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Centuries ago, in a version of Norland now ancient, when King Caedric Ruric held his rule, is when the mighty clan of hunters known as the Heskynne’s were formed. Ivar Thorkin, a man who made himself into a notorious zealot of the Red Faith, found himself seated within his abode, scheming… His mind had been set on a goal for decades now, first mastering the art of the hunt, and then spent seeking the perfect candidates for his plan. For Ivar was not born to those of classic Norlandic lineage, but rather a family who’d believed the art of the hunt was that in which true purity could be found. In his time spent delving deeper and deeper into the All Father’s faith, he came to the conclusion that in the moment in which a hunter’s breath halts, their weapon just about to make its killing blow, when their heart hammers in their ears… That is the moment where one is the closest to the All Father. As such, his scheme has become to create a group of peoples whom he could foster this moment with, to teach them how to achieve it, and how to use their skills to connect deeper with their crimson Faith whilst not just preserving, but growing their Kingdom’s culture and environment. After his careful considerations, Ivar sought out seven of Norlands residents, each bearing unique traits that would make them imperative to their hunts, who would all help him foster a small culture of huntsmen with their individual niches. Somerled: A woman notorious to Norland, however seldom seen around. She had once been one of the most prolific adventurers of their time, charting out unreached locations, always returning to their homestead with new artifacts and wisdom about how the world around them worked. Her vast knowledge of the lands for which their prey would reside was unparalleled to any other, and her enjoyment of the journeys was second only to the benefits reaped. Alvis: A youthful man of scholarly descent who had taken to medicinal works in his youth. Alvis was the youngest of those who Ivar collected for his group, and yet quickly became irreplaceable due to his expertise in the medical field. A combat medic who was equally adept at the combat itself, he was the very glue that held the clan, or rather their bodies, together. Arvid: An expert tracker who had been raised among wood elves, Arvid was the first to have taken the attention of Ivar, the one who’s very existence inspired him to find others so he might foster their talents into an ideal team of hunters. Arvid had spent his entire adolescence mastering the stalking of prey, how to seek the subtle hints that a target has passed through, a skill that would pass down through every future generation of Heskynne. Herleifr: A man as tall as he was strong, the pinnacle of what a warrior should be. He had risen through the ranks of the Norlandic army and made a name for himself in the wars to come. It’s clear why he had been one of those chosen to aid in the foundation of the hunter clan; his strength was unmatched and proved to be a virtue none would overlook when in the midst of a fight. Runar: Initially a simple librarian, Runar was a surprise to the rest when he was chosen, however his purpose quickly became imperative to the Heskynne’s hunts. An alchemist by hobby when selected, who’s proficiency allowed him to provide a valuable supply of potions that aided countlessly. Ranging from explosions to deal final blows to bottles of fog that concealed the party’s location, he was a unique and imperative facet of their dynamic. Arnbjorg: A woman whose reputation for trapping was almost as well renowned as her drinking prowess, she was Arvid’s partner in crime. Track and trap had been their go to for years, and were the crux of many of the hunts they took part in. She was an inventor in a sense, having pioneered numerous means of ensaring large prey that had typically been thought to only be slain by a direct assault. Brynja: Sometimes regarded as the ‘Northern Guardian’, she was an inspiration to women and girls across the kingdom. A powerful soldier who wielded a massive claymore in battle, she was said to have taken down a brown bear by herself. Ivar hadn’t been looking for her, but her abilities forced him to seek Brynja for his plans. She was the last to be inquired, and the most resistant, as her heart had always lied in the protection of the Norlandic peoples as a whole. Her leadership qualities turned her into an asset, taking on a role that none other could fit. When convinced of the cause, Ivar sat with his chosen seven within his home; A large clan hall that hadn’t seen proper use in years, occupied only by the lone zealot while his preparations were underway. He knew, however, that the wooden archways and great hall would someday soon be filled with the warmth of kin, for he was looking across the table at a chosen family. Or, rather a chosen group of strangers whom he would push to the brink, beyond the limits shackling them, and force them to evolve. Ivar Thorkin, followed by his now loyal septet, journeyed North into the frigid tundra that crowned the continent. The time he had taken preceding his incitement of hunter companions had been used to prepare a trial; a three year escapade in the North, in which the group would master their specialties entirely, and learn to utilize them in the hunt. This was by no means a simple task. The very snow-crested wasteland in which their temporary residence would occupy was their first strife to overcome, and doing so alone had nearly pushed Arnbjorg to abandon the others. Yet, Ivar’s passion lit a fire beneath them all, and their search to understand the true connection to the All Father drew them in deeper. Over the course of the following three years, Ivar saw his vision come to fruition in ways he could have never dreamed. Hardship, near death experiences, and stress turned out to be the greatest provocation of bonding, for when the sun rose to spill gold over the frosty hills and marked their trial complete, eight strangers had become true siblings. In the time between, all seven took to the guidance of Ivar, and honed their abilities. Rather than smother them into a uniform group, all were encouraged to bring what was exceptional and raise it to a level unseen. Bones were broken, sicknesses endured, frostbite even took one of Brynja’s fingers. The first few months were among the most difficult, their unity not yet found. But, every day, hour, minute, second that passed drew them closer. The trial itself was a coupling of countless lessons in the art of the hunt, as well as unification between talents. Beginning with small preys, and increasing until the party's final test: A Tundrastrider. The culmination of all that was learned would come from this dramatic conclusion to their sojourn, in which all eight of the to-be Heskynne’s would track and kill the imposing beast to prove to themselves, and to the All Father, that they had become masters of the hunt. The party sought not just any Tundrastrider, but one that had been scouted by Ivar months prior to the end of their expedition. The largest he had ever seen or heard of, easily counting in at 1000 lbs of striking muscle. Omnivorous and powerful, it proved to be the perfect verification of success. And proof it was. Utilizing all of their collective skills, now brought to their maximum potential by the guiding hand of Ivar, they managed to slay their final opponent. They tracked it down, they trapped it- although it did manage to break free of its binds and engage in a titillating battle of wills before the end. The flaying of foe only occurred through their overwhelming combined strengths, and when all eight stood before the cervidae and watched its life stain the snow crimson, they accepted one another as family. Having returned to Norland from their extended trial, the strangers-turned-family sat once more around the long dining table of Ivar Thorkin’s great hall, which had become a dreary sight of stagnancy, dust filling air. Together, they agreed that forming a clan of their own would be the best way to foster the environment they had created for themselves, so that they may hand it down through generations of world class hunters. With Ivar at the helm as Chieftain, and a Tundrastrider as their crest, all that was left was a name. During their three years of bonding, all seven had learned to speak the tongue of Ivar’s bloodline, one derivative of others in Norland, however deviating in many places. As such, came the suggestion from none other than the young Alvis; Heskynne, their word for Hunter. Obvious, and yet entirely fitting, there wasn’t a hair of disagreement. From that day forward, their work began to expand their name and produce a lineage of huntsmen, each of the seven deviating to specialized members and ranks. From the first line of clans members came the ranks of which those who embodied similar strengths would be bestown, to make up their own parties. Ideally, no party would be without one of each rank. A clan that takes all types of peoples and brings out the very best of their capabilities, forging unity with the ideology Ivar had instilled, training their new recruits under the mantra that now lead their lives: “Veiðimenn læra innan veiðinnar, Hunters learn within the Hunt.” This is how the Heskynne clan brings forth their mark upon the world, creating generation after generation of overwhelmingly skilled hunters. Somerthagin, The Scouts Alvithagn, The Medics Arvithagin, The Trackers Herlethagin, The Warriors Runathagin, The Alchemists Arnthagin, The Trappers Brynjathagin, The Leaders As time went on, the mantle of leadership was eventually passed down, and the original generation died out. While the world has yet to see a group as perfectly masterful as these, the Heskynne clan has continued to produce excellence. From kings head Huntsmen to Ministry leaders, the Norlandic clan remains prominent in their status, ever following the high that draws them to meet the moment where they and the All Father are the closest. Of the revered Ivar Thorkin, very little was ever recorded, some have even suggested that perhaps he was never real to begin with, while others theorize that perhaps he was the All Father himself. Whichever may be the truth, whichever one chooses to accept as such, none can deny that he produced some of the greatest hunters the world has ever seen.