Next Fest Day 2: The Raven Host

The Raven Host is heavily inspired by Vikings and Norse mythology. This faction is all about seeking glory and the thrill of battle whenever possible.

The Raven Host

The Raven Host sails where others fear to chart. Born from frostbitten coasts and iron gray seas, they are a people shaped by hunger, hardship, and the promise of glory beyond the horizon. Their longships cut through storm and spray alike, prows carved with snarling beasts and watchful ravens, sacred to the Allfather who sees every battle unfold. To the Raven Host, war is not merely conquest. It is proof of worth. Every raid is a test of courage. Every clash of shield and axe is a step toward songs that will outlive bone and blood. Villages along distant shores whisper of sails on the dawn tide, of warriors who descend like a terrifying and bloody winter gale.

Yet beneath their fearsome reputation lies a culture bound by oath and destiny. The Raven Host believes that fate is woven long before a blade is drawn, and that the Norns themselves measure the courage of each warrior. Cowardice is a stain that follows a soul into the afterlife. Valor, however, earns a place in the great hall. Their shieldwalls are not simply tactics but rituals of unity. Their berserkers do not merely rage but channel the spirits of beasts. When the Raven Host marches, they do so with the certainty that the gods are watching, and that glory favors the bold.

Faction Effects

• Elite Ravagers: Sacking towns prestiges two random units.

Bjorn Ironskull

Bjorn Ironskull earned his name the night he survived a blow that would have felled any other warrior. Struck bareheaded by a rival chieftain’s axe during a blood feud duel, Bjorn rose from the snow with his skull split and his fury unbroken. Bjorn believes strength is proven in the shieldwall, where steel meets steel and only discipline separates victory from slaughter. Under his command, armored warriors harden into an immovable bulwark, their shields locking tighter and their resolve deepening. He favors decisive engagements and the steady grind of attrition, trusting that his huskarls and elite guards will outlast any foe. To Bjorn, battle is not chaos. It is a forge. And only those tempered by its heat deserve to stand beside him.

Hero Effects

• Ironhide: Melee Infantry gain +4 Melee Defense, Armored Units gain +10 Armor

• Skulls for the Skull Pile: +2 Gold from battle rewards

Freyja Stormweaver

Freyja Stormweaver walks the line between warrior and myth. Said to have been born during a thunderstorm that split the sky in two, she was raised among seers who claimed the winds whispered her name long before she could speak. Unlike many jarls, Freyja leads from the front, shield raised and spear leveled, her presence igniting fierce devotion among her shieldmaidens. Where she strides, fear falters. Her warriors stand unshaken before monstrous foes, as if wrapped in the unyielding calm at the eye of a tempest. Legends claim she has called lightning to shatter enemy ranks, though she dismisses such tales with a quiet smile. Freyja understands that courage is contagious. When her voice rises above the clash of battle, even the faintest heart beats louder. And when her Valkyries descend from the clouds, enemies learn that death itself wears wings.

Hero Effects

• With me sisters!: Shieldmaiden units gain +10 Leadership and +4 Melee Defense

• The Rock of Trondheim: All units are immune to Terror

Unit Descriptions

Driftwood Skirmishers

Drawn from coastal villages, these lightly equipped archers fight with simple bows and stubborn resolve. Though untrained compared to seasoned warriors, they provide vital ranged support in early engagements.

Thrall Levy

Farmers and fishermen called to arms, the Thrall Levy wield axe and shield in defense of their clan. Their courage stems from necessity rather than glory.

Draugr Bolt Throwers

A grim siege engine, the Draugr Bolt Thrower hurls massive bolts capable of piercing ranks in a single devastating shot. Its presence turns open fields into killing grounds.

Huskarls

Veteran retainers sworn to their jarl, Huskarls fight in heavy armor with axe and shield. They anchor the shieldwall and refuse to yield ground once claimed.

Shieldmaidens

Fierce warriors who have earned their place in battle, Shieldmaidens combine discipline with unbreakable spirit. Their unity and resolve inspire nearby allies to hold fast.

Skogarmadr Archers

Hunters of the deep forests, Skogarmadr Archers loose arrows with practiced precision.

Berserkers

Clad in bear furs and wielding twin axes, Berserkers hurl themselves into combat with terrifying abandon. Their bloodlust drives them to carve through enemy infantry without hesitation.

Sons of Fenrir

Towering werewolves bound by ancient rites, the Sons of Fenrir tear into foes with claw and fang. Their savage howls alone can shake enemy morale.

Valkyries

Armored maidens bearing spear and shield, Valkyries stride across the battlefield as living symbols of divine judgment. Their presence steels allies and unnerves foes.

Varangian Guard

Elite warriors sworn by sacred oath, the Varangian Guard combine discipline and ferocity in equal measure. They are trusted to hold the line when all else falters.

Angels of Death

Mounted upon winged steeds, these Valkyries descend from the skies with lance leveled and shields gleaming. Their devastating charges shatter formations and sow terror.

Jomsvikings

Legendary warriors clad in heavy armor and wielding massive two-handed axes, the Jomsvikings embody uncompromising honor. When they advance, few enemies stand long before them.