FOW: The North

 

“Titles are for strangers. First meetings and enemy negotiations. We don’t stand on ceremony among friends in the North.”

From Fortunes of War, 

Drake Chronicles Book Five

Now available

Obviously, I didn't get every Northern character up here (sorry, Birger!), but I got the major players. If Oliver is my favorite singular character, then the Northerners are my favorite character group. If that's even a thing.

In the world of the Drake Chronicles, the Northerners began as small, nomadic clans that followed the reindeer herds. Book one talks about the way these clans eventually banded together for safety and security, until they became a kingdom, and Aeres the capital. From Aeres, they migrated south, eventually populating the Southern regions that would become Aquitainia, which broke off as its own nation, and developed its own subculture. Everyone was Northern originally, and it's why the Northerners see the South as "silly" and "frivolous." They see themselves as the first men, older and wiser and stronger. A fun irony, given the clans see themselves as the actual first men, and the current Northern regime, as led by Erik's household, as traitors to the old ways, far too fanciful and shallow by comparison. 

The inspiration for the Aeretolleans was, obviously, Viking history, religion, and custom, which is much richer and more diverse than one might think before researching. Between the simple clans of the Waste, and the much more sumptuous royal family, there's a lot of real-world truth woven in amongst the dragons and spells: the naming traditions, the trading, the gods. Because it's a fantasy, I've used facts liberally, so it's best to think of the series as Viking-inspired rather than Viking historical fiction. 

At the beginning of the series, I would have told you Erik was my favorite Northerner. Though Nali will always hold a special place in my heart for being a little gremlin. These days, though, I'm having the most fun writing Ragnar, though I think that's obvious by now. He most definitely still has a long road to redemption, if he ever arrives at his destination, and the route is going to be fraught with lots of wonderful doubt and angst.