Njord, God of Waters, God of Winter

By Athyra Di Giovanni (demonsreiche@yahoo.com)

Totem of Respect

Background Cost

9

Restrictions

All those who follow Njord must be sturdy like the ships that sail upon his domain (Strength 3+, Stamina 3+). His followers all must me capable of sailing the high seas as well as the small rivers. (Swimming 2+, Sailing 2+). He does not brook cowards lightly, for he expects all of his followers to take up the fight against Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent. After all, the coils of the Misgard Serpent pass through the domains of both he and his wife, the fire giant Skade (Willpower 3+, Rage 3+).

Description

Njord is a god of the seas, the oceans, the lakes, and the rivers. Njord is also the god of winter. His kingdom, as such, is vast and beautiful. Njord was the father of Frey and Freya. He, as one of the Vanir, realized that making allies of the Aesir (such as Odin and Baldur were) would be a wise idea. Not a particularly ambitious god, he was comfortable with his position.

Njord's wife was a fire giant by the name of Skade. She, unlike all the other fire giants (except Loki) was beautiful. Even though they loved each other, Skade and Njord could never stay together. She missed her mountainous home, while he could not bear to leave his rivers and lakes. So, they made a compromise. Once each year, they would go to visit each other. When Skade went to Njord's home in the oceans, the summer would begin. When Njord visited Skade in her mountains, winter would reign.

When Njord saw the war between the Changing Breed and the now-corrupted Wyrm, he knew he had to intervene. He chose those of the Changing Breed who lived most of their lived near or in his domain, as he wanted to know their hearts were of the high value he wanted them to be.

Traits

Njord gives his followers access to the all the gifts concerning the seas. Whether the gifts were available only to the Rokea, the weredolphins, or simply not of the Changing Breed's auspice, the follower of Njord may gain that gift at their appropriate Rank. As well, the followers of Njord are also able to use the Thaumaturgical Disclipline "Neptune's Might" as a Gift, learning each level from a spirit associated with the seas or the oceans, and substituting "blood points" with points of Rage or Gnosis. Finally, the children of Njord gain +1 die to all their physical stats while on a major body of water. (Storyteller's call.)

Bans

The followers of Njord cannot use any gifts involving fire or heat of any kind. They are also unable to use weapons that involve major amounts of heat (e.g., missiles, incendiary grenades). If they do use any such weapon, they automatically lose 1 Permanent Honour each major scene they use that kind of weapon. The followers of Njord must build a small boat from wood each year at any time, place fish and other harvests from the waters of Gaia within the boat, and set it out to float. (Groups of the followers of Njord have constructed full ships to make this sacrifice to Njord, which pleased him greatly.) Finally, the followers of Njord must never take unfair advantage of anyone who uses the oceans as well, unless they are of the Wyrm. (e.g., if the Rokea ask followers of Njord for help, Njord's followers must have a good reason for not working with them before saying "no.")