Factions:
(( This is part of my first post Garðaríki Saga: A Nordic Pagan Russia so go read that for context. These were originally the factions I made both for later use in any stories and to help entice people to make original characters.))
Commoners:
Frigg's Hope Society
Founded by Garðaríki war widows, the Frigg's Hope Society are one of the loudest and well known anti war protestors in all of Garðaríki. Founded by Alfwind Eriksdotter who's husband had died in far off Northern Germany in what she had seen as pointless extension war. When she confided in friends and family about her loss she had discovered that her situation was not an uncommon one in Garðaríki society. Thus she was inspired to form a gathering of her fellow widows to protest the war and talk young Garðaríki men eager for a chance into Valhalla out of willingly volunteering to fight. However with an increase in conscription rates and as enemy forces continue to march into native Garðaríki territory their cause has declined rapidly. With this decline many within the Frigg's Hope Society have transitioned from anti war activism to women's rights activism even despite Garðaríki already having afforded greater rights to it's women than many of its contemporaries. Led by Alfwind Eriksdotter
Bjarnarskóli
When Kjarr Hrœrekr I did his grand tour of Asia he brought back several martial artists to teach both himself and his court their various arts. When the Orientalization movement was in full force the martial arts slowly spread their way throughout Garðaríki first amongst the nobility and then slowly through the military and commoners. Eventually this gathering of foreign martial arts in a very martial warrior culture resulted in the creation of a new art, that being Bjarnarkló or Bear Claw with much of its foundation being the Northern Kung Fu Eagle Claw style. Other martial arts that influenced the gradual creation of Bjarnarkló include Shaui Jiao, as well as Nordic Glima, and HEMA techniques. This formed an extremely hard and physically oriented martial art focused around precision attacks to weak areas like the eyes, throats, tendons, joints, and nerves along with a strong basis in grappling and wrestling. It was this combination of more developed hand to hand techniques of Chinese martial arts paired with native Garðaríki martial arts that allowed the art to explode in popularity within the new Nordic Revival era. Among the most popular of the new Bjarnarkló schools is Bjarnarskóli headed by Sifu Dyr Biørnssen. Originally from Drekaströnd where the art originated from a multitude of sources Dyr Biørnssen managed to successfully read the writing on the wall with the Nordic Revival Movement and made the long and dangerous trip West to the Garðaríki capitals of Holmgarðr. There he established the first Bjarnarskóli School in the West and advertised it successfully as the new Garðaríki made martial art for the new age. This attracted a multitude of people, first commoners, but eventually nobility and especially military. Eventually with his first school he priced out most commoners but wanting to balance monetary gain and accessibility he'd have advanced students form their own school under the Bjarnarskóli name that he'd take a cut of the meager profits in exchange for supervision, guidance, and the acclaim of the Bjarnarskóli name. This system let Bjarnarkló in West spread like wildfire even being adopted as the martial art of choice of new modern Garðaríki military. This has lead to Sifu Dyr Biørnssen to becoming one of the most highly regarded and acclaimed martial artists in all of Garðaríki and being elevated from commoner to nobility with his suddenly amassed fortune. Though his reputation is not spotless in martial arts world, his system is often said to make under trained and not ready students into Sifu's leading their own schools incorrectly teaching whole classes of students.Led by Sifu Dyr Biørnssen
Vіtčizna Movement
For nearly as long as Garðaríki has existed there have been multiple failed attempts by the native slavs to break away and form their own independent state. First proposed tribal confederations, then princedoms, then kingdoms, and most recently republics, none of which have ever come to fruition. Now however is a peculiar time for the Vіtčizna ((fatherland)) movement as the old Napoleonic era veterans of the movement are dying off regularly. Now the movement is beginning to quarrel within itself as it's decided what direction the movement should head in. While many still argue for the old age of enlightenment, the American and French inspired Republic that won the support of the last couple generations. Now however some new generations are beginning to debate new ideas not even including more recent stateless movements. With the onset of the American Civil War and France having reverted back to an empire the discussion of an independent slavic state is moving away from republics. While now they are small in number there is a growing group of hyper nationalists influenced by western ideas of nationalism, industrialism, modern autocracy, and social darwinism. Other much smaller and less popular in pagan society ideologies include state Socialism and Communism, though many under the influence of Marxism and other more left leaning ideologies have distanced themselves from the Vіtčizna and joined the new Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood anarchist movement. Currently the largest and most powerful faction of the Vіtčizna the Republicans is headed by Myroslav Syromakha who is trying his hardest to tear support from the nationalists. Led by Mroslav Syromakha
Orange Turban Rebellion
A new rebellion stirring in Southeastern China in resistance to the Daming Dynasty which is seen as a Western Puppet that is selling out China. Founded by Kwok Aiguo a former silkworm farmer and silk producer from Guangdong, whose worms were wiped out by disease like many others across the world. Unlike many though the Báijīn Clans ((mixed Han Mandarin and Garðaríki clans of notable influence and economic power.)) were shown leniency on their taxes and even bailed out by the Empire and given new silk worms. Even though being predominantly from Northern China their silk production was a minor at best influence on their massive income and could have easily afforded the losses. Meanwhile several long standing traditional silk producers in Southern China have been taxed off their familial lands including Kwok Aiguo and his family. Luckily for Kwok Aiguo he had the option of teaching Tai Chi in the city of Canton/Guangzhou. It was only after he had started teaching that Kwok Aiguo had heard of the Báijīn bailouts as well as hearing a multitude of stories similar to his own. Using his past experience as the head of a major silk production operation and his new experience as a Sifu, Kwok Aiguo began to make plans to organize a rebellion against the corrupt DaMing Dynasty. Taking inspiration from history Kwok Aiguo opted to name his new rebellion the Orange Turban Rebellion in honor of the Red Turban Rebellion that overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and established the original Ming Dynasty, as well as Yellow Turban Rebellion that while failed did lead to the downfall of the Han Dynasty. Orange was chosen as the color of choice as it indicates change, adaptability, spontaneity, and strengthens concentration, as one of the main goals of the Orange Turban Rebellion is to create a new modern and more adaptable China with something more akin to Constitutional Monarchy. Through secret meetings and debates in Cantonese these proto rebels meet and discuss plans, philosophy, and goals for the rebellion. Yet already there are disagreements within the faction, some argue to try and Ally themselves with Western Powers like Great Britain, the Dutch, and France as a means of gaining support to overthrow the DaMing and keep Garðaríki from invading afterwards. However with the new and growing Opium Wars especially on the streets of Canton/Guangzhou itself this would be seen as opening themselves up for colonization and trading one devil for another. Other plans exist such as the potential to not truly ally with any one foreign power and try to play them against each other, but for now all the rebellion is only talk. Led by Kwok Aiguo
Free Mǎnzhōu
With the Garðaríki invasion of and occupation of Manchuria at the behest of the Ming Dynasty there has always been major resistance from the Manchu. Resistance that has been put down by the Amur Cossack Sich created with the express purpose of strengthening Garðaríki’s control over its easternmost territories. This system of subjugation by the Garðaríki Crown and brutal enforcement by Cossacks has long led to many abuses to the Manchu people. With the exportation of the would be Qing Royal Dynasty, the Aisin Gioro clan a rallying force for the Manchu people are the Wanggiyan Clan who lead the earlier pre Mongol Jin Dynasty. Those Wanggiyanwho who survived the Mongol Empire’s persecution would eventually rally the Manchu people under Garðaríki subjugation. For years the selected heir of the Wanggiyan Clan would lead the rebellion against the Garðaríki Empire and hopefully some day become the new emperor of a free Mǎnzhōu Empire and perhaps even fulfill the ambitions of the Qing Dynasty and conquer China. Currently the Free Mǎnzhōu movement is lead by Wanggiyan Šolontu an ambitious man in his 30’s who was selected as heir to the Wanggiyan Clan over his older brother on account of his charm and influence.
Led by Wanggiyan Šolontu
The City of Svartfjall/ Mjihuru
Located in the Garðaríki controlled Western area of the Caucasus Mountains and initially built around an old Kuban Cossack fort. The city of Svartfjall ((meaning Black Mountain)) as it's known officially is a known haven for any non Abrahamic peoples seeking to escape the Arabic Slave Trade. Locally called Mjihuru ((free city in Swahili)) the bulk of the town’s population is made up of Zanj/ Swahili Bantu, Oromo, and Nilotic peoples with a population of 2,000+ though it's not impossible to find peoples more commonly associated with the Atlantic Slave Trade such as the Congolese or Yorubans but they are much less common. The city was established in 1789 on the agreement that those escaped slaves settled there would be willing to fight Islamic Highlanders like Chechens, Avars, and the Dagestani as well acknowledging the Rurikids as God Kings in their own native religions. The bulk of the town's production is cattle who's initial stock was raided from said Highland peoples, but now has a flourishing breeding population thanks to much of the people there having been nomadic or semi nomadic cattle herders before being captured and sold into slavery. The town is also home to small Garrison of Jomsvikings there to deflect or root out any Christian or Muslims seeking refuge within the town though they are known for being suspicious of the Oromo monotheistic religion of Waaqeffanna which isn't official banned by the Garðaríki Crown but is heavily advised to remain vigilant of simply due to it's monotheist nature. The appointed Mayor of the town is Machar Machar a Nilotic Dinka Man who's second generation Garðaríki born within the town and invited to attend the Imperial University in Holmgarðr by Kjarr Hróaldr I in 1836 as a young man both out of curiosity and to assure Garðaríki Imperial Interests are being upholded within the town. The man is considered a genius and speaks several languages including: Garðaríki Nordic, Garðaríki Slavic, Dinka Nilotic, Oromo, Swahili, Tatar, and Mandarin Chinese. As well as being an expert on nearly all approved religions within Garðaríki, a shaman to his own Dinka beliefs and is currently working on transcribing the various African beliefs and mythology both into writing and into the greater Garðaríki Mythos of all it's religions.
Led by Mayor Machar Machar
Higekiru
Meaning "to cut beard" they are predominantly made up of Matagi, Rōnin, and former Shinobi, they are professional pirate or viking hunters who specialize in guerilla warfare against Garðaríki raiders on the Japanese coast especially in Northern Japan. They are known as beard cutters as cutting out the braids from Garðaríki beards is how they present bounties and collect trophies. Well trained and self sufficient they pick off and harass any Garðaríki who try to establish camps or rest on Japanese shores as well helping to protect villages from raids. Because the Higekiru are made up of several small semi nomadic clans they don't have a single leader, instead each clan is led by its patriarch. No individual leader
Nobility:
[Garðaríki Noble Houses:]
Rurikid-Holmgarðr
The head house of the Rurikid Dynasty and those most eligible to become the Kjarr. Initially they were a sub-family that ruled the initial and now current capital of Garðaríki Holmgarðr (Novgorod) and gained power when the main family of Rurikid-Valdamarr went extinct in the 1500’s when Kjarr Ivar the Terrible killed his only son. The house and the entire Garðaríki empire is ruled by Kjarr Asviðr III. While all Rurikids are considered living gods in the Garðaríki religion the members of this house as head of the empire are considered especially divine.
Kjarr Asviðr III, art by me
Rurikid-Kænugarðr
The oldest and considered first sub-house of the Rurikid Dynasty they rule the lands in and around Kænugarðr ((Kiev)). They are also the second most powerful Rurikid House only falling behind Rurikid-Holmgarðr because of the latter’s firm grip on the Kjarr/ Emperor title of all Garðaríki. The house is headed by Alfrekr Rurikid-Kænugarðr II known for his lackadaisical attitude and interest towards art and philosophy over politics making him Kjarr Asviðr III’s favorite vassal and relative for perceived loyalty and trust in his Kjarr.
Led by Alfrekr Rurikid-Kænugarðr II
Rurikid-Tzernigoga
Rulers of the city of Tzernigoga ((Cherginov/Chernihiv)) and the surrounding lands as well as being another prominent sub-family of the Rurikid Dynasty. Most notably they are headed by a young woman, Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga after her father Roald Rurikid-Tzernigoga died without a living male heir. Thus his eldest daughter Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga was left as the ruler of Tzernigoga. This has lead to many scandalous rumors such as that she poisoned her father as well as her brother Roald III in order to steal a throne. A rumor that was ruled unfounded and heretical by Kjarr Asviðr III. For now Ragnhild is major socialite known for throwing several parties and gatherings trying to climb the social ladder, she is also considered the most eligible bachelorette in Garðaríki.
Led by Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga
Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg
Rulers of the city of Aldeigjuborg ((by lake Ladoga)) and much of Garðaríki Finland they have fallen on hard times due to the invasion of Garðaríki by Anglo-Austrian forces. What was once one of the most economically powerful Rurikid sub-familes has been pushed to the verge of bankruptcy as their forces are decimated and supply lines run thin. The head of the house Asgautr Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg has fallen ill from stress at the old age of 69 and his sons Asgautr II, Þrutan, and Liutr all battle in secret for their now meager inheritance. For now Asgautr stays in Holmgarðr away from the war while his sons share responsibility as his regent.
Led by Asgautr Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg
Rurikid-Galich
Rulers of the city of Valdamarr ((Volodymyr)) and the surrounding region Rurikid-Galich are the youngest Rurikid sub-family but also most closely related to the original imperial family of Garðaríki, Rurikid-Valdamarr. While still very powerful in Garðaríki as a whole compared to the other Rurikid sub-families they are small and weak. Though this is partially because house Rurikid-Holmgarðr purposely kept them weak as means weakening and delegitimizing a potential political opponent by refusing lordship over the city of Moskva ((Moscow though not nearly as large or important in this timeline)) instead selling the title to the non Rurikid Dynasty House Dýssen. This has lead to Rurikid-Galich resentment against the Kjarr’s since the selling of Moskva in 1630, however without a means of challenging the imperial family the Rurikid-Galich have turned their anger onto House Dýssen in a centuries long feud resulting in much political scheming, plotting, and other nefarious deeds. Currently the house is headed by Vilmundr Rurikid-Galich a man who by all means can only really be described as unremarkable.
Led by Vilmundr Rurikid-Galich
Rurikid-Valdamarr
The Extinct house of Valdamarr Rurikid who first United the Garðaríki Pagan spiritualities into a single religion and whose descendants became the first Kjarrs before dying off.
House Dýssen
Originally Dregoviches ((a union of Slavic tribes in modern Belarus)) when the Norsification of Garðaríki was going on many Dregovich chieftains were shown leniency on account of their rivalry with the Drevlians whose attempted assassination of Ingvarr Roriksen sparked the Great Eastern Invasion. While still forced to adopt Norse Culture and Religion many still held their old lands and as such got a head start on gaining power in the new Norse Garðaríki. After centuries of cultivating power and influence this came to a head in 1630 where they offered a fortune to Kjarr Hrœrekr I to sell them the Lordship over the city of Moskva to which Kjarr Hrœrekr I agreed to undermine the power of house Rurikid-Galich who had claims to the city and the empire as a whole. This has led to an intimate centuries spanning rivalry with house Rurikid-Galich as the two battle for power and influence. The house is currently headed by Hærmodh Dýssen V and elderly man in peculiarly good health at 73 years old.
Led by Hærmodh Dýssen V
House Haraldssen:
Descendants of the legendary Erik Bloodaxe ((who in this timeline decided to cut his losses when he was deposed as king of Northumbria and settle huge tracts of lands in Garðaríki at the behest of Ingvarr Roriksen in the 900’s)) who control Vousegrade ((much of the lands between Kænugarðr and Holmgarðr along the Dnieper River)) Currently the house is headed by General Ødholf Harraldssen the main leader of the Garðaríki Forces in the Second Great Northern War. While he's a well educated and motivated leader he is widely regarded especially with Garðaríki’s recent losses as the lesser to the late General Odger Agessen and a man who got his position largely because of his family, background, and nepotism. Even in spite of his education at the Garðaríki Imperial University and earlier successes within the war.
General Ødholf Harraldssen art by me
House Röde:
Descendants of the famous Hakon The Red/ Hakon Röde/ Blot Sweyn a pagan in the 11th century who briefly held kingship over a small area of a largely Christian Sweden. Eventually through reasons still debated by historians he left Sweden for Garðaríki and was given lordship over Miliniska ((Smolensk)) and became another powerful Nordic House within Garðaríki who brought one of the last large migrations of people from Scandinavia to Garðaríki. The house is currently headed by Rǫgnvaldr Röde a man who praises himself on being an intellectual and is a frequent patron of the Garðaríki Imperial University both with liberal donations and in even being a guest speak to the classes of natural sciences as well as history classes.
Led by Rǫgnvaldr Röde
House Víðförli:
Descendants of Ingvar the Far Traveled who after his expedition to Georgia was offered a sizable track of land in Garðaríki that being the lordship of Palteskja ((polotsk)). Now the house is known for it's monopoly over Garðaríki ship production with shipyards expanding well beyond their Baltic Ports across most any Garðaríki controlled coast. Initially with the acquisition of the Scandinavian ships and shipyards, House Víðförli was predicted to lose a vast sum of money and influence. However with the loss of Garðaríki held Scandinavia and the destruction of the Garðaríki Fleet by the British, the Empire has been pouring boatloads of money into Víðförli shipyards in a misguided attempt to turn the tides of war and beat back the British. The house is currently headed by Ingvar III Víðförli a very greedy and shrewd man not well liked even by his own family.
Led by Ingvar III Víðförli
House Thorvaldssen:
Descendants of famous Erik the Red who left his Christian Wife and Child ((Leif Erikson)) in Greenland when his wife withheld affections for Erik at his refusal to convert to Christianity. For his accomplishments he was gifted a large amount of land in Garðaríki the lordship of Súrsdalar ((suzdal)). Erik remarried and made a new pagan family in Garðaríki. The house is currently headed by Eþon Thorvaldssen a young man ((for ruling nobility)) who's considered absent minded and has no time for any world beyond his own. Though he is an artist he isn't considered a master by any means as he had to leave his art studies at the Garðaríki Imperial University to rule Súrsdalar after the unexpected death of his father Þjóðarr Thorvaldssen. Eþon is considered the most eligible bachelor in Garðaríki as well.
Led by Eþon Thorvaldssen
House Csolt:
In 1046 several Hungarian Pagans revolted against the Venetian Catholic King Peter Orseolo of Hungary. The revolution failed but the rebels were invited to settle in Garðarík by Jarizleifr Valdamarsen Rurikid along the Volga River which was only loosely controlled by Garðaríki at the time. In return the Hungarians or Magyar as the rebels prefered would help defend Garðaríki against invading nomadic peoples like the Khazars and Tatars as well as acknowledging the Rurikids as God Kings. These Volga Magyars diverged greatly from their Catholic Hungarian Counterparts and even enjoyed independence and self rule during the Princedom Period and were often chosen to be rulers in the region by the Mongols during the Tatar Yoke. Though they did join the rebellion against the Mongols when the Golden Horde began selling pagan slaves in the masses to the Ottoman and other Islamic Empires. They also willingly joined the Garðaríki Empire in exchange for keeping some self rule over their lands that had expanded well beyond the land offered to their ancestors by Jarizleifr Valdamarsen Rurikid. The ruling dynasty of those old Hungarian Pagan Rebels, house Csolt had lost and then regained their lordship over the Volga Magyars during the Princedom Period and Tatar Yoke. The house is now headed by Attila IV Csolt a powerful man who rules with an iron fist over his territory.
Led by Attila IV Csolt
House Gediminaičiai
Lithuania shared it's aversion to Christianity with Garðaríki ((in our own timeline it was the last holdout of Paganism within Europe)) and in the 1200’s when the German Catholic Teutonic Knights came to conquer and convert the Lithuanians and Garðaríki fought side by side to hold them back. Despite this the crusaders did still gain a foothold within the region leading to creation of Prussia and “Modern” Prussian Culture. Despite Garðaríki and the Lithuanians having in previous eras been enemies who often carried out wars and wars on each other. However with the onset of crusaders and Mongols into the region the two cultures began an agreement of mutual defense. Lithuania and the Garðaríki Princedoms during the Pre Imperial Period kept this mutually defensive relationship which culminated naturally in the formation of the Garðaríki Empire in which Lithuania joined on good terms retaining the most autonomy out of any Garðaríki vassal. The house is currently headed by Mantas II Gediminaičiai a brave man currently lionized by his people for his willingness to lead troops against the invading Austro-Prussian Forces which have devastated his land.
Led by Mantas II Gediminaičiai
House Vernydub
Descendants of Ivan Vernydub a Cossack warrior who helped the Rurikid-Holmgarðr family reclaim Garðaríki during the time of troubles and was given control of Tsaritsyn ((Vologograd)) and the surrounding area. Since house Vernydub is the only slave major noble house in Garðaríki, Garðaríki Slavs from across the empire flocked to the region as means of escaping neglect or occasional persecution from the Nordic Garðaríki populace and nobility the land becoming a free haven of Slavic Culture, Religion, and identity in the Nordic dominated Garðaríki Empire. The house is currently headed by Ivan V Vernydub a known mystic and magician who's dedicated his life to anything “arcane” and fanciful even at the cost of his own responsibilities which has reinforced the fervor of all Slavic Separatists within Garðaríki.
Led by Ivan V Vernydub
Shirogane Clan
A Garðaríki and Japanese mixed ancestry Clan who control land between the Uesugi in the South and Nanbu in North around the modern Akita Prefecture. Descendants of Baijin Merchants from China as well as Garðaríki pirates and their Japanese victims who through some political bets have gained a minor piece of land as to not grow too powerful like the Baijin in China. They usually deal in fur trading with the Ainu and raising livestock as well. The Clan is currently led by Shirogane Yūri who is known as a suck up to the Shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi.
Led by Shirogane Yūri
Intellectuals:
Alþingi Society
The Garðaríki Nordic face of anarchist philosophy the Alþingi Society are a group of intellectuals inspired by medieval Iceland and its anarcho-capitalist system of governance. The Society was founded by Slóði Helgissen one of many history teachers at the Garðaríki Imperial University in Holmgarðr specifically teaching in Western Norse History such as the Viking Age in the British Isles as well as the settlement in Iceland and Greenland. It was Slóði’s expertise in Icelandic History as well as his secret readings of Western literature and philosophy that included modern anarchist writings that lead to the formation of the Alþingi Society named after the Alþing ((All Things)) gatherings of anarchist Iceland. The Alþingi Society meets in secret in Holmgarðr to discuss philosophy mostly, only recently with Garðaríki’s disastrous Second Great Northern War has there been discussion on the actual overthrowing of the Garðaríki crown and church in order to actually create an anarcho-capitalist society.
Led by Professor Slóði Helgissen
Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood
A recent intellectual movement that has been rapidly gaining popularity amongst the Slavic commoners with the advent of the Second Great Northern War the Tuzemtsinik ((Native)) Brotherhood seeks to abolish the Garðaríki Empire and Church in order to establish and Anarcho-Socialist Society. While their philosophy is much younger and rooted in Western European ideas of anarchism than their Nordic Garðaríki counterparts the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood is still very much separate from Marxism or other left leaning movements having strong ties to old slavic ideas of conformity as well as heavy pagan ideals and themes. The Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood was founded by Borys Chumak a writer from Tsaritsyn currently residing in Kænugarðr for work writing an imperial approved Garðaríki Slavic Language Newspaper called The Impersʹka Chytanka ((Imperial Reader)). It was when an at the time young Borys first came to Kænugarðr and saw the living conditions of the average slavic family being greatly lower than the average Garðaríki Nordic family that put the first revolutionary ideas in his head. At first he joined the Vіtčizna Movement and supported the statist republican cause but as he got older and introduced to Western Anarchist Philosophy that he broke away and formed the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood taking many of the former Republicans with him. Now not only does he still make a living barely skirting the lines of the imperial sensors still writing for the Impersʹka Chytanka, but he heads the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood and writes a secret newspaper called Volya Svaroha ((Svarog's Will)) full of all the revolutionary and critical ideas he wants to write about.
Led by Borys Chumak
Chóngshēng Movement
When the Orientalization Movement began to fade with the ascension of Kjarr Asviðr III to the Garðaríki Throne not all were happy about said development. One person unhappy with the most influence at the time was Sigfrøðr Trúvorssen, a famous painter who built his reputation and fortune on painting and many other arts in Chinese styles. While Sigfrøðr Trúvorssen died of liver failure his daughter Alfwind Trúvorssen a talented painter some say surpasses the skill of her late father continues to stand against the new Nordic Revival movement with a legion of other artists from painters, tailors, musicians, and architects, to masons, blacksmiths, and jewelers. The Chóngshēng Movement serves a sort of guild providing a network of buyers and suppliers in exchange for monetary, political, and influence support.
Led by Alfwind Trúvorssen
Bái Wǔshì Movement
A new art movement within the new Daming Dynasty of China emulating not classical Chinese styles or Garðaríki Orientalization. Instead they seek to emulate the new Garðaríki Nordic Revival Movement’s old Norse Viking stylings. The Bái Wǔshì Movement is figureheaded by all around artist Feng Shi residing in Beijing, Who has successfully marketed his new style both to Daming nobility and the Báijīn Clans, gaining him a fortune seemingly overnight. With this shake and bake success comes influence and Feng Shi has gained near total control over the movement itself and anyone who isn't approved by Feng Shi himself either for their own artistic differences or Feng Shi’s personal reasons is ostracized and effectively banned from the movement if not arrested by Daming police sometimes.
Led by Feng Shi
þróunarhugsun Society
With the recent publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and the Theory of Evolution being introduced to the wider world the necessity and validity of religion as whole was thrown into question, even within the deeply and fundamentally religious society of Garðaríki. An atheist society even being formed by professor Fróði Troelssen the natural history professor at the Garðaríki Imperial University in Holmgarðr. The man has been very public with his views especially among his students which has thrown his employment with the university into question within the Garðaríki royal court. However, because of the pressing matter of the Second Great Northern War as well as Fróði’s long standing reputation among Garðaríki academics has led to discussion of his termination to be sidelined. The þróunarhugsun Society is mostly made up of Imperial University students, staff, and some graduates all of whom meet once a month at the University to discuss theories and ideas.
Led by Fróði Troelssen
Military:
41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
While not a particularly significant amount a good number of Garðaríki citizens have immigrated to the United States mostly as a means of avoiding conscription for the Second Great Northern War. Being pagan and not particularly well liked in the US most immigrants, the bulk of whom being Garðaríki Slavic have settled in the desolate New Jersey Pine Barons forming a community. With the outbreak of the American Civil War many Garðaríki Americans have found themselves called to another war in their new home, though many saw this a means of proving the merit of pagan Garðaríki Americans to the rest of the country and as a means of improving their reputation. Thus the 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed being made up of almost exclusively pagan Garðaríki Americans mostly for linguistic reasons. The Regiment is lead by Acting Colonel Ivan Vovkodav a former Don Cossack who immigrated to the US with his wife and 3 children 10 years ago and was chosen as the man with the most combat and leadership experience among the Garðaríki Americans. The 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment mostly specializes in counter guerilla warfare being currently deployed in Northwest Virginia.
Led by Acting Colonel Ivan Vovkodav
40th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
A large amount of Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish refugees fleeing the brutal Garðaríki occupation of Scandinavia found themselves immigrating to southern Appalachia in the United States of America forming multiple communities that integrated well within Southern Society and Culture. With the outbreak of the American Civil War several of these immigrants but mostly second generation Scandinavian Americans found themselves called to the Southern Cause of independence. While the bulk of these Scandinavian Americans saw to sit out the war in their rural mountain communities many others saw to enlist especially when hearing rumors of a Union Garðaríki Pagan Regiment and wanted revenge for the occupation of Scandinavia. The Regiment is lead by Colonel Gabriel Anderberg a Swedish immigrant who served as a Colonel in the defeated Swedish Army during the early days the of the Second Great Northern War who fled with his family to North Carolina where he enlisted in the military again. The 40th North Carolina Infantry Regiment is currently deployed in Southern Virginia eager to engage their enemy the 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Led by Colonel Gabriel Anderberg
1st Ersheg Cavalry Regiment
The elite Magyar Cavalry that serve the Garðaríki empire. While the Nordic Garðaríki and Cossacks are very talented horsemen in their own right the Volga Magyar within the empire are by and large considered second to none. With their own nomadic horseback history as well as their prominence in the elite of the Tatar Yoke the Volga Magyar have had centuries to refine their horse riding skills and the Ersheg named from the Mongol Keshig is considered the pinnacle of that refinement. Armed with sabres and metal cartridge based Cavalry Rifles they are amongst some of the most well equipped in the Garðaríki Army as well. Currently the 1st Ersheg Cavalry is led by Colonel Béla Csolt III a distant cousin to chief of House Csolt Atilla IV. A surprisingly humble man that has a strong rivalry with his distant cousin. Currently the 1st Ersheg Cavalry Regiment is fighting in Western Garðaríki against the Austrians, Polish, and their Hungarian Cousins.
Led by Colonel Béla Csolt III
3rd Aldeigjuborg Infantry Regiment
Nicknamed the Warriors of Mjolnir for their long standing history excellence in combat and frequent achievements resulting in numerous decorations. Originally an army for the House of Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg meant to fight Finnish and Karelian tribes in the early days of Garðaríki before the Princedom Period this early hardship proved a crucible for martial greatness. General Ødholf Harraldssen as a young man started his illustrious military career in the ranks of the 3rd Aldeigjuborg Infantry Regiment before he was gradually promoted to the rank of General, one of the first Generals in Garðaríki not to be part of a major noble house, though he is from minor nobility in Aldeigjuborg. Currently the Regiment is led by Colonel Libbe Karnssen, an ambitious man eager to prove himself worthy of his predecessor Ødholf Harraldssen at the increasing apathy and hatred of his men who they see as being reckless and going to get everyone killed.
Led by Colonel Libbe Karnssen
1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment
There are fighting regiments made up of women from all across the Garðaríki Empire though by far the most prominent in the Nordic parts of the empire. However those women who particularly distinguish themselves on the field of battle to join the elite Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiments and amongst those who prove themselves even further may join the 1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment. Made up of the strongest and most deadly women in Garðaríki specialty trained in covert operations like night time bushes behind enemy lines, select assassinations, supply raids, supply line disruptions, and other skillful operations. Currently the 1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment is deployed in Finland and Scandinavia where a few claim they are one of the major reasons the English Forces occupying Scandinavia haven't been able to advance and attack the Garðaríki capital Holmgarðr. The Regiment is currently led by Colonel Ragnhild Asmus, a bear of a woman from Kænugarðr, brawny and rough hewn some say she resembles a man more than a woman.
Led by Colonel Ragnhild Asmus
The Khalsa Volunteers
Sikh Mercenaries from Khalistan in Northwestern India, a Sikh Nation that gained independence from the British Empire with a joint invasion from Garðaríki and the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. Ever since their independence Khalistan and Garðaríki have maintained a positive relationship. When the Second Great Northern War broke Khalistan lent Mercenaries to Garðaríki to help bolster their forces usually guarding supply routes and scouting. When Great Britain declared war on Garðaríki vengeful warriors from Khalistan who wanted revenge for the British invading and destroying the Sikh Empire flooded to "support Garðaríki". These Khalsa Volunteers who've named themselves in honor of the Sikh Khasala Army now fight amongst the front lines as "independent" mercenaries as a means of not drawing British ire on Khalistan itself but still giving the British what for. The Khalsa Volunteers is headed by Sardar Anveer Paintal, a prominent Sikh Warrior who has served in Garðaríki since the very beginning of the Second Great Northern War.
Led by Sardar Anveer Paintal
1st Dreka Afl Regiment
Volunteer fighters from all across the Daming Dynasty many of whom are forces paid by the Baijin Clans in order to protect their interests and trade deals in Garðaríki. Han, Tibetans, Manchu, Mongols, and whoever else could be rounded up for mercenary work has been formed into a mixed Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery Regiment though they have only recently crossed Siberia and have joined the front lines helping to hold back the Austrians. The Dreka Afl or Dragon Force is led by Acting Colonel Ding Chao a former Shaolin Monk who had worked within the Baijin Clans for years first as a bodyguard and then as head of their guard.
Led by Acting Colonel Ding Chao
[Revolutionaries:]
The Order of St. Bridget
For as long as Garðaríki has occupied Christian Scandinavia there has been armed resistance. The most power and religious face of the resistance though has been The Order of St. Bridget, named after the patron saint of Sweden. The Order of St Bridget was founded by a Swedish Catholic Priest named David Bergqvist who died of pneumonia before English Forces could give The Order the aid they needed to actually push back the Garðaríki. After David’s death The Order was taken over by Frank Oström as Grand Master, remodeling the order in the likeness of the crusaders of old. With the bulk of the Garðaríki out of Christian Scandinavia The Order has turned their attention to local rebels and guerilla fighters as well a bold faced eradication of any pagan remnants within Christian Scandinavia. This mostly involves fighting the Úlfar Óðins in a slow back and forth war of attrition the Order of St Bridget so far seems to have the upper hand in.
Led by Grand Master Frank Oström
Úlfar Óðins
Not all in formerly Christian Scandinavia resented the Garðaríki Occupation, asides from Garðaríki Settlers themselves there were many Swedish, Norwegians, and Danish people who gladly converted to Garðaríki Paganism and welcomed the empire with open arms seeing it as a liberating force from weak states that had little to no sway on the world stage anymore. When English Forces liberated formerly Christian Scandinavia from Garðaríki control the Úlfar Óðins ((Wolves of Odin)) formed to fight tooth and nail against them as well as Christian Scandinavian rebels such as the Order of St Bridget with their end goal either being reunification under Garðaríki or the formation of the new pagan Scandinavian state. The resistance is headed by Olaf Thoreson a charismatic Norwegian man who found happiness becoming a pagan Gothi after the Garðaríki Occupation of Norway. With his overflowing charisma and charm he boldy leads the Úlfar Óðins with the aid of several military advisors many of which are Garðaríki.
Led by Olaf Thoreson
Krieger der Eiche
There was within the German Confederation an extremely small political minority that thought to unify German not under Prussia, Austria, or some new state, but under the Garðaríki empire being seen as the strongest political power within Eastern Europe. This sentiment expanded somewhat with the Pan-Nordic and Nordic Revival Movements as well Garðaríki claim on Schleswig-Holstein. The movement grew more again when Garðaríki trounced the German Confederation military and held its own against the what was seen as the unstoppable industrial juggernaut of Prussia. During the brief Garðaríki Occupation of parts of Germany especially Saxony most all who held the above mentioned political beliefs eagerly joined Garðaríki forces and were given positions of power within said occupied lands. When Austro-Prussian forces took began to take back German lands those given power within the Garðaríki Occupation quickly resisted and now have been forced into bitter guerilla resistance. The name Krieger der Eiche translating into Warriors of the Oak named in honor of Donar’s Oak which was cut down by Saint Boniface before the Frankish massacre of the pagan Saxons led by Charlemagne. The Warriors of the Oak is led by the former Garðaríki appointed mayor of Berlin Hermann Odon who claims to be the sole living descendant of Widukind the last pagan leader of the Saxons who fought Charlemagne.
Led by Hermann Odon
Clergy:
Quánxīnquányì Sect
Translating to Wholehearted Buddhism this sect is focused on building inner strength though charity, empathy, and pacifistic martial arts. It's a synchronization between Shaolin Chan Buddhism and Garðaríki Paganism as an attempt to reform the militaristic Garðaríki "barbarians". While Buddhism isn't outlawed in Garðaríki like the Abrahamic religions it's still looked down upon as a weak religion with weak followers. The sect was created by Wong Ching, a former Shaolin Monk who came to live in Drekaströnd in 1790 and found the Garðaríki understanding of Buddhism unacceptable. Seen as a bodhisattva by his followers the Quánxīnquányì Sect grew through their efforts and began to spread throughout Garðaríki even if it's still slow and unpopular. Now the Sect is led by Laozi Pak Da out of the small Sanhoi ((new coast)) Temple outside Drekaströnd. There they teach Northern Style Shaolin Martial Arts as a means of attracting Garðaríki into the temple where if they want to learn they have to listen to Buddhist teachings, many upon learning that fact simply leave angry or frustrated.
Led by Laozi Pak Da
Jomsvikings
Now the predominant religious order of Garðaríki, the former staunchly pagan mercenaries came to serve and inhabit Garðaríki when Magnus I destroyed Jomsborg in 1043. At first they were just a simple military unit made up of accomplished veterans and later elite trained soldiers but as the years passed and the Garðaríki Church consolidated power in the region the Jomsvikings found a new purpose, the hunting down of Christians, Muslims, and Jews within Garðaríki. During the Princedom Period each of the individual Princedoms would independently contract the Jomsvikings to hunt Abrahamic Cults in their land, spreading their influence far and giving a large amount of power within the disunited Garðaríki. During the Tatar Yoke under the considerably more religiously tolerant Mongols the Jomsvikings had to act in secret to “preserve Garðaríki religious purity and identity” and during this period where they went from religious warrior for hire to something more akin to secret police. When the Tatar Yoke was broken and the Pre Imperial Period started their operations began in full force again and when the Garðaríki Empire formed the Jomsvikings were officially made the enforcers of both the Garðaríki Crown and the Temple. Currently they are headed by the elected “Jarl” Ødhin Þórirssen and were a key power in the Garðaríki Occupation of Scandinavia before it was taken by English Forces. Now the Jomsvikings that aren't fighting in the Second Great Northern War itself often as secret guerilla fighters are most concerned with traitors within the Garðaríki Military especially conscripts from Scandinavia. The Jomsvikings are both the elite assassins of the Garðaríki Crown and their gestapo stopping “problems” before they can grow or fester.
Led by “Jarl” Ødhin Þórirssen
The All Temple of America
With the immigration of a handful of Pagan Garðaríki into the nominally irreligious but still heavily Christian United States there was quickly moves to establish a new pagan temple within their new home separate from Garðaríki Imperialism to quell questions and fears to their loyalty. Thus the All Temple of America was established by High Volkhv Rostyslav Honchar, originally a poor Volkhv ((Slavic Pagan Priest)) from Tzernigoga who immigrated to the United States after the death of his wife and children from illness. There he saw the disarray his fellow Pagans were in from persecution by Christian Americans, Garðaríki conversions to Christianity in attempt to gain acceptance over actual religious beliefs, lack of pagan religious services, disunity amongst the different aspects of Garðaríki Paganism, etc. So Rostyslav gathered his fellow Volkhv, Gothi, Shamans, etc to create a new organized and centralized church in their new home to both better coordinate worship as well as platform to both Americans and the US Government to see the truth of their beliefs and gain a better understanding. That being said the church is still wildly unpopular both in Christian America and in the Garðaríki Homeland for rejection of Garðaríki Imperialism, the Rurikids, and the focus on Slavic Paganism above Nordic Paganism on account of Slavs making up the majority of Garðaríki Americans. The church is headed from an elaborate log building in the New Jersey Pine Barons in the middle of Several Garðaríki American settlements.
Led by High Volkhv Rostyslav Honchar
Economic:
Persson Group
Of the many problems plaguing Garðaríki right now some would argue the cause for most all of them is a lack of modern Industrialization. The most prevalent who hold this argument is the Persson Group formed by Johan Persson a Swedish Man who smelled opportunity when Garðaríki occupied Scandinavia and was heavily invested in the newly taken industry above having much of its own. So Johan pledged allegiance to Garðaríki and moved to Holmgarðr to found a new economic empire within Garðaríki. Johan also took with him a small legion of potential investors from all over Scandinavia as well as attracting investors amongst the nobility of Garðaríki to build a series of factories that could anything and everything from rifles and cartridges for the war, clothes for uniforms, to consumer goods like tools, clothing, and textiles. The few factories he has built has gained himself and his investors substantial wealth but the factories are infamous for dangerous and deplorable working conditions with extremely high casualty rates all for mediocre at best pay especially for women who are the most common workers in his factories on account of the war.
Led by Johan Persson
Báijīn Clans
With the intertwined relationship between Garðaríki and China for hundreds of years there's been a fair amount of admixture between the two empires. In China the pinnacle of this admixture can be seen with the Báijīn Clans, a group of Garðaríki descent but heavy genetic Chinese admixture as well as speaking predominantly Mandarin and adhering to Chinese culture and customs over old Garðaríki ones. The Báijīn Clans have made a fortune off of monopolizing the dealings between Garðaríki and China from trade, to diplomacy, to even migration between the two states all is lorded over by a Báijīn. Predominantly they live in the north especially in and around Beijing along with a lot of important coastal trade cities. The Báijīn right now are in a golden age of sorts as the current Daming Dynasty is ruled by a Báijīn who was given his position on account of being a distant cousin to the Garðaríki Kjarr. These cultural and familial ties have given the Báijīn Clans nearly unlimited influence and preference within the Daming Dynasty and a vast majority of the imperial court are Báijīn. This suddenly lordship both, economic, political, and literal lordship however has breed much resentment from the native Chinese towards the Báijīn.
No individual leader
Criminals:
Shchaslyvi Syny
To take from the rich and give to the poor is a story so often told but rarely true, the Shchaslyvi Syny are one of the rare rare occasions where said altruism is truthful. Even if said attacks are just as much if not more ethnically motivated than economic. The Shchaslyvi Syny are recently formed group of predominantly Slavic but also some Uralic and Tatart people in as well group of bandits who steal from the Nordic Garðaríki upper class and distribute the stolen goods amongst poor villages. The Shchaslyvi Syny formed in response by Vladyslav Kovalenko to the Second Great Northern War amongst many non Nordic Garðaríki angry so many were being sent to die in a war that only benefited the nobility. The Shchaslyvi Syny are most active in Tzernigoga, Kænugarðr, and Galich, all lands under control of the Rurikids and their sub families. So far they've evaded the law with ease and have quickly been elevated to folk heroes amongst the Slavic Garðaríki populace. Though amongst the Nordic Garðaríki they are traitors, thieves, and petty Vandals.
Led by Vladyslav Kovalenko
The Kuršiai Gang
Originally a Lithuanian band of privateers who patrolled the Balkans for Scandinavian, and German ships to raid who named themselves in honor of a medieval Baltic tribe of pirates. However with the occupation of Scandinavia and the English controlling Baltic Sea the privateers have been landed for years by this point. Rather than joining certain death in the Garðaríki Navy or joining the Garðaríki Army the privateers have turned their attention to their own community for a source of ill gotten income. Protection rackets, smuggling, extortion, prostitution, slavery and slave trading, loan sharking and other illegal activities have seen the Kuršiai go from privateers to the beginnings of organized crime. The Kuršiai Gang as it's been called is head by “captain” Kęstutis Lytvyn, who overthrew the last captain in a mutiny for suggesting the privateers join the Garðaríki Navy in lieu of possible privateering work. The man has a reputation of being totally psychopathic, without mercy or empathy, and being mean, selfish, and greedy to his core. The Kuršiai Gang only operates in coastal Lithuania for now.
Led by “captain” Kęstutis Lytvyn
The Dyrssen Band
Garðaríki has a history of raiding even longer than the history of the empire itself, the original Garðaríki being founded by vikings after all. While raiders are an ever present force in Garðaríki the way they operate has changed drastically over the years. The first raiders were simple ocean and ship bound Vikings pirating the Baltic and Black Seas and performing raids on coastal settlements with even Constantinople when it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire being subject to raids from the Garðaríki. These Viking style raids were the most common up until the Tatar Yoke and it's later breaking when raiders opted to swap ships and axes for horses and firearms adopting tactics more similar to the nomadic tatar raiders than the Vikings of old. When the Garðaríki Empire formed there came a slew of legislation on raiding when the crown taking up to ½ of the loot but these raiders would be supported and backed by the Garðaríki Empire itself akin to Privateers in the Caribbean. ((That's part of how they got around a lack of serfdom in this timeline)) During the golden age of Garðaríki Raiders 1500’s-1700’s the Mounted Garðaríki Raiders struck fear into Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and parts of East Asia ((like Korea)) far more than the Tatar and Mongol Raiders ever could. Though this practice has waned dramatically in the era of more advanced geopolitics i.e. recent times the 1800’s onwards they are still most prevalent in Central and East Asia. Of these horseback mounted, yurt living, nomadic, “Viking” gangs is The Dyrssen Band lead by Egil “Half-Turk” Dyrssen gaining that nickname for being the son of the previous Band Leader and his Tatar concubine ((being part Tatar being pretty common for this line of work)). A quiet and contemplative man who's in this line of work more because he was born into it and doesn't know any other life rather than the standard raider reason of strength, freedom, greed, etc. The Dyrssen Band is the current largest of the Garðaríki Official Raider Bands at 200+ members raiding into Central Asia places like Khiva, Bukhara, and Kazakh ((all modern Kazakhstan)) and well into Persia for Islamic, gold, silk, and especially spices.
Led by Egil “Half-Turk” Dyrssen
Úlfar Hafsins
Although many Garðaríki Raiders are Tatar esq mounted raiders there's still a place for true pirates in the official bandit system. While most pirates in the West are facing near impossible odds in regards to dealing with the British fleet in the Baltic Sea, on the East Coast ((and to a lesser degree the Black Sea)) Privateers still sail flying the Garðaríki Flag. One of the most feared crews from the Garðaríki City of Drekaströnd in Manchuria are the Úlfar Hafsins or Wolves of the Sea. A crew spread across three Sloops of War and the flagship a stolen Portuguese Frigate, the captain of this Fleet is Shi Valdamarrssen a half Chinese woman pirate the daughter of the Legendary Pirate Styrr Valdamarrssen who himself was the Grandson of a famous 18th century Garðaríki Poet who was the first mayor of Drekaströnd and a former horseback mounted raider Valdamarr Thorvaldssen. Little to say own natural talent and famous ancestry has made a regional superstar oftentimes being called the Queen of the Dragon Coast. The Úlfar Hafsins most often raid Korean, Japanese, and Spanish Phillipines ships with occasional coastal land raids every now and again.
Led by Captain Shi Valdamarrssen
[Nations:]
Mosarim Confederacy
By far the largest and most powerful of the Tatar Native American hybrid cultures the larger Mosarim Confederacy at its center is dominated by the Niyilmiw peoples of mixed Manchu and Plains Cree origin speaking a hybrid pidgin language. The Mosarim Confederacy was born from the earlier more economic Iron Confederation of: Cree, Plains Ojibwa, Assiniboine, Métis, and and even some western bound Haudenosaunee/ Iroquois. More specifically the Mosarim Confederacy formed when hybrid Niyilmiw people joined the Confederacy and their Okimakhan/ leader Aisin Gioro Kahkewistahaw Abahai the first born Okimakhan as opposed to being a direct Manchu refuge, not only told stories about the failed Qing Dynasty, Garðaríki’s wars and occupation of Manchuria, as well training the Confederation warrior in the Manchu Nomadic ways of war that Iron Confederacy began to shift from an economic alliance to a centralized militaristic Confederacy. While stories of Manchu oppression under Garðaríki are still present the Mosarim are currently in a pseudo alliance with the Garðaríki Empire as they are being paid with guns and cossack volunteers to raid British Canada of which their warpath has by and large been successful so far causing a lot of damage and chaos in the Canadian frontier.
Led by Okimakhan: Aisin Gioro Mukitou Sholontu
Hune Tribe
The Hune are a moderately sized tribe composed of a hybrid Mongol and Shoshone people. Being descendants of both the legendary Mongol Nomads and the Shoshone who were among the very first native Americans to tame and ride horses, the Hune are some of the greatest horse riders in the world second to none in the minds of many. Like many plains tribes the Hune are nomadic bison hunters as well known fur traders. While raids do still happen the Hune tend to avoid the practice in accordance to their Buddhist beliefs which make them stand out with other Native Americans or even the Mosarim to the North who have largely retained Manchu and Native shamanic beliefs. Currently the Hune are led by their Taikhani Pogan, who is debating joining the Mosarim Confederacy with the encroachment of American settlers even with it being slowed right now due to the American Civil War.
Led by Taikhani Pogan
Ičhášan Tribe
The Ičhášan are the Black Sheep of the Sioux/ Lakota people not just because they are another hybrid tribe of Siberian Tatars and Lakota peoples, but also for their Islamic beliefs and general hostility to all around them. This is not being helped by Islam's view of women in the eyes of a traditionally matriarchal peoples but the raids and slavery don't help either. The Ičhášan rather than being led by a chieftain have their leaders take the title of Emir like the Islamic Tatars of Bukhara whom some share ancestry with. Because of their general hostility to surrounding tribes and US settlers the Ičhášan have been largely relegated largely to the Badlands of modern South Dakota which has only made them more dependent on raiding for sustenance. The Ičhášan are currently led by Emir Muhammad Wichayazipa Woksape a radical Islamic fundamentalist who views the entire non-islamic world as his personal enemy of which many even in his tribe say may bring his people to ruin. Personally the man wants to carve out a new great North American Emirate if not a Sultanate Empire and bring the glory of his faith to all around whether they are willing or not.
Led by Emir: Muhammad Wichayazipa Woksape
(( This is part of my first post Garðaríki Saga: A Nordic Pagan Russia so go read that for context. These were originally the factions I made both for later use in any stories and to help entice people to make original characters.))
Commoners:
Frigg's Hope Society
Founded by Garðaríki war widows, the Frigg's Hope Society are one of the loudest and well known anti war protestors in all of Garðaríki. Founded by Alfwind Eriksdotter who's husband had died in far off Northern Germany in what she had seen as pointless extension war. When she confided in friends and family about her loss she had discovered that her situation was not an uncommon one in Garðaríki society. Thus she was inspired to form a gathering of her fellow widows to protest the war and talk young Garðaríki men eager for a chance into Valhalla out of willingly volunteering to fight. However with an increase in conscription rates and as enemy forces continue to march into native Garðaríki territory their cause has declined rapidly. With this decline many within the Frigg's Hope Society have transitioned from anti war activism to women's rights activism even despite Garðaríki already having afforded greater rights to it's women than many of its contemporaries. Led by Alfwind Eriksdotter
Bjarnarskóli
When Kjarr Hrœrekr I did his grand tour of Asia he brought back several martial artists to teach both himself and his court their various arts. When the Orientalization movement was in full force the martial arts slowly spread their way throughout Garðaríki first amongst the nobility and then slowly through the military and commoners. Eventually this gathering of foreign martial arts in a very martial warrior culture resulted in the creation of a new art, that being Bjarnarkló or Bear Claw with much of its foundation being the Northern Kung Fu Eagle Claw style. Other martial arts that influenced the gradual creation of Bjarnarkló include Shaui Jiao, as well as Nordic Glima, and HEMA techniques. This formed an extremely hard and physically oriented martial art focused around precision attacks to weak areas like the eyes, throats, tendons, joints, and nerves along with a strong basis in grappling and wrestling. It was this combination of more developed hand to hand techniques of Chinese martial arts paired with native Garðaríki martial arts that allowed the art to explode in popularity within the new Nordic Revival era. Among the most popular of the new Bjarnarkló schools is Bjarnarskóli headed by Sifu Dyr Biørnssen. Originally from Drekaströnd where the art originated from a multitude of sources Dyr Biørnssen managed to successfully read the writing on the wall with the Nordic Revival Movement and made the long and dangerous trip West to the Garðaríki capitals of Holmgarðr. There he established the first Bjarnarskóli School in the West and advertised it successfully as the new Garðaríki made martial art for the new age. This attracted a multitude of people, first commoners, but eventually nobility and especially military. Eventually with his first school he priced out most commoners but wanting to balance monetary gain and accessibility he'd have advanced students form their own school under the Bjarnarskóli name that he'd take a cut of the meager profits in exchange for supervision, guidance, and the acclaim of the Bjarnarskóli name. This system let Bjarnarkló in West spread like wildfire even being adopted as the martial art of choice of new modern Garðaríki military. This has lead to Sifu Dyr Biørnssen to becoming one of the most highly regarded and acclaimed martial artists in all of Garðaríki and being elevated from commoner to nobility with his suddenly amassed fortune. Though his reputation is not spotless in martial arts world, his system is often said to make under trained and not ready students into Sifu's leading their own schools incorrectly teaching whole classes of students.Led by Sifu Dyr Biørnssen
Vіtčizna Movement
For nearly as long as Garðaríki has existed there have been multiple failed attempts by the native slavs to break away and form their own independent state. First proposed tribal confederations, then princedoms, then kingdoms, and most recently republics, none of which have ever come to fruition. Now however is a peculiar time for the Vіtčizna ((fatherland)) movement as the old Napoleonic era veterans of the movement are dying off regularly. Now the movement is beginning to quarrel within itself as it's decided what direction the movement should head in. While many still argue for the old age of enlightenment, the American and French inspired Republic that won the support of the last couple generations. Now however some new generations are beginning to debate new ideas not even including more recent stateless movements. With the onset of the American Civil War and France having reverted back to an empire the discussion of an independent slavic state is moving away from republics. While now they are small in number there is a growing group of hyper nationalists influenced by western ideas of nationalism, industrialism, modern autocracy, and social darwinism. Other much smaller and less popular in pagan society ideologies include state Socialism and Communism, though many under the influence of Marxism and other more left leaning ideologies have distanced themselves from the Vіtčizna and joined the new Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood anarchist movement. Currently the largest and most powerful faction of the Vіtčizna the Republicans is headed by Myroslav Syromakha who is trying his hardest to tear support from the nationalists. Led by Mroslav Syromakha
Orange Turban Rebellion
A new rebellion stirring in Southeastern China in resistance to the Daming Dynasty which is seen as a Western Puppet that is selling out China. Founded by Kwok Aiguo a former silkworm farmer and silk producer from Guangdong, whose worms were wiped out by disease like many others across the world. Unlike many though the Báijīn Clans ((mixed Han Mandarin and Garðaríki clans of notable influence and economic power.)) were shown leniency on their taxes and even bailed out by the Empire and given new silk worms. Even though being predominantly from Northern China their silk production was a minor at best influence on their massive income and could have easily afforded the losses. Meanwhile several long standing traditional silk producers in Southern China have been taxed off their familial lands including Kwok Aiguo and his family. Luckily for Kwok Aiguo he had the option of teaching Tai Chi in the city of Canton/Guangzhou. It was only after he had started teaching that Kwok Aiguo had heard of the Báijīn bailouts as well as hearing a multitude of stories similar to his own. Using his past experience as the head of a major silk production operation and his new experience as a Sifu, Kwok Aiguo began to make plans to organize a rebellion against the corrupt DaMing Dynasty. Taking inspiration from history Kwok Aiguo opted to name his new rebellion the Orange Turban Rebellion in honor of the Red Turban Rebellion that overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and established the original Ming Dynasty, as well as Yellow Turban Rebellion that while failed did lead to the downfall of the Han Dynasty. Orange was chosen as the color of choice as it indicates change, adaptability, spontaneity, and strengthens concentration, as one of the main goals of the Orange Turban Rebellion is to create a new modern and more adaptable China with something more akin to Constitutional Monarchy. Through secret meetings and debates in Cantonese these proto rebels meet and discuss plans, philosophy, and goals for the rebellion. Yet already there are disagreements within the faction, some argue to try and Ally themselves with Western Powers like Great Britain, the Dutch, and France as a means of gaining support to overthrow the DaMing and keep Garðaríki from invading afterwards. However with the new and growing Opium Wars especially on the streets of Canton/Guangzhou itself this would be seen as opening themselves up for colonization and trading one devil for another. Other plans exist such as the potential to not truly ally with any one foreign power and try to play them against each other, but for now all the rebellion is only talk. Led by Kwok Aiguo
Free Mǎnzhōu
With the Garðaríki invasion of and occupation of Manchuria at the behest of the Ming Dynasty there has always been major resistance from the Manchu. Resistance that has been put down by the Amur Cossack Sich created with the express purpose of strengthening Garðaríki’s control over its easternmost territories. This system of subjugation by the Garðaríki Crown and brutal enforcement by Cossacks has long led to many abuses to the Manchu people. With the exportation of the would be Qing Royal Dynasty, the Aisin Gioro clan a rallying force for the Manchu people are the Wanggiyan Clan who lead the earlier pre Mongol Jin Dynasty. Those Wanggiyanwho who survived the Mongol Empire’s persecution would eventually rally the Manchu people under Garðaríki subjugation. For years the selected heir of the Wanggiyan Clan would lead the rebellion against the Garðaríki Empire and hopefully some day become the new emperor of a free Mǎnzhōu Empire and perhaps even fulfill the ambitions of the Qing Dynasty and conquer China. Currently the Free Mǎnzhōu movement is lead by Wanggiyan Šolontu an ambitious man in his 30’s who was selected as heir to the Wanggiyan Clan over his older brother on account of his charm and influence.
Led by Wanggiyan Šolontu
The City of Svartfjall/ Mjihuru
Located in the Garðaríki controlled Western area of the Caucasus Mountains and initially built around an old Kuban Cossack fort. The city of Svartfjall ((meaning Black Mountain)) as it's known officially is a known haven for any non Abrahamic peoples seeking to escape the Arabic Slave Trade. Locally called Mjihuru ((free city in Swahili)) the bulk of the town’s population is made up of Zanj/ Swahili Bantu, Oromo, and Nilotic peoples with a population of 2,000+ though it's not impossible to find peoples more commonly associated with the Atlantic Slave Trade such as the Congolese or Yorubans but they are much less common. The city was established in 1789 on the agreement that those escaped slaves settled there would be willing to fight Islamic Highlanders like Chechens, Avars, and the Dagestani as well acknowledging the Rurikids as God Kings in their own native religions. The bulk of the town's production is cattle who's initial stock was raided from said Highland peoples, but now has a flourishing breeding population thanks to much of the people there having been nomadic or semi nomadic cattle herders before being captured and sold into slavery. The town is also home to small Garrison of Jomsvikings there to deflect or root out any Christian or Muslims seeking refuge within the town though they are known for being suspicious of the Oromo monotheistic religion of Waaqeffanna which isn't official banned by the Garðaríki Crown but is heavily advised to remain vigilant of simply due to it's monotheist nature. The appointed Mayor of the town is Machar Machar a Nilotic Dinka Man who's second generation Garðaríki born within the town and invited to attend the Imperial University in Holmgarðr by Kjarr Hróaldr I in 1836 as a young man both out of curiosity and to assure Garðaríki Imperial Interests are being upholded within the town. The man is considered a genius and speaks several languages including: Garðaríki Nordic, Garðaríki Slavic, Dinka Nilotic, Oromo, Swahili, Tatar, and Mandarin Chinese. As well as being an expert on nearly all approved religions within Garðaríki, a shaman to his own Dinka beliefs and is currently working on transcribing the various African beliefs and mythology both into writing and into the greater Garðaríki Mythos of all it's religions.
Led by Mayor Machar Machar
Higekiru
Meaning "to cut beard" they are predominantly made up of Matagi, Rōnin, and former Shinobi, they are professional pirate or viking hunters who specialize in guerilla warfare against Garðaríki raiders on the Japanese coast especially in Northern Japan. They are known as beard cutters as cutting out the braids from Garðaríki beards is how they present bounties and collect trophies. Well trained and self sufficient they pick off and harass any Garðaríki who try to establish camps or rest on Japanese shores as well helping to protect villages from raids. Because the Higekiru are made up of several small semi nomadic clans they don't have a single leader, instead each clan is led by its patriarch. No individual leader
Nobility:
[Garðaríki Noble Houses:]
Rurikid-Holmgarðr
The head house of the Rurikid Dynasty and those most eligible to become the Kjarr. Initially they were a sub-family that ruled the initial and now current capital of Garðaríki Holmgarðr (Novgorod) and gained power when the main family of Rurikid-Valdamarr went extinct in the 1500’s when Kjarr Ivar the Terrible killed his only son. The house and the entire Garðaríki empire is ruled by Kjarr Asviðr III. While all Rurikids are considered living gods in the Garðaríki religion the members of this house as head of the empire are considered especially divine.
Kjarr Asviðr III, art by me
Rurikid-Kænugarðr
The oldest and considered first sub-house of the Rurikid Dynasty they rule the lands in and around Kænugarðr ((Kiev)). They are also the second most powerful Rurikid House only falling behind Rurikid-Holmgarðr because of the latter’s firm grip on the Kjarr/ Emperor title of all Garðaríki. The house is headed by Alfrekr Rurikid-Kænugarðr II known for his lackadaisical attitude and interest towards art and philosophy over politics making him Kjarr Asviðr III’s favorite vassal and relative for perceived loyalty and trust in his Kjarr.
Led by Alfrekr Rurikid-Kænugarðr II
Rurikid-Tzernigoga
Rulers of the city of Tzernigoga ((Cherginov/Chernihiv)) and the surrounding lands as well as being another prominent sub-family of the Rurikid Dynasty. Most notably they are headed by a young woman, Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga after her father Roald Rurikid-Tzernigoga died without a living male heir. Thus his eldest daughter Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga was left as the ruler of Tzernigoga. This has lead to many scandalous rumors such as that she poisoned her father as well as her brother Roald III in order to steal a throne. A rumor that was ruled unfounded and heretical by Kjarr Asviðr III. For now Ragnhild is major socialite known for throwing several parties and gatherings trying to climb the social ladder, she is also considered the most eligible bachelorette in Garðaríki.
Led by Ragnhild Rurikid-Tzernigoga
Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg
Rulers of the city of Aldeigjuborg ((by lake Ladoga)) and much of Garðaríki Finland they have fallen on hard times due to the invasion of Garðaríki by Anglo-Austrian forces. What was once one of the most economically powerful Rurikid sub-familes has been pushed to the verge of bankruptcy as their forces are decimated and supply lines run thin. The head of the house Asgautr Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg has fallen ill from stress at the old age of 69 and his sons Asgautr II, Þrutan, and Liutr all battle in secret for their now meager inheritance. For now Asgautr stays in Holmgarðr away from the war while his sons share responsibility as his regent.
Led by Asgautr Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg
Rurikid-Galich
Rulers of the city of Valdamarr ((Volodymyr)) and the surrounding region Rurikid-Galich are the youngest Rurikid sub-family but also most closely related to the original imperial family of Garðaríki, Rurikid-Valdamarr. While still very powerful in Garðaríki as a whole compared to the other Rurikid sub-families they are small and weak. Though this is partially because house Rurikid-Holmgarðr purposely kept them weak as means weakening and delegitimizing a potential political opponent by refusing lordship over the city of Moskva ((Moscow though not nearly as large or important in this timeline)) instead selling the title to the non Rurikid Dynasty House Dýssen. This has lead to Rurikid-Galich resentment against the Kjarr’s since the selling of Moskva in 1630, however without a means of challenging the imperial family the Rurikid-Galich have turned their anger onto House Dýssen in a centuries long feud resulting in much political scheming, plotting, and other nefarious deeds. Currently the house is headed by Vilmundr Rurikid-Galich a man who by all means can only really be described as unremarkable.
Led by Vilmundr Rurikid-Galich
Rurikid-Valdamarr
The Extinct house of Valdamarr Rurikid who first United the Garðaríki Pagan spiritualities into a single religion and whose descendants became the first Kjarrs before dying off.
House Dýssen
Originally Dregoviches ((a union of Slavic tribes in modern Belarus)) when the Norsification of Garðaríki was going on many Dregovich chieftains were shown leniency on account of their rivalry with the Drevlians whose attempted assassination of Ingvarr Roriksen sparked the Great Eastern Invasion. While still forced to adopt Norse Culture and Religion many still held their old lands and as such got a head start on gaining power in the new Norse Garðaríki. After centuries of cultivating power and influence this came to a head in 1630 where they offered a fortune to Kjarr Hrœrekr I to sell them the Lordship over the city of Moskva to which Kjarr Hrœrekr I agreed to undermine the power of house Rurikid-Galich who had claims to the city and the empire as a whole. This has led to an intimate centuries spanning rivalry with house Rurikid-Galich as the two battle for power and influence. The house is currently headed by Hærmodh Dýssen V and elderly man in peculiarly good health at 73 years old.
Led by Hærmodh Dýssen V
House Haraldssen:
Descendants of the legendary Erik Bloodaxe ((who in this timeline decided to cut his losses when he was deposed as king of Northumbria and settle huge tracts of lands in Garðaríki at the behest of Ingvarr Roriksen in the 900’s)) who control Vousegrade ((much of the lands between Kænugarðr and Holmgarðr along the Dnieper River)) Currently the house is headed by General Ødholf Harraldssen the main leader of the Garðaríki Forces in the Second Great Northern War. While he's a well educated and motivated leader he is widely regarded especially with Garðaríki’s recent losses as the lesser to the late General Odger Agessen and a man who got his position largely because of his family, background, and nepotism. Even in spite of his education at the Garðaríki Imperial University and earlier successes within the war.
General Ødholf Harraldssen art by me
House Röde:
Descendants of the famous Hakon The Red/ Hakon Röde/ Blot Sweyn a pagan in the 11th century who briefly held kingship over a small area of a largely Christian Sweden. Eventually through reasons still debated by historians he left Sweden for Garðaríki and was given lordship over Miliniska ((Smolensk)) and became another powerful Nordic House within Garðaríki who brought one of the last large migrations of people from Scandinavia to Garðaríki. The house is currently headed by Rǫgnvaldr Röde a man who praises himself on being an intellectual and is a frequent patron of the Garðaríki Imperial University both with liberal donations and in even being a guest speak to the classes of natural sciences as well as history classes.
Led by Rǫgnvaldr Röde
House Víðförli:
Descendants of Ingvar the Far Traveled who after his expedition to Georgia was offered a sizable track of land in Garðaríki that being the lordship of Palteskja ((polotsk)). Now the house is known for it's monopoly over Garðaríki ship production with shipyards expanding well beyond their Baltic Ports across most any Garðaríki controlled coast. Initially with the acquisition of the Scandinavian ships and shipyards, House Víðförli was predicted to lose a vast sum of money and influence. However with the loss of Garðaríki held Scandinavia and the destruction of the Garðaríki Fleet by the British, the Empire has been pouring boatloads of money into Víðförli shipyards in a misguided attempt to turn the tides of war and beat back the British. The house is currently headed by Ingvar III Víðförli a very greedy and shrewd man not well liked even by his own family.
Led by Ingvar III Víðförli
House Thorvaldssen:
Descendants of famous Erik the Red who left his Christian Wife and Child ((Leif Erikson)) in Greenland when his wife withheld affections for Erik at his refusal to convert to Christianity. For his accomplishments he was gifted a large amount of land in Garðaríki the lordship of Súrsdalar ((suzdal)). Erik remarried and made a new pagan family in Garðaríki. The house is currently headed by Eþon Thorvaldssen a young man ((for ruling nobility)) who's considered absent minded and has no time for any world beyond his own. Though he is an artist he isn't considered a master by any means as he had to leave his art studies at the Garðaríki Imperial University to rule Súrsdalar after the unexpected death of his father Þjóðarr Thorvaldssen. Eþon is considered the most eligible bachelor in Garðaríki as well.
Led by Eþon Thorvaldssen
House Csolt:
In 1046 several Hungarian Pagans revolted against the Venetian Catholic King Peter Orseolo of Hungary. The revolution failed but the rebels were invited to settle in Garðarík by Jarizleifr Valdamarsen Rurikid along the Volga River which was only loosely controlled by Garðaríki at the time. In return the Hungarians or Magyar as the rebels prefered would help defend Garðaríki against invading nomadic peoples like the Khazars and Tatars as well as acknowledging the Rurikids as God Kings. These Volga Magyars diverged greatly from their Catholic Hungarian Counterparts and even enjoyed independence and self rule during the Princedom Period and were often chosen to be rulers in the region by the Mongols during the Tatar Yoke. Though they did join the rebellion against the Mongols when the Golden Horde began selling pagan slaves in the masses to the Ottoman and other Islamic Empires. They also willingly joined the Garðaríki Empire in exchange for keeping some self rule over their lands that had expanded well beyond the land offered to their ancestors by Jarizleifr Valdamarsen Rurikid. The ruling dynasty of those old Hungarian Pagan Rebels, house Csolt had lost and then regained their lordship over the Volga Magyars during the Princedom Period and Tatar Yoke. The house is now headed by Attila IV Csolt a powerful man who rules with an iron fist over his territory.
Led by Attila IV Csolt
House Gediminaičiai
Lithuania shared it's aversion to Christianity with Garðaríki ((in our own timeline it was the last holdout of Paganism within Europe)) and in the 1200’s when the German Catholic Teutonic Knights came to conquer and convert the Lithuanians and Garðaríki fought side by side to hold them back. Despite this the crusaders did still gain a foothold within the region leading to creation of Prussia and “Modern” Prussian Culture. Despite Garðaríki and the Lithuanians having in previous eras been enemies who often carried out wars and wars on each other. However with the onset of crusaders and Mongols into the region the two cultures began an agreement of mutual defense. Lithuania and the Garðaríki Princedoms during the Pre Imperial Period kept this mutually defensive relationship which culminated naturally in the formation of the Garðaríki Empire in which Lithuania joined on good terms retaining the most autonomy out of any Garðaríki vassal. The house is currently headed by Mantas II Gediminaičiai a brave man currently lionized by his people for his willingness to lead troops against the invading Austro-Prussian Forces which have devastated his land.
Led by Mantas II Gediminaičiai
House Vernydub
Descendants of Ivan Vernydub a Cossack warrior who helped the Rurikid-Holmgarðr family reclaim Garðaríki during the time of troubles and was given control of Tsaritsyn ((Vologograd)) and the surrounding area. Since house Vernydub is the only slave major noble house in Garðaríki, Garðaríki Slavs from across the empire flocked to the region as means of escaping neglect or occasional persecution from the Nordic Garðaríki populace and nobility the land becoming a free haven of Slavic Culture, Religion, and identity in the Nordic dominated Garðaríki Empire. The house is currently headed by Ivan V Vernydub a known mystic and magician who's dedicated his life to anything “arcane” and fanciful even at the cost of his own responsibilities which has reinforced the fervor of all Slavic Separatists within Garðaríki.
Led by Ivan V Vernydub
Shirogane Clan
A Garðaríki and Japanese mixed ancestry Clan who control land between the Uesugi in the South and Nanbu in North around the modern Akita Prefecture. Descendants of Baijin Merchants from China as well as Garðaríki pirates and their Japanese victims who through some political bets have gained a minor piece of land as to not grow too powerful like the Baijin in China. They usually deal in fur trading with the Ainu and raising livestock as well. The Clan is currently led by Shirogane Yūri who is known as a suck up to the Shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi.
Led by Shirogane Yūri
Intellectuals:
Alþingi Society
The Garðaríki Nordic face of anarchist philosophy the Alþingi Society are a group of intellectuals inspired by medieval Iceland and its anarcho-capitalist system of governance. The Society was founded by Slóði Helgissen one of many history teachers at the Garðaríki Imperial University in Holmgarðr specifically teaching in Western Norse History such as the Viking Age in the British Isles as well as the settlement in Iceland and Greenland. It was Slóði’s expertise in Icelandic History as well as his secret readings of Western literature and philosophy that included modern anarchist writings that lead to the formation of the Alþingi Society named after the Alþing ((All Things)) gatherings of anarchist Iceland. The Alþingi Society meets in secret in Holmgarðr to discuss philosophy mostly, only recently with Garðaríki’s disastrous Second Great Northern War has there been discussion on the actual overthrowing of the Garðaríki crown and church in order to actually create an anarcho-capitalist society.
Led by Professor Slóði Helgissen
Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood
A recent intellectual movement that has been rapidly gaining popularity amongst the Slavic commoners with the advent of the Second Great Northern War the Tuzemtsinik ((Native)) Brotherhood seeks to abolish the Garðaríki Empire and Church in order to establish and Anarcho-Socialist Society. While their philosophy is much younger and rooted in Western European ideas of anarchism than their Nordic Garðaríki counterparts the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood is still very much separate from Marxism or other left leaning movements having strong ties to old slavic ideas of conformity as well as heavy pagan ideals and themes. The Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood was founded by Borys Chumak a writer from Tsaritsyn currently residing in Kænugarðr for work writing an imperial approved Garðaríki Slavic Language Newspaper called The Impersʹka Chytanka ((Imperial Reader)). It was when an at the time young Borys first came to Kænugarðr and saw the living conditions of the average slavic family being greatly lower than the average Garðaríki Nordic family that put the first revolutionary ideas in his head. At first he joined the Vіtčizna Movement and supported the statist republican cause but as he got older and introduced to Western Anarchist Philosophy that he broke away and formed the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood taking many of the former Republicans with him. Now not only does he still make a living barely skirting the lines of the imperial sensors still writing for the Impersʹka Chytanka, but he heads the Tuzemtsinik Brotherhood and writes a secret newspaper called Volya Svaroha ((Svarog's Will)) full of all the revolutionary and critical ideas he wants to write about.
Led by Borys Chumak
Chóngshēng Movement
When the Orientalization Movement began to fade with the ascension of Kjarr Asviðr III to the Garðaríki Throne not all were happy about said development. One person unhappy with the most influence at the time was Sigfrøðr Trúvorssen, a famous painter who built his reputation and fortune on painting and many other arts in Chinese styles. While Sigfrøðr Trúvorssen died of liver failure his daughter Alfwind Trúvorssen a talented painter some say surpasses the skill of her late father continues to stand against the new Nordic Revival movement with a legion of other artists from painters, tailors, musicians, and architects, to masons, blacksmiths, and jewelers. The Chóngshēng Movement serves a sort of guild providing a network of buyers and suppliers in exchange for monetary, political, and influence support.
Led by Alfwind Trúvorssen
Bái Wǔshì Movement
A new art movement within the new Daming Dynasty of China emulating not classical Chinese styles or Garðaríki Orientalization. Instead they seek to emulate the new Garðaríki Nordic Revival Movement’s old Norse Viking stylings. The Bái Wǔshì Movement is figureheaded by all around artist Feng Shi residing in Beijing, Who has successfully marketed his new style both to Daming nobility and the Báijīn Clans, gaining him a fortune seemingly overnight. With this shake and bake success comes influence and Feng Shi has gained near total control over the movement itself and anyone who isn't approved by Feng Shi himself either for their own artistic differences or Feng Shi’s personal reasons is ostracized and effectively banned from the movement if not arrested by Daming police sometimes.
Led by Feng Shi
þróunarhugsun Society
With the recent publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and the Theory of Evolution being introduced to the wider world the necessity and validity of religion as whole was thrown into question, even within the deeply and fundamentally religious society of Garðaríki. An atheist society even being formed by professor Fróði Troelssen the natural history professor at the Garðaríki Imperial University in Holmgarðr. The man has been very public with his views especially among his students which has thrown his employment with the university into question within the Garðaríki royal court. However, because of the pressing matter of the Second Great Northern War as well as Fróði’s long standing reputation among Garðaríki academics has led to discussion of his termination to be sidelined. The þróunarhugsun Society is mostly made up of Imperial University students, staff, and some graduates all of whom meet once a month at the University to discuss theories and ideas.
Led by Fróði Troelssen
Military:
41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
While not a particularly significant amount a good number of Garðaríki citizens have immigrated to the United States mostly as a means of avoiding conscription for the Second Great Northern War. Being pagan and not particularly well liked in the US most immigrants, the bulk of whom being Garðaríki Slavic have settled in the desolate New Jersey Pine Barons forming a community. With the outbreak of the American Civil War many Garðaríki Americans have found themselves called to another war in their new home, though many saw this a means of proving the merit of pagan Garðaríki Americans to the rest of the country and as a means of improving their reputation. Thus the 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed being made up of almost exclusively pagan Garðaríki Americans mostly for linguistic reasons. The Regiment is lead by Acting Colonel Ivan Vovkodav a former Don Cossack who immigrated to the US with his wife and 3 children 10 years ago and was chosen as the man with the most combat and leadership experience among the Garðaríki Americans. The 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment mostly specializes in counter guerilla warfare being currently deployed in Northwest Virginia.
Led by Acting Colonel Ivan Vovkodav
40th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
A large amount of Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish refugees fleeing the brutal Garðaríki occupation of Scandinavia found themselves immigrating to southern Appalachia in the United States of America forming multiple communities that integrated well within Southern Society and Culture. With the outbreak of the American Civil War several of these immigrants but mostly second generation Scandinavian Americans found themselves called to the Southern Cause of independence. While the bulk of these Scandinavian Americans saw to sit out the war in their rural mountain communities many others saw to enlist especially when hearing rumors of a Union Garðaríki Pagan Regiment and wanted revenge for the occupation of Scandinavia. The Regiment is lead by Colonel Gabriel Anderberg a Swedish immigrant who served as a Colonel in the defeated Swedish Army during the early days the of the Second Great Northern War who fled with his family to North Carolina where he enlisted in the military again. The 40th North Carolina Infantry Regiment is currently deployed in Southern Virginia eager to engage their enemy the 41st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Led by Colonel Gabriel Anderberg
1st Ersheg Cavalry Regiment
The elite Magyar Cavalry that serve the Garðaríki empire. While the Nordic Garðaríki and Cossacks are very talented horsemen in their own right the Volga Magyar within the empire are by and large considered second to none. With their own nomadic horseback history as well as their prominence in the elite of the Tatar Yoke the Volga Magyar have had centuries to refine their horse riding skills and the Ersheg named from the Mongol Keshig is considered the pinnacle of that refinement. Armed with sabres and metal cartridge based Cavalry Rifles they are amongst some of the most well equipped in the Garðaríki Army as well. Currently the 1st Ersheg Cavalry is led by Colonel Béla Csolt III a distant cousin to chief of House Csolt Atilla IV. A surprisingly humble man that has a strong rivalry with his distant cousin. Currently the 1st Ersheg Cavalry Regiment is fighting in Western Garðaríki against the Austrians, Polish, and their Hungarian Cousins.
Led by Colonel Béla Csolt III
3rd Aldeigjuborg Infantry Regiment
Nicknamed the Warriors of Mjolnir for their long standing history excellence in combat and frequent achievements resulting in numerous decorations. Originally an army for the House of Rurikid-Aldeigjuborg meant to fight Finnish and Karelian tribes in the early days of Garðaríki before the Princedom Period this early hardship proved a crucible for martial greatness. General Ødholf Harraldssen as a young man started his illustrious military career in the ranks of the 3rd Aldeigjuborg Infantry Regiment before he was gradually promoted to the rank of General, one of the first Generals in Garðaríki not to be part of a major noble house, though he is from minor nobility in Aldeigjuborg. Currently the Regiment is led by Colonel Libbe Karnssen, an ambitious man eager to prove himself worthy of his predecessor Ødholf Harraldssen at the increasing apathy and hatred of his men who they see as being reckless and going to get everyone killed.
Led by Colonel Libbe Karnssen
1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment
There are fighting regiments made up of women from all across the Garðaríki Empire though by far the most prominent in the Nordic parts of the empire. However those women who particularly distinguish themselves on the field of battle to join the elite Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiments and amongst those who prove themselves even further may join the 1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment. Made up of the strongest and most deadly women in Garðaríki specialty trained in covert operations like night time bushes behind enemy lines, select assassinations, supply raids, supply line disruptions, and other skillful operations. Currently the 1st Holmgarðr Shield Maiden Regiment is deployed in Finland and Scandinavia where a few claim they are one of the major reasons the English Forces occupying Scandinavia haven't been able to advance and attack the Garðaríki capital Holmgarðr. The Regiment is currently led by Colonel Ragnhild Asmus, a bear of a woman from Kænugarðr, brawny and rough hewn some say she resembles a man more than a woman.
Led by Colonel Ragnhild Asmus
The Khalsa Volunteers
Sikh Mercenaries from Khalistan in Northwestern India, a Sikh Nation that gained independence from the British Empire with a joint invasion from Garðaríki and the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. Ever since their independence Khalistan and Garðaríki have maintained a positive relationship. When the Second Great Northern War broke Khalistan lent Mercenaries to Garðaríki to help bolster their forces usually guarding supply routes and scouting. When Great Britain declared war on Garðaríki vengeful warriors from Khalistan who wanted revenge for the British invading and destroying the Sikh Empire flooded to "support Garðaríki". These Khalsa Volunteers who've named themselves in honor of the Sikh Khasala Army now fight amongst the front lines as "independent" mercenaries as a means of not drawing British ire on Khalistan itself but still giving the British what for. The Khalsa Volunteers is headed by Sardar Anveer Paintal, a prominent Sikh Warrior who has served in Garðaríki since the very beginning of the Second Great Northern War.
Led by Sardar Anveer Paintal
1st Dreka Afl Regiment
Volunteer fighters from all across the Daming Dynasty many of whom are forces paid by the Baijin Clans in order to protect their interests and trade deals in Garðaríki. Han, Tibetans, Manchu, Mongols, and whoever else could be rounded up for mercenary work has been formed into a mixed Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery Regiment though they have only recently crossed Siberia and have joined the front lines helping to hold back the Austrians. The Dreka Afl or Dragon Force is led by Acting Colonel Ding Chao a former Shaolin Monk who had worked within the Baijin Clans for years first as a bodyguard and then as head of their guard.
Led by Acting Colonel Ding Chao
[Revolutionaries:]
The Order of St. Bridget
For as long as Garðaríki has occupied Christian Scandinavia there has been armed resistance. The most power and religious face of the resistance though has been The Order of St. Bridget, named after the patron saint of Sweden. The Order of St Bridget was founded by a Swedish Catholic Priest named David Bergqvist who died of pneumonia before English Forces could give The Order the aid they needed to actually push back the Garðaríki. After David’s death The Order was taken over by Frank Oström as Grand Master, remodeling the order in the likeness of the crusaders of old. With the bulk of the Garðaríki out of Christian Scandinavia The Order has turned their attention to local rebels and guerilla fighters as well a bold faced eradication of any pagan remnants within Christian Scandinavia. This mostly involves fighting the Úlfar Óðins in a slow back and forth war of attrition the Order of St Bridget so far seems to have the upper hand in.
Led by Grand Master Frank Oström
Úlfar Óðins
Not all in formerly Christian Scandinavia resented the Garðaríki Occupation, asides from Garðaríki Settlers themselves there were many Swedish, Norwegians, and Danish people who gladly converted to Garðaríki Paganism and welcomed the empire with open arms seeing it as a liberating force from weak states that had little to no sway on the world stage anymore. When English Forces liberated formerly Christian Scandinavia from Garðaríki control the Úlfar Óðins ((Wolves of Odin)) formed to fight tooth and nail against them as well as Christian Scandinavian rebels such as the Order of St Bridget with their end goal either being reunification under Garðaríki or the formation of the new pagan Scandinavian state. The resistance is headed by Olaf Thoreson a charismatic Norwegian man who found happiness becoming a pagan Gothi after the Garðaríki Occupation of Norway. With his overflowing charisma and charm he boldy leads the Úlfar Óðins with the aid of several military advisors many of which are Garðaríki.
Led by Olaf Thoreson
Krieger der Eiche
There was within the German Confederation an extremely small political minority that thought to unify German not under Prussia, Austria, or some new state, but under the Garðaríki empire being seen as the strongest political power within Eastern Europe. This sentiment expanded somewhat with the Pan-Nordic and Nordic Revival Movements as well Garðaríki claim on Schleswig-Holstein. The movement grew more again when Garðaríki trounced the German Confederation military and held its own against the what was seen as the unstoppable industrial juggernaut of Prussia. During the brief Garðaríki Occupation of parts of Germany especially Saxony most all who held the above mentioned political beliefs eagerly joined Garðaríki forces and were given positions of power within said occupied lands. When Austro-Prussian forces took began to take back German lands those given power within the Garðaríki Occupation quickly resisted and now have been forced into bitter guerilla resistance. The name Krieger der Eiche translating into Warriors of the Oak named in honor of Donar’s Oak which was cut down by Saint Boniface before the Frankish massacre of the pagan Saxons led by Charlemagne. The Warriors of the Oak is led by the former Garðaríki appointed mayor of Berlin Hermann Odon who claims to be the sole living descendant of Widukind the last pagan leader of the Saxons who fought Charlemagne.
Led by Hermann Odon
Clergy:
Quánxīnquányì Sect
Translating to Wholehearted Buddhism this sect is focused on building inner strength though charity, empathy, and pacifistic martial arts. It's a synchronization between Shaolin Chan Buddhism and Garðaríki Paganism as an attempt to reform the militaristic Garðaríki "barbarians". While Buddhism isn't outlawed in Garðaríki like the Abrahamic religions it's still looked down upon as a weak religion with weak followers. The sect was created by Wong Ching, a former Shaolin Monk who came to live in Drekaströnd in 1790 and found the Garðaríki understanding of Buddhism unacceptable. Seen as a bodhisattva by his followers the Quánxīnquányì Sect grew through their efforts and began to spread throughout Garðaríki even if it's still slow and unpopular. Now the Sect is led by Laozi Pak Da out of the small Sanhoi ((new coast)) Temple outside Drekaströnd. There they teach Northern Style Shaolin Martial Arts as a means of attracting Garðaríki into the temple where if they want to learn they have to listen to Buddhist teachings, many upon learning that fact simply leave angry or frustrated.
Led by Laozi Pak Da
Jomsvikings
Now the predominant religious order of Garðaríki, the former staunchly pagan mercenaries came to serve and inhabit Garðaríki when Magnus I destroyed Jomsborg in 1043. At first they were just a simple military unit made up of accomplished veterans and later elite trained soldiers but as the years passed and the Garðaríki Church consolidated power in the region the Jomsvikings found a new purpose, the hunting down of Christians, Muslims, and Jews within Garðaríki. During the Princedom Period each of the individual Princedoms would independently contract the Jomsvikings to hunt Abrahamic Cults in their land, spreading their influence far and giving a large amount of power within the disunited Garðaríki. During the Tatar Yoke under the considerably more religiously tolerant Mongols the Jomsvikings had to act in secret to “preserve Garðaríki religious purity and identity” and during this period where they went from religious warrior for hire to something more akin to secret police. When the Tatar Yoke was broken and the Pre Imperial Period started their operations began in full force again and when the Garðaríki Empire formed the Jomsvikings were officially made the enforcers of both the Garðaríki Crown and the Temple. Currently they are headed by the elected “Jarl” Ødhin Þórirssen and were a key power in the Garðaríki Occupation of Scandinavia before it was taken by English Forces. Now the Jomsvikings that aren't fighting in the Second Great Northern War itself often as secret guerilla fighters are most concerned with traitors within the Garðaríki Military especially conscripts from Scandinavia. The Jomsvikings are both the elite assassins of the Garðaríki Crown and their gestapo stopping “problems” before they can grow or fester.
Led by “Jarl” Ødhin Þórirssen
The All Temple of America
With the immigration of a handful of Pagan Garðaríki into the nominally irreligious but still heavily Christian United States there was quickly moves to establish a new pagan temple within their new home separate from Garðaríki Imperialism to quell questions and fears to their loyalty. Thus the All Temple of America was established by High Volkhv Rostyslav Honchar, originally a poor Volkhv ((Slavic Pagan Priest)) from Tzernigoga who immigrated to the United States after the death of his wife and children from illness. There he saw the disarray his fellow Pagans were in from persecution by Christian Americans, Garðaríki conversions to Christianity in attempt to gain acceptance over actual religious beliefs, lack of pagan religious services, disunity amongst the different aspects of Garðaríki Paganism, etc. So Rostyslav gathered his fellow Volkhv, Gothi, Shamans, etc to create a new organized and centralized church in their new home to both better coordinate worship as well as platform to both Americans and the US Government to see the truth of their beliefs and gain a better understanding. That being said the church is still wildly unpopular both in Christian America and in the Garðaríki Homeland for rejection of Garðaríki Imperialism, the Rurikids, and the focus on Slavic Paganism above Nordic Paganism on account of Slavs making up the majority of Garðaríki Americans. The church is headed from an elaborate log building in the New Jersey Pine Barons in the middle of Several Garðaríki American settlements.
Led by High Volkhv Rostyslav Honchar
Economic:
Persson Group
Of the many problems plaguing Garðaríki right now some would argue the cause for most all of them is a lack of modern Industrialization. The most prevalent who hold this argument is the Persson Group formed by Johan Persson a Swedish Man who smelled opportunity when Garðaríki occupied Scandinavia and was heavily invested in the newly taken industry above having much of its own. So Johan pledged allegiance to Garðaríki and moved to Holmgarðr to found a new economic empire within Garðaríki. Johan also took with him a small legion of potential investors from all over Scandinavia as well as attracting investors amongst the nobility of Garðaríki to build a series of factories that could anything and everything from rifles and cartridges for the war, clothes for uniforms, to consumer goods like tools, clothing, and textiles. The few factories he has built has gained himself and his investors substantial wealth but the factories are infamous for dangerous and deplorable working conditions with extremely high casualty rates all for mediocre at best pay especially for women who are the most common workers in his factories on account of the war.
Led by Johan Persson
Báijīn Clans
With the intertwined relationship between Garðaríki and China for hundreds of years there's been a fair amount of admixture between the two empires. In China the pinnacle of this admixture can be seen with the Báijīn Clans, a group of Garðaríki descent but heavy genetic Chinese admixture as well as speaking predominantly Mandarin and adhering to Chinese culture and customs over old Garðaríki ones. The Báijīn Clans have made a fortune off of monopolizing the dealings between Garðaríki and China from trade, to diplomacy, to even migration between the two states all is lorded over by a Báijīn. Predominantly they live in the north especially in and around Beijing along with a lot of important coastal trade cities. The Báijīn right now are in a golden age of sorts as the current Daming Dynasty is ruled by a Báijīn who was given his position on account of being a distant cousin to the Garðaríki Kjarr. These cultural and familial ties have given the Báijīn Clans nearly unlimited influence and preference within the Daming Dynasty and a vast majority of the imperial court are Báijīn. This suddenly lordship both, economic, political, and literal lordship however has breed much resentment from the native Chinese towards the Báijīn.
No individual leader
Criminals:
Shchaslyvi Syny
To take from the rich and give to the poor is a story so often told but rarely true, the Shchaslyvi Syny are one of the rare rare occasions where said altruism is truthful. Even if said attacks are just as much if not more ethnically motivated than economic. The Shchaslyvi Syny are recently formed group of predominantly Slavic but also some Uralic and Tatart people in as well group of bandits who steal from the Nordic Garðaríki upper class and distribute the stolen goods amongst poor villages. The Shchaslyvi Syny formed in response by Vladyslav Kovalenko to the Second Great Northern War amongst many non Nordic Garðaríki angry so many were being sent to die in a war that only benefited the nobility. The Shchaslyvi Syny are most active in Tzernigoga, Kænugarðr, and Galich, all lands under control of the Rurikids and their sub families. So far they've evaded the law with ease and have quickly been elevated to folk heroes amongst the Slavic Garðaríki populace. Though amongst the Nordic Garðaríki they are traitors, thieves, and petty Vandals.
Led by Vladyslav Kovalenko
The Kuršiai Gang
Originally a Lithuanian band of privateers who patrolled the Balkans for Scandinavian, and German ships to raid who named themselves in honor of a medieval Baltic tribe of pirates. However with the occupation of Scandinavia and the English controlling Baltic Sea the privateers have been landed for years by this point. Rather than joining certain death in the Garðaríki Navy or joining the Garðaríki Army the privateers have turned their attention to their own community for a source of ill gotten income. Protection rackets, smuggling, extortion, prostitution, slavery and slave trading, loan sharking and other illegal activities have seen the Kuršiai go from privateers to the beginnings of organized crime. The Kuršiai Gang as it's been called is head by “captain” Kęstutis Lytvyn, who overthrew the last captain in a mutiny for suggesting the privateers join the Garðaríki Navy in lieu of possible privateering work. The man has a reputation of being totally psychopathic, without mercy or empathy, and being mean, selfish, and greedy to his core. The Kuršiai Gang only operates in coastal Lithuania for now.
Led by “captain” Kęstutis Lytvyn
The Dyrssen Band
Garðaríki has a history of raiding even longer than the history of the empire itself, the original Garðaríki being founded by vikings after all. While raiders are an ever present force in Garðaríki the way they operate has changed drastically over the years. The first raiders were simple ocean and ship bound Vikings pirating the Baltic and Black Seas and performing raids on coastal settlements with even Constantinople when it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire being subject to raids from the Garðaríki. These Viking style raids were the most common up until the Tatar Yoke and it's later breaking when raiders opted to swap ships and axes for horses and firearms adopting tactics more similar to the nomadic tatar raiders than the Vikings of old. When the Garðaríki Empire formed there came a slew of legislation on raiding when the crown taking up to ½ of the loot but these raiders would be supported and backed by the Garðaríki Empire itself akin to Privateers in the Caribbean. ((That's part of how they got around a lack of serfdom in this timeline)) During the golden age of Garðaríki Raiders 1500’s-1700’s the Mounted Garðaríki Raiders struck fear into Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and parts of East Asia ((like Korea)) far more than the Tatar and Mongol Raiders ever could. Though this practice has waned dramatically in the era of more advanced geopolitics i.e. recent times the 1800’s onwards they are still most prevalent in Central and East Asia. Of these horseback mounted, yurt living, nomadic, “Viking” gangs is The Dyrssen Band lead by Egil “Half-Turk” Dyrssen gaining that nickname for being the son of the previous Band Leader and his Tatar concubine ((being part Tatar being pretty common for this line of work)). A quiet and contemplative man who's in this line of work more because he was born into it and doesn't know any other life rather than the standard raider reason of strength, freedom, greed, etc. The Dyrssen Band is the current largest of the Garðaríki Official Raider Bands at 200+ members raiding into Central Asia places like Khiva, Bukhara, and Kazakh ((all modern Kazakhstan)) and well into Persia for Islamic, gold, silk, and especially spices.
Led by Egil “Half-Turk” Dyrssen
Úlfar Hafsins
Although many Garðaríki Raiders are Tatar esq mounted raiders there's still a place for true pirates in the official bandit system. While most pirates in the West are facing near impossible odds in regards to dealing with the British fleet in the Baltic Sea, on the East Coast ((and to a lesser degree the Black Sea)) Privateers still sail flying the Garðaríki Flag. One of the most feared crews from the Garðaríki City of Drekaströnd in Manchuria are the Úlfar Hafsins or Wolves of the Sea. A crew spread across three Sloops of War and the flagship a stolen Portuguese Frigate, the captain of this Fleet is Shi Valdamarrssen a half Chinese woman pirate the daughter of the Legendary Pirate Styrr Valdamarrssen who himself was the Grandson of a famous 18th century Garðaríki Poet who was the first mayor of Drekaströnd and a former horseback mounted raider Valdamarr Thorvaldssen. Little to say own natural talent and famous ancestry has made a regional superstar oftentimes being called the Queen of the Dragon Coast. The Úlfar Hafsins most often raid Korean, Japanese, and Spanish Phillipines ships with occasional coastal land raids every now and again.
Led by Captain Shi Valdamarrssen
[Nations:]
Mosarim Confederacy
By far the largest and most powerful of the Tatar Native American hybrid cultures the larger Mosarim Confederacy at its center is dominated by the Niyilmiw peoples of mixed Manchu and Plains Cree origin speaking a hybrid pidgin language. The Mosarim Confederacy was born from the earlier more economic Iron Confederation of: Cree, Plains Ojibwa, Assiniboine, Métis, and and even some western bound Haudenosaunee/ Iroquois. More specifically the Mosarim Confederacy formed when hybrid Niyilmiw people joined the Confederacy and their Okimakhan/ leader Aisin Gioro Kahkewistahaw Abahai the first born Okimakhan as opposed to being a direct Manchu refuge, not only told stories about the failed Qing Dynasty, Garðaríki’s wars and occupation of Manchuria, as well training the Confederation warrior in the Manchu Nomadic ways of war that Iron Confederacy began to shift from an economic alliance to a centralized militaristic Confederacy. While stories of Manchu oppression under Garðaríki are still present the Mosarim are currently in a pseudo alliance with the Garðaríki Empire as they are being paid with guns and cossack volunteers to raid British Canada of which their warpath has by and large been successful so far causing a lot of damage and chaos in the Canadian frontier.
Led by Okimakhan: Aisin Gioro Mukitou Sholontu
Hune Tribe
The Hune are a moderately sized tribe composed of a hybrid Mongol and Shoshone people. Being descendants of both the legendary Mongol Nomads and the Shoshone who were among the very first native Americans to tame and ride horses, the Hune are some of the greatest horse riders in the world second to none in the minds of many. Like many plains tribes the Hune are nomadic bison hunters as well known fur traders. While raids do still happen the Hune tend to avoid the practice in accordance to their Buddhist beliefs which make them stand out with other Native Americans or even the Mosarim to the North who have largely retained Manchu and Native shamanic beliefs. Currently the Hune are led by their Taikhani Pogan, who is debating joining the Mosarim Confederacy with the encroachment of American settlers even with it being slowed right now due to the American Civil War.
Led by Taikhani Pogan
Ičhášan Tribe
The Ičhášan are the Black Sheep of the Sioux/ Lakota people not just because they are another hybrid tribe of Siberian Tatars and Lakota peoples, but also for their Islamic beliefs and general hostility to all around them. This is not being helped by Islam's view of women in the eyes of a traditionally matriarchal peoples but the raids and slavery don't help either. The Ičhášan rather than being led by a chieftain have their leaders take the title of Emir like the Islamic Tatars of Bukhara whom some share ancestry with. Because of their general hostility to surrounding tribes and US settlers the Ičhášan have been largely relegated largely to the Badlands of modern South Dakota which has only made them more dependent on raiding for sustenance. The Ičhášan are currently led by Emir Muhammad Wichayazipa Woksape a radical Islamic fundamentalist who views the entire non-islamic world as his personal enemy of which many even in his tribe say may bring his people to ruin. Personally the man wants to carve out a new great North American Emirate if not a Sultanate Empire and bring the glory of his faith to all around whether they are willing or not.
Led by Emir: Muhammad Wichayazipa Woksape