Bulletpoints
Based on Celtic countries.
Vikings, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall.
Sea fairing tribes united under one ruler
Vikings = Dwarves and are under same ruler as well
Only one major city and its the home of the King
Every other village,town is small and remote and mostly with sea access.
Villages specialise in trades and goods. Only jack of all trades is the capital.
Monsters and evil races include orcs, minotaurs and elves.
Beliefs
Soul is indestructible and lives in the head. Prominent enemies heads are preserved and kept for power and posterity.
Follows natural seasonal calender with festivals around sowing and harvest times.
Lunar cycle and venus cycle have large parts in celebrations
Gods come in threes
Religious class much like druids except that the white robed, bearded religious elder with a connection with nature is not their style. Wise, elderly woodsmen and those that seek understanding of the world are all equally represented amongst this class.
Royal line is of man with dwarves in alliance
Council consists of 21 seats split as follows over the islands.
Fàsach na Fear (Mountain of Man) - 10 seats - Dwarves and Man
DÌthreabh bho Dheas (Southern Wilderness) - 4 seats - Dwarves
Eileach bho Thuath (Stoney North) - 4 seats - Man
Linnhe Dubh (Dark Pool) - 2 seats - Man
An Frith Feàrna (Small Wooded Land) - 1 seat - (druids)
Religious hiearchy (top to bottom)
Druids - Perform day to day rituals, host special events, spiritual nexus, spiritual leader. Act as judges during disputes.
Shamans - scryers and fortune tellers
Bards - The story tellers. They preach the stories of the gods and keep the oral tradition alive.
Ghost fences - Wooden poles with engraved heads or skulls. Protect the villages during festival times when the bride betwen the physical and spiritual world is weak. Also used during times of war to provide spiritual protection.
Men fight alongside women during defence of homesteads.
Justice system based around reperation. Lists of offence and punishment held in oral memory. Method for punishment involves three stages. Offender publicly apologises, financial reperation and then ? Failier to comply with punishment, depending on severity, could mean ridicule from the nations bards or imprisonment. Death is never an option unless during a state of war and treason is involved.