Post by zeno on Nov 27, 2019 8:08:25 GMT
The Veturian Gods
The Five Veturian Gods
Hillios
(Progenitor God)
Sankari
(Wife of the Progenitor God)
Raivotar
(Firstborn of the Gods)
Viisaus
(Secondborn of the Gods)
Armo
(Thirdborn of the Gods)
Basileus
(Former Fourthborn of the Gods, Ended in Fifth Wipe of AoG 2019-2020)
Vanguard
[Ullr] - Vanguard of Viisaus (Ended in Sixth Wipe of AoG 2020-2021 by Adrian)
[Runa] - Vanguard of Viisaus
[Hafgrim] - Vanguard of Raivotar
Hillios
[Divinity of Disassembly, Divinity of Assembly, Divinity of Crush, Origin of Drekalunga]
Sankari
[Divinity of Fortunetelling, Divinity of Scorch, Divinity of the Hearthstone, Origin of Drekaauga]
Raivotar
[Divinity of the Axe, Divinity of Malukah, Great Drekalunga]
Viisaus
[Divinity of Sight, Divinity of Silver, Visionary God of Drekaauga]
Armo
[Divinity of Drive, Divinity of Speedforce, Divinity of Tornadoes]
Banter Around The Bonfire
"Lad. Siddown'! Why're you in a rush? Ya'off to a big fight or somethin'? Come, I brewed fresh mead and ain't nothin' better its warmth in ya' belly."
"What? Yer' only five? I was drinkin' mead and snortin' ale when I was out me mother's womb, yer' gonna drink this damn mead I brewed!"
"Understand, we're a fightin' people. Whether the battle be against the ale or against one of those filthy Nagans, the hard-fallin' Jotnar, or the hanky-panky skinny men to the south, we always win! That's the Veturian way. And there ain't no other way but that!"
"Listen, kid. Raivotar ain't ever lose a battle. Had the might ta' carry mountains on his back! Legends say he built that there fort all by himself. Gave us his arms!" He wrings the kid's arms.
"Hillios? He lifted tha' great tree Yggdrasil upon his back and hoisted it from the mountain and planted it right 'ere, in our soil! Gave us his body!" He jabs the kid's stomach.
"Armo? Moves like the wind. She leaves naught but dragon's wind behind her. Those are our legs!" He smacks the kid's thighs.
"Viisaus gives us our weapons, tha' silver we be' slippin' into the food. That there's Sankalla Silver. That be our weapons."
"And we can brave anything. We're Veturians. We're Dragonslayers. We're tha' strongest the world's ever seen and we'll make 'em recognize it."
Disclaimer: May not be factually accurate.
Location & Country
Veturia is a frigid, snow-bathed country located on the Northern Continent, south of the Amazon. Grass is hidden beneath the snow, but the land of Vetur is always cold year-long, a reason for the people to seek the warmth of the flames provided by the long-lived ironwood. Nourishment is provided by the coastal fish that boast high fat content due to the climate and are considered to be a delicacy in all countries (those of the Rising and of Arcadia admire the fish of Vetur due to their coastal cultures). Mammoths exist in Veturia for hunting and so do the occasional yeti. Vetur is easily accessible, for upon landing a boat, there are no geographical barriers that bar a sailor or a traveler. The only deterrent are the people. Vetur is host to the most obvious World Tree of them all, due to its size and location. It is not hidden like Arcadia's Gelel Stone bearing tree. Vetur's World Tree has the geographical aberration of an ironwood mutation (as of Wipe 7 onwards) making it a tree that is immune to fire. The people of Vetur live in houses made of lumber from the ironwood forest, having depleted much of its stores due to their ravenous chopping of the forestation. Nevertheless, the Veturians have grown quite used to the cold temperatures and do not often need to heat their bodies up, though travelers must if they are not accustomed to the freezing temperatures of this land. Up above their main village is a fort built long ago, used to defend themselves from the Peacemakers of the Amazon, as it is the only way down the massive cliff that divides the Amazon & Veturia apart.
Culture & Traditions
Battle.
Adulthood is earned on the battlefield.
Veturians hold this tradition faithfully to this day. They do not believe in calling a boy a man until they have claimed their first head - until they have their opponent at their mercy. There is great respect for the powerful in this culture. Raivotarians have an innate disdain for the Nagan people, because of their disrespect to Raivotar's title as the Greatest Warrior. Their proclamation that there could be a greater warrior than Raivotar, even though they attack in packs, is perceived by the Veturians to be the rambling idiocy of savages. This male-dominated society is primarily male-dominated due to the strength boasted naturally by the biology of masculinity. Mass means much in this society; the bigger the individual is and the more intimidating they come off as, the more 'charismatic' they are. While there have been anomalies, such as Armo & Viisaus, who have far smaller builds, this has dominated society since the birth of Ragnar, the greatest son of Raivotar. The Veturians view any culture that is not inherently dominated by the strong as "weak". Furthermore, Veturians do not believe in the use of long-ranged magicks and will refer to this as sorcery. Sorcery is viewed to be weak in the Veturian culture even in battles between two sorcerers, in which case the Veturians defame both parties. Preferred weapons include axes, claymores, rounded shields, fisticuffs, and warhammers. The Veturian people are ruled by the strongest who will be named their Hofdingi. Men will follow the Hofdingi's every order into battle. Only the Warrior of the Axe, second to the Chieftain, can command troops otherwise. Women have the option of being homemakers, but most men take up arms. Men who are exceptional crafters and are blood of Viisaus have the option of being blacksmiths. The Veturians treasure their weapons and greatly value the use of silver in their weaponry, making them the innate counter to all Lycanus breeds. They will often skin Lycanus that have unleashed and wear their pelts to warm themselves. They constantly hone themselves by fighting amongst each other. When determining a wife, Veturians will fight over the woman. The living Veturian after a battle will take this wife and in a ceremony that embroiders their hair in a braid with silver, their union is made. Veturians value this union and respect one another's boundaries, for they have already earned their wife. Wives are looked upon as commodities though, as if the husband is killed in the line of battle, their wife will normally be passed down to their closest relative (brother/cousin). This may be changed through a cultural reform, such as a female Hofdingi.
Silverbrand [Brand]
The Silverbrand was the first introduced Brand of Age of Gezo. To achieve a Silverbrand, Veturians must ingest true silver into their system in small increments over time. While a large dose is feasible in times of need, it runs the risk of silver poisoning, which will ultimately kill the Veturian. After five years of ingestion, the Veturian is able to awaken their Silverbrand, though the process is delayed until the Veturian has achieved their first kill or has victored in a blood-bath. They will then stand upon a flame and be seared by Sankari's flame. The flame is provided by ironwood and their Oathbrothers will chant their name, calling upon their Patron God while huddled up to try and help them endure the pain. This process is painful and the individual requires a great deal of Pain Tolerance to survive the process (Tier 3) as Sankari will preside over the Silverbranding. Upon achieving the Silverbrand, the character will have their spiritual veil reinforced in its activation and will unlock greater powers to achieve a closeness to their Father / Mother.
Oathbrother [Tradition]
(Traditionally male only, mechanically not gender-locked.)
An honored oath between brothers, Veturian soldiers often have Oathbrothers. Oathbrothers are brothers that are not related by blood, but due to some shared or common ambition. It is very common to name an individual as an Oathbrother and to induce this Oath, the individuals will carve their name using a sharp tool of some sort into the target's Silverbranded back. This will permanently engrave their name onto their back. The engraved name will heal and fade away from the physical body, but will manifest in a different color on their Silverbrand. When standing shield to shield with one another, these Silverbrands can thus have a conducive effect, that will bolster the spirit veil of all parties involved in the shield. Oathbrothers are strongest when they fight side by side. Patronne by Viisaus, one could even call them: Battle Brothers.
Tournament of the Axe [Tradition]
The Tournament of the Axe is held whenever a new Hofdingi is announced or if the previous Warrior of the Axe has been slain in combat. Not restricted to an Axeman, the Warrior of the Axe Tournament determines who will be the right-hand man of the Hofdingi here on out. This tournament with no holds barred places combatants in one on one combat with one another, until only one remains by the end of the day. This means that participants do not get to rest between matches and endurance becomes one of the most valuable attributes that a candidate can boast. The Tournament of the Axe is presided by Raivotar and individuals who victor in the Tournament of the Axe may be rewarded by him. If an individual is your Oathbrother, is it considered taboo to kill them in the Tournament of the Axe and sparing them is rewarded by Raivotar. However, outsiders who participate in the Tournament of the Axe know the consequences and are often times subject to cruel rules: for example, an outsider should not kill a participant or be seen as a bastard, but if the outsider should lose, the Veturians would treat him brutally and maim if not kill them.
Claim to the Strongest [Tradition]
A Veturian Warrior has the potential to claim a fight all to themselves. Should they attempt to claim a fight with their boisterous shout, they can stake their pride as a Veturian Warrior on the battle's outcome to be in their Gods' favor. Watched by Hillios' himself, the Claim to the Strongest requires that there be more than three opponents in a combat situation and that the Veturian Warrior relies on nobody but himself. They are not allowed to use any gimmicks uninvolving weapons from their tradition (such as True Silver) and are not allowed to work together with a teammate (even if they are a Shikki). It is said that this tradition gave rise to Ragnarok, the breaking of their very chains.
Honor & Pride [Tradition]
Before you die, one is expected to wield a weapon in hand, and to have gone down fighting. Death by sickness will not grant one entry into Vinland. Death by age will not grant one entry into Vinland. Only death by battle can one pass on. That is why, when the Hofdingi is too old, a new Hofdingi candidate, generally the son of the Hofdingi, will challenge their father and will slay them in battle. Before doing so, they will have the name of their father grafted into their back, as to honor them as an 'Oathbrother'. This is the only time one can slay their father and not be considered a fatherslayer, for this is the tradition of the strong. Only in the finality of the father's combat and in their last teachings to their son are father and son considered brothers (equals). Upon death, Veturians are burned on a pile of ironwood and cremated. They are not buried into the ground like Nagan bodies are.
Outsiders are not considered Veturian and are not burned in this way. Their bodies are cast to sea or they are exiled on a raft to fend for themselves, as a showcase that they can kill them anytime they please. Nagan bodies are utterly disrespected and do not receive any respect. Only in very rare occasions does a Veturian, usually a Hofdingi or a Warrior of the Axe, will they allow a Nagan to receive their traditional burial from their Nagan people, if they respect this Nagan as a true combatant -- a true son of Hillios on the field of war.
The Five Veturian Gods
Hillios
(Progenitor God)
Sankari
(Wife of the Progenitor God)
Raivotar
(Firstborn of the Gods)
Viisaus
(Secondborn of the Gods)
Armo
(Thirdborn of the Gods)
Basileus
(Former Fourthborn of the Gods, Ended in Fifth Wipe of AoG 2019-2020)
Vanguard
[Ullr] - Vanguard of Viisaus (Ended in Sixth Wipe of AoG 2020-2021 by Adrian)
[Runa] - Vanguard of Viisaus
[Hafgrim] - Vanguard of Raivotar
Hillios
[Divinity of Disassembly, Divinity of Assembly, Divinity of Crush, Origin of Drekalunga]
Sankari
[Divinity of Fortunetelling, Divinity of Scorch, Divinity of the Hearthstone, Origin of Drekaauga]
Raivotar
[Divinity of the Axe, Divinity of Malukah, Great Drekalunga]
Viisaus
[Divinity of Sight, Divinity of Silver, Visionary God of Drekaauga]
Armo
[Divinity of Drive, Divinity of Speedforce, Divinity of Tornadoes]
Banter Around The Bonfire
"Lad. Siddown'! Why're you in a rush? Ya'off to a big fight or somethin'? Come, I brewed fresh mead and ain't nothin' better its warmth in ya' belly."
"What? Yer' only five? I was drinkin' mead and snortin' ale when I was out me mother's womb, yer' gonna drink this damn mead I brewed!"
"Understand, we're a fightin' people. Whether the battle be against the ale or against one of those filthy Nagans, the hard-fallin' Jotnar, or the hanky-panky skinny men to the south, we always win! That's the Veturian way. And there ain't no other way but that!"
"Listen, kid. Raivotar ain't ever lose a battle. Had the might ta' carry mountains on his back! Legends say he built that there fort all by himself. Gave us his arms!" He wrings the kid's arms.
"Hillios? He lifted tha' great tree Yggdrasil upon his back and hoisted it from the mountain and planted it right 'ere, in our soil! Gave us his body!" He jabs the kid's stomach.
"Armo? Moves like the wind. She leaves naught but dragon's wind behind her. Those are our legs!" He smacks the kid's thighs.
"Viisaus gives us our weapons, tha' silver we be' slippin' into the food. That there's Sankalla Silver. That be our weapons."
"And we can brave anything. We're Veturians. We're Dragonslayers. We're tha' strongest the world's ever seen and we'll make 'em recognize it."
Disclaimer: May not be factually accurate.
Location & Country
Veturia is a frigid, snow-bathed country located on the Northern Continent, south of the Amazon. Grass is hidden beneath the snow, but the land of Vetur is always cold year-long, a reason for the people to seek the warmth of the flames provided by the long-lived ironwood. Nourishment is provided by the coastal fish that boast high fat content due to the climate and are considered to be a delicacy in all countries (those of the Rising and of Arcadia admire the fish of Vetur due to their coastal cultures). Mammoths exist in Veturia for hunting and so do the occasional yeti. Vetur is easily accessible, for upon landing a boat, there are no geographical barriers that bar a sailor or a traveler. The only deterrent are the people. Vetur is host to the most obvious World Tree of them all, due to its size and location. It is not hidden like Arcadia's Gelel Stone bearing tree. Vetur's World Tree has the geographical aberration of an ironwood mutation (as of Wipe 7 onwards) making it a tree that is immune to fire. The people of Vetur live in houses made of lumber from the ironwood forest, having depleted much of its stores due to their ravenous chopping of the forestation. Nevertheless, the Veturians have grown quite used to the cold temperatures and do not often need to heat their bodies up, though travelers must if they are not accustomed to the freezing temperatures of this land. Up above their main village is a fort built long ago, used to defend themselves from the Peacemakers of the Amazon, as it is the only way down the massive cliff that divides the Amazon & Veturia apart.
Culture & Traditions
Battle.
Adulthood is earned on the battlefield.
Veturians hold this tradition faithfully to this day. They do not believe in calling a boy a man until they have claimed their first head - until they have their opponent at their mercy. There is great respect for the powerful in this culture. Raivotarians have an innate disdain for the Nagan people, because of their disrespect to Raivotar's title as the Greatest Warrior. Their proclamation that there could be a greater warrior than Raivotar, even though they attack in packs, is perceived by the Veturians to be the rambling idiocy of savages. This male-dominated society is primarily male-dominated due to the strength boasted naturally by the biology of masculinity. Mass means much in this society; the bigger the individual is and the more intimidating they come off as, the more 'charismatic' they are. While there have been anomalies, such as Armo & Viisaus, who have far smaller builds, this has dominated society since the birth of Ragnar, the greatest son of Raivotar. The Veturians view any culture that is not inherently dominated by the strong as "weak". Furthermore, Veturians do not believe in the use of long-ranged magicks and will refer to this as sorcery. Sorcery is viewed to be weak in the Veturian culture even in battles between two sorcerers, in which case the Veturians defame both parties. Preferred weapons include axes, claymores, rounded shields, fisticuffs, and warhammers. The Veturian people are ruled by the strongest who will be named their Hofdingi. Men will follow the Hofdingi's every order into battle. Only the Warrior of the Axe, second to the Chieftain, can command troops otherwise. Women have the option of being homemakers, but most men take up arms. Men who are exceptional crafters and are blood of Viisaus have the option of being blacksmiths. The Veturians treasure their weapons and greatly value the use of silver in their weaponry, making them the innate counter to all Lycanus breeds. They will often skin Lycanus that have unleashed and wear their pelts to warm themselves. They constantly hone themselves by fighting amongst each other. When determining a wife, Veturians will fight over the woman. The living Veturian after a battle will take this wife and in a ceremony that embroiders their hair in a braid with silver, their union is made. Veturians value this union and respect one another's boundaries, for they have already earned their wife. Wives are looked upon as commodities though, as if the husband is killed in the line of battle, their wife will normally be passed down to their closest relative (brother/cousin). This may be changed through a cultural reform, such as a female Hofdingi.
Silverbrand [Brand]
The Silverbrand was the first introduced Brand of Age of Gezo. To achieve a Silverbrand, Veturians must ingest true silver into their system in small increments over time. While a large dose is feasible in times of need, it runs the risk of silver poisoning, which will ultimately kill the Veturian. After five years of ingestion, the Veturian is able to awaken their Silverbrand, though the process is delayed until the Veturian has achieved their first kill or has victored in a blood-bath. They will then stand upon a flame and be seared by Sankari's flame. The flame is provided by ironwood and their Oathbrothers will chant their name, calling upon their Patron God while huddled up to try and help them endure the pain. This process is painful and the individual requires a great deal of Pain Tolerance to survive the process (Tier 3) as Sankari will preside over the Silverbranding. Upon achieving the Silverbrand, the character will have their spiritual veil reinforced in its activation and will unlock greater powers to achieve a closeness to their Father / Mother.
Oathbrother [Tradition]
(Traditionally male only, mechanically not gender-locked.)
An honored oath between brothers, Veturian soldiers often have Oathbrothers. Oathbrothers are brothers that are not related by blood, but due to some shared or common ambition. It is very common to name an individual as an Oathbrother and to induce this Oath, the individuals will carve their name using a sharp tool of some sort into the target's Silverbranded back. This will permanently engrave their name onto their back. The engraved name will heal and fade away from the physical body, but will manifest in a different color on their Silverbrand. When standing shield to shield with one another, these Silverbrands can thus have a conducive effect, that will bolster the spirit veil of all parties involved in the shield. Oathbrothers are strongest when they fight side by side. Patronne by Viisaus, one could even call them: Battle Brothers.
Tournament of the Axe [Tradition]
The Tournament of the Axe is held whenever a new Hofdingi is announced or if the previous Warrior of the Axe has been slain in combat. Not restricted to an Axeman, the Warrior of the Axe Tournament determines who will be the right-hand man of the Hofdingi here on out. This tournament with no holds barred places combatants in one on one combat with one another, until only one remains by the end of the day. This means that participants do not get to rest between matches and endurance becomes one of the most valuable attributes that a candidate can boast. The Tournament of the Axe is presided by Raivotar and individuals who victor in the Tournament of the Axe may be rewarded by him. If an individual is your Oathbrother, is it considered taboo to kill them in the Tournament of the Axe and sparing them is rewarded by Raivotar. However, outsiders who participate in the Tournament of the Axe know the consequences and are often times subject to cruel rules: for example, an outsider should not kill a participant or be seen as a bastard, but if the outsider should lose, the Veturians would treat him brutally and maim if not kill them.
Claim to the Strongest [Tradition]
A Veturian Warrior has the potential to claim a fight all to themselves. Should they attempt to claim a fight with their boisterous shout, they can stake their pride as a Veturian Warrior on the battle's outcome to be in their Gods' favor. Watched by Hillios' himself, the Claim to the Strongest requires that there be more than three opponents in a combat situation and that the Veturian Warrior relies on nobody but himself. They are not allowed to use any gimmicks uninvolving weapons from their tradition (such as True Silver) and are not allowed to work together with a teammate (even if they are a Shikki). It is said that this tradition gave rise to Ragnarok, the breaking of their very chains.
Honor & Pride [Tradition]
Before you die, one is expected to wield a weapon in hand, and to have gone down fighting. Death by sickness will not grant one entry into Vinland. Death by age will not grant one entry into Vinland. Only death by battle can one pass on. That is why, when the Hofdingi is too old, a new Hofdingi candidate, generally the son of the Hofdingi, will challenge their father and will slay them in battle. Before doing so, they will have the name of their father grafted into their back, as to honor them as an 'Oathbrother'. This is the only time one can slay their father and not be considered a fatherslayer, for this is the tradition of the strong. Only in the finality of the father's combat and in their last teachings to their son are father and son considered brothers (equals). Upon death, Veturians are burned on a pile of ironwood and cremated. They are not buried into the ground like Nagan bodies are.
Outsiders are not considered Veturian and are not burned in this way. Their bodies are cast to sea or they are exiled on a raft to fend for themselves, as a showcase that they can kill them anytime they please. Nagan bodies are utterly disrespected and do not receive any respect. Only in very rare occasions does a Veturian, usually a Hofdingi or a Warrior of the Axe, will they allow a Nagan to receive their traditional burial from their Nagan people, if they respect this Nagan as a true combatant -- a true son of Hillios on the field of war.