Vanaheim comprises the western part of Nordheim. The Vanir are also a numerous people but they are not as numerous as their foes, the Aesir. Like Asgard, Vanaheim is not a unified kingdom serving one supreme king but has a more locally-orientated power structure.
Like the Æsir, the Vanir believe in appearance and are not a dirty people. They make combs from antlers and many carry small tools with them to clean their fingernails and ears. Their red beards and manes are often braided and groomed. The Vanir bathe weekly and use saunas for health reasons.
Clothing amongst the tribes is invariably practical, with thick woollen tunics, cloaks and furs favoured for the protection they grant against the snow and ice. Many Nordheimer also wear ornaments and decoration – simple arm-rings made by the tribe’s smiths or items of antler or bone are favoured over the flimsy jewellery of more civilised lands. Wealthy Nordheimer may be somewhat more ostentatious, having gold coins sewn to their clothing to display their wealth and even the fact that they are not afraid of thieves.
The Vanir are giant men who value honor, loyalty and reputation above all things, for their land is harsh, and they are hardened by generations of living in near-arctic conditions and almost constant warfare with the Aesir, the Cimmerians, the Hyperboreans and the Picts. However, there are some Vanirmen who are gutless cowards, men who attack other from behind rocks. Not even their own people claim them.
In order to survive in their cold wastelands, the Vanir have built a religion around battle and warfare. Aggression is worshipped, and the Vanir are undoubtedly fierce warriors, chasing after life with intense enthusiasm, singing songs even as they die, swords in hand. As Nordheimr traits go, the Vanir feast in a loud, boisterous fashion and often engage in ‘friendly’ brawls when drunk.
It should be known that in battle, the Vanir do not quit so easily. Even when outnumbered and far from home, the Vanir would fight right to the very end. This determination can be seen in the set of their feet and their eyes. However, there have been a few exceptions; usually a commander offers his life in the return for his men to return to their homes alive. They will also take caution of formidable opponents as well as flee from supernatural creatures.
The Vanir differ from their Cimmerian and Aesir neighbors in that they are vicious raiders who attack others for slaves and plunder excessively, sometimes just for amusement.
Vanir raids are known to be especially brutal. The Vanir are famed for burning all they cannot carry away with them. Vanirs dislike intrusions into their territories and will always destroy any settlements which come within several days’ march of their villages.
Their favoured weapons are the broadsword and the axe. Hunting and war spears are also commonly seen. However they frown upon the use of bows, which they perceive a dishonourable weapon used by cowards.
In addition to grooming, self-esteem includes a measure of status. Status among the Vanir is achieved through combat prowess or wealth. Those Vanir who achieve a level of wealth often display this wealth. This is not considered vanity, but just another part of their culture. Hiding one’s wealth is cowardly, showing fear of thieves. Thus, their clothes and armour have coins sewn onto them. Coins are also hung on chains and worn as jewellery, displayed with arrogant pride.
Jewellery is equally prized by Nordheimer men as by the women. Precious metals are often melted down and recast as wearable items, such as bracelets or armlets.
The nordheimer worship Ymir, the Frost Giant King. Dread Ymir rules icy Valhalla, a realm of long halls, snowy glaciers and eternal drinking, wenching and fighting. The dead dwell there. Ymir represents the Earth to the nordheimer and both the Vanir and the Aesir spring from Ymir. Battle for the nordheimer is not only the basis of their economy and social life, it is also the basis of their religious life, for Ymir is worshipped by doing battle all day, then eating, drinking and singing all night. Indeed, even those activities have religious merit, for ale is the drink of bold Ymir and, as such, is sacred and consumed in large quantities. It is said among the nordheimer that it is possible to come into direct contact with Ymir by drinking yourself unconscious. Thus, inebriation is a religious obligation as well as a social activity.
The Nordheimers believe in an afterlife and the afterlife often mirrors how one lives life and meets one’s doom. For the common folk, the afterlife is dull and dreary, a life spent gathering and serving the warriors. For valiant warriors, however, the afterlife is filled with fighting and feasting in the snowy plains and halls of Valhalla.
Nordheimers have no time or interest in priests to interpret Ymir for them. Each man is his own intermediary to Ymir. Religion is viewed as a personal matter. They keep no temples to Ymir but they acknowledge many sacred outdoor sites, such as mountains, islands, fields, rocks and groves.
Three times per year the nordheimer hold ceremonies to placate Ymir, asking for victory in war and raiding, making sacrifices of animals and humans, feasting on steaming food hot from the fires, drinking ale in fantastic quantities and singing lustful songs celebrating their wars and heroes.
The Völva are their shamans and oracles but they have more political and medical functions than religious ones. Male shamans are called Godi. Female shamans are called völva and practises seid, the Nordheimer version of Shamanism.