HIPOTESIS 2:

The southern tribes are somewhat milder than their savage brethren to the north. Whilst these barbarians raid and plunder like all the rest, it is from these tribes that new efforts for peaceful communications originate.

They raid when necessary for survival, but are more interested in acts of heroism and adventure over the carnal slaughter embraced by their kin.

This said, during the Chaos Incursions, these Norsemen banded together to wage war against the Empire as it was demanded by their Gods. Refusing the call of battle is grounds for annihilation.

Among the southern tribes are counted the Bjomlings, Skaelings, Baersonlings, and Sarls. Though seen as more civilised than their northern neighbours, they still fight with rival tribes. In fact, the Bjornlings are fierce rivals with the Graelings, and the Saris regularly fight the Aeslings and Baersonlings.

Baernsonlings

Baernsonlings are a fierce, unfriendly and savage barbarian who doesn’t really have any trade contacts. There are many frightening stories about Baernsonling berserkers and especially their werekin, which are common among them. Baernsonlings are very proud for their martial skills, which are famous even among the Norse.

Baernsonlings live in the harsh mountain range of the Goromadny and also partly in Troll Country. They have to fight all the time marauding Aeslings and Kislevite Tribes (which they just hate). Also relations with the Dwarfs and the Kurgans are time to time bad and cause fighting. Mountain ranges of the Goromadny and the coastline of southern Frozen Sea are full of small Baernsonling villages, but still half of the clans (or small tribes) are nomad moving in the Troll Country and even as far as Kul lands. Like other Norse also Baernsonlings raid southern countries. They do not have large fleet of ships and those they have can only be used during the summer time, because Frozen Sea usually freezes totally during the winter time. Small Baernsonlings raiding parties move easily

through the lands of Kislev and raid even the northern parts of the Empire.

Baernsonlings are famous for their werekin or

Ulfwerenar. Ulfwerenar are most common among them than any other tribe in Norsca. To Baernsonlings mark of Bear Ulfwerenar is one of the greatest marks from the gods. Most worship the Bear God Ursun (or The Great Bear) and those that have bear-like mutations (or can partly change to Bears) are marked by the Ursun. But those that can truly change to bear are actually Bearstruck – The mark of Lordship. Not all worship God Ursun and those that worship Dark Gods (Shornaal or Tchar) and can shape-change are commonly called Morkewerenar by Norse. Other names for Ulfwerenar are Werekin, Werefolk, Shapestrong, Shapestruck…etc.

Bjornlings

Bjornlings are probably most cosmopolitan and less Chaos influenced tribe in Norsca. This is because their location most furthest from the Chaos Wastes. They are brave traders who have had always connections to all the lands in Old World. Also some famous explorers have risen among them.

Even Bjornlings are traders and explorers this doesn’t change that they are also reavers and sometimes jarls may turn to piracy. Also powerful leaders (jarl or king) have known to rally jarls to join huge raids to Albion, Bretonnia and even against the Elves (Ulthuan). Even Chaos marks (mutantions) are less among Bjornlings and they do not commonly worship the Dark Gods, there is times when they have been forced to join the forces of Chaos or be destroyed by more powerful forces. But this is still rare and commonly not all the clans or smaller tribes do this.

Bjornlings also have very good relations with Norse Dwarfs probably because their non-Chaos nature. Dwarf trade caravans’ travel through the Norsca using secret underground passages to trade with them time to time. Eventually these items (commonly weapons and armour) find their way even to the Old World. Bjornlings are fierce rivals with their northern neighbors’ Graelings. There is age’s old rivalry and hate among these tribes and many wars have been fought between these High Tribes and a lot of blood has been bled. Even Bjornlings usually consider Aeslings as enemies, and allies of Dark Gods, that hatred is not even close to hate between Bjornlings and Graelings.

Sarls

Sarls are actually very barbaric, rugged and harsh people. Like their tribal areas original name, Fjellsende, says they inhabit the rough ranges of Trollheim Mountains. But also they live in the coastline of Gulf of the Maelstrom. They are fearless seamen and whalers who dare to hunt the greatest of sea monsters.

Hard location between Chaos incursions, Kislev tribes, Aeslings and many monstrous denizens in the Troll Country area has made them what they are. Strange thing is that when Dark Gods are not the primary Gods Sarls have kept their trading open with the Norse Dwarfs. Dwarfs do have their mistrusts to these barbarians, but they still travel down to the River Groene (Dypvann) to trade with them.

Northern Sarl minor tribes, that live high in the mountains between the Trollheim range and the northern pass (Gorge of the Damned), are worshippers of Nurgle. They live mostly in the caves and are shunned (and also feared) by other Sarls. Many Nurgle Champions have risen amongst them. Biggest, most famous and most powerful tribe is the Wolf Brothers or now called commonly the “Decayed Ones”. The Decayed Ones became famous when their leadership was taken by Feytor the Tainted, who was originally from the Empire.

Skaelings

As one of the southern tribes Skaelings are also one of the most cosmopolitan and less Chaos influenced tribe. They are explorers and trade very much like their neighbors’ Bjornlings. Skaelings are also most powerful Norscan tribe in wealth, commerce, size and by fleet. Because this, the High King of Norsca has many times risen among them through the history of Norsca (and usually sits on the throne of mighty Olricstaad).

But Skaelings are still reavers and even they have trade relations with all the countries on the Sea of Claws, many jarls go for piracy. Skaelings are not usually influenced by Chaos, but they still like raiding their enemies fiercely (traditional enemies are for example Bretonnia). Seafaring is in Skaeling blood.