Fremennik

The Old School RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:Fremennik

The Fremennik are a group of human Norsemen who inhabit the Fremennik Province and certain islands in northern RuneScape.

During the Fifth Age, they were in a war with the magical Moon Clan of Lunar Isle, because of their dislike of Magic and all who use it. The Fremennik did not approve of the crafting of Rune stones, and thought that humans should only use the runes they were given by the gods. The hatred between the two clans was lessened during the Lunar Diplomacy quest. During the Sixth Age, following the events of the Hero's Welcome quest, the two sides have resolved for peace, in V's memory.

The player become an honourary Fremennik after having completed The Fremennik Trials quest. Then upon completion of the trials, the player is given a Fremennik name (however, if the player has a Ring of charos (a) they may change their name by speaking to Brundt the Chieftain). Players may speak with the villagers and find out a lot more about them. The purchase and wearing of Fremennik armour is also made available after the trials. Though, the Fremennik at Daemonheim will not address the player by their Fremennik name for reasons unknown.

The Mountain Tribe, a formerly nomadic group originally were part of the Fremennik also (as were the Moon Clan), until a dispute over whether to settle and build a village, or keep on living as nomads, tore them apart.

History

Early History

First mentioned in the Lores and Histories Twice Burnt, which dates from the Second Age, they enslaved a race known as the auspah, which Char, a character in the Lores and Histories, belongs to. The auspah were set to work using their skills to cook for the Fremennik.

Like any other human group, the Fremennik were a nomadic tribe. They lived a simple life, hunting the local animals, fishing, and travelling throughout the Fremennik Province so as not to exhaust the land's rich resources.

Eventually, they abandoned their nomadic way of life, creating the village of Rellekka. While this greatly improved life for most Fremennik, some disagreed with this way of living and left the tribe, grouping together to form the Mountain Tribe. Until Year 169 of the Fifth Age, the tribe travelled around the mountains east of Rellekka. This angered the Fremennik, and the two tribes were somewhat bitter towards each other ever since, until the player fixes the relation up a bit during the Mountain Daughter quest.

Separation

Some years after, a Fremennik seer discovered a rock that was revealed to be rune essence, which gave the Fremennik the ability to use magic. This knowledge quickly spread to other kingdoms outside of the Fremennik province, making them even more powerful than before. The discovery of magic caused a great struggle within the Fremennik tribe. Some believed the Fremennik could use the magics of the essence to defend themselves from the races that were constantly seeking to conquer their land. Others believed that the rock was not to be used by mortals, and that the gods would destroy them if they used it. The tension grew until many more Fremennik separated themselves from Rellekka and departed for Lunar Isle, where they would form the Moon Clan. The Moon Clan became the most developed in magic in the human history, although tensions are still relatively high between the Moon Clan and Fremennik.

In years 42-62 of the Fifth Age, groups of Fremennik conducted a series of armed invasions of Kandarin, Asgarnia, Misthalin, and the Imcando dwarven territory of Ice Mountain in an effort to stop the creation of rune stones by humans. Eventually the crusade faultered and the settlement of Barbarian Village was established; eventually becoming the permanent settlement of Gunnarsgrunn.

The Fremennik also spread to establish the kingdoms of Miscellania and eventually Etceteria after it broke away from Miscellania. They established the Fremennik Isles, formed by Neitiznot and Jatizso, and formed outposts such as the one hosting the battle of Barbarian Assault and the one atop Daemonheim. The Fremennik are never as far away as they seem being found battling Dagannoths at Waterbirth and escorting adventurers near Al Kharid and Taverley to Daemonheim.

Culture

Fremennik culture mostly consists of battle and glory - many Fremennik warriors travel to Waterbirth Island and enter the dungeon underneath to fight the dagannoth, who they call "daggermouths" due to their dagger-like teeth. They also fight their allies, such as rock crabs and wallasalkis, using their remains to create armour - rock-shell, spined and skeletal. When the Fremennik die in battle, they are sent to the Fremennik spiritual realm instead of the afterlife that Death and Icthlarin normally perform due to their different beliefs. Inside the realm, they feast, drink and talk until the End of Things.

Members of the Fremennik tribes are usually given the right on birth, although outsiders can also join through marriage or trials. At least for the main Fremennik tribe and the off-shoots in Miscellania, Etceteria, Neitiznot and Jatizso, Fremnnik children must participate in a trial that focuses on honing strength, courage and intelligence that the Council at Rellekka oversees to be considered adults. Until they pass this these trials, they are considered children and do not share the same privileges as adults. Many Fremennik see the trials as trivial, but express shame towards those who continually fail them.

Aversion to Runecrafting

Many Fremennik do not support the idea of creating runestones as they believe it to be a privilege of the gods. Some Fremennik go as far as to label runecrafting "heresy". They believe that the gods are spiteful and cruel, and will punish mortals for stealing "their" power. Indeed, the Fremennik once interpreted bad harvests as a sign of the gods' displeasure, causing them to enact a violent campaign against the mainland.

Many Fremennik do not believe that magic itself is blasphemous. They accept the usage of runestones left behind by Guthix, and employ magic users of their own known as seers. Fremennik seers were responsible for creating the protective barriers outside Daemonheim, Peer the Seer is a magic-using member of Rellekka, and unseen "Farseers" are noted to wield the eponymous magic equipment. What they specifically take issue with is the creation of runestones in addition to what Guthix left behind; that is considered greedy. The "outerlanders'" reliance on runecrafting is partly why they are so distrusted.

The Mountain Tribe are more extreme and believe that any form of magic should be prohibited. They split from the Rellekkan tribe of Fremennik in part because they disagreed with their usage of a seer. To the Mountain Tribe, magic is exclusively the domain of the gods or the spirits of the dead.

Fremennik places and settlements

• Rellekka, the main Fremennik city
• Mountain Camp, Mountain Tribe settlement
• Miscellania and Etceteria
• Fremennik Isles, formed by Neitiznot and Jatizso
• Lunar Isle, formed by ex-Fremenniks: the Moon Clan
• Part of Daemonheim and part of Waterbirth Island
• Gunnarsgrunn, formed by attacking Fremennik
• The Barbarian Outpost, formed by the Fremennik

Known Fremennik

• Brundt the Chieftain
• Swensen the Navigator
• Koschei the Deathless
• Thorvald the Warrior
• Sigmund the Merchant
• Sigli the Huntsman
• Manni the Reveller
• Lokar Searunner
• Olaf the Bard
• Peer the Seer
• Sassilik
• Lanzig
• Inga
• Freidir
• Jarvald
• Bardur
• Yrsa

Daemonheim

• Thok, Master of Dungeoneering
• Smuggler
• Dungeoneering tutor
• Sonje
• Fremennik shipmaster
• Rewards trader
• Wiglaf
• Estrith
• Fremennik banker

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included—see here for how to help out!

• patch 4 April 2016 (Update):
  • The Fremennik have stood down now they are sure the winter wolves have been driven away for another year.

• patch 7 September 2010 (Update):
  • Only players who have completed Fremennik Trials are meant to be allowed to pickpocket Fremenniks.

• patch 28 July 2009 (Update):
  • Capitalised Fremennik in a few places for consistency.

Trivia

• Fremennik seem to be a mixture of barbarian Germans, Slavs, Anglo-Saxons, and/or Norsemen, judging by their culture and names.
• The Fremennik are very judgemental of outsiders and refuse to sell anything to them.
• The term "Fremennik" may be a reference to Frank Herbert's Dune where the Fremen were hardy desert folk who were strong and disliked outsiders. This is referenced by Irwinsson, as when told he's a Fremennik he replied "Fremen?".