Norsca

Norscan Marauder

Born in frost, forged in blood, blessed by the Dark Gods

Founding FoundedBefore history; the first tribes crawled out of the Wastes FounderNo one remembers; the gods were already there Current LeaderNo single king; each jarl rules until someone stronger takes his head Geography CapitalNone; the greatest longhouse is wherever the strongest warlord drinks tonight Major CitiesSkaeling ports, Sarl fjords, Baersonling ice-coves RegionsNorsca and the northern Chaos Wastes Biology Lifespan40-60 years if the axe, the cold, or the gods don’t claim you sooner Height175-210 cm (5′9″ - 6′11″); the gods like them big Culture LanguageNorscan tongue (guttural, full of boasts and curses) ReligionThe four Ruinous Powers first, tribal ancestor spirits second Government GovernmentMight makes right; jarls, champions, and shamans rule by strength Relations AlliesWarriors of Chaos, Daemons (when it suits them), Beastmen (sometimes) EnemiesEmpire, Dwarfs, High Elves, Kislev, anyone south of the Sea of Claws

Norsca is the land that the rest of the world wishes would just sink into the sea. A frozen hell of jagged fjords, wolf-haunted forests, and villages built from dragon bones. Its people are taller, harder, and meaner than any southerner has a right to be. They raid in longships hung with skulls, drink sea-serpent blood for breakfast, and laugh when the winter wind flays the skin from lesser men. To a Norscan, life is simple: take what you want, kill what resists, and offer the skulls to the gods so they notice you before you die.

Overview

If you want to play a seven-foot barbarian who thinks the Empire is a retirement home for cowards and whose retirement plan is “die gloriously and get a daemon prince promotion,” you’ve found your people.

Appearance

Built like a barn door and twice as thick. Pale or wind-burned skin covered in scars, runes, and tattoos that still bleed on holy days. Long hair and beards braided with enemy finger-bones. Armour is whatever they killed last: sea-dragon scales, Chaos plate, or just furs over bare muscle. Mutations are jewellery; an extra eye or a tentacle arm just means the gods are watching.

Culture & Society

• Regions: Norsca and the ever-hungry edge of the Wastes.
• Culture: Strength is the only law. Everything else is weakness.
• Names: Bjorn, Hrolf, Astrid, Sven, Wulfrik, Valkia, Skollaf.
• Religion: Khorne for the brave, Nurgle for the survivors, Tzeentch for the cunning, Slaanesh for the truly twisted.

Relations with Other Races

Category	Faction	Relation
Humans	Empire	Hostile
	Bretonnia	Hostile
	Kislev	Hostile
	Sartosa	Neutral
	Araby	Hostile
	Cathay	Hostile
	Norsca	Friendly
Elves	Asur (High Elves)	Hostile
	Asrai (Wood Elves)	Neutral
	Druchii (Dark Elves)	Neutral
Dwarfs	Dwarfs	Hostile
	Chaos Dwarfs	Friendly
Greenskins	Orcs	Neutral
	Goblins	Neutral
Monstrous	Ogre	Neutral
	Beastmen	Neutral
Affliction	Chaos	Friendly
	Vampire	Neutral

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths: Terrifying in a charge, fearless, cold doesn’t bother them, mutations make them stronger.
• Weaknesses: Undisciplined, fight each other almost as much as the enemy, shamans sometimes explode.

Playing a Norscan

Talk in boasts and threats. Laugh at pain. Never back down, never show mercy, never trust anyone who hasn’t bled beside you. Your life goal is a saga that will be sung until the world ends (preferably because you helped end it). A Khorne follower wants skulls, a Slaaneshi wants perfection through agony, a Nurgle worshipper just wants to share his gifts. All of them want to die with a weapon in hand and a war-cry on their lips.

Physical Appearance

Imagine the biggest, meanest Viking you’ve ever seen, then give him horns, an extra arm, and an axe the size of a horse. That’s an average Tuesday in Norsca.

Notable Ranks & Careers

Reaver → Marauder → Berserker → Chosen → Chaos Champion → Daemon Prince (if the gods are kind)