People of Karathor: Karathori / Thorgard (Plural: Karathorim / Thorgardim)
Karathor male: Karathorgrim / Thorgardgrim (Plural: Karathorgrimmar / Thorgardgrimmar)
Karathor female: Karathorwyn / Thorgardwyn (Plural: Karathorwynna / Thorgardwynna)
Land area: 6.4 million km².
Population: 182.7 million.
Ethnic groups:
98% Ice People and
2% other humans (but primarily Dragon People, because they are also resistant to the cold).
Hierarchy:
Noble Family (King as head of the realm)
Frostcaller (Priest)
Frostwarrior (Soldiers)
Frosthealer (Medic)
Religion: Ice Religion
Artifact:
Sacred ram (with icy horns) of Karathor.
Two divine icebreakers (ice spears, one lost in the great war and the other buried deep underground in an ice hall).
Protection Symbol: Ice Shard Rune (transparent ice with a rune and a symbol of a barbed head engraved on it) – protection for defensibility, offensive power, and ancient war traditions
Currency: 1 Frostmark (1 ice platinum coin with a diameter of approximately 2 cm – obverse (magical frost ice): split ice crystal & reverse (platinum): crossed axes in front of a mountain silhouette)
Relationship Ethics: A man may marry multiple women = polygyny.
Landscape and Climate: Many mountains, forests in the south, but completely covered in snow / cold to very cold
Mythical Creatures: Including the Wendigo
Capital: Frosthaldur
Meaning of the word: Frosthaldur = "Hall of Frost"
Type of the Capital / Overall Impression: Massive ice and stone walls, runic spears, steaming forges in the cold.
Coat of Arms:
Shield shape: a broad, rugged shield symbolizing the cold
Central symbol: a black ram's head with icy horns
Meaning: Unwavering strength, resilience in the face of winter and war, and the fierce determination of a people who survive and rule in the frozen north.
Details:
behind the ram, two long spears (symbols of defensibility, offensive power, and ancient war tradition)
at the top, a small ice shard crystal (symbolizing the eternal ice and spiritual purity of the northern lands)
background finely textured like frozen wind, reflecting the harsh, unforgiving nature of Karathor
Holidays and Rituals:
Frostfire – January 5
Ritual: Burning torches in the snow to honor the ice.
Ram's Day – April 14
Ritual: Arena battles with wooden spears to honor the sacred ram.
Dark Winter – November 28
Ritual: Silent marches through the snow to honor winter.
Frostheart Night – December 3
Ritual: Couples touch their temples with cold spring water to awaken their inner fire.
Love Phrase:
Common Speech: "Your fire burns in my frost."
Karathian: "Thal'gar ven'nor."
Love Vow:
Common Speech: "I will stand by you when storm and frost test us."
Karathian: "Varim dul'thor ven grim'nar."
The rituals usually also include folk songs, folk dances, prayers, and oaths of the local realm, which are sung, danced, or recited.
Love and Birth Ceremony:
Love Ritual: The couple lies on a sheet of ice outdoors in the cold, with water flowing beneath it.
Cold and breath unite – whoever survives this night is worthy. The couple consummates their love there.
Love Prayer:
Common Language: "In the frost I stand by you."
Karathian: "Í frost stend ek með þér."
Birth Ritual: The birth takes place in an ice cave, illuminated only by firelight.
The newborn is briefly shown to the frost – then to the fire.
Blessing of Birth:
Common Language: "Hardness and life are one."
Karathian: "Hart ok líf eru eitt."
Marriage Ceremony:
Marriage Ritual: Both lay down their weapons.
An ice ring closes around them and only thaws at sunrise.
Marriage Blessing:
Common Language: "Together you defy the storm."
Karathian: "Saman standið þér gegn stormi."
Funeral ceremony:
Mourning ritual: The body is committed to the ice – in a crevasse.
No weeping, only silence.
Blessing of mourning:
Common language: "The frost preserves you."
Karathian: "Frost varðveitir þik."
Folk Song of the Thorgardim: please see later to my TikTok.
Folk Dance of the Thorgardim:
"The Frost March" (War Dance):
Style: Rough, powerful, synchronized.
Form: Block formation like a shield wall.
Movements: Alternating left and right stamping steps in a snow rhythm.
Strikes on chests or shields.
Head tilt (ram's-blow symbolism).
End: Spear movement forward + reciting the Ice Shard Crystal Prayer aloud together (see below).
Symbolism: Frost, ram, steadfastness.
Armor of the Thorgardim:
Fur armor, frost leather (with a deep neckline for women),
rune spears,
braided beards (for men),
braided hair (for women),
iron-silver jewelry.
Language: Karathian / Thorgardian
Hello = Skaldr!
Welcome = Frostr kom
Thank you = Takk
Please = Verk
Yes = Ja
No = Nehj
Goodbye = Hald frost
Karathor has brutal, short insults:
"Snow Tongue" (cold-faced, liar) = Snétung
"Ice Brain" = Iskopp
"Warmblood" = Varmweak (insult!)
Daily prayer:
Morning prayer: "Ice, harden me." = "Is, hart'me."
Evening prayer: "Frost, preserve me." = "Frost, vard'me."
Table prayer: "Thanks to the fire in the snow." = "Takk fyr fyr'n snjó."
Prayer (Ice Shard Crystal Prayer):
Common speech: "Ice wind, make me hard and steadfast."
Karathian: "Is'vind, hart'vekka, stan'grim."
Oath (Frost Oath):
Common Speech: "By frost and spear I will never break."
Karathian: "Frost'n spjarr – ne'brekkar!"
Hand Signs for Prayers, Oaths, etc. ("The Frost Grip"):
The hands are clenched into fists (= strength), the forearms are crossed in front of the chest, backs of the hands facing outwards – like a shield of ice (= protection).
Mini-Laws:
No clan may be betrayed.
Fire is sacred – never misuse it.
A fight is never refused when honor is at stake.
Minor Offenses: Desecrating fire
Punishments:
Frost watch (night watch in the snow)
Revoked honorary title (= revocation of all privileges)
Up to expulsion from the council
Major Offenses: Refusing to fight (= cowardice) / Clan treason
Punishments:
Revoked honorary title (= revocation of all privileges).
Whipped naked on the icy snow, the naked body branded with a branding iron (bearing the clan symbol).
Women must also have sexual relations with the men of the entire clan. Up to and including death (= death penalty).
War cry:
Common language: "Break them like ice!"
Karathian: "Is'karr! Brekkar!"