A Norscan vitki; the spelling of the name displayed is a typo.
The vitki are the healers and local shamans for most Norscan tribes. Admittedly, most Norscan spellcasters are Chaos Sorcerers, witches and warlocks. All of these mystics draw their power from the Dark Gods, channelling Dhar to suit their needs.
Still, in some parts of Norsca, an older tradition remains: one placing emphasis on divination, healing, and prophecy. Whilst most Old World scholars include vitki in the pantheon of corrupt daemonologists, such vitki are not always blatant servants of the Ruinous Powers, and instead work their magic to aid their people.[1a]
Vitki Temple[]
"To worship war is to endlessly indulge in it until death, or into immortality -- whichever comes first."
- —Description of Norscan Vitki Temple in Total War: Warhammer.[2a]
The Norscan shaman-sorcerers that embed themselves into warbands are often the ones creating the impetus for war. They act as conduits, pursuing dark pacts and bargains with numerous Chaos godlings and Daemons while using their prophetic influence to suggestively whisper into the ears of the chieftains, guiding them towards mass slaughter.
The most powerful of the shaman-sorcerers use pyres sometimes located in purpose-built temples in order to augment their influence. Upon these pyres, they burn the living flesh of war captives, slaves, animals, or even castigated tribesmen in order to conduct their dark rituals.[2a]
Canon Conflict[]
In Total War: Warhammer, the "Vitki Temple," a building which grants additional recruitment rank to newly-recruited lords, is spelled as "Vikti Temple."
Trivia[]
A vitki was a sorcerer or magician in real world societies that spoke Old Norse, which means "one with wisdom." The term itself was derived from vitr, an Old Norse word meaning "wisdom."
Sources[]
- 1 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 150
- 2: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 2a: Vitki Temple (Building description)