unnecessary luxury. Clashes over hunting grounds or resources are frequent.
Frost Dwarves:
Trade occurs between the Hrimgar and Frost Dwarves, with the latter providing tools or metal in exchange for rare northern goods. However, raids are not uncommon.
Other Races:
The Hrimgar regard most other races as weak or unworthy of respect, often treating outsiders as prey or invaders.
Cultural Practices
Rites of Passage:
Young Hrimgar must prove themselves through dangerous trials, such as surviving alone in a snowstorm or hunting a frostbeast.
Storm Festivals:
When a great storm passes, clans gather to feast and honor the Iceborn Pantheon with offerings and war dances.
Bonecrafting:
They carve tools, weapons, and ornaments from bone and ivory, often inscribed with symbols of protection or strength.
Notable Traits
Towering warriors of unmatched strength, adapted to the icy north.
Fierce and resilient, thriving in an environment where only the strong survive.
Deeply spiritual, guided by the forces of nature and their reverence for the Iceborn Pantheon.
