Okay, time to gather round as I spew my beliefs in regards to how Ragnanival worked before Odin showed up and made them into his own kingdom and such.
From what little we get in notes and throw away dialog through out, it's pretty much a given that Ragnanival has always been, not war like, but fighting focused. Considering their geographical location of being a neighbor to the gates to The Land of the Dead and the fact sinners have been known to escape now and again from there; coupled with a climate that is likely not fertile fields and mild weather makes being tough and able to defend one self not just something to be but a necessity. The very climate called for one to be strong or end up dead either through natural means or enemies, even among themselves it is battles.
Considering the dichotomy of the dwarves/berserkers/valkyries there were likely a lot of clashes due to ideals and the best way for survival. None of these three races are truly subservient and willing to bend to the other personally. It is only when Odin established laws they agreed to follow that an actual hierarchy was formed. In fact if it was not for the fact that despite dragons, magic, and the dead still finding ways to interact with the living this world still has the biological need for reproduction found in our world the clans would likely have never meshed at all before Odin and remained separate completely. But alas a man plus a woman is still a math combination needed to create more children and thus allows future generations to be born.
So it likely is not all that hard to imagine that fighting also played roles in this as well, considering that some tribes likely wouldn't allow one to join to find a suitable partner without proving they will help keep the tribe going and not be a leech on limited resources. There is likely also a large chance some tribes used their fighting to take partners from other tribes when new blood is needed and thus other tribes had to learn how to fight even better to keep from being gutted and scattered across such tribes that forcefully take what they want.
This latter headcanon is also where I think the idea behind the law that if a Valkyrie can not fight anymore or needs to be punished they are made to become wives and mothers. Since if they came from a culture where you likely did have to fight to not end up being taken by a member of an opposing tribe to bear children for them. Then having such a sentiment makes far more sense.
Even magic seems a novelty and a rare thing among those that call Ragnanival home, outside of general inborn magic that allow Valkyrie to fly and the Berserkers their strength in battle. Even the dwarves rely mostly on inventions and their ability to create machines that border on magic then actual magic in every aspect of their lives. Which means that magicians are likely not naturally born all that often within Ragnanival or the lack of magic being used on a larger scale may also mean any born with such potential would never realize such or would have to leave their homeland to find a teacher else where.
With no great magic users and their population divided into tribes, cities and such were likely things not seen. Oh there are likely permanent structures scattered through out for them to use when times become to harsh, but they likely spent most of their lives in a nomadic life style. Moving as the animals and weather did in order to maintain food stores and herbs. So knowing how to survive with nothing but furs and canvas to protect you and yours from frostbite and hungry animals. It also means that hunting and gathering are skills taught as soon as a child is old enough to walk and pick plants they are told to pick. All of this likely lead to closer communities within the tribes that was lost when a united nation was formed.
From what little we get in notes and throw away dialog through out, it's pretty much a given that Ragnanival has always been, not war like, but fighting focused. Considering their geographical location of being a neighbor to the gates to The Land of the Dead and the fact sinners have been known to escape now and again from there; coupled with a climate that is likely not fertile fields and mild weather makes being tough and able to defend one self not just something to be but a necessity. The very climate called for one to be strong or end up dead either through natural means or enemies, even among themselves it is battles.
Considering the dichotomy of the dwarves/berserkers/valkyries there were likely a lot of clashes due to ideals and the best way for survival. None of these three races are truly subservient and willing to bend to the other personally. It is only when Odin established laws they agreed to follow that an actual hierarchy was formed. In fact if it was not for the fact that despite dragons, magic, and the dead still finding ways to interact with the living this world still has the biological need for reproduction found in our world the clans would likely have never meshed at all before Odin and remained separate completely. But alas a man plus a woman is still a math combination needed to create more children and thus allows future generations to be born.
So it likely is not all that hard to imagine that fighting also played roles in this as well, considering that some tribes likely wouldn't allow one to join to find a suitable partner without proving they will help keep the tribe going and not be a leech on limited resources. There is likely also a large chance some tribes used their fighting to take partners from other tribes when new blood is needed and thus other tribes had to learn how to fight even better to keep from being gutted and scattered across such tribes that forcefully take what they want.
This latter headcanon is also where I think the idea behind the law that if a Valkyrie can not fight anymore or needs to be punished they are made to become wives and mothers. Since if they came from a culture where you likely did have to fight to not end up being taken by a member of an opposing tribe to bear children for them. Then having such a sentiment makes far more sense.
Even magic seems a novelty and a rare thing among those that call Ragnanival home, outside of general inborn magic that allow Valkyrie to fly and the Berserkers their strength in battle. Even the dwarves rely mostly on inventions and their ability to create machines that border on magic then actual magic in every aspect of their lives. Which means that magicians are likely not naturally born all that often within Ragnanival or the lack of magic being used on a larger scale may also mean any born with such potential would never realize such or would have to leave their homeland to find a teacher else where.
With no great magic users and their population divided into tribes, cities and such were likely things not seen. Oh there are likely permanent structures scattered through out for them to use when times become to harsh, but they likely spent most of their lives in a nomadic life style. Moving as the animals and weather did in order to maintain food stores and herbs. So knowing how to survive with nothing but furs and canvas to protect you and yours from frostbite and hungry animals. It also means that hunting and gathering are skills taught as soon as a child is old enough to walk and pick plants they are told to pick. All of this likely lead to closer communities within the tribes that was lost when a united nation was formed.
◾ Tags: