Norn Fanlore that is Now Canon

[viciousbayn]

Folklife: (noun) the traditions, activities, skills, and products of a particular people or group.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Norn Culture Overview
Family
Food
Mysticism/Spirituality

Norn Pin Board

[viciousbayn]

Introduction

The Norn are a 9-foot tall race that currently inhabit the central Shiverpeak Mountains, with some living in or near the abandoned dwarven structures. The individualistic Norn live for the hunt, so their tracking, stealth and killing skills make them invaluable allies in any combat situation. The largest gathering of Norn one can expect to find outside trading posts is in hunting parties that have united to combat a powerful foe. [1]


Age of Giants

According to Thrulnn the Lost, a Jotun storyteller, the Jotun and Norn once ruled the Shiverpeak Mountains during the "Age of Giants." Both races fell; the Norn turning to the Spirits of the Wild, who helped the Norn stabilize their culture. The Jotun declined into a primitive state.


Giant Races in Tyria

Norn and Jotun
Ogres
Giants


Central Tyria

Giants in CT are usually cyclops, with a dark gray skin tone.
Examples - Champion Kol Skullsmasher (Hirathi Hinterlands), Legendary Sand Giant (Dry Top), Champion Giant (Diessa Plateau).


Elona

Giants in Elona have red-brown skin and two eyes. Examples - Kaarg the Gentle (Sandswept Isles)

Other

Giganticus Lupicus; extinct. Possible from elder dragons, according to the Priory.

Kodan

A race of intelligent polar bear-like beings from the distant northern lands and seas. They are a highly spiritual race that for centuries has lived in cities built upon, and carved into, icebergs in the arctic seas known as Sanctuaries. Their society is divided into tribes, each one having their own iceberg and leaders. After the Elder Ice Dragon Jormag awoke, the Kodan Sanctuaries were scattered in all directions, if not capsized by the dragon.

The Kodan are ten feet tall and are bipedal. They resemble polar bears and are often seen adorned in armor and red cloth. The lifespan of the Kodan is not fully known, but some can live for centuries. There is considerable debate among scholars and Kodan Voices over whether the Kodan are distant cousins of the Norn. [2]

In the wiki page, there isn’t much evidence to support that Norn were Kodan. A lot of it is speculation. Whether by the Kodan themselves or others. Norn physiology (tendency to run hot) shows they can survive in arctic climates like the Far Shiverpeaks.

Kodan also have their own “religion” and creeds with Koda as their god and the following of said doctrines that give way to their lifestyle. This is not to disregard and notion that Norn/Kodan come from one another in some form, but it seems unlikely based on the canonical way of life of these two races.

[viciousbayn]

Norn Culture: Collectivistic and Individualistic

"If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together."

Individualistic (IC)

“Individualistic culture is a society which is characterized by individualism, which is the prioritization or emphasis, of the individual over the entire group. Individualistic cultures are oriented around the self, being independent instead of identifying with a group mentality. They see each other as only loosely linked, and value personal goals over group interests. Individualistic cultures tend to have a more diverse population and are characterized with emphasis on personal achievements, and a rational assessment of both the beneficial and detrimental aspects of relationships with others.” [3]

A few common characteristics of individualistic cultures include:

• Individual rights take center stage.
• Independence is highly valued.
• Being dependent upon others is often considered shameful or embarrassing.
• People tend to be self-reliant.
• The rights of individuals tend to take a higher precedence.
• People often place a greater emphasis on standing out and being unique.

In individualistic cultures, people are considered "good" if they are strong, self-reliant, assertive, and independent. This contrasts with collectivist cultures where characteristics like being self-sacrificing, dependable, generous, and helpful to others are of greater importance. [4]

Individualistic cultures stress that people should be able to solve problems or accomplish goals on their own without having to rely on assistance from others.


Collectivistic (CC)

Collectivistic cultures emphasize the needs and goals of the group as a whole over the needs and desires of each individual. In such cultures, relationships with other members of the group and the interconnectedness between people play a central role in each person's identity.

A few common traits of collectivistic cultures include:

• Social rules focus on promoting selflessness and putting community needs ahead of individual needs.
• Working as a group and supporting others is essential.
• People are encouraged to do what's best for society.
• Families and communities have a central role.

In collectivistic cultures, people are considered "good" if they are generous, helpful, dependable, and attentive to the needs of others. [5]


Conclusion

The culture is both individualistic and collectivist.

                        Norn Individualistic Qualities                                                   Norn Collectivist Qualities

Independence is highly valued.	Working as a group and supporting others is essential
People often place greater emphasis on standing out and being unique.	Working as a group and supporting others is essential.
A person has strong, self-reliant, assertive, and independent characteristics	A person is generous, helpful, dependable, and attentive to the needs of others.
Cultivating an individual legend (e.g. being the slayer of Issormir or a Norn commander*).	Working together towards a common goal (e.g. killing the elder dragon Jormag or a Norn commander*).

*Depends on perspective. Norn commander can be the Dragon Slayer alone; they dealt the finishing blow to the dragon so they killed the dragon. Or, they can be the commander of the Pact, Dragon's Watch leader, and killing dragons is a group effort.

IC and CC can happen on different levels wherein all levels are interrelated.
(Cue Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory)

Microsystem (collectivist or individualist): influences that have direct contact with the child in their immediate environment. This includes family (parents, guardians, siblings), school, peers/friends, and religion.

Mesosystem (collectivist): the interaction between people in the child's life within the microsystem (e.g., between parents and the child's friends or the child's friends and siblings). "The mesosystem is where a person's individual microsystems do not function independently, but are interconnected and assert influence upon one another."

Exosystem: made up of formal and informal social structures that indirectly influence the child because the social structure affects one of the microsystems. Example: parents job (exo) --> parent and child interactions (micro); the parent has a bad day at work (in exosystem) and is short tempered with the child (within the microsystem), resulting in negative effects on the child's development.

Macrosystem (individualist): generally defined as the attitudes and ideologies of the culture. It wholly refers to the already established society and culture the child is developing in. The macrosystem focuses on how cultural elements affect the child's development (e.g., wealth, poverty, geographic location, ethnicity). A child who lives in Hoelbrak may be influenced by the attitudes and ideologies of that region and have a different life experience to a child who lives in Cragstead.

Chronosystem (collectivist or individualist): all the environmental changes that occur over the lifetime which influence development, including major life transitions, and historical events. Basically, how the evolving and changing world around a person effects almost every changing aspect of their life (it can include big or small transitions like starting a new job or getting divorced). For example, how the current elder dragon cycle impacts a characters life regarding marriage, earning a living, celebrating cultural traditions, etc.

The microsystem is marked as IC and CC because the macrosystem can influence a person and thus how they raised their kids and so on. Example: A Norn living in region A, which tends to be more individualist, raises their child that way in the microsystem, and the child grows and passes on this cultural aspect they were raised in. The chronosystem is marked the same way because depending on how things played out in the microsystem (IC vs CC), people may respond differently. If CC raised values celebrating cultural events more than IC, an elder dragon ruining the day may negatively impact CC but not so much IC.

Above all, however, nothing has to be purely IC or CC. There can be a blend. For example, people who settle outside of the area in which they were born can have all kinds of impact on the region (region B)/culture they are assimilating into. This can change the culture in region B on a large or small scale. The predominating culture may overshadow any attempts of integration (A dominates B), the culture can completely change (B dominates A), or the cultures merge (mix).

Ultimately, the point is, Norn culture seems to have a mix of both IC and CC. With the way the Ecological Systems Theory works, that leaves a lot of room to play (especially considering ethnicity, region, and wealth). This isn't an argument, but a way to expand upon a culture that only has the basics of their culture fleshed out. 

[viciousbayn]

Norn Culture: Family

"It takes whole village to raise a child."

In general, this Nigerian proverb conveys the African world view that emphasizes the values of family relationships, parental care, self-sacrificing concern for others, sharing, and even hospitality." [6]


Family Names [7]
As a family may consist of multiple parents and siblings, the Norn assign many names to the same title.

Family	Mother (fem)	Father (masc)	Parent (NB)
Clein (clan)	Mam	Athair	Pàrantan
Teaghlach (household)	Máthair	Dadaí	Karant
Lught Thie (household)	Mamaí	Dadaidh	Parens
Cloan (children)	Mamaidh
Litter* (children)
Muinntir (relatives)

*Litter = children if you're Squid-inclined

Siblings next.

[viciousbayn]

Norn Culture: Food

Overview

The culture of eating together with others and sharing food is particularly strong. In other cultures it is common to ask someone “how are you?” However, to Norn, the phrase used to greet someone is “Have you eaten?”

• What is the culture around each meal and how many meals are there?
• Food chores: who does what? (e.g., set the table, cooking the meal [both parents/guardians], how are the children involved so they can carry on these traditions?)
• What kinds of food do they eat and what does a normal Norn plate of food look like.
• How does one treat food when they have guests? Host offers food and water after the “have you eaten” greeting. Does the guest: politely refuse once, then accept? Accept when asked?
• Special holidays for Spirits of the Wild related foods
  
  • One day for the main four spirits of the wild
  • Beat up Jormag squad animals are not eaten because it's taboo. They sacrificed to save the Norn people
  • Lesser spirits of the wild some are eaten and some aren't. Those that are eaten receive a special prayer (e.g., minotaur, wurm) 

Main Food Groups

Meatloaf
Stew
Savory Cakes (Fish cakes, drake cakes, crab cakes, skelk cakes)


Beef stew/all the stews that have carrots and potatoes in them. onions and parsnips are used to season. A serious love of veggies as well as meats. but veggies that are considered very hearty like that. I'm trying to think of real things and worldbuild based on the ecosystem of the Shiverpeaks. Thinking of the in game animals: moose, deer, moa, boars, the various fish species, spiders.

All animals are respected but if animals that are associated with spirits of the wild are going to be eaten there's a little bit more ritual and ceremony around them: griffin, hare/rabbit, dolyak

Spices (individual) - bold = shiverpeaks / italics = imported

• Chili pepper
• Ginger
• Cayenne pepper
• Ghost pepper
• Black peppercorn

Spices (combos)

• Simple chili seasoning
• Pile of stir fry spice mix
• Pile of jerk spice
• Jar of red curry paste
• Pile of zesty herb

Meat/Poultry/Seafood

Ice Lake/Ocean animals

• Drakes
• Fish
• Crabs
• Skelk*

*Skelk: it's one of those things that probably stinks to high heaven before being prepped stinks like fuck til it's seasoned. Probably tastes amazing. Norn probably make a thing out of seeing who can prep skelk the best


Food by Region

Cragstead: spiced wurm stew, fried ice cave spider legs (wurms are irl equivalent to snake now)

Animals (all Shiverpeaks)

Black ram, doe, longhorn ram, longhorn sheep, marmox, moose, ram, stag, rabbit,

Spices/Ingredients

Wayfarer Foothills: garlic, carrots, celery (via karma merch), green bean (via karma merch), potato

Snowden Drifts (all karma merch): walnut, kidney bean, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, basil leaf, thyme leaf, bell pepper, black peppercorn, bottle of ginger marinate

NOT karma: strawberries

Timberline Falls: rutabaga, blackberry, green onion, rosemary sprig, carrots, turnips, beets, cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, pinenut (via karma merch), shallot (via karma merch)

Frostgorge Sound: lotus root, parsnips, snow truffles, seaweed, butternut squash

[viciousbayn]

Norn Mysticism/Spirituality

Havroun

Havroun are uncommon Norn shamans. Their duty is to tend to the Spirits' needs in this life and after. They are able to cross over into the Mists to be with their patron spirit where they can live forever. They need no portal or ritual to cross over, unless they are taking others with them. There is only one havroun per Spirit of the Wild, although they may pass the havroun title to their apprentices once they cross over. [#]

Shamans

Each spirit has any number of shaman. A shaman devotes themselves to a spirit's sacred area, serving as guardians to that area and teachers of the lessons of that spirit. The four most important spirits have huge Spirit Lodges built in their honor in Hoelbrak; these are governed by the most powerful shamans, the Speakers of Hoelbrak. [#]

Shapeshifting

s o o n

Revenants

s o o n


Spirits of the Wild

"The Spirits of the Wild are the Norn's spirit guides. Spirits of the Wild embody the complex virtues and vices of the animals they represent. They are not worshiped in the traditional sense of the word, but revered. The Spirits of the Wild have always been around to guide the Norn' they do not always offer aid directly, but always aim to help. If they do nothing after being asked for help, then their help wasn't necessary. The spirits teach the Norn not to despoil the land and balance the Norn's direct and quick-tempered natures." [#]

Highly Regarded Spirits

Bear: the Great Spirit. Bear is the deity most prominent in Norn culture. She represents fortitude and self-reliance and is said to be the mightiest of all Spirits.

Raven: represents wisdom, cunning, trickery and knowledge; he is the spirit associated with the underworld and spirits of the dead.

Wolf: represents the virtues of loyalty, ferocity, and strength in numbers. He is often invoked for help in tracking a Norn's prey.

Snow Leopard (Snow Lynx): represents independence, strategy, and laughter in the face of danger. She is considered to be stealthy and solitary.

We Beat Jormag Up Squad

Owl: has a deep connection with wisdom and intuitive knowledge. Those who owl blesses gain the inspiration and guidance necessary to deeply explore the unknown. She has the power to see what is usually hidden to most and can see beyond illusion and deceit.

Dolyak (Ox): [they]

Wolverine: is a wild, ferocious, and primal spirit. He inspires confidence, power, and the courage to be bold. Expect unpredictability from Wolverine; he stands tall with determination and has an uncompromising nature. Wolverine is adaptable and has an unsinkable attitude in the face of adversity. Regardless of these qualities, it is important to remember that wolverine is also an affectionate spirit and strives for strong bonds.

Eagle: offers lessons about looking closely at the most minute of details in order to see life from a broader perspective. Eagle is grounded; though he is able to soar to great heights, he is strongly connected to the earth. Those guided by eagle are resilient and in complete harmony with the spiritual aspects of their lives. They accept life's challenges with unshakable courage, determination, and confidence.

Lesser Spirits of the Wild

Minotaur: [they]

Hare: lives life spontaneously, loves to frolic, and is the life of the party. She is quick witted and excellent at problem solving. Hare is associated with the earth, where she can hide or camouflage herself. Other things that are notably associated with Hare is fertility and the moon.

Otter: lives to make other people smile. He is not egotistical and his motivations are driven by the needs of others, especially supporting them in times of crisis. Otter is naturally curious and takes pleasure in nurturing, reveling in nature's beauty, and values the love for children and family.

Gorilla: teaches us to hold our head high and acknowledge the nobility within us. She represents honor and dignity, and reminds us of these qualities when we feel vulnerable or ungenerous. Gorilla encourages leadership, leading with temperance, fairness, compassion, and understanding. At times, Gorilla can be egotistical and desire attention, but overall she strives for us to maintain our integrity and support our community.

Griffon: is a symbol of duality representing balance; she stands for vigilance, virtue and strength. She is a guardian and protector of life, and remains loyal in her protection even in the afterlife.

Wurm: [he]

[Notes: Spirits of the wild ("gods"; similar to "wild" gods such as the titans (Greek) vs the Olympians (Greek). They don't have a bad rep though (like the titans. full shade).]