Magic is everywhere in Skalding society. It is a tool, a weapon, and a path to power, and the Skaldings greatly respect those who can wield it effectively. Those who are skilled at wielding rod and stave in battle can gain vast glory for themselves by fighting for Hold and Helm or by delving into the dark corners of the world and taking whatever power and riches they find there. Magic’s more subtle capabilities are equally respected — ritual mages are just as likely to rise to power as those who cast spells upon the battlefield, and any would-be Jarl knows that having a skilled mage supporting them can be critical in claiming a position of power within a Hold.
Power and violence are core parts of Skalding culture, and their attitude towards magic reflects this. Every Skalding mage chooses the spells they learn with care, for even those who have no interest in fighting know that war and bloodshed are still an expected part of life in the Peninsula. Battle-mages are highly regarded and are welcome in any Helm, whether their skills lie in healing or in dealing out curses or shattering shields. Skaldings know full well that mages are not perfect equals to warriors on the battlefield, but the flexibility and effectiveness of their spells, when used properly, can make them critical parts of every Hersir’s battle tactics. Battle-mages who earn glory and know how to put their fame and skill-at-arms to use can easily rise through the ranks of Skalding society.
Magic is also seen as something that is absolutely critical to everyday life in Iskaldur, if for no other reason than foretelling the weather and blessing the crops, herds, and fishing fleets. Without ritualists to perform these vital tasks throughout the centuries there would have been far more famines than Iskaldur has already experienced. Although they are often derided as being “Jortrken mages,” these ritualists are vital parts of their communities, and every Jarl knows to give them the respect they deserve for their role in keeping a Hold alive and prosperous in a harsh and merciless landscape.
There are two general approaches to magic that Skaldings take: Galdr and Seidr. Each has significant cultural weight to it, and a Skalding mage’s choice of how they approach their craft says a great deal about them, at least in the eyes of other Skaldings. Neither of them are true magical traditions like Rune Kenning or Spellsinging; rather, they are philosophical paths that Skalding mages take in their pursuit of magical power, and which influence (or are influenced by) their personalities and attitudes towards the rest of their lives.
Galdr is the more aggressive path, using magic to impose one’s will upon the world and taking the power that you seek for your own. It is associated with battle magic, risk-taking, cunning, and ambition. The wandering mages known as Galdrken are named for their adherence to this path as they seek new sources of power, magical knowledge, and glory in battle.
Seidr by contrast is more introspective and calm, focusing on opening oneself up to the energies around you and, for the most advanced practitioners, gaining glimpses of the wills of the Gods and the weave of Fate itself. It is associated with ritual magic, patience, wisdom, and insight. Though some Skaldings look down upon the practitioners of Seidr as being “too passive” in their pursuit of greatness, it’s become a lot harder to make that argument since Hadrek Ironsails, a proud Seidr mage, took the throne and became Hákonig.
A mage who is a practitioner of Seidr, known as a Seidkonr, will tend to approach a problem by assessing the situation, perhaps performing some divination or speaking at length with those who might help them learn more, and only then acting to address the issue. A mage who is a practitioner of Galdr is more likely to approach the same problem by doing a quick assessment of the issue and then applying as much force as possible to it in the most effective means they have at their disposal. The bifurcation of magical approaches also influences how Skaldings expect mages to react when angered — a Galdrken who is mocked or thwarted is liable to lash out with spell and stave, while a Seidr mage tends to take their time and be thorough about any revenge they might seek upon those who anger them.
Rune Kenning was born in Iskaldur, and it is the magical tradition used by a majority of Skalding mages. Many of those who don’t make it their primary tradition use the Elder Runes as supporting elements in their spells and rituals. Even non-mages often learn the Elder Runes and make use of them as an amateur attempt to invoke supernatural power, though most Skaldings are very cautious of using any of the more dangerous runes for fear of setting off a curse they can’t control. Many Skalding Rune-Weavers also make additional use of spells and incantations written in the Skalding tongue (the real-world Futhark alphabet) carved into metal, bone, wood, or stone, as a way of channeling the Elder Runes’ powers more efficiently and accurately.
Petromancy is relatively common amongst mages of the Penninsula, especially in the nation’s more mountainous regions. Skalding Petromancers often carve runes — either the Elder Runes or simply the runes from the Skalding alphabet — into their gems or in the setting around them, which they believe enhances the effect of the magics passing through the stones. They favor simple smooth cabochons or flat and polished stones over the fancier cuts favored by Petromancers of the Vauldan Empire, preferring to emphasize the quality and beauty of the stone itself rather than the shimmering of light upon a faceted gem.
Stone Calling is a venerable tradition amongst the Dwarves of Iskaldur, passed down from the first Dwarves to arrive on the Peninsula during the Second Diaspora. The halls of Dvarghavn are covered in blessings and enchantments carved with Stoic runes, and most mages from that Province know the runes of Stone Calling well even if they don’t practice the tradition. Items crafted via Stone Calling are seen as slightly more reliable by Skaldings than those crafted via other traditions, though there is no evidence to back this belief up.
Seidkonr frequently use Astromancy as part of their practice, especially when they wish for more detail in their divinations than can be achieved via Rune Kenning. Hrafnalar who practice magic often find that the subtleties and direction of Astromancy are particularly useful in their profession, though they still frequently use another tradition’s physical trappings to either support their ritual castings or camouflage what magics they are performing.
Hydromancy is practiced by many seafaring Skalding mages, especially Galdrken raised along the shores of the Peninsula. The tradition is seen as a critical tool to navigation and avoiding the worst dangers of the ocean, and many Helms will refuse to set sail without a Hydromancer on board to propitiate Isvalgandr, the great serpentine Spirit that sleeps at the bottom of the Skarren Sea. Most Skalding Hydromancers use the Elder Runes of Rune Kenning as supporting elements of their practice, setting up ritual circles using the runes and then channeling the power generated by their Hydromantic invocations through them.
Spellsinging is the domain of Skalds within Iskaldur. Though some do indeed sing to invoke their magics, many choose a more poetic approach, using selections from the Sagas as the basis for their spells and rituals, recounting, recreating, or referencing particularly impressive and iconic Sagas to perform their magic. Skalds who use curses in battle often chant cutting insults as their incantations, either taken from one of the Sagas or made up on the spot.