# Status

Status measures the respect a hero inspires in their fellow Icelanders, as well as their renown, wealth, and place within society. It is a broad measurement of how people perceive one’s honor. It is earned by the person who possesses it, granted by the community around them who observe and judge the hero’s behaviors.

Status Rating	Social Rank
0	Outlaw or vagrant
01–10	Freedman
11–20	Tenant
21–80	Householder
80–99	Goði (chieftain-priest; pl. goðar)
100	Lawspeaker

Changes in a hero’s social rank don’t occur automatically when the hero reaches the Status score level associated with that rank.

For example, a hero who has just reached 80% in Status is not automatically made a goði and given a chieftaincy. Instead, it means that the hero has the necessary social standing and potential to garner enough support to be accepted for that position if the opportunity arises.

Remember that there is a fixed number of 39 chieftaincies in the country. For someone to become a goði, it is necessary that a chieftaincy become available. This may occur when a goði dies or decides to sell their position.

Also, the country has only one Lawspeaker position, which has a three-year mandate. Only heroes with 100% Status can garner the support needed to become a Lawspeaker.

# Using Status

The gamemaster may ask a player to make a Status roll whenever a hero is trying to use their social standing to achieve a specific objective. This could be, for example, when persuading someone to provide help. Or it could be used to intimidate someone by reminding them of the respect owed the hero due to their social rank. Just like a standard skill roll, a result lower than the hero’s current Status indicates a success.

# Gaining Status

Status is increased by completing adventures and performing worthy deeds sthat bring the hero renown in the eyes of Icelandic society. At the end of each adventure, the gamemaster may award +1–3 Status to each hero in the group, provided that their exploits become well known.

Another way to increase Status is by gathering wealth. Once the Status score reaches 100%, it cannot be increased any further. With this Status score the hero is now one of the most renowned and respected people in Iceland, and their name is known even by the kings of other Norse countries. Be mindful, however, that even heroes with 100% can lose Status if they act in dishonorable ways.

# Wealth and Status

Status in Iceland is deeply connected to how prosperous and wealthy a person has become. In fact, in a country where no markets exist, and where everyone is a self-sufficient farmer, the primary reason for wealth accumulation is to gain a higher social standing. Icelanders use every opportunity to flaunt any treasure they possess, wearing silver or gold armbands and other valuable. items at all social gatherings such as assemblies and feasts. When not being used, valuable objects are either stored safely at the farmhouse or buried (see Oðinn’s Law).

For every 200 ells of vaðmál value of wealth acquired after hero creation, the hero can raise their Status score by 1 point. That wealth can be in the form of silver, actual ells of vaðmál, a ship, a farm, etc.

# Óðinn's' Law

Any valuable items that an individual would like to take to the afterlife do not necessarily need to be buried in their grave. Some prefer to bury their treasures while still alive. According to Óðinn’s Law, the location of the buried objects is not important, if they are underground and undisturbed, and the person buries the objects themselves.

Burying your treasure while you are still alive is an excellent way to ensure there are no nasty surprises in the afterlife. You do not want to arrive in Valhalla without your favorite silver armband because your family had a change of heart and considered it too valuable to be buried with you. Furthermore, adhering to Óðinns Law in life may prevent grave robbing, as everyone will know that the grave has no treasures worth robbing.

It is a common habit to bury treasures in secret locations in Iceland before going on a Viking expedition abroad. If you are killed in battle while out of the country, your treasure will be with you when you arrive in Valhalla to feast and fight until Ragnarök.

Because buried treasure cannot be displayed at feasts and other occasions, it only affords the hero ½ as many Status points —1 point of Status for every 400 ells of vaðmál value.

Also, for every 400 ells of vaðmál of value that has been buried and dedicated to a god, the hero earns +1% to Worship (god of hero’s choice). The gods favor those who plan and prepare for the afterlife.

# Giving Wealth Away

One of the most effective ways of improving one’s Status is by giving wealth away. Gift-giving is a powerful way to display power and wealth. It is always expected to be a two-way act. Giving someone a valuable gift challenges the receiver to reciprocate with a gift of equal, or even better, value. Giving someone an extremely valuable gift that is clearly beyond their ability to reciprocate can be seen as an insult.

Failure to reciprocate a gift within six months with one of equal or better value results in the loss of 1D3 points of Status.

For every 150 ells of vaðmál of value that a hero gives away, their Status score increases by 1 point. This is a higher rate of Status points per ell of vaðmál than merely acquiring and keeping wealth. It is more advantageous to give wealth away than to hoard it—at least in terms of Status.

Reputation from a single piece of wealth provides only one reward. The gamemaster may modify the reward if something else is done later with the same item that increases the hero’s Status.

Receiving a gift does not result in a Status score increase. Similarly, giving away a gift that you received from someone else does not result in a Status increase.

Losing Status No matter how high a hero may climb the social ladder, it is always possible to fall—sometimes all the way to the bottom.

Any dishonorable act that becomes well known, and for which the hero has not paid compensation, causes loss of Status. Whenever there is a loss of Honor that becomes well known in the community, the hero also loses 1/10 of the lost Honor in Status, rounded up.

Being found guilty of a crime by an assembly and paying the compensation amount stipulated by law does not incur a loss of Status, if the full amount of compensation is paid.

Anyone sentenced to full outlawry has their Status immediately reduced to 0. This is permanent unless the hero has the sentence reverted. In the case of lesser outlawry, the hero’s Status is restored to the lowest score of their previous social rank (21% for a householder), after they complete the three years of exile prescribed by law.

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