Norsca is a harsh land, far up in the frozen north. The Norscan peninsula is a mountainous realm to the west of Kislev and north of the Sea of Claws. Its harsh environment is not suitable for much agriculture and does not support a large population. Worse, it can be a very dangerous place to live. Worse, the mountains and surrounding lands are filled with Trolls, Giants, and other dangerous foes - you need to be tough and hardy to survive up here. Drinking heavily helps with the psychological aspects.

And that's on the best of days. An even greater threat than Trolls and Giants lies not far to the north - the endless expanse of the Chaos Wastes, from which periodic eruptions of beastmen and worse foul, gibbering things burst forth.

To survive in Norsca, you need to be able to fight, and their small, scattered communities are groupings of warriors - even the women. Trade is very important, as it's hard for any small community to produce all they need, and trade happens by sea - the mountain routes being impractical. The Norscans are excellent sailors.

A land of hardy warriors, with excellent sailing skills, few riches, and no way to support an excess population, produces just what one might expect. Norscan raids on the coasts of Kislev, Bretonnia and the Empire are a periodic, but expected threat. Some roving Norscans go even further, travelling to the southern nations, or even across the vast ocean to land colonies in the Southlands and the New World.

Most feared of the northlands are the famed Berserkers, warriors who work themselves up into a frantic frenzy before battle and charge to face the most dangerous foes unarmoured - keen to demonstrate to their mates that they know know fear.