Svaald

Svaald are an ice dwelling blue skinned race with large white manes of hair. They are shorter than your average human, but have long arms for their height. The blue skin ranges in tone from deep ocean blue to a lighter sky blue, and their eyes resemble smoothly polished gems. They have very broad shoulders and hips with rippling muscles.

Racial Modifiers

• Favored Template: Shaman, Adept
• Favored Stat: Constitution
• +8 Speed
• +5 Health
• +7 Resistance
• +1 Base Survival
• +1 Base Shamanism OR Choice of Weapon Skill
• Svaald are immune to natural and magical cold equal to their Rank in Magic

Religion

The Svaald have always had a history of worshiping totem and ancestral spirits, though at one time they did also follow the Blessed Gods. However, the devastation of the second God War left them angry and bitter and as a culture they began to turn away from the Blessed Gods, until no Svaald would even consider worshiping one. To the present day Svaald harbor a deeply ingrained dislike of the Blessed Gods and are unapologetic in their refusal to worship them.

Region & Society

Regions in which the race is found, including regions they have divergent behaviors or statistics.

The Svaald live in the area known as the Northern Wastes. They share a border with Surriloth, "city of the gods." While Svaald will travel outside the wastes, it becomes increasingly unpleasant for them the further south they go. Their lack of sweat glands mean that summers in the southernmost regions could actually be deadly to the Svaald, who feel most comfortable at below freezing temperatures. As a result those who travel south wear progressively less clothing as they go. Even before the temperatures become deadly Svaald may suffer fatigue or other penalties to skill rolls, particularly with strenuous activities.

To the Svaald, family and clan are everything. Those without a clan, whether through exile or the destruction of their clan, are looked down upon. The amount of dislike for the clanless varies widely among the clans, ranging from moderate distaste to severe disgust. Fighting prowess and magical power are highly valued in Svaald society. While they are both Adepts and Shaman, those in positions of power within the clans are almost always Shaman.

Svaald fall in love quickly and engagements are of short duration. Once betrothed it is not frowned upon for the couple to engage in sexual activity and for a woman to be with child at her wedding is not remarkable. However, it is almost unthinkable to break off an engagement and would not be considered except in the most extreme circumstances. Marriages are frequently arranged for the children of the clan chiefs.

Svaald can interbreed with both humans and elves. Not all the half-breeds resulting from such unions inherit the Svaald resistance to cold and so finding one in Svaald itself is quite rare.

Language

The Svaald language is based on the Inuit languages. Below are some set terms.

Nukilik - a hunter of the Svaald

Illiivat - chief shaman of the Svaald "person who is learning something"

Ek Chua - Chief spirit of merchants

Keelut - evil spirit with appearance of a dog/wolf

Sangilak - "Strongest of all" (great warrior / hunter among the Svaald)

Piktaungitok Tartok - "Evil without light" (A named black dragon)

Tonrar - devil; ghost/spirit

Torngasak - good spirit/soul

Here are a couple of links to translation and dictionary websites that you may find useful.

http://www.freelang.net/online/inuit.php?lg=gb

http://alaskool.uaa.alaska.edu/language/dictionaries/inupiaq/dictionary.htm (This one is the easiest to find what you need...when it is working. Frequently you can't use the search feature and only the browse by letter or category options will be available.)

Names

These resources may be useful when choosing a Svaald name.

http://www.goodnamegenerator.com/inuit-names.php

http://www.behindthename.com/submit/names/usage/inuit

http://fantasynamegenerators.com/inuit-names.php#.V8Cbo_krJmM

Equipment

While most equipment in the Player Guide is available, many races have a particular affinity for equipment, or materials of a certain type such as particular arms & armor.

The Svaald traditionally favor spears and axes though swords are also not uncommon. As wood is an extremely precious community in Svaald, any weapon that would normally involve the use of wood is made out of steel or quicksilver instead. This, in addition to the sub-zero temperatures, makes any form of archery virtually impossible in the Northern Wastes. Use of bows and crossbows is not completely unheard of when travelling in the warmer lands of the other races but would be considered unusual.

Quicksilver is plentiful in Svaald and so its use in armor and weaponry is far more common than in human lands.

Magic & Lore

The white dragon god, Isanar, is frozen in the wastes of the Svaald lands. He is the source of the Adept powers.

Icari Scatha ("scales of the wyrm"): There is a prophesy that one who masters the white dragon will create a Svaald Empire, with all the clans united as the scales of a great dragon.