Sure as hell feels like it, how much of this game is influenced by Norse mythology?

We don't know yet.

The Nords are obviously very inspired by the vikings, but I would definately not put a equal mark between the two.

Indeed, Bethesda might release a development video about some influences in the game, for example the stone structures/cities etc. So it might be mentioned later

Who spotted Techno Viking in the trailer?

lol techni viking

In other posts, I have stated that Nirn is not equal to Earth, and Nords are not equal to Norse. That being said, I do feel that much of the theme of Skyrim, is very much influenced by what we term the Viking Era.

In preparing my background story for my character, and to get into the spirit of the game, I have initiated many searches on the internet related to the Norse and their history, as defined by mythology, anthropology and archeology, to include some of the various Eddur.

I suspect that some of the culture in the game will be influenced by the Norse, but with mythology, very strong Tamerilic ties. An an example, it is probable that Norse gods will not be in the game, but the gods of Tamriel may be mentioned, instead. Let's say more Mara and Dibella, and probably not Freya or Frigga, etc.

I am rather curious, however, to see just how much Norse culture is included in the game. For example, when Norse women married, they were given sets of keys to the family chests, etc. They wore these keys like jewelry, on a belt or apron, as a status symbol. Will married Nord women do the same?

Thanks, OP, I found this to be an interesting topic.

Nords are definitely inspired by the Norse. Even the name is inspired by them.
However, they are "inspired", not "equal".

Skyrim = Skyrim.

Is there some Scandinavian influence? Sure, but Skyrim is not Scandinavia.

This. Just like the Imperials and the Romans.

I hope that with the inspiration from norse culture they have more than the steriotypical viking warrior, but also look at the more peaceful side of their culture. There were many rules on when you could kill someone, if it was a crime or selvdefence and not to mention that only a relatively small part of them actually were warriors by trade.

Well if http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Alga and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Honmund are anything to go by, Nordic tradition is to remain unmarried and simply live together.

I think they were married "nord-style" according to Honmund, but none of that "chapel nonsense". Just as the norse wasn't married in the christian way before it was forced on us by Olav den Hellige(the Holy).

obviously! :brokencomputer:

Indeed. Last year I did in fact make a written report and anolysis of Hávamál (the Sayings of the High One (Odin)), a part of the poetic Edda that mostly consists of some sort of "guidelines" for how one is supposed to live and behave. Really interesting stuff actually. One funny thing is that vikings are often seen as drunken barbarians that didn't do anything but fight everything they saw, and yet parts of Hávamál speak of the importance of not drinking too much. It also speaks of the importance of friendship, and one of the larger "chapters" of the text is basically nothing but ethical and moral guidelines. Hmm.

That's right. We, the norse, managed to hold our contry together by making sure it was laws. About the drinking thing: a man should be able to drink a lot of mead, but if he got drunk it meant he had gone to far. Selfcontrol was the key to honor off the battlefield.
Another thing I hope they include is the strange sense of honor. In one of the sages one man breaks in to a house and steals something valuable, but he feels that he have dishonored himself. He then goes back and kill the owner of the item since dead menn can own anything.
Edit: grammar

I think it's safe to say that the Vikings suffer from the same thing as knights, samurai and ninjas. An inaccurate popular portrayal.

You can say that again.

Funny fact: Skyrim means "explained" in Icelandic. :thumbsup: The more you know.

Funny fact: Skyrim means gravy-rhyme in Swedish. Basically.