Rusavik

A blend of Bear Island of Game of Thrones, The Rus People of Western Russia.

Rusavik lies on the northeastern coast of Essealas in the lands that the northerners call “East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, and the southerners call “Ice and Storm”. Like most of the northern city-states, Rusavik sits high on the expansive fjords. A brilliant red tundra rolls down to the central Essaelasian wilderness.

Rusavik is a beautiful city of curving white stone streets growing erratically upward from multi-tiered log buildings to the white plaster and red tile structures of the central city which is capped with palatial buildings composed of large colorful domes painted walls and curved supports. Even the people of Arjat are impressed by the colorful detail of Rusavik and wonder perhaps at a shared ancestry.

The Rus do very little farming, usually only enough to bolster winter stores. For the most part, they are a herding and fishing people -- they are known for their winter fishing skills. When the winter comes and the Alfarians put up their ships, the Rus are ready for another season of the sea. They repair their ships specially designed to navigate the broken ice channels of the high fjords and hunt the great golden sturgeon.

Personality

The Rus come in two versions; dour and gregarious, and very little in between. Further, it is not at all uncommon for a person to switch between the two when the situation requires it. They have what might be called a fatalistic viewpoint and expect the worst, while still being cheerful in the face of pending doom. They have a love of desserts, strong drink, and conspiracy theories. Most of the city-state, including the nobility, are engaged in some form of business or trade.

They can be brutally honest about their feelings while being devious and cunning in regards to mercantile and political endeavors. They have a strong distrust of {the mongols} who not so long ago sacked the city and did great damage. They admire Alfarians and get along well with them for the most part. They share a lot of common traits with Halsteins but find them unendurably boring.

The Rus are both traders and expansionists. If they can bring anything under their control or influence they will.

Appearance

The average Rus is unusually tall with dark hair, dark eyes, and swarthy skin. However, it is not uncommon to see Rus with either Mongolian features from their western neighbor Jurchen or the pale skin and hair of their eastern neighbors, the Alfarians. The Rus favor fur and brightly colored brocade coats worn over long tunics or gathered trousers. Fur hats and upturned boots are a common tradition of most Rus outfits.

Religion

Rusavik has two primary gods, a wide variety of local gods, and any number of household spirits. Grom is the thunder god who rules the two storm seasons between summer and winter. Grom is the god of rain, the winds, eagles, weapons, law, and the sun. Grom, unlike his enemy Berek, was both admired and feared. Most of the great sacrifices were made during the spring and fall to Grom with the hope that he would be pleased with the people and keep the storms from their homes. Rus heroes are burned on pyres with the hope that they will be taken into the sky and become gods themselves. It is said that if a storm comes during the burning of a hero it is a sure sign that he was accepted by Grom.

Berek the Bear-God on the other hand was considered a companion of the people and the enemy of Grom. Berek is the god of the sea and land, and all flora and fauna upon or within it, as well as the moon and the mountains. In this way, Berek was also the god of fertility and death. Those who did not lead a heroic life, which was most of the population, would be buried in the earth or given to the sea where it is hoped they will be allowed to reincarnate. Berek has no divine wife, though there are ancient stories of how he was once married to the Goddess Berta, also known as Old Mother Frost. It is commonly told that the {Germans} stole her and brought her back to their home and since than Berek has been searching for a wife, and takes a new bride at the end of spring for the whole of the summer. In this way, has come the tradition of taking summer spouses -- summer long “marriages” that are considered acceptable among both the old, the young, the married, and unmarried.

The symbol of the religion is a bearded ax amulet worn by nearly every member of the region.

Expanded Lore

Further reading and links for the culture obsessed.

Small Council NPCs

• I am looking for help in writing up the Small Council NPCs for this city state. We need a "Right hand" of the ruler, a coin master, a spy master, and a warlord. We need a simple headshot of the person, preferably art not photograph, with a description of his personality.

Phrases

Stormborn

Refers to a person born during a storm, or one who is expected to do great things.

In the Stormlands

Is a way of referring to Rusavik such as, "nothing will ever be the same again in the stormlands", or "a dark dread hung over the stormlands."

Berserker

A person who is believed to turn into a bear during combat, typically they mean bear like, or having a bear spirit. (Please note we do not actually allow shape shifters.)