Breheimian Totem Warriors

Breheimian Totem Warriors (Dyrrherjer) is a cultural-religious practice and a term for mysticist sects within the Republic of Breheim, primarily in rural areas of Nordbreheim, Alfheim and Fjordland, although some isolated areas of Vestøy and Taranger have also been found to have the practice.

Totem Warriors are disparate, with no unified national presence. Until 2014, Totem Warriors and their rituals were outlawed throughout the Republic of Breheim but with the decriminalization of inconsistent sorcery in 2014, most Totem Warriors' practice is legal if frowned upon (with the exception of the Urdkunna, who remain illegal). While Totem Warriors are highly disparate, ranging from organized warrior-bands who participate in international mercenary operations, to families holding to the practice from generation to generation, to individuals who go through the trials and otherwise participate in regular society.

History

The first written records of Totem Warriors date back to the records of Ludomir the Saviour of the North, a Venadian missionary priest who brought christianity to Breheim. He described the Dyrrherjar as pagan warriors, filling themselves with demonic power through profane rituals and human sacrifice, and were one of the most significant obstacles to the spread of christianity in the 9th century. The writings of Halfdan Tyrikunni, dated to the early 10th century, describe a warrior band of Dyrrherjar by the town of Blátholm who possessed a lodge in the wilderness by the town, and would on occasion enter to demand liquor, food and female company. In return, this Totem Warrior Band provided Blátvik protection from trolls and giants, and served some function in the summer sacrifice, although Tyrikunni did not go into further detail on the nature of this ritual.

The first attest of a Dyrrherje initiation dates to the 14th century, with the testimony of the captured rebel and ulfhednar (wolf-skin) Vidkun Sterk-i-Arm. While not a comprehensive account of their initiation, Vidkun confessed to having initiated Hestein son of Gurnvald, Jarl of Just, against his will, a process which ended in Hestein's death. Vidkun attributed Hestein's death to foolishness, as after having been stripped naked and entered the initiation trance by the older ulfhednar, Hestein broke from the pack and assaulted a dire wolf pack on his own, being ripped to shreds. The testimony attests that while ulfhednar must slay a wolf, naked, and with their own arms, they are not to do so alone. Other elements of the ritual was not testified to, on virtue of not being the issue at criminal guilt.

Dyrrherjer were outlawed in the Kingdom of Breheim by royal decree in 1701 by King Oskar I after the infamous Torstrand Massacre, where a band of berserkers assaulted and slaughtered the hunting party of Prince Esas Fair-in-the-Eyes, King Oskar I's favored son. The purge of the Dyrrherjer, the only significant purge of magic-users in the Kingdom of Breheim, was extensive. All members of dyrrherjer bands were outlawed and anyone who could be proven to have undergone the 'rites and practices of the dyrrherje' had committed a capital crime. The decree was largely popular, as Totem Warrior assaults and massacres were not uncommon.

The practice of Totem Warriors was briefly legalized in the Free-Democracy of Storøy-Vestøy by the decree of forums and tings in Fjordland, northern Alfheim and parts of Nordbreheim, however only a few bands operated in the open. In 1798 President Johannes Sjøfarer's government again criminalized the practice, albeit with less severe punishments than the royal law code, largely involving imprisonment and later castration rather than execution.

Practice

Breheimian Totem Warriors tend to keep their practices secret, with the exact workings of their rituals guarded severely. Still, elements of their practices have become known both from historic record and current practice. A key element relevant to all Dyrrherjer, except that of the Urdkunna, entails besting their totemic warrior in some form. While the most famous involves killing the animal directly, others like the Reinhednar are known to be more indirect even if it still results in the death of the animal. Trances and meditative practices seem to be a key component of all Dyrrherjer, as is religious practice. While it was believed Dyrrherje was an exclusively pagan practice, after legalization 2014 some Totem Warrior bands following Christianity and one explicitly atheist emerged, with one christian band claiming to have operated for five hundred years.

Since legalization in 2014, a clear dichotomy has been made between what can be considered fully Totem Warriors, and societal Totem Warriors. While the former adhere to the practice of partial isolation from larger society, the latter groups and individuals instead continue functioning like normal in society.

Battlings against evil spirits and trolls is a key practice of most Totem Warrior bands, although whether this has always been the case or if only the Totem Warrior bands who had a beneficial effect to the society around them survived three hundred years of repression, is still debated. Historical sources describe a multitude of instances of Totem Warriors acting as bandits or warlords, unconcerned with the protection of others. Some Totem Warriors acting as mercenaries internationally have been accused of following this more ruthless, historical, form of the practice rather than the modern day protective practice.

A significant amount of inconsistent magic is used by Totem Warriors, although its exact nature varies by type.

Types of Totem Warriors

Totem Warriors, being empowered by an animal spirit, can be categorized according to the animal they draw strength from. Totem Warrior Bands typically only consist of a single type, with the rituals and practices of each being distinct and strictly guarded. Most Totem Warriors adopt, partially or wholly, the appearance of their totem animal when they enter their trance-like state. The list is not exhaustive, but includes the more well-known forms of dyrrherjer.

Berserkers are one of the most well-known category of Totem Warriors, whose practice is the least well-guarded. They are primarily found in Fjordland and Nordbreheim. They adopt the totem of the bear. Their initiation involves the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, being stripped naked, and left alone to find a bear. The prospective Berserker must slay the bear with their own hands, using no weapon nor armor, and then sleep the night on the corpse of the bear. In the morning, the bear is flayed by the band or family, and the brain, liver and heart devoured by the prospective berserker raw. The further practice has not been recorded. Berserkers are known to grow in size and strength when entering their trance-like state, and are impervious to fire, cold and steel. They are known for being unable to recognize friend from foe in their trance-like state, apart from their fellow berserkers.

Ulfhednar are the second-most well-known category of Totem Warriors, primarily found in northern Alfheim, Svartskog and Fjordland. They are much like the Berserkers in practice, but per records do not go and fight their totem animal, the wolf or warg, single-handedly. They are accompanied by their family or prospective band. Ulfhednar are known to act in perfect unison with their family and band in their trance-like state, instill a primal fear in their targets, and are impervious to pain, cold and steel.

Ariserker less well-known than the Berserkers or Ulfhednar, the Ariserkers adopt the totem of the eagle. Their initiation rites is unknown, and are primarily found in Alfheim and southern Svartskog. Ariserkers are known to be capable of flight in their trance-like state, and can see the motivations and inner-most thoughts of regular men.

Reinhednar are primarily found in Fjordland and Alfheim, adopting the totem of the horse. Their initiation rite involves running a horse to the point of exhaustion and death. They are known to be capable of incredible speed in their trance-like state.

Gaupserker are primarily found in northern Taranger and western Svartskog, and there are no Bands adopting the Totem of the Lynx, only families. Their initiation rites are unknown. They are known to be capable of incredible stealth in their trance-like state, and are impervious to steel and fire.

Urdkunna are typically grouped with the Dyrrherjer but do not have an animalistic totem. Their initiation rite is usually lethal, and can only be found in rural areas of Fjordland where some local communities continue the practice despite being illegal. What is known of the practice, is that it requires intense meditation and the guidance of a seer. Urdkunna are known to be functionally immortal until they meet their fated death, capable of surviving incredible trauma and continuing.

Elghednar are primarily found in Nordbreheim, adopting the totem of the moose. What is known of their initiation rituals, is that they are one of the few dyrrherjer who allow weapons, namely a spear, to be used in felling their totem. In their trance-like state, they are known for being indefatigable, impervious to exhaustion and pain, as well as growing antlers out of their foreheads sharper than diamond.