Post by Mr. Pooka on Nov 30, 2019 14:53:53 GMT -5
Katterheim
Calm inner fjord waters gently lapped at the icy pebble-stone shore of Katterheim. While some of the wooden docks had been pulled up for the winter a few were left out to welcome guests and would not be brought in unless a freeze was imminent. Once you had sailed past the humbling ice-capped cliff-sides and entered this sheltered bay these docks were the first thing most travelers saw of Katterheim and they beckoned travelers and guests to the vast settlement of Sphinxes in the north. Beyond the shore, which was cluttered with fishing shacks, a log yard, shipbuilding rig and several dragon ships, was a warm and welcoming city of wooden homes and longhouses with a broad main thoroughfare. A magnificent Grand Hall could clearly be seen in the center of town being the tallest building in the whole city. Each house was made with pride that was clearly showing in both function and form. Entrances were carved with runes, knotwork or pictographs and nearly every building was decorated with greenery for the Yuletide season. Wood-smoke promised warm shelter and delicious foods while livestock, mostly goats and chickens, wandered the city undisturbed. A few larger creatures were penned in on the far side of the city and even had their own longhouse which all of the local owners shared to keep them healthy and warm throughout the long and cold winters.
Runestones could be found everywhere. Some were functional, marking streets or special areas, many were personal statements or religious proclamations placed near personal homes or longhouses. Curiously a few were written in unreadable older types of runes or had become to worn to read but were left where they were planted out of reverence and respect for the past.
While most of the pantheon was represented with at least a few worshipers, Freya was the patron deity of Katterheim and her image was often seen carved into lodgepoles, entrance-ways, decorative shields and runestones all around the city. While her main temple was a short walk from the city, many shrines to the goddess could be found in homes and longhouses and she was the patron of several warbands. Her Priestess and Volva could be found in all parts of Katterheim sharing wisdom or visions for the benefit of all.
Craftspeople of all types were well regarded in Katterheim and even the most hardened of warriors were likely to pick up a extra skill or two, especially when the winters were long and the world outside became cut off. During this time of year even the sun begins to tire and sleeps more and more, sometimes for days at a time. Skalds, musicians and storytellers were also always in demand and any decent longhouse was filled with song, sagas and music especially during the darkest days as well as any of the cities plentiful festivals!
Yule was one of the major religious festivals of the city and at this time of year all of city was decorated with evergreens of all types from pine to holly and it was nearly impossible to not be drawn into the spirit of the season. Most halls were opened and and an almost competitive series of feasts and parties were thrown by the various warbands, guilds and wealthy families. Festive food was free and everywhere and specially crafted Yule mead flowed like the river to the ocean. Several parts of the festival took place over the weeks leading up to the day itself, each building the excitement of Yule! Boar hunting for Yule Hams, the great Yule Log competition, building the massive Yule Goat and the fun tradition of hiding is smaller cousins in other peoples houses were just a few. Julebukking was also very popular for a few days after the Yule as the festival winded down. Singing the traditional Yule songs was one of the most magical events of the city when occasionally the harmony flows throughout the whole city creating a a song that the gods themselves must stop their otherworldly duties to smile and listen.
In search of her wand...
...wandering from village to village for reasons known only to himself...
Calm inner fjord waters gently lapped at the icy pebble-stone shore of Katterheim. While some of the wooden docks had been pulled up for the winter a few were left out to welcome guests and would not be brought in unless a freeze was imminent. Once you had sailed past the humbling ice-capped cliff-sides and entered this sheltered bay these docks were the first thing most travelers saw of Katterheim and they beckoned travelers and guests to the vast settlement of Sphinxes in the north. Beyond the shore, which was cluttered with fishing shacks, a log yard, shipbuilding rig and several dragon ships, was a warm and welcoming city of wooden homes and longhouses with a broad main thoroughfare. A magnificent Grand Hall could clearly be seen in the center of town being the tallest building in the whole city. Each house was made with pride that was clearly showing in both function and form. Entrances were carved with runes, knotwork or pictographs and nearly every building was decorated with greenery for the Yuletide season. Wood-smoke promised warm shelter and delicious foods while livestock, mostly goats and chickens, wandered the city undisturbed. A few larger creatures were penned in on the far side of the city and even had their own longhouse which all of the local owners shared to keep them healthy and warm throughout the long and cold winters.
Runestones could be found everywhere. Some were functional, marking streets or special areas, many were personal statements or religious proclamations placed near personal homes or longhouses. Curiously a few were written in unreadable older types of runes or had become to worn to read but were left where they were planted out of reverence and respect for the past.
While most of the pantheon was represented with at least a few worshipers, Freya was the patron deity of Katterheim and her image was often seen carved into lodgepoles, entrance-ways, decorative shields and runestones all around the city. While her main temple was a short walk from the city, many shrines to the goddess could be found in homes and longhouses and she was the patron of several warbands. Her Priestess and Volva could be found in all parts of Katterheim sharing wisdom or visions for the benefit of all.
Craftspeople of all types were well regarded in Katterheim and even the most hardened of warriors were likely to pick up a extra skill or two, especially when the winters were long and the world outside became cut off. During this time of year even the sun begins to tire and sleeps more and more, sometimes for days at a time. Skalds, musicians and storytellers were also always in demand and any decent longhouse was filled with song, sagas and music especially during the darkest days as well as any of the cities plentiful festivals!
Yule was one of the major religious festivals of the city and at this time of year all of city was decorated with evergreens of all types from pine to holly and it was nearly impossible to not be drawn into the spirit of the season. Most halls were opened and and an almost competitive series of feasts and parties were thrown by the various warbands, guilds and wealthy families. Festive food was free and everywhere and specially crafted Yule mead flowed like the river to the ocean. Several parts of the festival took place over the weeks leading up to the day itself, each building the excitement of Yule! Boar hunting for Yule Hams, the great Yule Log competition, building the massive Yule Goat and the fun tradition of hiding is smaller cousins in other peoples houses were just a few. Julebukking was also very popular for a few days after the Yule as the festival winded down. Singing the traditional Yule songs was one of the most magical events of the city when occasionally the harmony flows throughout the whole city creating a a song that the gods themselves must stop their otherworldly duties to smile and listen.
In search of her wand...
...wandering from village to village for reasons known only to himself...
