Öthingir

From the ancient woods of Draumgaard hail the Öthingir, a race of Men native to Grimthír. In the Elder Days, they fought terrible battles with all manner of beasts and fae for control of The Northlands. Today, thanks to the sacrifices of their ancestors, they are able to carry out a comparatively peaceful existence within the forests of Draumgaard. To the outside world, Öthingir are seen almost unanimously as sorcerers and mystics, who deal openly with spirits and otherworldly beings, like the Men of old.

Appearance
Öthingir appear as most Men do, apart from their eyes, which tend towards unusual qualities. It is said that Öthingir eyes can peer through the mists of the Otherworlds - and perhaps there is some truth to it, for they are oft known for Truesight. Their skin is pale, and their hair dark, tending heavily towards shades of black and grey. Older Öthingir may grow tall and gangly, and some come to develop horns and claws as they age.

Dress
Öthingir favor simple, practical clothing of sombre color. Thick wools and heavy leather are common to keep the cold of Grimthír at bay. Wasted resources are ill afforded in the Northlands, and so it is common to incorporate animal bones as decoration or for use in fey talismans.

Dwellings
Most Öthingir live in small, self-sufficient communities centered around farming, fishing, and hunting. Southern Öthingir tend to organize in larger groups, whereas those in the north have a more isolationist mindset. A typical village consists of several sod-roofed wooden halls set low to the ground, loosely organized around an open plaza.

Values
The Öthingir live closer to the Otherworlds than any other Men, and have adapted accordingly. They are rather individualistic, and price independence highly - no doubt thanks to a long history of having to strike deals with fae to retain their lands and way of life. The harsh climate of Grimthír has hardened her people, and it is not an uncommon sentiment for Öthingir to see southerners as spoiled and arrogant.

Notable customs
To most men, mysticism is something to be regarded with a healthy dose of suspicion and distrust, and preferably from a distance. In parts of the world - Ealdvolkri lands, in particular - consorting with Otherlings, be it through sorcery or other means, is considered nefarious and ill advised. To the Öthingir, the lines between Úr and the Otherworlds are vague at best, and so they deal openly with all manner of fae. Sorcery has played a major role in shaping Öthingir custom, and stands as a cornerstone to their success.

Naming conventions
The Öthingir have largely maintained the names of old, owing to their isolation from most of Man throughout the Elder Days. As such, Öthingir names are often difficult to understand in foreign tongues. Commonly, Öthingir children are named after ancestors or recently deceased relatives, in hopes that they might carry on what good favor their forbears had. Surnames are not given at birth, but rather take the form of nicknames given later in life, reflecting physical characteristics, deeds done, or personal history, such as Whitehand, Greybeard, Giantslayer, and so on. Nicknames are usually given to distinguish different Öthingir with the same name from one another.

Typical male names

 * Agiþewaz
 * Alarīks
 * Algē
 * Auðrík
 * Balþawen
 * Bárðr
 * Bherô
 * Djūravǫrður
 * Friþugār
 * Friþurīks
 * Garrīk
 * Gērmundr
 * Harjawal
 * Hraldr
 * Hróðgir
 * Hrōþiberhtaz
 * Hrōþirīks
 * Hǫrðr
 * Merkuzwōt
 * Ōtric
 * Ráugenvalðr
 * Ríkviðr
 * Skírnr
 * Thūrsvalðr
 * Tíðrikur
 * Þeudarīks
 * Æþelgār
 * Ǫzurr

Typical female names

 * Auðabur
 * Èadh
 * Gerrín
 * Haþuwíg
 * Hélgaz
 * Hildíz
 * Hreiðnír
 * Hrimgildnír
 * Jótní
 * Ráuní
 * Rānfríð
 * Rúna
 * Vuðgar
 * Vuðgír
 * Yngír
 * Ǫðír