Culture

Obviously, this site cannot detail everything about Norse culture—nor should it. Instead, this page highlights useful elements that may help enhance play in tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons.

For those interested in learning more, consider reading the sagas, watching videos from Jackson Crawford’s YouTube channel, or exploring other resources such as Hurstwic.

Relevant entries on this site:

Most Norse people believed in fate to some extent. Most importantly, they believed that the day of your death was predetermined—even the gods could not change it. However, you could still choose how you died.

If you died honorably in battle, you might be chosen by Óðin to join him in Valhalla. A valkyrie would retrieve your soul from the battlefield and carry it there. This belief tended to make people more willing to fight—and more likely to respond to insults or threats with violence.

Reputation was also deeply important. A good reputation could improve your quality of life and social standing. Those with strong reputations were more likely to receive aid or be treated favorably in legal disputes.

Someone who lived up to the ideals of Norse society and earned a solid reputation was called a drengr.

At the opposite end of the spectrum was the níðingr, a person viewed as dishonorable or untrustworthy—but not necessarily an outlaw.

Somewhere in between was the víkingr. This term typically described someone who went raiding or adventuring. It was not inherently dishonorable, but it often carried a rough reputation.

In the early Viking Age, there were no powerful centralized kingdoms. Most communities were led by local figures such as Jarls, who held influence but not absolute power.

Laws were few and mostly oral. Goði—originally ceremonial religious leaders—gradually gained political importance in some regions.

Legal disputes and lawmaking happened at regular gatherings called þing. These events brought together jarls, goði, and freemen to recite laws, resolve conflicts, and decide on punishments. They were surprisingly democratic for the time.

Without state-backed enforcers, people were expected to carry out justice themselves. In some cases, victims were required to enforce punishment directly. Particularly serious offenses could lead to someone being declared an outlaw, cut off from all social and legal protections.

Disputes could also be resolved through a ritual duel called a hólmganga.

The Norse did not widely use reading or writing until Christianization and the adoption of the Roman alphabet. Before that, written communication was limited and mostly practical.

They used runes, a simple system primarily used for labeling objects such as weapons, tools, and grave markers. During the Viking Age, the Younger Futhark was the dominant runic alphabet, consisting of only 16 characters. Each rune often represented multiple sounds, which were interpreted through context. Runes were made of straight lines, ideal for carving into wood or stone.

Short messages were often written on pieces of wood. Wax-covered wooden tablets were also used occasionally.

Several characters common in Old Norse writing may be unfamiliar:

Thorn (þ) – Sounds like the th in thick or thin. Learn more
Eth (ð) – Sounds like the th in then or there. Learn more

Pronunciation Examples:

Þorr (modern Thor) – Pronounced as expected from the English spelling.
Óðin (modern Odin) – The “d” is actually pronounced like a soft “th.”

Although vowel markings and a few consonants differ from English, using þ and ð appropriately (and guessing the rest) will usually get you close enough for immersion.