The Hounds
of
Hell
Northgard
Deep in the heart of the vast and forgotten Ice plains lies a sheer face of ice that to any looks empty, bleak and lonely, a frozen wasteland. But any of those of the Supernatural can feel the power that generates from such an isolated place as Northgard.
The Northgardian Fortress is in fact built into the ice mountains of the harsh north, spanning a massiver 4 miles of castle wall and keep, protected with the freezing cold and hidden in the whiteout beyond.
It is here that some of the most feared and respected warriors of the Garou Nation reside. For over a thousand years it's walls have housed the ferocious heart of the war filled Get of Fenris. This is not a place to travel to without purpose or even lightly.
Northgard has been the end of every enemy, a track record they keep in very good stead, having never yet met their match in combat or beyond it in the skills of war. But some would call them too proud.
However pride is something to come by easily by the Fenrir who reside here thanks to the way they are brought to their fortress's battlelines. Garou or Kin. Every being within the Fortress is a trained and seasoned warrior. All of them carefully trained in the ways of war, crafts, tactics and strategy. Making them terrifying and ferocious enemies.
Garou have spoken of the Fortress's battlelines as some of the most intimidating and terrifying they have ever seen in their days of the Nation. This even being the case in the hearts of the strongest of the Silver Fang Kings.
There have been many 'Jarls' of Northgard, however all of the Jarls have stood at the mid points of their battlelines in union with the men, the bravest warriors of them all. Auspice does not really come into choosing a Jarl nor challenging to become one as even the healing Theurge are trained to do much the opposite to their life saving craft.
Heading up the Fortress of Northgard is the strong Iron Lady of the Ice. A Jarl that has been highly successful in her term and has brought the Fortress thundering victory admists the loudest of war and battle cries.
Jarl Imogen Ranarson trains those of the Northgard from a mere 5 years old in the ways of combat in much a similar system to the days of old, letting the children become squires to the armoured Garou of the War Bans. Showing the young ones what they will stand beside or become in the years to follow. Everyone has a healthy respect for the ways of war here.
Because of the harsh aspects of life around them however, these bloodthirsty warriors often turn out as passionate about their children, lovers and families. It is not often that one of these Fenrir will stray from their families in the ways of affairs or anything of that type of ilk, yet they are acceptant that those of the Warban may fall to one another in the heat of battle, it is not something that is spoken or really dealt with, but when it is, it is settled with the strength between the garou or even the kinfolk with the disagreement of their partner's affections in the challenge circle. Drawing blood and breaking bodies in order to have the rights over that situation.
Where this may sound dramatic, it is felt by the Fenrir that true disagreement should be settled in such manners in order to provide a clear end to the conflict under the watchful eyes of the Philodox and sometimes even the Jarl herself may be in attendance.
The Fenrir here are known to have large families and birth is a highly important time for them in the ways of socializing and gathering. A pregnant Fenrir will be taken from the battlelines unless specifically chosen to continue to war, which admittedly is rare. They will spend their pregnancy within the circles of those who may care for them and also will offer their hand to the ways of the stategic minds of the fortress who will also become their diplomats for when the Fortress calls for them. Pregnant women spend time to offer their praise to Freyja and others of the old Norse Gods who's spirits provide the Fortress with vast and terrifying charms.
Currently the Northgardian Fortress has been overtaken by the beautiful Theurge or Godi by Fenrir tongue, Eirwyn Dagosdottir. Ruling much like her predecessor, Imogen. Imogen having be howled as a traitor to the cause under the direction of the Silver Fang King, Jonas Albrecht. Imogen is said to be currently serving a imprisonment in the dire realm of Fengsel. A terrifying place even for the strongest of Garou and Fenrir.
The Garou and Kinfolk are placed together as children, boys and girls and thrown out to the ice wastes to find their own shelter and food, fighting for their very survival against predators and the elements, the first time this happens is exactly one moon after their 7th birthday. The Lupus however before they reach a year old.
Women and men are equal in the eyes of the Norse, however this is not so much the case between the garou and the kinfolk of the settlement. Kinfolk are expected to fight and die beside their garou companions, care for the children and also of course keep the home in the vast consideration however this does vary slightly from Fenrir couple to couple and marriage to marriage. Northgard are vastly traditional in they ways of life. Keeping to the old ways of religion under Gaia and also the ways of gathering, birth, marriage and death.