Vikmordere – The Spirit-Bound People of the Frozen Wilds
The word “Vikmordere” refers both to the people and the region they inhabit: the vast and rugged Vikmordere Valley, a snowbound wilderness surrounded by the imposing territory of the Klavek Empire. Here, amid ancient forests and glacier-carved peaks, the Vikmordere preserve a way of life untouched by empire and guided by ancestral memory.
Often dismissed by outsiders as fearless raiders, the Vikmordere are in truth a wise and deeply spiritual culture. Their connection to the natural world and the Ancestor Spirit defines their existence. They hunt, craft, live, and lead according to traditions passed down from the time of the Ancestor People, beings of immense magical power who once shaped the land itself.
Guardians of the wild. Enemies of empire. Children of the Ancestor Spirit.
History
No modern chronicle can say when the Vikmordere first laid claim to the valley. The oldest records of the Klavek Empire speak of a time when Vikmordere settlements stretched beyond the Eastern Mountains into the heartland of the empire. In time, their numbers diminished—whether through war, disaster, or withdrawal—and the Vikmordere retreated into the highlands.
There, in the shelter of snow-capped peaks and misty pine forests, they endured. The Vikmordere Valley became both sanctuary and stronghold, and though their numbers thinned, their culture never waned.
Geography
The Vikmordere Valley is a land of extremes: vast alpine ridges, glacial lakes, boreal woods, and treacherous passes. Snow lies heavy across much of the year. The highest peaks are sheathed in ice, while lower slopes are thick with spruce, pine, birch, larch, and the sacred tranteum tree.
At the valley’s heart lies Serpent Lake, an enormous glacial body of water that feeds the surrounding forests and marks the spiritual and physical center of Vikmordere life. Here, clans gather to trade, feast, and tell stories. When threatened, the Vikmordere vanish into the wilderness, where few outsiders can follow and even fewer survive.
The Boreal Forest spreads along the southern edge of the lake, home to most of the valley’s flora and fauna. The region remains largely untamed, dotted with mobile encampments rather than permanent settlements.
Government & Tribal Leadership
The Vikmordere are organized into loosely allied clans, each typically 50 members or more. Leadership is earned, not inherited. Most clans follow either the mightiest warrior or the wisest shaman, chosen for strength, vision, and the favor of the Ancestor Spirit.
Once a year, the clans gather in ritual celebration. At this event, any warrior who has shed the blood of the Serpent of the Lake may issue a Mujaka (challenge) to the reigning leader. A duel to the death follows, witnessed by all.
- If the reigning leader wins, a ten-day meditation guided by shamans follows, ending in a fast and a communal prayer.
- If the challenger wins, the clan launches a raiding campaign down the Serpent Tail River, striking settlements along its length—even those held by other Vikmordere who have aligned with the Klavek Empire.
To the Vikmordere, those who bow to the empire have forsaken their roots.
Military
The Vikmordere do not maintain a formal army. Instead, they rely on skilled raiding parties led by hardened warlords—warriors who must prove their worth by wounding the Serpent of the Lake.
If united, the clans could muster a formidable force capable of devastating coastal and riverside settlements. Their strength lies in guerrilla tactics, supernatural guidance, and an intimate knowledge of the terrain.
Culture & the Ancestor Spirit
To understand the Vikmordere is to understand their reverence for the Ancestor Spirit, a collective force formed from their ancient magical forebears. These Ancestor People once wielded powerful nature-magic and shaped the lands, rivers, and skies.
In time, they strayed from nature, building cities and losing touch with the world they once honored. Salvation came from a wise seer who led them back to the forests, to hunting, gathering, and living in harmony with the wilds. Since then, the Vikmordere have vowed to preserve balance and never again fall to the lure of city-life or conquest.
The Ancestor Spirit now guides the living, welcomes the dead, and grants power to those who prove worthy. Every hunt, storm, and dream is seen as a message from the spirits.
Religion
The Ancestor Spirit is central to all aspects of Vikmordere life. Shamans interpret its will through signs in nature, dreams, and ancestral relics.
Each clan crafts totem poles depicting revered animals and spirits. These are blessed and raised at encampments to ward off danger and call on the spirits for protection. Totems are spiritual tools and magical wards alike.
Shamans, often old and wise, serve as both spiritual leaders and magical practitioners. Only those who complete significant quests earn the right to channel the Ancestor Spirit’s full power. Rogue shamans who turn to dark forces are hunted or exiled.
Economy & Trade
The Vikmordere do not use currency or keep ledgers. Barter and communal sharing define their economy. Value is measured in utility, not in wealth. A good trade is one that helps one survive another winter.
Gold, when taken in raids, is buried with honored leaders to “return it to the earth” and cleanse its corrupting influence. Trade between clans happens organically, and supplies are redistributed as needed without expectation of repayment.
Raids & Hidden Ways
The Vikmordere use the rivers and lakes of their homeland to launch stealthy raids against the Klavek Empire. From Serpent Lake, they follow the Serpent Tail River into lowland settlements like The Three Sisters, taking what they need and vanishing before retaliation can be mustered.
Few know of their return route: using secret underground waterways and an ancient Ancestral Gateway, the Vikmordere reappear through a hidden portal beneath the lake, deep within ancestral ruins lost to time.
Long ago, the Vikmordere controlled what is now the village of Rybalka, a vital stronghold on Serpent Lake. After decades of raids, the Klavek Empire launched a brutal campaign, seized the mine, and renamed the settlement. Though they lost Rybalka, the Vikmordere have never forgotten it—and many wait for the right moment to reclaim it.