I have read a good deal of the campaign setting information about the Land of the Linorm kings and the only thing I know for sure is that a linorm must die (White Estrid being the only exception so far) for a king to be "crowned", but does the potential king have to kill the linorm alone? Some evidence suggests they do, while others suggest a party could take one on and the "leader" could claim a throne. Does anyone have some concrete evidence in either direction?
I have a sneaking suspicion that the kill is a group effort that a popular warrior takes on the hunt to prove his claim. The way I see it, a potential king gathers his best men-at-arms and takes to the hunt. In the end they bring the Linorm down for their lord, gaining the renown for helping him kill it, but he is the organizer and he gets the title and kill credit.
I think that is why Estrid and Opir are "talked about." Both have unconventional kills.
If a party brings one down, and one of the players wants to lay claim to the title, I say go with it. Sounds like a fun game to me.
...Checking out the Wiki entry, it says its single combat so I guess you got to solo it.
http://www.pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Linnorm_King
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Defeat a Linnorm in single combat...well good luck with that. Even the lowest of the linnorm are like CR 16, so assuming you are well equipped for your level, you probably could solo one when you are level 18-19 on a martial character. Casters have options of course and could probably do it at a lower level.
Single combat, but not necessarily alone.
Witnesses are allowed (and probably desired for a boost to the character's reputation). Buffing from others before the fight is likely a bit of a gray area, but it's not that much more of an advantage over magic items; magical assistance during the fight (even if not attacking the linnorm) is probably frowned on. Having access to healing and status removal magic after the fight is probably allowed.
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There are a number of unclaimed kingdoms (run by stewards until a king with the appropriate prowess becomes available).
Basically, they're ruled normally until someone sufficiently metal shows up. Then they let that person run things. May not be the best form of government, but probably a good reaction to having adventurers running around.
The current Linnorm kings (and queen) range from level 13 to 18, which seems reasonable. I seem to recall one of them came back with the head of an obviously weak and diseased linnorm, but was sort of waved in because they needed a ruler.
Personally, I've found having a few high level people scattered around gives high-level PCs a framework to fit into. It helps that the Linnorm Kings aren't, strictly speaking, great people. They could just as easily be villains or unpredictable allies.
Cheers!
Landon
Yeah, you can be in single combat and have a Bard singing about how great you are, a mage who has cast every buff spell imaginable on you before you start, and a cleric watching out for your own hit points with a Shield other spell. . .
It's one of those ideas that sounds like really cool fluff, but has some issues when you look too closely at it.
They're really all that high level? Does that really match level ranges of rulers in other books? It's certainly higher level than I'm comfortable with being that common.
As Eltacolibre suggests, it probably skews towards casters being capable at lower levels and thus more common, which doesn't really fit the image.
What happens if there isn't a linnorm killer available? Somebody has to be in charge. Does he always go quietly? Or if there's already one in that area?
I see it as a land of few kings. Mostly villages and farmsteads where people come together for the "Things" to deal with community governance issues and lawsuits but mostly everybody does their own thing on their own land if they are not banding together under charismatic ship owners for raids.
Only seriously badass people get to be king and recognized in Golarion Viking Land. If there is nobody for a generation or two for a foreign diplomat to suck up to that's fine by the vikings.
Scandinavia eventually had kings in later medieval times but my understanding is that in earlier viking periods it was much less based on a feudal king model and that is how I picture most of the Linnorm Lands.
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I always figured it was single combat. Though pre-combat buffs should be fine, and an ongoing Bardic Performance seems thematically sound, too.
It's one of those ideas that sounds like really cool fluff, but has some issues when you look too closely at it.
Eh, not really.
They're really all that high level? Does that really match level ranges of rulers in other books? It's certainly higher level than I'm comfortable with being that common.
All Linnorm Kings except Opir are 15th level or higher. And Opir explicitly probably cheated. IMO, 15th level is plenty to kill a Linnorm solo if you focus on that (do buffs either from your party or items before combat, have a Dragonbane cold iron weapon, etc.)..especially a Crag Linnorm who are only CR 14.
As Eltacolibre suggests, it probably skews towards casters being capable at lower levels and thus more common, which doesn't really fit the image.
Uh...have you looked at Linnorms? They have a list of immunities as long as your arm, True Seeing, flight, and pretty good saves. As well as solid SR. I...honestly think relatively martial characters are solid choices to take them down. Barbarians are certainly a valid option, and all the current Linnorm Kings are Barbarians (probably because a lot of people in the area are).
What happens if there isn't a linnorm killer available? Somebody has to be in charge. Does he always go quietly? Or if there's already one in that area?
If he's not a Linnorm King? Yeah, he goes quiet. He would've gone out and killed a Linnorm himself if he could, and since you did...arguing with you is a good way to wind up dead, especially since the people are almost certainly going to support the tradition. He might try to remain a power behind the throne, though.
If there's an existing Linnorm King, you fight. On the other hand, I believe three of the seven are unclaimed at the moment...so why would you not grab one of those?
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Just from a legendary standpoint, I'd say not necessarily single combat, but the kingship goes to the one who dealt the killing blow. Even Beowulf didn't take on the dragon single-handedly. He had a whole band with him. Yes, they chickened out except for Wiglaf, but the implication is that had they stood with Beowulf, he probably would have survived the battle. This model of multiple combatants with one clear slayer appears to be corroborated by an illustration in People of the North where one man stands triumphant on a slain linnorm's neck accompanied by two or three other heavily armed men.
In short, single combat seems a little extreme, and I don't think the Linnorm Kings object to having a few good thanes at your side to help you fight the beastie, so long as you're actually the one that lands that final blow, and you can prove it.