Draugar
Inspiration
Draugar are reanimated corpses from Norse mythology, similar to zombies or vampires, that guard their graves and terrorize the living.
A draugar is a corpse that is reanimated to guard its grave or hoard of treasure, often driven by greed and jealousy.
Physical characteristics: They are physically powerful and often retain their intelligence from life, able to cause havoc on the living.
Origin: The transformation into a draugar was believed to befall individuals who were not properly buried according to funerary rites, especially if they drowned at sea
Introduction
Valder stipped the flesh from Angurs bones, his eyes alight with hunger and rage. There was no righteous burial for his fallen friends, Valder fed from their corpses as the sea tossed around him, knowing he would not die of hunger on the becalmed waters...
Ideograms
History
The Armies of Hel are not the legions of Odin, no noble warriors drinking in Valhalla. Hel's warriors are the craven, the ones who left their companions to die. Those who died in their beds remembering cowardice and ill deeds. Those who committed murder and didn't tell of it.
In Norse mythology, Hel's armies are composed of the souls of the unheroic dead—those who died of sickness, old age, or were not brave enough in the eyes of the gods. These souls, referred to as the "people of Hel," reside in the gloomy, cold realm of Helheim, which is ruled by Hel, the daughter of Loki.
Formation and Composition
Recruitment: The dead arrive in Helheim by crossing the river Gjöll. Some myths suggest the dragon Níðhöggr sucks the blood from the arriving corpses, making them pale and easier for Hel to form into her army.
Command: While Hel is the ruler of the realm, the army itself is led by her father, the trickster god Loki, during the events of Ragnarök.
Forces
The army includes:
- 'The Dead: The main bulk of the army comprises the countless souls who died without glory in battle.
- Jutnar: Hel's forces are joined by the Jötnar (giants). Greater Draugar are known to grow in size as their virulence increases. Some of them become literal giants.
- Skratti: Her monstrous siblings and allies also join the battle, including the great wolf Fenrir and the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr, who break their bonds at the onset of Ragnarök. The monstrous hound Garmr, who guards the gates of Helheim, also breaks loose and fights. The Draugar are able to embrace and bring over animals for servants. Their particular disease brings powerful change.
- The Ship Naglfar: The army of the dead is ferried to the battlefield of Vígríðr aboard the ship Naglfar, which is said to be made from the fingernails and toenails of the dead.
Role in Ragnarök
At the apocalyptic battle of Ragnarök, Hel's army marches against the gods (Aesir) and the Einherjar (heroes who died in battle and were brought to Valhalla). The forces of Helheim team up with the fire giants from Muspelheim, led by Surtr. Most sources imply that Hel herself does not actively participate in the fighting, but rather allows her forces to be led by Loki. After the great battle, the Nine Realms, including Helheim, are consumed by fire and destruction, only to be reborn in a new cycle.
Hidden Master
The Draugar owe their allegiance to Galgregrnd, who took the name Loki from Norse mythology.
Culture
Draugar are a culture that, like other Gallu, hate themselves. They are a culture that thrives on lack of honor, and treats all lessers as enemies who serve them. Trust and cooperation are very hard to come by. It is expected that Thralls are waiting to eat their masters in time.
Resurrection
The bite of the Draugar brings illness and a cold, pitiless death. Those who die to become Draugar often are assumed to have died of frostbite, and appear for a time to be frozen.
Abattoir Banes
The bane of the Draugar is the wood of a yew tree, Mistletoe, and rusted steel.
Organization
The Draugar are based in a Jarl and horde organization. The Tyrant master will be referred to as the Jarl of the horde. The horde are a group of lesser Draugar who serve the Jarl and plot his downfall.
The Tyrant Master
The Jarl is a highly virulent Draugar, often they begin to amass flesh and bone, gradually becoming Jotun.
Notable Jarls
Edorgand, Jarl of Fulham
A Crush of Thralls
The various thralls of the Jarl can often be infected dogs or wolves, as well as Draugar warriors. Warriors seldom have a courage higher than 1. Known as Housecarls, they are the personal guard of the Jarl. The Jarl or Jottuns will holds them in place.
Fever-Slave Chattel
Draugar collect and keep nearly frozen fever slaves, often eating them in times of quiet, slowely consuming them to feed the Jarl and his Thralls.
Mortal Minions
Mortals unfortunate enough to serve the Draugar are almost blue in color. Those from darker climes will show that duskiness, but the cold and lack of circulation effects them deeply. Minions will move stiffly, and both long for and fear the heat of a good fire or heater. Often mortals who see stiff, blue corpses coming from a tomb think they are seeing Draugar, they are seeing the mortals who have fallen under the infection of a crush of thralls and a Jarl.
Perversions
- Exhumation
- Hallucination
- Violence
- Witchery The Draugar are known for their transmutation, the ability to change shape, and change the form of other creatures. They can do simple changes to inanimate objects. Draugar magic is known at Seidr
Sources