The NordsArmy Book

The fragmented leadership of the Nords respects only one thing: power and strength. Less than a dozen leaders among the Nords can claim, and hold, the title of Konungyr. Ultimate recognition of this accomplishment is an invitation by Angbjorn, last of the Einherjar and titular High King of the Nords, to the High Table in Aarheim.

This unit's Retinue is Steel Chosen. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Cleave 2, Fearless, Indomitable, Living Legend

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

While the Nords often ridicule their southern cousins in the Hundred Kingdoms for the sheer variety and profusion of titles that the nobility uses, the truth of the matter is that the Nord description is no less complex or confusing, despite the seeming simplicity of it. Nords effectively recognize but two titles: the Jarl and the King.

The title of Jarl is perhaps the most misleading. Much like the word 'Lord' used in the southern lands, there can be a great gulf between two different individuals addressed by the same title. The same holds true in Nord society, where a Jarl remains a recognized leader of men, but the number and quality of the troops at his disposal can vary wildly.

This unit's Retinue is Ugr. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Shield, Cleave 1, Warhorn

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Whether fate or chance or simple accident provide the blooded their gifts, few can argue that the Blooded are more than human. Their physical appearance can vary significantly, although most tend towards the massive proportions of their divine forefathers. Many see physical gifts and martial prowess and consider the Blooded lucky, unable to understand the combat that rages within each of these individuals.

The wild blood of their divine ancestors cannot be easily denied, and they are prone to fits of manic energy and rage almost as often as periods of doom and despair. Their gifts manifest erratically, their senses sharpening until the stimulus overwhelms them, while other times a hyperactive adrenal system makes them insanely aggressive and violent. Unable to trust themselves, many of the Blooded choose the path of the recluse and the wanderer, fearing themselves more than they fear the dangers that lurk in the wilds of Mannheim.

This unit's Retinue is Trolls. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Cleave 3, Bloodlust, Tenacious, Rend

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Volvas are the smartest and most ambitious of the Valkyries who have risen to positions of command and authority within the cult. Schooled in the rituals and mysticism of the Valkyrie cults from childhood, they have untangled the mysteries of faith-based magic and can lead their followers to terrifying heights of religiously fueled violence, both on and off the field.

This unit's Retinue is Valkyries. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Spellcaster 3, Flawless Strikes, Blessed, Shieldmaidens, Chooser of the Slain

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Not all who are granted the curse of the Vargyr succumb to it. While most are capable of retaining some semblance of humanity, few could be said to have prospered. The Vargr Lord represents those that have reached the pinnacle of control over their form.

Capable of controlling their change, these savage warriors have managed to retain their human minds in their bestial forms, creating a perfect mix of animal savagery and human cunning. Quickly establishing their dominance over their feral brethren these terrifying warriors take to the field with a twisted menagerie of monstrous followers, falling upon the hapless foe in an avalanche of tooth and claw.

This unit's Retinue is Werewargs. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Cleave 2, Bloodlust, Unyielding, Fearsome, Ravenous

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

The position and role of Shaman once commanded a great deal of respect in Nord society. Before the coming of the Einherjar, they were the only force capable of blunting the worst excesses of the Fimbulwinter and the Jötnar. Their rune castings and mist weavings could, and did, save countless villages from extinction.

During the war with the Jötnar, Shamen were often found at the right hand of the Einherjar, granting their wisdom and guiding them through the many difficult decisions that had to be taken. Given the pivotal role they played in the survival of the Nord people, one would expect their station to be rather more… exalted than it currently stands.

Reduced to living on the edge of what villages will take them, Shamen have fallen on hard times. This decline can be directly traced to the rise of the Valkyrie Cult as a force within Nord society.

This unit's Retinue is Ulfhednar. When included in your Warband, the Retinue Regiment counts as a Mainstay instead of a Restricted Regiment.

Spellcaster 3, Scryer of Runes

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Any Nord leader worth his salt keeps a retinue of Huskarls close at hand to enforce his will on rebellious vassals and fight off raids. The leader of the Huskarls is often a Thegn, a wealthy warrior who has managed to earn his lord's implicit trust while maintaining good relations with the landed Huskarls.

Unlike the Chosen, who serve as bodyguards and wartime companions, a Thegn stands by his lord at all times: ensuring the shield line holds on the battlefield and that taxes and oaths of fealty are administered off it.

Juggernaut, Cleave 2, Unyielding, Shield, Shield-Bash

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Given the realities of daily life and danger in Mannheim, ship Captains command an incredible amount of respect. While the southern kingdoms might count their power and wealth in terms of land and coin, the Jarls measure power and influence in the number of ships they command. Despite this small distinction, the truth is that, much like in the feudal realms of the south, all power flows from the Kings to the Jarls and thence to the ship Captains.

Cleave 1, Vanguard, Raiding Party

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Some Nord Berserkers can control the divine 'gift' that courses through their blood and are not forced to leave their Raider crews. Even when controlled, the battle rage these individuals can call upon sends them bounding headlong into the weapons of their enemy, his berserk fury granting the rest of his team enough time and space to slam into the opponent.

Oblivious, Flurry, Shield, Berserker, Barrage 1 (6")

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

Those among the Nords who have awoken their ancestors' bloodlines are destined for greatness… should they seek it. Many are those who instead chose to make their home in the wild, honing their senses and skills, but saying out of the day to day grind of life in the north.

These so-called Savages are the best guides, trackers and scouts money could buy if they were ever interested in material things. Personal vendettas, inherent bloodlust and eccentric personal goals often result in these recluses joining a raiding army for a while where their unique skills are put to great use.

Vanguard, Flank, Pack Tactics, On the Prowl, Barrage 2 (12")

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

One of few cultural institutions in the Nord lands, the Skalds are the keepers of Nord history and culture. Trusted and welcome in all halls, attacking a skald is a crime persecuted by Angbjorn, the High King, himself. Such is the regard they are held in that warriors, from the mightiest Jarl to the youngest raider, will fight like lions beneath his gaze, hoping to be immortalized in song.

Fearless, Bardic Fortitude, Lorekeeper

Each [Character] in your Warband may purchase a single Upgrade; a Warlord may instead purchase up to 2.

The wealth that can be earned in a single successful raid far eclipses anything a Nord might hope for while working one's own lands. If particularly lucky, a Raider could secure enough captives, wealth and booty to truly secure his household and devote himself entirely to the perfection of his martial abilities…

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Flurry, Barrage 1 (6")

While raiders might form the bulk of a Nord 'expedition', a wise Jarl will always look to secure the services of his Huscarls for a raid before even considering the enterprise. These men are the survivors of a dozen raids, wealthy enough to no longer need to work the fields and instead devote themselves to the pursuit of war exclusively.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Shield, Cleave 1, Unyielding

For most Stalkers, the onset of their powers is more gradual. As they manifest, the din and clamor of village life makes it impossible for them to sleep or concentrate, to say nothing of the stench their nostrils bathe in at all times. Slowly driven from their homes, they soon find a peace of sorts in the frozen forests and mountains of Mannheim.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Vanguard, Flank, Barrage 1 (12")

Born of the ancient hunting lodges of the Nords, the Bearsarks have long been a terror on and off the battlefield. Their insular nature, occult practices and unbridled ferocity have made them dangerous to both ally and foe as most Bearsark lodges make ends meet as brigands and raiders among the Nord lands when not directly employed by an enterprising Jarl or Shaman.

On the battlefield, their unbridled ferocity, disregard for danger and brutal strength make them ideal frontline combatants, where their vicious two handed weapons make a mockery of whatever defensive formations the foe might hide behind.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Tenacious, Cleave 2, Unstoppable

Few who look upon the Ulfhednar on the field of battle realize that these raging barbarians are in fact a warrior lodge whose origins predate the veneration of the Aesir and the Vanir.

Descending upon their foe clad in their ceremonial furs and armed with twin blades, these ritual warriors are a menace to all who would stand in their path, their frenzied state inuring them to fear or pain.

Fast, savage and deadly, the Ulfhednar close with their opponents with terrifying speed, their twin blades whistling as they carve a path of savage mayhem through the enemies vulnerable flank and read.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Lethal Demise 1, Bloodlust, Oblivious

Every Jarl and Konungyr worth the spit to mention them has a small, handpicked group of Chosen men who serve as his bodyguards and enforcers throughout his rule. Invariably the strongest, meanest and toughest men around, these Chosen are amply rewarded by their lord in both peacetime and after battle.

Their weapons are the finest steel that can be found, some even of legendary dwerg make, while their arms are festooned with silver and gold torcs, each a small measure of wealth and esteem heaped on them for their prowess on the battlefield. In battle they are invariably where the battle is thickest, proving their mettle to their lord and earning themselves their formidable reputation, one bloody victory at a time.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Parry, Bodyguard, Riddle of Steel

Every Nord lord of any consequence of leads a band of hand-picked men to battle. These are his closest friends, his most trusted lieutenants and his most powerful warriors, and often reflect their own predilections towards combat.

The greatest of lords can call upon their Bow Chosen, each of whom has earned their Name on and off the battlefield acts of savagery and cunning that would make lesser warriors blanche.

Bow Chosen are amongst the most dangerous of opponents one can face on the field, adept at field craft, bow craft and blade craft, there is no role they do not excel at, allowing a cunning leader to create and exploit any opportunity the enemy might foolishly grant.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Barrage 1 (14"), Chosen Hunters

Steeped in violence and combat, the Valkyrie cult loudly proclaims the divinity of the Einherjar to all who will listen. Soldier brides to their living gods they stand ready to give their lives for their divine champions on and off the field. Their own message counters that of the einherjar themselves, who worship the Old Gods who died ruing the Ragnarök, but who better to ascend in their place than the living champions who shepherded humanity during its darkest times?

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Flawless Strikes, Blessed, Shield, Support

While they don't like admitting it, all Nords know that they share a bond of blood with the Trolls who sacrificed more than any other to secure victory over the Jötnar in battles that have been swallowed by myth and legend. Today trolls march at the vanguard of most Nord forces, their preternatural endurance and healing abilities allowing them to shrug off even the most powerful weapons of the enemy.

Recruitment: 4 Warriors — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Cleave 2, Fearsome, Regeneration

Ugr occupy a very strange place in Nord society. They are the exalted progeny of demigods, capable of doing the work of a dozen men and terrifying foes when roused to anger. On the other hand, it is difficult to stand in awe of a being that is challenged by numbers that exceed a single digit, simple concepts such as personal hygiene, or the mindboggling mechanics of doors, for that matter.

Regardless, Ugr are a tremendous asset to whatever community they are assigned to, a fact that the Einherjar Angbjörn, High King of Mannheim and Father of Ogres, exploits to maintain the balance of power with a deep cunning one would not expect from his corpulent frame and constant inebriation. After all, there are few creatures on Eä that will not pause and reconsider any rash action, when faced with the single-minded aggression of an Ugr band.

Recruitment: 1 Warrior — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Cleave 3, Fearless, Oblivious

Much like the Ugr's, Werewargs are seen as the children of the Einherjar Vargyr, known for his shapeshifting abilities. They are more correct than they know. Werewargs are born when a blood descendant of Vargyr is bitten by a Warg and somehow survives.

The influx of Warg DNA triggers the latent abilities, but lacking their forefathers control, it does so uncontrollably, triggering each time the warrior is stressed or injured. In battle these changes are triggered in a relentless cascade, their bodies reverting to their primordial form, healing them of all injury sustained, but exacting a terrible toll on their metabolism, making these beasts unstoppable, ravenous horrors the world has learnt to fear.

Recruitment: 1 Warrior — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Bloodlust, Unyielding, Flurry, Fearsome Ravenous

Massing almost half a ton and porting massive fangs and wicked claws, the most terrifying trait of the Fenr Beastpack is its cunning intellect. Closer to what one would expect from apes, those Wargs that consent to join a host in battle can be found ranging ahead of the main force, hunting light cavalry and skirmishers before turning to fall upon the flanks and rear of the engaged enemy.

Recruitment: 1 Warrior — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Terrifying, Opportunist, Dodge, Flank, Impact 1, Feral

Most Nords know Loki as a deranged entity, dangerous at best, downright hostile and deadly at worst. He is the father of monsters, the bane of the Aesir and a constant thorn in the sides of heros, mortals and gods alike. However for all his faults it was Loki who created the Goltr, the only animal in Manheim that can survive in the wild, yet can also be domesticated.

Its flesh is succulent and its hardy constitution makes parasites vanishingly rare, although not unknown, and its leather is supple, resilient and remarkably warm. Clever and loyal, Goltr can be trained for a number of roles, and it's common to see herds of these beasts loaded onto ships on raid.

That more foes and handlers have fallen to their occasionally murderous temperament than any other beast, or that their ravenous omnivorous appetite has earned the Nords a reputation for cannibalism seldom crosses people's minds, but never fails to bring a smile to an old, deranged god.

Recruitment: 1 Warrior — the minimum size of this Regiment.

Impact 2, Brutal, Trample, Feral

Strong and tireless, a Jotun is a priceless asset to the community he is assigned to. Some enterprising Jarls are willing to bring them along on raids. Ruinously expensive to transport and feed while at sea, Jotun soon prove their value on land. Towering over 6 meters, a Mountain Jotnar is a primordial force of destruction on the battlefield. Their powerful limbs can shatter a shield line in a single blow, hurling full grown men through the air as if they were toys.

Cleave 3, Terrifying, Sweeping Blow, Boulder Toss

In ancient times, so long gone as to have passed from legend into myth, the Sea Jötnar challenged the Ice Jötnar for the leadership of their people and were only defeated when their dim mountain kindred joined the opposing side. Forced to swear mighty oaths of fealty and service, they were nonetheless exiled from Jotunheim, forced to make their homes in the waters around what were once their lands.

Grown strong and powerful again by the bounty of the oceans, when the Einherjar awoke, the Sea Jötnar were drawn into combat against the Einherjar by their Ice Jötnar rulers, only to see their oaths of fealty transferred to the victorious humans.

Centuries of hunting and feasting upon the bounty of the deep ocean have made them powerful and honed their cunning, making them an ideal battlefield asset for those formidable enough to enforce the authority of the ancient oaths.

Cleave 2, Fiend Hunter, Terrifying, Brutal, Aegyrson, Drop Anchor, Barrage 3 (8"), Armor Piercing 2

Few and far in between, Ice Jotnar are the nobility of their kind and the most powerful of the Jotuns. Gifted with an innate mastery over storm and ice, their massive forms are sheathed in heavy ice and rime allowing them to wade into battle unscathed while conjuring jagged shards of ice from thin air to hurl at their foes until they close distance with their hapless foe.

Sapped of his strength and vitality by the aura of unnatural cold that wreathes their titanic forms, foes are easy prey to these massive warriors.

Spellcaster 4, Cleave 3, Terrifying

Prometheans from the southern Firelands have started appearing in the northern lands, preaching visions of the return of their mother and the release of their father.

Such is the passion of their conviction in their visions that they have cast away their affiliation, gouging out their own eyes that their next vision will be their mother returned and healing them and elevating them to her side as her most favored children and the keepers of her lore. T

heir words have touched a cord and long dormant hope in the Titans and Jotunn alike, fanning the flames of a feeling long lost to them: Hope. This powerful new motivation has seen the Seidr (or Oracles as they are known in the Southlands) become leaders among their kin, a post long abandoned by the Ice Jotnar following their humiliation.

This Monster Character fills both a Monster and a Warlord slot — it does not bring another unit; this one unit uses both slots.

Cleave 3, Terrifying