The Skaldi: Their History, Culture, Society, and Life Cycle

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A Skaldi's Life Cycle

Skaldi are egg layers by nature. A clutch of Skaldi can consist of anywhere between 3 and 5 eggs. This is true for all varieties of Skaldi. It is also true that any variety of Skaldi can breed with another "ethnicity" of Skaldi. This however does not produce mixed children, the clutch would be a random mix. For example 2 Vipers and 3 Saurians, or 2 Aquatics and 2 Vipers.

1 - 2 years

The first two years of a Skaldi's life are their childhood stage. During this time they learn to talk, walk on two legs, and play with other children much like the children of other races. Their size should be comprable to human children between the ages of six and ten. Saurians are usually on the bigger end. Aquatics will tend to be shorter, where the vipers are more middle of the road.

2 - 6 years

During this range the Skaldi enters pre-adulthood and can be described as a "teenager". They grow very fast in this stage and will quickly reach their mature heights between seven and nine feet tall, depending on their race. Saurians are usually on the bigger end. Vipers and Aquatics will vary.

6 - 10 years

This is adulthood and most Skaldi typically come into their specific racial traits at this point. Vipers develop enlongated fangs. Saurians will gain the more wicked teeth and claws, while acquatics will acquire gills and fins. Across all types the Skaldi will gain their armor like scales at this point in their life. This is also the point in their lives where they will gain an increasingly heavy musculature. Skaldi will molt their scales as they grow.

10+ Years

Skaldi will not reach an elderly stage until some point past 10 years of age, though it is different for each Skaldi. It is generally agreed that most don't reach an elderly stage until they are thirty years old. Some become elderly much later. With the proper diet, exercise, and upkeep, a Skaldi could live to be well over a hundred years old. Some Skaldi, provided they acquire enough food, will continue to grow well past the typical height and weight. Once a Skaldi becomes elderly the clan tends to redirect food resources to younger Skaldi. This speeds up the aging process. Usually a Skaldi's life ends (especially for male clan leaders) when a younger or stronger Skaldi challenges them to a fight. Skaldi rarely succumb to disease or old age. It is hypothesized that provided a Skaldi can continue to eat the necessary amount of food, they will continue to live.

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Free Skaldi: Their Society & Culture

Might makes right in the free Skaldi clans. But there are rules around when and where you can apply your might. Usually Clan chieftains get the final say in most matters. Free Skaldi social structure is a strict hierarchy of monarchs whose line are non-hereditary in theory, but tend to be so in practice.

The Chieftain--

At the top is the chieftain, who is supposed to be the clan's strongest leader and fighter. The distinction is important, as a Skaldi Chieftain must be both the strongest leader and the strongest fighter in the clan. If he loses the support of his clan through poor decision making, or by losing a battle, he loses his position. In cases where an outsider bests him, the next strongest Skaldi (unless that outsider is a Skaldi) becomes the Chieftain. If another Skaldi bests him, then that Skaldi becomes the leader. This role is typically held by males.

Elder-Shaman--

The Elder Shaman is the oldest Skaldi in the tribe with an affinity for magic. This Skaldi will advise the chieftain on all matters relating to nature, and how to handle situations that involve Magic. Skaldi as a whole tend to stay away from magic, as they believe it goes against the natural state of the world. Elder-Shaman are tasked with preserving the natural world, and protecting their clan with their skills.

Skaldi Crafts, Weapons, and Armor

The Skaldi are a warrior race who have a deep abiding respect for the natural world. As a result, they tend to make trophies out of their kills and carry those trophies with them (this is because they tend to believe that the trophy adds to their own power), especially if their kill is a dangerous animal. Sometimes they will make armor and weapons out of the bones of their kills. This is typical among most Skaldi tribes in their history, and a tradition that all free tribes follow today. On the other hand, a Skaldi will never turn down a weapon made from good steel, and their craftsmen do possess the skill to work metals as well as the other races. Their goods are usually decorated with colorful feathers, bones, painted beads, and animal teeth. They are good at leather working, as their primary food source is hunted game. Their natural inclination is to use all parts of the animal as to not waste it.

Life as a Free Skaldi

Most free Skaldi are born into a clan that is nomadic in nature. They will follow their game of choice, either Salamander herds, or deer, and will live off the land around them. Skaldi clans tend to not settle in one place for very long. This is because of their status as "lesser-creatures" according to the Elkagr. Elsewhere in the world, Skaldi have been wiped out, and they too must remain within the boundaries of the five kingdoms of humanity. However, even within the five kingdoms their status is lower than humans, and slavery is the only option available to them. The free Skaldi travel to avoid this fate of death or slavery. Many take up arms. As such, young Skaldi are often trained to fight, and fight ruthlessly. To lose is to die or suffer a fate worse than death: slavery. As a proud warrior race, accepting Slavery is anathema to being Skaldi.

Most clans do not treat enslaved Skaldi well, as it is viewed that if they could they could easily escape and fight. However, when one does escape, the free Skaldi tend to reject the former-slaves fearing that they are spies for their masters or that their masters will continue to hunt the former slave and track them to the clan.

Free Skaldi spend most of their days crafting weapons, or armor, and hunting for food.

It is rare that a free Skaldi clan will take over a Cruinthian county, though it has happened before. They will often raid human towns and villages depending on the size of the garrison (if there is one at all). These raids will acquire food, weapons, and hostages (usually women and children). Under Shadowscales leadership, these raids are barbaric and the Skaldi will kill every non-Skaldi they find.

The Path of War

The free Skaldi involved in the Skaldi Resistance Front are a departure from traditional Skaldi warfare. Typically Skaldi would engage in retribution warfare, hunting down and killing those that have wronged them in some way. This is reactionary where the Skaldi Resistance Front is proactive, making targeted strikes and securing alliances in their goal to legitimize their people. That aside, warfare is an art that Skaldi have practiced for millennia. Skaldi warriors tend to paint themselves different colors to appear more fearsome, as well as carry their trophies into battle.