Talk:Kingdom of Miðrvegr

Traveler's Guide to Miðrvegr

It is first important to understand that all laws, traditions and customs of Midrvegr apply only to those people who are considered to be "of the north". Everything that we will discuss in this travel guide; hospitality, legal status, honorable combat and so on apply only to other northmen -- it does not apply to anyone not of their culture. It is simply ridiculous for one not of their culture to accuse them of being liars, theives or dishonorable -- northmen consider such accussations to be the petty complaints of a skraeling who can't accept the fact that they lost. They will mock you.

Who are "Of the North"

Membership in the north is determined in a series of concentric rings which begin with one's extended family and immediate community. Kinship ties are extensive and one's third cousin is as important to someone as their own sibling. It is by the extended family that power and position are determined. Kinship ties include adopted family, family by marriage and bonds forged on the battle field.

One's village or town is obviously considered to be "of the North". Nearby communities that follow the traditions of the assemblies of law, similiar customs and worship northern gods are also be considered "of the north". When Kraestret adopted Yrsa-as-Hel as their goddess on the Arcane Crystal they too were accepted, at least politically, as being "of the north". Certainly natives of Midrvegr might not consider those of Kraestret to be "as north" as they are, but at least common respect born out of similiar traditions can be established.

Skraeling are people who are not "of the north".

Rank

There are three social ranks; the thrall who are slaves, the karl (or carl) who are free farmers and craftsmen, and the jarl who are local cheiftands or landed estate owners. A karl in the direct personal service of a jarl is known as a huskarl. All karls are expected to be able to fight and keep their weapons in good order.

The rank of jarl applies to a broad range of people of rank. A jarl can be nothing more then the leader of a small village or as great as a man with a large estate, lands and soldiers. There are no intermediary ranks or terms to define a person's prestige. One might say that "he is a great jarl", or that he is a "lesser jarl", but these are not ranks. The head of a family maybe known as a Jarl if he leads a land based location, or he may be known as a cheiftan. The feminine of jarl is jarlkona. Jarl is equivelant to the rank of Earl in other cultures.

The leader of the country is known as the king or queen, but they are also essentially a jarl. A king may be known as the high jarl, or if there are two great jarls in Midrvegr of equal rank at a given time, one may be known as King and the other as High Jarl. This has happened in such times when the ruler is a queen but not a warrior, and their husband is a man of great marital power and prestige, in such case he is called the High Jarl.

Midrvegr knights are known as riddari, female knights may be called shieldmaidens.

Government

Insults

Shame Pole

Fights