Lands of the Northmen: Map and Storyline

Don't know what the two northmen kingdoms should be here on the map.

Ideas:

Northmen are devided into 2 major tribes relating to north germanic gods:

1. Vanjar (Vanir), of course warriors, but farmers,  craftsmen and magicians too, living in the farmlands, chaotic neutral.

The "j" is spoken like a "ye", like "jarl", not "dsh". 
"Jar" means "people/tribe", "jarl" means their leader, "Jir" means "clan/order".

2. Asjar (Aesir), warriors, raiders, chaotic evil.
After long wars the tribes live together, but still have rivalry. ("A Vanjar can't command a ship!" vs. "An Asjar can't build a ship!")

The Vanjar live in the farmlands, the Asjar man the fortresses, but not exclusively, they live together and share the tasks, like men and women too.
Long ago the Asjar conquered the Vanjar, now they still stand 2/3 of the captains but both have equal rights in the Jarthing and the same culture.

The White Volcano is the center of a common religion, a mixture between Walhalla and Crom (northmen steel), still older tribal gods are worshipped.
The Valkhajir are a religious order of female warriors/magicians.
They have their ordensburg Valkhajirhall at the White Volcano and take honorably died heroes to a burial there.

They also are the source of the rare swords (guess what they look like), which are only given to chiefs and heroes.
The Volcano forges produce the best northmen steel and swords.
This is related to the religion of the volcano smith god Valkha.

Asjar usually fight with spears and hammers, Vanjar with axes, both use big round shields, not much armor.
Many have leather helmets clad with boar teeth, which sometimes are mistaken for horns.
Both use a seax-like weapon, the Valx.
An elite warrior order is called Barsakrjir ("Sakr" is some kind of adrenaline mushroom - makes eyes shine blue, "bar" means urine).

The inhabitants of the Western Wilds are the descendants of early Asjar who didn't want to live together with the Vanjar after the Asjar conquered the Vanjar land and remained more primitive.
The think of themselves as "pure blooded people" and their name for other peoples is "food" ("Hamrjar").

The progressive Asjar and Vanjar call other peoples "slaves" ("Workrjar").

The White Volcano is a very high and moderate active volcano, seldom its top is not hidden in clouds.
It is considered as the seat of Valkha, a volcano smith god.
He is not like the demonic tribal gods of the Vanjar or Asjar.
He doesn't care about being worshipped or not.
The only way to please him is good steel forging.

All Northmen know to produce bloomery iron and steel with not very good quality, they made spearheads, axes, maces, hammers or the simple one edged valx.

Only the order of the Valkhajir produces good steel.
Its ordensburg Valkhajirhall at the base of the White Volcano is the source of good swords, usually only for chiefs or well known warrior-heroes.

The order is led by only nine Valkhajir, female warriors and magicians, but has other inferior members for supply, work and steel forging or goldsmithing.
The master-smith is called: (who of our smiths in the forum wants to see his name here?)

In warm caves in the volcano grow certain mushrooms.
If men consume them in certain ways they become extremely agressive and belligerent (even for Northmen), don't feel pain any more and fight with more power and speed.
Those are called Barsakrjir.
Some women instead develop magic abilities and become Valkhajir-adepts.
After long time consuming the eyes start to glow bright blue.

My idea of the special Valkha Northmen swords is crucible steel made in lava pits with some magic, forging hammers powered by heat/steam.
Some (magic?) armor can be made this way too.

There is the ritual of fallen chiefs and heroes guarded to Valkhajirhall by some Valkhajir for a honorful ship funeral on a volcano lava stream (Wagner's Siegfried's Funeral March in the background and many torches).
A hall of fame for heroes' swords, lighted by a lava stream?

That can be the reason for the Asjar, who had the main conflict with the Sakkala, to develop throwing hammers, better against big spiders with chitine armor than axes or spears.
In the early times only stone hammers/maces, later iron.
And long spear-lances against their riders.

The Northmen have a rich and expressive language, used by scalds for epic poetry and battle songs, but they don't know a word for "mercy".

They live in huge longhouses, several families of a clan together with the valuable cattle and even slaves.
Children grow up in big families with dozens of uncles, aunts and cousins and so there is free choice for women, even mothers, to follow the warrior's path.
Usually all children, boys and girls, are trained in fighting techniques, riding and sailing.

Much work is done by slaves.
Asjar and Vanjar consider themselves more or less as equal, all other people are slaves or possible slaves.
Only a fearless foreign warrior earns some respect and perhaps only if he wins the fight.

The most important purpose in a Northman's or Northwoman's life is glory and fame for deeds in battle or other fighting.
It's more important than surviving.
The body fades but the fame lives forever!
While wise elder people are honored, in fact senority is not a aim in  the Northmen's life.
The highest goal is to be considered worthy a funeral in the White Volcano.

Less than warfare but still well respected is craftsmanship (more by the Vanjar) or cattle breeding (more by the Asjar).
Both respect highly smithes and forging.

The Northmen believe in an afterlife not much different from their normal life, living and fighting together with ancestors, family and friends (perhaps more party and fighting, less hangovers and arthritis pain), no special place for warriors.
But they fear a death in disgrace, which makes it impossible to join the afterlife.
The more glory and fame a Northman or Northwoman has achieved in his or her live the better is the living in the afterlife for him and his family.

Their gods don't demand sacrifices, but gave them power and strenght.
They might help in battle or go to hell!
But the tribal demonic gods at least are good for blaspheming.

Disgraceful is for example less to be not strong, but not to try to get stronger or do your best other ways, not to lose a fight, but to flee.

Wealth isn't the greatest goal in Northmen's live, but no one says "nay" to silver and gold as a booty, or of course slaves.

Great stuff, I will put all of this in with a twist or two of my own.. ;-)