Wintermark look and feel
Overview
As a nation, the Winterfolk are expert craftsmen, who take immense pride in their work and treat complex runic sigil-work as a necessary part of every piece they make. They are perfectionists, who value quality over mass production.
Winterfolk art tends to be intricate and detailed. Stone, metal and wood are carved with runes, and often painted, coloured or enamelled, so craftsmen can show off their skills.
The people of the Wintemark use bright scarlet for things like banners, because they can be seen for miles through snow and atop mountainsides. Runes feature heavily in decoration.
The Winterfolk are a blend of three subcultures, each with a unique style.
Also see Wintermark Costumes and Wintermark Icons and Artistry.
Suaq
Influences
Think of Lapp reindeer herders and Inuit. Independent scounts and hunters
Materials
Furs and hides, ivory, Scrimshaw carved bone items.
Colours
Light, washed out tones of cream, ivory, taupe, pale grey
Clothing
A long tight coat of animal skin (skin side out, fur side in) emblazoned with drawings and symbols of powerful creatures. In warmer climates the coat is exchanged for lighter versions of leather, linen or canvas.
Armour
Primarily heavy furs that offer protection against the cold.
Shields
Uncommon, but possibly leather stretched over wood
Weapons
Hunting weapons, bows, spears, staves for crossing treacherous ice.
Steinr
Influences
Rohirrim, Tolkien’s Dwarves, Beowulf (2005), Saxons, Skyrim, the Starks of Game of Thrones
Materials
Metals, furs, leather, stone, woollen cloth, richer fabrics may be appropriate for high status Thanes.
Colours
Dark shades of green, blue, red and brown, also dark metals – iron, coppers, bronze
Clothing
Plain coloured woollen thigh length tunics, slim (not fitted) trousers, often with wrappings ankle to knee. Women wear the same or a close fitting dress. Viking apron dress exists but is considered very old fashioned. Higher status people have more decoration at the neck and hemlines.
Armour
Heavy, layered armour (chain with tooled heavy leather armour worn over it), intricately decorated and personalised so each person’s kit looks different.
Shields
Ideally tear-drop shaped kite shields, round shields are a good alternative.
Weapons
Long swords, spears, Dane axes - heavy and practical, decorated with runes
Kallavesi
Influences
Finland, Kallevala, the Crannogmen from Game of Thrones. Bog-dwelling shamans.
Materials
Wooden items, woven basketwork, leathers, rough woven woollens, linens, polished stones (semiprecious).
Colours
Greys, duns, moss, smoke, occcasional bright flashes of colour, dark feathers
Clothing
Heavy cloaks decorated with feathers, bones, animal skins and furs worn over typical Wintermark tunics in rougher woven fabrics.
Armour
Light leathers and furs
Shields
Rare, but possibly small wicker bucklers
Weapons
They carry axes, staves, fishing spears and gutting knives.
Feel
Iron, hard, firm, strong, unmoving, earnest, craftsman, perfectionist, pragmatic (Steinr and Suaq), dreamer (Kallavesi), individual
Images
Steinr Warriors
The Rohirrim in Lord of the Rings epitomise the Steinr warriors. Layered armour, leather or less commonplace plate over mail, but with the armour intricately tooled and embellished. The armour shown bottom right is made by Idiom Productions.
Suaq & KallavesI WarrIors
Kallavesi and Suaq warriors wear fur over mail or simply leather or fur by itself. The Kallavesi decorate their armour with feathers and beads while the Suaq paint their armour with symbolic designs of animals.
Steinr Clothing
Steinr tunics may be layered to show off hems that are decorated with a constrasting fabric or braid. Theoden’s costume from Lord of the Rings shows the sort of outfit a wealthy and powerful Thane, might wear to display their prosperity - the tunic is made from a rich fabric that is intricately embroidered.
Kallavesi Clothing
Kallavesi clothing is the standard Wintermark tunic over trousers, often in a rougher woven fabric and embellished with furs and feathers. The Kallavesi wear furs with the fur side out. The Stormcrow mystic wears the traditional ragged but heavy cloak and a costume adorned with tatters of material and fetishes. Feathers in particular are important to the Kallavesi and the Kallavesi shamans in particular.
Suaq
The heavy coats of the Suaq protect them against the cold. Reindeer and seal skins are turned fur side in for warmth. Ideally the heavy fur coats should be richly decorated with important symbols — designs of animals and enemies the warrior has killed. In warmer climates the coats may be leather and in the imperial heartland in summer they may chose to wear linen or canvas versions
The brown fur shaman costume is made by Denise Piggin.
Shamans & Icewalkers
Kallavesi Shamans are practiced seers and mystics. Most supplement the normal Kallavesi dress with an animal headdress decorated with feathers and fur.
Suaq Icewalkers use their magic to complement their wits. They wear traditional Suaq clothing but supplemented with jewellery and amulets.
Children
Images to avoid
A LRP setting is defined as much by what you leave out as by what you include. In defining the Wintermark look we have actively chosen to exclude some elements. Please do not use any of the images or looks seen in this section.
- Inappropriate Viking imagery such as longships and Thors hammers
- Horned helmets
- Baggy 'hero' pants
Avoid: Thor’s Hammer
Thor’s Hammers have become as evocative and iconic as a crucifix. They are irrevocably associated with Thor, a deity which does not exist in the Empire game setting, so please avoid this specific piece of jewellery.