Thrones & Bones
Thrones & Bones is a third-party setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition by author Lou Anders, funded through Kickstarter and printed by indy gaming group Lazy Wolf Studies. The official RPG adaptation of the world of the young adult's fantasy trilogy written by Anders, Thrones & Bones is set on the world of Qualth, a Heroic Fantasy world. Currently, the setting only consists of a single splatbook, which covers the continent of Norrongard, the Vikings region of Qualth and the setting of the original book trilogy.
Norrongard[edit | edit source]
Norrongard is a cold, rugged land based on a high magic version of Norse Mythology. Whilst humans are the dominant race in terms of numbers, everybody knows the land is full of fey, trolls and other creatures. Even humans are largely confined to the more southerly portions of the continent; to the north lies the arctic tundra and icy mountains of Ymiria, the realm of the giants.
Whilst the Norronir (as the native humans are called) once terrorized other nations by going a-viking, in recent decades, that sort of behavior has been frowned upon, and instead they have focused on scratching a living from the land as farmers, hunters and fisherfolk. As a nation, Norrongard is made up of regional, semi-independent chiefdoms ruled over by democratically-appointed leaders known as "Jarls", who in turn answer to the High King of Norrongard, the ultimate authority of the nation.
Norrongardian Religion[edit | edit source]
The Norronir give faith to a pseudo-Norse pantheon of deities known as the Forn Sidr, or "Old Custom". These gods aided the ancient Norronir in breaking free of the giants of Yimira, and consist of:
- Aurvimnir, King of the Gods
- Ballingr, God of Daytime
- Darr, God of War, Courage and the Skies
- Hodurr, God of Animal Husbandry & Craftsmanship
- Kvir, God of Luck
- Lirr, God of Justioce, Peace and Truth
- Lodarr/Lotharr, God of Mischief and Trickery
- Morr, God of Revenge
- Mot, God of Secrets
- Njor, God of Dawn, Dusk, Cooking and Medicine
- Ranar, God of Fire and Forge
- Uldr, God of Winter
- Urmir, God of Stone
- Wodagr, God of Sea, Wind, Fish and Wealth
- Beysa, Goddess of Summer
- Frista, Goddess of Wisdom
- Gaesa, Goddess of Fertility and the Plough
- Hannadi, Goddess of Inspiration
- Hetta, Goddess of Contrracts and the Law
- Joriasa, Goddess of Magic and Alchemy
- Juil, Goddess of Marriage and Motherhood
- Lana, Goddess of Healing
- Lotrisa, Gododess of Battle, Courage, Fertility, Love and Passion
- Manna, Goddess of the Moons
- Nadi, Goddess of the Night
- Nellana, Goddess of Beauty, Innocence, Peace and Rebirth
- Neth, Goddess of the Underworld
- Njunn, Keeper of the Drowned
- Noter, Goddess of Ice
- Sigga, Goddess of Hunting and Dueling
- Sunna, Goddess of the Sun
- Vafesa, Goddess of Youth
- Zird, Goddess of Age
- Preya, Goddess of Runes and Language
The Forn Sidr are served by chieftain-priests calleds "Gothi", as well as loose sisterhood of wandering priestesses and seers called the "Volur".
Demihumans[edit | edit source]
Whilst other parts of Qualth, including other countries on the continent of Katernia where Norrongard lies, are quite abundant in non-human humanoid races, the Norronir are largely a nation of humans, with relatively few nonhumans living amongst them
Dwarves were once a major race in Norrongard, but largely moved away to the far eastern fringe, near its borders with the realm of Araland. Only in recent years have dwarves begun to return to their homeland and reunited with those few small clans who remained in Norronland the whole time. The migrant dwarves, known as Dvergrians due to having settled in the Dvergrian Mountains, use the stats of Hill Dwarves. The native Norronian dwarves are Mountain Dwarves.
Whilst elves in Qualth divide themselves into five subraces based on their sacred customs - Ljosalfar (High Elves), Muntaelfen (Mountain Elves), Saeaelfen (Sea Elves), Wuduaelfen (Wood Elves) and Svartalfar (Dark Elves) - only the Dark Elves are known in Norrongard (though the occasional Wuduaelfen trader or adventurer shows up). Unfortunately, the Svartalfar and the Norronir have been bitter enemies for a long while. Wuduaelfen use Wood Elf stats, whils Svartalfar have unique stats (+1 Cha, Superior Darkvision, Sunlight Sensitivity, and free proficiency with daggers, shortswords and hand crossbows).
Half-Giants, the result of crossbreeding between humans and the Frost Giants of Ymiria, are incredibly rare.
Finally, the Huldrafolk are a contradictory fey race; resembling elves with a bark-lined small hole in their backs and a tail like a fox or a cow, they simultaneously hide from humanity but yearn to know more about humans, leading to their putting on disguise to walk amongst them.
Native Subclasses[edit | edit source]
Barbarians are the most iconic Norronian adventuring class, and they get three new subclasses, all based on the legend of Viking warriors using enchanted animal skin totems to draw upon the power of that totem beast. These subclasses are the Bear Warrior, Wolf Warrior and Boar Warrior.
Gothi are Clerics, and have access to the unique Cleric Domain of Courage.
Volvas are Druids with a unique subclass.
Shield Maidens are female fighters specialized in the use of fighting defensively with shield and one-handed weapon.
Svartalfar Agents are a unique class of rogue only found amongst the local dark elves.
Finally, Warlocks can dare to take the Norns as their patrons.
Threats and Dangers[edit | edit source]
Norrongard is home to a wide variety of monsters, but the most common foes are various kinds of fey, the half-fey half-elemental "land spirits" known as Vaetter, the undead draugr, and the dragon-like linnorms.