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Skoja - Sea Raiders

Skoja [skoe-Yah]: Are sea raiders and ocean farers from beyond the Western Sea. They are large in stature (some topping six and a half feet), muscular, with coarse features. Generally they are dark haired with brown or dark-grey eyes, and skin tanned from long exposure to the elements. They are hardy and bluff, little given to delicate tasks or refined manners.

There are also distinct social classes. These range from Chieftains (and kings), landholding "Thingmen", smallholders, tenants, hirelings, and finally thralls (servants) and outsiders (usually beggars or outlaws).

The height of Skoja raiding and colonization was around 600 years ago. In 327PC (the current year is 474PC) Count Adom wrest the isle of Loth-Marduk from Hegfer the Fat and ended Skoja influence among the Inner Lothings. Loth-Marduk was the last stronghold of the Skoja in what is now Pendar. Since that time the Skoja that settled in what is now the Kingdom of Pendar have been fully integrated into society. In Maldan, Moria Ironstorm is the reigning Baroness of Loth-Maldan and owes fealty to Count Theron.

There are still existent “old” Skoja jarldoms (quite a bit north of Maldan). However, as the lands they had formerly raided are now protected by a strong central government, they have largely turned into traders and sea going merchants. Their raids are confined to those areas outside the control of strong kingdoms. These jarls and their huscarls aren’t foolish enough to actively raid Pendar: many of the folks they would be raiding are kinsmen, the sort of retaliation that would be invoked would be horrendous, and more profit is made by having Pendar as a trading partner.

So in essence there are three different cultures here: the Skoja at the height of their raiding (their glory days), the Skojum jarldoms to the far north, and the modern integrated Skoja of Maldan, Beldan, and Pendar. I think we should focus on this latter culture.

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