Ulfbjorn Village, home to the Tribe of Ulfbjorn, is a small yet resilient Unknown settlement situated at the edge of the Norden Wastes, a desolate expanse of frozen tundras and ice-covered plains. Despite the remote and inhospitable environment that the Ulfbjorn live, they have survived for generations as they evolve and adapt through Khaos mutations, which empower their brutal strength and savage survival instincts.
Location and Construction
Constructed by the fierce Werebears of the Ulfbjorn Tribe, the village stands at the threshold of the Norden Wastes, where the arctic winds howl across the desolate landscape. Long-halls made from the ancient trees of frozen forests dominate the village, each hall built to accommodate the massive frames of the tribe’s Werebear warriors. These sturdy wooden structures are reinforced with animal bones and furs from their hunts, providing shelter against the relentless winter storms that plague the region.
Provisions are abundant in the village, as the Ulfbjorn are expert hunters. Their long-halls overflow with venison, mammoth meat, and the spoils of their frequent hunts across the arctic tundra. The village thrives on its connection to the wilderness, where the tribe’s prowess as hunters is legendary. They fearlessly track and hunt the largest and most dangerous creatures in the icy forests, including mammoths, snow trolls, and the rare but deadly Rhemoraz.
Life in the Village
Life in Ulfbjorn Village is harsh and unforgiving. The villagers live communally, sharing resources and preparing for hunts together. The tribe is governed by a strict hierarchy where power is the only law. Leadership is determined through combat, with the Tribe Elder holding their position after defeating the previous leader in brutal, often fatal, combat. This ritual ensures that only the strongest and most capable warriors lead the tribe, as the Ulfbjorn believe that Skoll, their patron deity, favors the strongest.
Disputes within the tribe are frequently settled through combat, with Werebears battling each other in the village square to assert dominance or resolve grievances. These contests are a common occurrence and serve as both entertainment and a reaffirmation of the tribe’s social order. The tribe’s entire culture is based on survival of the fittest, with the weak either forced into submission or exiled.
Woodland Hunters
The nearby Arctic Forests are central to the Ulfbjorn way of life. These dense, frozen woods are teeming with dangerous prey, and the Werebears are masterful hunters, using their heightened senses to track their prey through the snow and ice. The forest provides the tribe with most of its resources, from food to building materials, and it is also considered sacred by the Ulfbjorn, who believe that Skoll himself blessed the forest as their hunting ground.
The Ulfbjorn are known to defend their hunting grounds fiercely against rival tribes or invading forces, seeing it as both their source of sustenance and a symbol of their strength.
Werebear Curse and Worship of Skoll
The Werebear Curse, believed to be a blessing from Skoll, is central to the Ulfbjorn Tribe’s identity. The ability to transform into massive, powerful Werebears has made the tribe one of the most fearsome in Norska. In battle, the Ulfbjorn are terrifying, shifting between human and bear forms with savage ferocity. Their immense strength and primal instincts make them unstoppable hunters and warriors, feared by all who encounter them.
The Ulfbjorn are devout worshippers of Skoll, the god of savagery and hunting. They see themselves as the chosen of Skoll, embodying his predatory nature in both their hunts and their battles. Their worship is expressed through acts of violence and dominance, and the greatest prey they hunt is often offered up as a sacrifice to Skoll, ensuring his continued favor.
Blood and Battle
The Ulfbjorn are not only hunters but also fierce warriors. The village is often embroiled in conflicts with rival tribes, especially the Tribe of Bloddvergur and the Tribe of Valhrafnar. These wars are not merely for resources or territory, they are also seen as tests of strength, with the victorious tribe proving their superiority in the eyes of their gods.
When united under the banner of a Warrior-King, the Ulfbjorn have been known to join the other Tribes of Khaos in devastating raids on the southern lands. Their most infamous raids have targeted the Y’azi Empire, where their ferocity in battle has left entire armies decimated. These raids have cemented the Ulfbjorn reputation as one of the most dangerous and savage tribes in all of Norska.