the norns write fate, but I think it's more like they write things in rather than declaring everything.
Err... the way I understand it, the Norns write fate absolutely. But the Norse (like the Greeks) are big on self-fulfilling prophecies, so the Norns generally don't tell anyone what their fate is, allowing them to figure it out by doing.
Not sure if I'd call Valkyries Lawful (although the GM certainly has alignment interpretations for all the Norse deities in this world, the real-life versions varied widely across Germany and Scandinavia in their lawfulness and good vs. evil), but their thing is rescuing people from battle in order that they might party all day and then randomly fight some more for no actual reason.
The Norns
The Norns embody fate. Some call them witches and oracles, others gods, but no one truly knows what the Norns are, because fate is woven that way. The three most famous Norns and guardians of the Well of Fate that waters Yggdrasill are Urd (mean Past), Verðandi (Present), and Skuld (the future). —each unique in form and function, and though rarely seen their powers are felt by commoner and king alike. Even gods are subject to the Norns’ fate-weaving, but they do not abuse their power. They consider themselves servants of fate rather than its mistresses. Many pray to them hoping for a good end or good luck, but they rarely concern themselves with prayers and supplications; they are destiny, and entreaties for mercy or favor go unanswered, although they can sometimes be persuaded to reveal a little of someone’s destiny—usually with disastrous results for the asker.
The Norns domains are Fate, Glory, Knowledge, Death, Luck.
Their favored weapon is the dagger.
What the Norns Demand: The Norns use their mortal servants as agents to ensure that the world’s fate moves forward as it should.
Their worshipers are mostly witches, oracles, and other seers. The Norns demand little except obedience when they call, but rarely punish those who lapse in their faith— it was fated, after all. Only those who try to cheat destiny suffer their wrath.
To top off what the GM wrote up, I believe at least Skuld has been directly referred to as both a Norn and a Valkyrie. Not only that, Valkyries are often mentioned along with the Norns in various texts and whatnots, including name lists that appear to be related. Though the Norns and Valkyries both provide a different function, there does seem to be some sort of connection.
From my point of view, it makes sense that the Norns and Valkyries are connected (beyond the fact that Skuld is a Valkyrie). You have the three big head honcho Norns presiding over fate as a whole, and then Valkyries who have a more minor sway over those sorts of things. Valkyries pick who lives and dies on the battlefield, pick out the chosen warriors to go to Valhalla, and choose who wins wars and such. I mean, these traits all depend on what you're reading, but it does fit a very "fate and destiny" theme.
But yeah, Paladins don't have to pick a deity and I've paired her with the Oracle class who usually doesn't know where her divine powers originate from so it all works thematically. She's basically being tugged around by fate to become a shieldmaiden type (or... Valkyrie *cough* whatever the DM thinks is cool >.> i did go Aasimar for lots of reason ^_____^;;) As far as alignment goes, the GM opened alignment restrictions and I'm not bound to being LG as a Paladin (though my character's initial attitudes and beliefs have her starting at LG, so we'll see where she goes as she gets more experience under her belt).
Welp, everyone's checked in.
yep
so... hows everyone doing? 'W'
Meh.
Meh.
why so glum?
Just waiting on the next post ;)
Shall I tell some tales of the north? 8D I put points in Oratory for a reason!
sure
Buuut what's your IRL Oratory skill?
EDIT: Wouldn't it be Artistry (literature) then, actually?
Bah, details! XD I'll see if I can come up with something after dinner, then - perhaps a story Neve told in the hall before we started?
Id be so down.
Apparently, my post from the other day went the way of the dinosaur. I have posted again in gameplay, however!
This campaign is off to a rather cheery start, right? Lots of dead people, lots of widows sobbing, lots of men haunted by what they have seen walking with the weight of the world on their shoulders. To break the gloom, think of the Grumpy Cat!
Dude, it's a viking campaign. "Wailing widows" are out alarm clocks.
In other news, it looks like the Jarl has just returned... from sealing his fate. [/sunglasses]
I like that attitude, Eindrið!
2 posts in and already on an emotional rollercoaster. though, i'd be lying if I said i didn't expect it.
What Norse campaign would it be without a major NPC death at the beginning and a subsequent banding together of heroes?! :P
...Das Rheingold?
A very good opera indeed, one that captures some of the grim Norse fatalism and grey morality, Eindrið!
But yes, most Norse tales begin in media res and have a distinctly grim tone for much of the story. This campaign will not quite be THAT dark, but it is pretty dark for a Pathfinder campaign.
EDIT: Also, interesting that you should mention that opera... one wonders whether or not certain elements of it made it into the campaign setting? ;)
(I mentioned it because I don't remember the heroes experiencing much death early on)
Neve you just have base weather sphere right? because the GM said it was snowing/sleet which requires cold level 4, which you need CL 7 to raise the temperature of. Just mentioning because I was considering raising the temp. :3
It didn't sound bad enough to require any of us to make checks for not getting hurt out in the cold, so I figured it was mild enough to allow for weather changing. If that's wrong, assume she'll come up with another way of manipulating the temperature - maybe lighting some fires for them or something. XD
Ima post in a bit. Tryign to go through the game prep for my game today and have 54 wings of a palace I have to write iiiinnnn 2 and a half hours.
if anything you can reduce the precipitation, also possibly warming it up inside the tavern or long house.
Alrighty. Things got nutty today.
Posting shortly.
Hey there Ragnvald! I was just trying to hold up so no one gets far behind in the roleplay.
Ack! Post monster struck. Will finish when home in a couple of hours.
remember to save your posts in text files :3
Or do it the easy way like I do, and always CTL+A then CTL-C before submitting
Jarl and king is no slight difference.
It's like saying your local manager is about the same as the regional manager. Not even close in scope of power and reach.
Other Jarls can decide to "take over" to help stabilize the loss and "protect" the late Jarl's interest.
While a Jarl could defy a king, it won't end well once the other Jarls rally behind the King to punish him
It's like governor vs. president. There are a lot of Jarls per country, and one King who sits above them in the power structure.
Well, I figured I would small size it, but yes it's like a Governor vs. a President scale of things.
Okay, corrected, can we move on now?
He wasn't even talking to anyone.:P
hmm? given the times it more like Mayor versus Governor, not even that. It's in Western/Central European standards a Baron versus a count or duke. This period wasn't known for actual hierarchical loyalty and more about alliances than a feudal governing.
Eh, we're just waiting for the GM to get back.
@Asta: Realllly depends on the country. Some of the European and Scandinavian states were huge, kingdoms akin to modern countries; some were "Petty Kings" with "kingdoms" the size of New Jersey, home to only a few Jarls; some were free Jarls with lands too small to call themselves kings.
Eh, we're just waiting for the GM to get back.
@Asta: Realllly depends on the country. Some of the European and Scandinavian states were huge, kingdoms akin to modern countries; some were "Petty Kings" with "kingdoms" the size of New Jersey, home to only a few Jarls; some were free Jarls with lands too small to call themselves kings.
Scandanavian "states", baring a few exceptions, didn't get Kingdom size until they went all christian on us. Like I said they more formed coalitions than kingdoms. At least that's my understanding of the north. They had power more in lines with dukedoms, shattering to pieces on the "kings" death.
Er... Norway, Denmark, and Sweden had each been a unified kingdom for one or several generations before Christianization. And then there were all the major Norse kingdoms in Germany and Russia. The big difference was that "dynasties" usually only held for one or two generations before breaking apart, then being unified under rule of a new Jarl.
Beowulf and Gylfaginning both mention pagan kings of entire Norse nations (though they are period fiction).
those were more coalitions, they were unified against specific people but internally were very decentralized.
Denmark however I believe was unified, but it's not really what I consider a king. unless the only thing required to be king is to have no one directly above you.
of course thinking back I am basing my take on king to be very much more late european, I may be over estimating what it really requires to be a "king". such as the Holy Roman Empire 'W'.
anyway a jarl is definitely a Baron level or maybe even sometimes count level entity. ;3
Okay, so I will be absent for the next 24 hours from a lot of messageboard activity, including posts.
I just got a new, handcrafted modem and am going to be rearranging my bedroom later today to accommodate the sheer bad@$$ computer that I have now!
$1,400 in parts, almost a full day of work on the computer with tweaks and such to operating software, hardware, security programs, and such were made to give me one of the best civilian computers available! It's so much cheaper than buying the ones that other's build, as those computers would cost double or triple what you can build by hand that's the same model.
So just giving you all ample warning that I will be absent from the messageboards for a little while and letting you know, albeit indirectly, why I was absent from the messageboards earlier.
And by High King, we're referring to like Skyrim High King. Like the dude Ulfric Stormcloak killed. Not as much of an Empire-puppet though!
this is a long 24 hrs. :P
*Coughs delicately* I shall work on that tale for your entertainment, then!
gona stop monitoring this, someone PM me if it gets back on. :P
You must have a lot of free time.
Way too much time...