hello i've been incredibly norn brained lately as i've been writing gytha and i'd like to submit some headcanons about norn and norn culture. i am in no way making this polished and pretty because it's all just me ranting
1) NORN COMMUNITY STUFF
norn aren't so strictly individualistic as they seem first blush! the tradition of norn marriage being one which both parties must be seen as equals and vouched by their peers implies there's a degree of social approval needed, and i've absolutely applied this before towards things like adoptions within norn society too (vouching for the child's need and the parent's ability). a recognized marriage means if someone tries to challenge, i.e. "so-and-so should have been MY mate", those who vouched would come to the aid of the aggrieved party whom they approved of
i also figure there's a BIG culture of hospitality, since norn are incredibly frequent travelers and adventurers in a harsh land and keeping a good homestead is something to take pride in! hosts are expected to give a host food and lodging as they need it and entertainment with stories and songs are also expected, and guests are meant to accept these things and offer their own stories and/or songs
being a bad host and throwing someone out of your home for no good reason is grounds for people distancing themselves from you or your home, and being a bad guest will find you having to brave the outdoors on your own more often than not, which leads me to:
2) WRITTEN AND ORAL HISTORY
Norn have been shown to be BIG on oral history, legend and stories in general, and i imagine the social aspects of the first point influence that greatly. THEY LOVE GOSSIP. they want to know how the neighbors are doing, what the latest is in hoelbrak, what's going on with the commander/wayfinder, and so on!
Oral history probably takes specific emphasis because a LOT of written history was likely lost as the norn fled south from Jormag, and though many norn may write poetry or write down their history, having it spoken and remembered by others is what gives it the longevity, exactly like how norn live on in the memory of others by their legends. that said a lot of oral history was likely lost too with how many norn died in Jormag's initial blizzard 💦 any shaman or skaald is a WEALTH of knowledge, and given how norn are implied to be long-lived they no doubt have a LOT of known history carried with them
3) FUNERARY PRACTICE
norn live on in the memory of others! so it makes sense that a skaald is expected to show for a memorial, so they can learn about the deceased and compose something for them. a shaman may show up too, depending on the deceased's chosen spirit (but raven would be likely given raven's association as the ferryman of sorts). a moot can be thrown if they're life is definitely something to be celebrated!
i like the idea of funeral pyres because they're big and dramatic, but i could see an argument to be made for like. letting a body be reclaimed by the natural world, too (i think i also just enjoy pyres because my norn is a guardian jfdkfk)
while norn want to be remembered for their legends by as many people as they can, many long-running family homesteads keep histories of their ancestors going so they can live on if their lives were a little more quiet to the broad world
4) OWL STUFF
Wow hi i have some thoughts. so there's not a HUGE amount of material on Owl but based on the Heart and text at Owl's Abbatoir, Owl is sort of the de facto Spirit associated with the healing arts, as there's an emphasis on caring for one's family
the healing arts are considered uncommon amongst the norn too! there's an npc in hoelbrak who says as much, though she gives no indication she's affiliated with a spirit as far as i know (feel free to correct me). so i figure, compounding with the idea that a lot of norn history was lost in the move south and that Owl followers are relatively uncommon, there's a correlation there
anywho hi tell me your headcanons. i wanna know your Norn Thoughts
What happens when a person infused with the essence and raw magic of the mists, comes into contact with another raw natural magic that so easily sings in tune with her? Well, fun things, that's for sure~
so my favorite boba tea kiosk in the mall was completely gone just a patch of empty floor which is very sad BUT I got this adorable pokemon stationary at a store that just opened up in the old joanns so I think we can call this a successful outing
yeah so fun fact when I saw that post last week(?) I went ha ha what if that's my local mall. what if that's my favorite boba place at my local mall. sure looks like mall floor. but that's silly because all mall floor looks like mall floor! there's so many malls! there's no way it's my mall!
turns out
it was definitely my favorite boba place at my favorite mall. I sent op an ask with this photo when I was leaving the mall earlier (I don't think they've seen it yet but I was astounded)
you guys would all have loved my (not on tumblr) spouses reaction when he went "oh no the kiosk is gone" and I immediately said LOST JOB FROM TUMBLR?!?
we went to a different tea place by the new store in the old joanns building and I read him the whole saga aloud while we sat and had our drinks
Took my last day off to doodle my new two characters as I was in need of a new unique sylvari-- I mean mordrem, and charr!
I wonder who gets who was the inspiration for Absinthorn 👀
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Kotys Doomsinger
One of the many cubs of Bangar Ruinbringer.
He is def not proud of them, Bangar actually tried to unalive them.
Kotys lost their right leg due to it.
Chill fella until they've got to fight.
Rytlock is some sort of father figure to them.
Absinthorn
Reformed mordrem, hates people and especially sylvari.
Loves animals tho. He takes care of the squad's mounts.
Has the facade of an asshole but hides a kind heart which has yet to blossom.
Does not like changes.
Extra tall and lanky.
I think it's fun to compare how different commanders handle different plot points and I'm a lil VoE-brained right this second, so!
How all my commanders differ on key points in VoE so far:
LAIGHE - Retired but on the island for the adventure, hasn't one interacted with the inquest.
ROI - Very innately in tune with magic, so is able to soothe and work with the island much more easily. Makes her a bigger target too, but she's hard to beat. The staff likes her better✨️ Vloxx ascended, but had to find a way without Ancora. Is very dutifully helping Isgarren as an ally, but letting Wrelia ( @ascalonianpicnic ) head a lot of that up to split focus.
MATTHIAS - Pretty canon so far, begrudgingly. Didn't like helping Isgarren but it's doing that begrudgingly too. Had a lot of hangups about a lot of things here.
RUAN - Still hashing out specifics but might kill vloxx at ascension. Is very empathetic to Isgarrens past.
KAI - Killed Vloxx on sight, no discussion, Kuda and Sebb take over, Sebb got the staff and it's gonna get so much more chaotic... doesn't like Isgarren at all, left the curse breaking to the team
HASTIGI - Still hashing out, but the inquest is heckoning for a reckoning, is protective of Isgarren while he's hurt.
CORA - Would be so in tune with the magic around here, has the inquest driven off by the end of act 2 and is focused on exploring with Isgarren!
TAOMESIN - Defers to the island inhabitants a lot, they know this place better than a stranger. Vloxx stuff is fairly canon but Taomesin is gaining more local help along the way. Vloxx puts them on edge, reminds them of their ex. Not a huge fan of Isgarren, but knows this is important to help him with.
VUISCE - Inquest eradicated so fast from the island good job everyone!
ROIBIRD - Pretty canon! But close buddies with Isgarren, and has been interrupting a lot of the inquests tech and experiments to an annoying degree.
CARA - The world's a bit too fucked for this too even be a main issue. The inquest evacuated when Caras attention settled on Castora. Worse things are to come... a shame the wizards are far too weakened to intercede right now.
CALL - fairly canon I think, with some major changes in ways that wouldn't affect the overall bit points I don't think! She thinks Isgarren is stuffy but fine. Much to discuss on this one still...
MAI TRIN - Parleyed with the freebooters and tried to do the same with the inquest hoping some might be more like Ankka before she lost herself. Freebooters are successfully helping like a ragtag new aetherblade team! Inquest less so, but she did get insider info from a couple regretful members who want to see her win. She's doing her best, got info early, Vloxx hasn't successfully ascended but he's a very pissed off director still. She helped Isgarren.
QUAILLE - Did try to reason with Vloxx until he started going off on his talking points about everything being rotten from the core, and needing to weed out innately bad people and groups because they can't change. Went "oh actually you're wise than I thought!" And chased him down. He did ascend but boy is there gonna be a fight and Quaille wants to kill him very badly.
ISOLDE - The island unfortunately innately views are as a threat, making was life a lot harder. Vloxx and Kuda both have distinct advantages currently, but Isgarren is going to try hard to help Isolde catch up and gain the high ground now that he isn't cursed.
MARTA - She doesn't like Vloxx, gave him one chance and he started talking weird shit about others. Pretty canon though!
RIAGAIN - Ate vloxx on first meeting, Kuda took charge and went for the ascension and is the main antagonist now! Likes Isgarren, is glad to help him regain his old home.
LEAF - Would've fallen for Vloxxs persuasion if it wasn't for their team helping them out! Thankfully still on the right path but a little shaken they almost fell for the rhetoric. Helping Isgarren out!
STIXX - Did fully fall for Vloxxs speeches, and feels very betrayed by the ascension and is trying hard to reach and reason with him, believes he still has a good point in there... the team has had to help Isgarren without them.
JOEL - Either ate Vloxx on first sight, or right before ascension depending on the version. Either way he's dead, did not once try to reason with the inquest at all. Sebb has immense interest in Joel but hasn't engaged directly, that fight was only the raptors because he knows Joel is here to kill. Lots of danger coming from him and Kuda... Joel used to hate Isgarren, but through VoE us staying to sort of see where the guy is coming from, begrudgingly. It's helping him regain his home though, everyone deserves that even if he has a stick up his ass.
TRELLA - Oh she hates the inquest so fucking much...an excuse to tear them apart is a wonderful treat for her. And she gave them all a chance to leave peacefully if they'd like but now she's on the warpath. Kuda and Sebb are heading things up with Vloxx dead after he thought he could reason with her just because she was being nice at first. She's more than happy to help Isgarren!
not wanting to be outdone by the benders in the gang, sokka invents the flamethrower, the supersoaker, the leaf blower, and the concept of throwing rocks at people
Nima Maino (she/her) is a Canthan/Elonian double-amputee with two prosthetic legs at the knees! She ended up on Castora when traveling as a mechanic-for-hire on an adventuring ship, and has spent her time here helping the local shipwreck towns gather salvage, defend from freebooters, and use said salvage to create handy tools and contraptions to make life on the island easier and more coexistive.
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