Songs of the Return, Volume 9, The Tale of the Vedrfolnir


  • Among the legendary vessels and crews from the massive shipyards of Jyljyrfyk to make the journey south across the whale road -  the Kaal Kaaz, the Chrion, the Sadon Reyth, the Harakk, the Fallowfire, the Jorrvaskr and the most exalted crew of our lord Ysgramor’s ship, the Ylgermet - there was perhaps no other wave-rider more song-famed for her elegant curves, subtle design and matching beauty of her captain than the Vedrfolnir.

    Öndótt Fairjaw and the crew of the Vedrfolnir could be heard singing far and wide across the frothy peaks of the ocean’s mountains and for their Voices they were blessed by Kyne, as ever a wind was at their back, the sea was always bountiful before their wake, and whales swam alongside them always.

    They carried with them the three great land-strider children of Kyne, the bear, Bjorn of Stuhn; the fox, Hans of Shor; and the wolf; Angr of Mara.
     
    Above them flew the air-swimmers: the Hawk, Narthi; and the Owl, Jhun.  And the goddess of the sky watched over them and their fair guardian captain who was oft surrounded by moths during the long final passage.

    When at last they landed and the traitorous and savage elves had finally been driven back and our lord Ysgramor let loose his victory cry, he turned to the circle of captains and bade Öndótt Fairjaw come forth before him. He said:
     

    “You and your crew have shown the strength of the bear, the ferocity of the wolf and the cunning of the fox to our enemies this day. The endurance of the whale, the strategy of the owl and the grace of the eagles are yours. Go now to the highest peaks and deepest forests, live strong and as guardians like the bears, be fierce and loving like the wolves and be bold yet quiet like the foxes. Be beautiful like the moths, wise like the owls and as elegant as the hawks. Embody the aspects of these sacred totems so that we can show with our spirits what it is to be the Children of the Sky.”

    With that the crew of the Vedrfolnir lifted their voices one last time among the brave fellowship and honored company of the Five Hundred Companions of Ysgramor, harbinger of us all.

Comments

7 Comments   |   Amornar and 3 others like this.
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  August 21, 2017
    I don't know what's more amazing; the fact that you somehow seamlessly integrate this piece with the original or just how deep all of this is.
    Seriously, I thought this was a long lost page from Songs of the Return.
    • Paws
      Paws
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      I don't know what's more amazing; the fact that you somehow seamlessly integrate this piece with the original or just how deep all of this is.
      Seriously, I thought this was a long lost page from Songs of the Return.
        ·  August 21, 2017
      Dammit Kaisius, that's incredibly sweet of you :) :$ Capturing the spirit found within a volume of the Songs of Return, whilst still making it short, concise, and digestible was actually quite hard. The original idea was that the Ternion Monks Karver ment...  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  August 21, 2017
    I know what this is. This is the origin of...damn, what was their name? That Nordic monks, you very well know! :D Anyway, I'm a sucker for Song of Return stuff so I'm glad you posted this. And... Knowing you...the captain's a chick, right? :D
    • Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      I know what this is. This is the origin of...damn, what was their name? That Nordic monks, you very well know! :D Anyway, I'm a sucker for Song of Return stuff so I'm glad you posted this. And... Knowing you...the captain's a chick, right? :D
        ·  August 21, 2017
      Ternion monks! Finally recalled the name lol :D
      • Paws
        Paws
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Ternion monks! Finally recalled the name lol :D
          ·  August 21, 2017
        It is the Ternion Monks! :) I could never get that concept to work. To be a Nordic and have these violent cultural myths yet be a monk... Challenges my ability to think outside the box too much. But this event gave me a perfect opportunity to do something...  more
  • Amornar
    Amornar   ·  August 20, 2017
    Nice entry Phil, makes me want to make a new nord with a big ol' axe and go an elf slayin'.
    • Paws
      Paws
      Amornar
      Amornar
      Amornar
      Nice entry Phil, makes me want to make a new nord with a big ol' axe and go an elf slayin'.
        ·  August 20, 2017
      Thanks Amo :) I used Manny Marco Polo's powers of necromance to breathe life into this old project. Or, to keep it Nordic, I mantled Hoaga, the Mouth of Mud, who appeared as a great bearded king, had the
      powers of Marshalling and breathing the eart...  more