Northern sirens inhabit the waters between the arctic circle and the equatorial merfolk kingdoms, and as a culture are more cautious of others than southern sirens are, leading them to stray farther from shore.
Northern sirens have no collective government, led only by the matriarch of their pod, who is elected by physical combat. Every member of the pod is bound by the unwritten hierarchy that is established and changed when the new matriarch is crowned. Occasionally, the matriarch herself will choose the whole hierarchy, but more often it is established by pod members fighting each other for positions that haven't been set. These ranks within the pod determine who gets first choice of food that hunters bring to the pod and who is chosen for certain watch shifts.
Northern sirens prefer small groups, sometimes splitting off even within their already small pods of 10-15 seafolk. These pods function as independent societies, rarely meeting other pods. Aside from fights for resources, most conflicts are solved on an individual level, out of fear of unnecessary damage to group cohesion should the conflict spill over. They are a blunt, straightforward people who favor force over deception.
They are often seen as detached from social life, willing to cast out a member of their pod should that siren be useless to them or an active threat to the functioning of the group, however they are not incapable of connection. Northern sirens often form strong bonds with one or two other members of their pod and travel and hunt together, something that siren culture approves and encourages.
Children are raised solely by their mother, or occasionally with the mother's bonded friends, though they rarely meet their birth father, since he will usually be from a different pod. When a child or group of children is born in a pod, typically once every three years in early summer, the pod will briefly split along gender lines. The women of the pod take care of the children, chasing the men away. The women's group continues along a normal migration cycle until the winter. The men will stay in one area for longer, following the women's pod at a distance until they meet up again.
The gender binary is strict in Siren culture, though not in the sense that the land-folk have. Women are seen as natural leaders, and their fierce protective instinct is praised and encouraged. Young girls form some of the strongest bonds of the siren pods. Men are seen as more fickle, forming weaker bonds and being more likely to strike out on their own against the wishes of the pod.
Scars are an important signifier of status and skill in northern siren pods. Those with heavier scars are often thought of as more experienced fighters, especially if the scars show that they are unafraid of fighting (e.g. chest and arm scars from battles with other sirens). Young merfolk sometimes scarify themselves to show bravery and resilience. Patterned scars are most often around the tail (or show up as ankle scars in two-legged form), where they are easiest to reach.
Hair is cut short, and allowing hair to grow long is a sign of poor self-hygiene or self-image.
Northern sirens spend most of their day on the move, often splitting off into smaller groups that follow currents or prey and return to the main pod to bring what they found. They make very few tools, often carrying only a knife and its sheath. Self-made knives are seen as the best to own, or other siren-made knives. They rarely trust surface weapons, as they corrode quickly in the water.
It is a symbol of pride to have scars at a young age, since siren children are expected to be self-sufficient and learn by doing, not watching. When they are not learning, children play wrestling or chase games.
Even in the night, siren pods are on the move. Sirens are able to move even in their sleep, similar to dolphins, and during the night they travel along ocean currents. The lower-ranking members of the pod stay awake in shifts, often supplemented by higher ranked, trusted members who wake during the night to make sure the guards haven't slipped away. Deserting brings serious punishments if the runaway is found, including being scarred in such a way that other pods recognize that they are disloyal, followed by ostracization from the pod.
Northern sirens are the seafolk most often associated with Perineers, especially those who have deserted or been cast out. The innate magic sense that sirens have, coupled with their knowledge of the ocean, makes them valuable to have on board.