Exhibit: Rauðbjörn's Saga

[Harald]

This is the Saga of Rauðbjörn, the Red-Bear Warrior of the Heartland. It was written by Vilhelm Estridson Knytling. The story is a work in progress.

Rauðbjörn's tale is one of much toil and loss, of revenge, of battles with evil wolf-men, of monstrous beings and witches which once inhabited the lands which now constitute the Viking Empire of Stormark, of victory and of pain.

[Harald]

Of the Loss of Auðr

There was a young woman named Auðr, daughter of Rauðbjörn, so called because of his red hair which grew in a great abundance, and fair Birna. Her father was a great warrior in Hrappr's Army, which had been for a long time raiding in the land which the people called Atgeirr, so-called because the land formed a great shaft which protruded from the continent, which later was part of Borgarthing. He was one of the strongest men of his generation, an able hand with any kind of man-made weapon and a swimmer to rival any other. When Rauðbjörn was away in one of the great longships of Hrappr, he had left Auðr and Birna in the care of his cousin, Svellr, whose sword-arm could reach further than any man of his day and who had no wife himself to protect. However, one day of Sessrumnir in Folkvanger, Svellr was drunk and left his precious charge unguarded against the many roving bands of bandits and warriors which then were commonplace. And so the valiant Svellr was not aware when Adúlfr and his cruel band slew the fair Birna on the steps of Rauðbjörn's home and took away Auðr to be his wife.

Now, when Svellr had risen out of his stupor, he returned to the home of his cousin to have dinner, such was his ignorance of the occurances at that house. When he arrived, he found the poor Birna dead on the stone steps. "Oh! Birna," he wailed, "Why did you not call out or cry when they cut open your breast? Or slice your cheek? Or bruise your head? I was only in the Hall; there was no sense in your action, keeping silent at a time when discretion could not be least important. And so, you have died, and now I will die, for Rauðbjörn's axe will thirst for blood as soon as his eyes set upon your quiet and lifeless body." Following this speech, Svellr's eyes filled with tears as he imagined his fate after he had lost not only Rauðbjörn's wife but also his beautiful daughter, the strong-minded and much-celebrated one who had been made for by all the young men of that land. Many proposals had been made; to some, Rauðbjörn had told, "You are not strong enough to be my daughter's husband"; to others, "You are not wise enough"; to others still, "Your house's wealth cannot possibly hope to sustain such a magnificent beauty as my daughter". And thus Svellr's grief was justified, as Rauðbjörn's affection for his daughter was the strongest feeling he had in his stout heart.

Of the Return of Rauðbjörn

It was only some days after his wife had been given the funeral rites that Rauðbjörn returned triumphantly from another season of raiding. He approached his home with a cart packed with the wealth and plunder befitting a glorious warrior. In a particular battle, he had come across a petty King wearing a bronze crown, still hiding in his home while the great noise commenced outside. Crying at Rauðbjörn's feet, the King begged the man for mercy and to let him live. Rauðbjörn threw down his great axe, and began: "There is no sorrier sight than this I declare! You, a King, begging for mercy on your knees while your valiant warriors stand bravely against superior odds outside this very home, each one protecting himself, his family, his home and his King! I have no mercy for such a worm!" And with this he tore away a plank from the wall of the building and drove it straight into the King's neck so that his head flew into the air, the eyes and mouth still begging for mercy and the crown still atop it. And this head now sat atop a pike at the front of Rauðbjörn's cart, still wearing its imploring expression and bronze crown.

Rauðbjörn soon arrived at the stone steps of his house and was unsettled by the absense of his daughter, who would usually be in the small field just beside the house picking the crops which were perfect for soup around this time. Auðr was relied upon by travellers, local vagrants and the poorest or infirm to provide soothing warm soup throughout the course of the year, as many of the noble warrior-wives of the time were, though she instituted this service out of the goodness of her own heart. Finding the door to his own house locked, Rauðbjörn broke down the wooden door with one swing of his great axe and proceeded inside the house, which we found empty. Egressing through the back door, he found Svellr standing beside the grave of Birna, which he percieved to be that of Auðr. With a great cry, the warrior advanced towards his cousin, and swung his axe from side to side with the strength of a bear, and when he reached his target he renewed his cry with a higher pitch and threw his arms up to the heavens. He brought them down with tremendous force, and such was the strength of Rauðbjörn's arm and the keeness of his axe that the sharp edge passed clean through Svellr's right arm at the shoulder and continuing down to the ground where it cut a granite slab clean in two.

Rauðbjörn now addressed his cousin: "Vile fiend, I once called you a dear cousin; I welcomed you into my house any night you were to call; my wife cooked for you, and my daughter entertained you with her harmonious voice which has been celebrated by the people of this land since she was a child. Never again will that voice pleasure my ear. When I left for glorious war, I asked a great favour of you, evidently one too great for you. Perhaps it would have been appropriate for you to have politely declined my request, deferring to another, excusing yourself on the basis of your weakness. It matters not, for today my daughter is dead, and today you shall join her." And with this Rauðbjörn drew his great war-axe to one side, and swung it with all the force he could muster into Svellr's side, where it met no resistance from flesh or bone, cleaving the man in two. And so Rauðbjörn was left to grieve over his fair daughter.

In Líknvé's cave

Now, Rauðbjörn was mourning the loss of his daughter at what he supposed was her grave. He cursed Svellr and cast his remains far away from his estate with the strength of his arms alone. But the warrior was at a loss as to what had happened to his wife, since the only man who could tell him was now dead. In confusion, Rauðbjörn wandered to the cave home of Líknvé, a local seer and witch, who was notorious among the people of Atgeirr for her violent temperament and magical powers. It was said that, while Líknvé was happy to speak of what she saw to whoever would ask, her price was always dire. Rauðbjörn heeded not these tales in his desperation and came upon the entrance to the cave, which was avoided by all the local people. From the mouth of the cave constantly protruded a kind of thick mist which would cause anyone who walked in it to cough and wretch. Rauðbjörn however was expert at holding his breath and entered the cave without hesitation.

After some time walking through the dark and the mist of Líknvé's cave, Rauðbjörn came upon the lair of the witch herself. The mist had by this time thinned to a state where any man could breathe it safely, and the red-haired warrior took a moment to take stock of the room he found himself in. Two torches created a silhouetted figure on the other side of the room. In the centre of the room was a great cauldron, in which a pale liquid bubbled gently and from which the mist which polluted the cave and nearby countryside came. Against the walls were stacked all kinds of ingredients, some in ceramic jars, others exposed to the mist. The floor which had up to that point been unsure and rocky suddenly became deathly smooth, and the torchlight was reflected on it. Rauðbjörn stepped forward and made himself known.

"Líknvé, seer and witch of this land," he spoke with some assuredness in his tone, "I have come here on a matter of some urgency, and I know you have the power and sight to help me. For many months now I have been away with Hrappr, fighting and achieving glory and wealth for myself and my family. It is for my family that I now come to ask assist from you. Svellr, my cousin, was left in charge of my daughter Auðr and wife Birna; his failure has led to the death of my poor, beautiful daughter. However, tell me now: does my wife still live? Where can I find her? Did Svellr commit this horrible deed, or was he assisted by a whole conspiracy of men? Or was it merely through his ineptitude that my daughter has been taken from me? Answer me, witch."

Líknvé came forward out of the darkness and addressed Rauðbjörn with her voice made louder with magic. "Rauðbjörn, your attention to detail amuses an old witch. Do you not know that I see all? I see past, present, future all one when I drink the draught you see before you.

"See! See now the
Smoking, smouldering liquid boil!
No ether or
Oil in our world or another
Can stifle its
Prime potency! The mist, the mist,
It forms shaking
Shapes in the air, in my mind, oh!"

"Talk not in riddles, crone," the red warrior spoke suddenly. "I have no fancy to know the mysteries of the seers. You shall keep to your caves, and I to the battlefield; merely tell me that which I ask and I shall leave you in peace."

Líknvé shrieked and the foul noise reverberated around the room, amplified again and again until Rauðbjörn was forced to cover his ears from the pain. After a moment, she stopped, and addressed Rauðbjörn with some zeal. "Sully not this sacred place with your impertinent speech! Be silent and listen to my words, and consider their meaning before you cut them short. I am fully aware of what has happened to your family. Ah! your poor wife and daughter, even I recognise their fates were mournful. One dead, the other taken. Taken, I say, yes- not by Svellr though, or any of his associates. He did not partake in the murder or the theft. No, you must seek out Adúlfr, the most terrible and merciless of all the bandits in this region. He has taken the one you have lost away to be his wife."

Rauðbjörn, incensed, now spoke. "Adúlfr! I am familiar with the name, and have heard words spoken of him before, though not without apprehension. I thank you for this information, witch. Now tell me, where may I find this man? And what price do you ask of me for this? I am regrettably aware of the kind of thing you ask of those you assist. Of Sigarr, you asked his first-born son; of Vestmaðr, your own weight in gold and in wolfsbane seeds. What is it that you ask of me?" Líknvé replied, "Your search for Adúlfr must begin across the Eastern Sea, to which he often retreats. All else I will tell you is this: you must flee immediately. Talk to no-one of this land, not even if he is familiar with you. There is a ship and a crew by the coast at a spectral dock East of this cave. And as for my price, it is simple. I would ask that you swear an oath to marry the new wife of Adúlfr." Rauðbjörn, surprised that his price was so small, agreed. "By blessed Vár, I swear to marry that woman. For she is already my wife, the fair Birna, mother of Auðr. There is nothing more I want in this life than to get my revenge on Adúlfr for his heinous crimes and be re-united with that much-loved woman." Immediately, Rauðbjörn found himself transported to the mouth of the cave, with its entrance sealed up, and he set off to the East.

[Harald]

Of the Spectral Dock

After travelling for several miles, Rauðbjörn came upon the spectral dock which the witch Líknvé had described to him. Looking down upon the dock from the top of a hill, the great warrior could see the shape and form of the dock, which constituted of three light green beams that jutted out from the coast and upon which were placed planks of a similar ghostly pale hue, at the end of which was a gargantuan longship made from the same material. The sail was present, but torn in places and appeared useless. Rauðbjörn approached the dock with some haste, in search of the crew the seer had promised him.

As Rauðbjörn came close to the spectral dock his stomach was wrenched as fear overtook his courageous heart. For before him stood three tall draugar, their decaying flesh hanging loosely from their limbs. He observed several dead men on the ground, whom he perceived to be the crew promised to him by Líknvé. Rauðbjörn, recognising the terrible monsters and their strength, raised his broad axe and made a prayer to Freyja. "Oh beautiful and powerful goddess, Freyja, my strength and the patron of every one of my victories. I ask that upon receiving this prayer, you show me your favour by tying some of your golden hair into a plait and granting me the lightest and most gentle of all your smiles, for this humble warrior knows he could not dare die at the hands of these fiendish draugar without first affirming his love for you." With his prayer concluded, the red-haired warrior charged towards the first draugr with a tremendous battle cry. Upon catching sight of Rauðbjörn, the draugr opened his mouth and from it was issued a great noise and stench. The noble warrior careened to the left as his balance was disturbed by the sound and his throat was gripped by one of the draugrar. The other two gripped Rauðbjörn by the hands and legs, and another appeared from the spectral dock to collect his heavy weapon and together they took him aboard the ship as he thrashed to be free from their grip.

Of Rauðbjörn's Conversations with a Draugr

Now, Rauðbjörn was released from the grip of the draugar and was set down on the planks which made up the floor of the longship. One draugr, who the warrior had not seen before, stepped before him. He was significantly taller than all the other draugar and wore around his putrefying neck a small medallion of a deep green on a silver chain, all of which glowed faintly with a jade tint. The great draugr stood still for a moment, before he picked up the weapon which one of his fellows had taken from Rauðbjörn and brought aboard and examined it with the intention of a master weaponsmith. Rauðbjörn chose this moment to address his supposed captor.

"Vile creature," said he, "Ghost of the past and menace upon this land, I do not suppose that you will understand a single word of what I now say. It is well known among my family that draugar retain none of the particulars of social behaviour, and are in many cases feral beings, which I know through my own experience. Nonetheless, my curiosity overpowers my reason and I feel compelled to ask you what has possessed you to do the things you have done. Do you not know that this ship you now inhabit and its crew which you have slain are here through the will of the witch, Líknvé? With you being a draugr, I suppose you have not travelled far having left your burial-chamber to embark on this murderous endeavour, and so would imagine you have heard of the dreadful seer. But in case this is not so, allow me to illuminate your darkness and reveal the light of truth to you all. The patron of the journey I am meant to take from this dock is a powerful sorceress, capable of great misdeeds, a being perhaps peerless in the mortal realm. Her power seems limitless and some say she even has the ear of one of those truly wondrous aesir. Whatever the extent of her power, I am sure she has enough to overpower such a pitiful group of monsters such as yourselves. Your number cannot be more than eight by my reckoning."

With his speech concluded, the valiant hero was addressed in return by the great draugr in his hoarse voice, which was accompanied by the stench of decay. "Are you the red-bear warrior? We would have killed you immediately had you not shared the same build and hair colour as the man."

Shocked by the knowledge of the foul creature and the fact that it had understood his words, Rauðbjörn was unable to contain his emotion. "Yes, I am he! Rauðbjörn is my name, the greatest warrior ever born in Atgeirr. With my great axe I have fought for many years and for many years I have been slaying those weak yet brave men who foolishly match themselves against me. Believe me, I have killed them all. Being the champion of Hrappr's great raiding army has afforded me some of the pleasures of wealth and fame, and yet even now my hand is forced in uncomfortable directions by the will of the gods. For while my arm can hold out against any force it has yet met, my heart cannot hold out against the thought of the vile Adúlfr stealing my wife. To kill him and reclaim fair Birna is my quest, and there is nothing shall stop me before death. And now it seems that moment has come; you shadows of men have killed my crew and now you will kill me. Oh Birna, godlike woman whom I have loved, remember me! Oh Freya, most beautiful of all the Aesir and Vanir who watch over us, remember my love for you and keep Birna safe until we meet again!" And with that, he prepared himself for death.

The great draugr let out a haughty laugh. "Save your prayers for your true time of reckoning! We draugar are not going to harm you now that you have affirmed your identity. You have made some errors in your perceptions, young Rauðbjörn. This ship is indeed the one the witch had promised you. However, the men you saw lying dead before it were not your crew. They were bandits who had tried to steal this ship. We are your crew, bound together by the witch to aid in your quest. Two winters ago, the witch appeared in my barrow, from which I had been unable to escape through the acumen of my family who knew I would not be able to escape that wretched room if they prevented me from witnessing the path of my entry after I had expired. She offered me a proposition: if I agreed to help you to fulfil your quest, she would grant me a vision of the path of my entry and thus allow me to wander the world. I agreed to this, and around my neck she fastened this medallion. With it, she said, I would have the power to awaken other draugar, men I had known during life whom I knew to be reliable and strong, who would form the rest of your crew. She then directed me to the spectral dock and ship.

"I travelled very far and for very long to assemble my band of loyal draugar. Now, while I had been away seeking out the barrows of old fallen comrades, some local bandits had taken the longboat to be abandoned and started to use it as a hideout. They had been unable to row away with it, as the witch had revealed to me only those directed by the bearer of the medallion could lift the oars. Nonetheless they foolishly remained. On returning, my band found the bandits attempting to pry loose the planks of the longboat to sell, with little success. They fought but were easily beaten. Since then, we have been waiting for the arrival of the Red-Bear warrior, and now you have come. As for your claim that we draugar are feral beings who lack knowledge of any social behaviour, I think I have refuted it." All of this came as a great shock to the hero, but he welcomed the news as good and let out a sigh of relief as his quest could now continue.

The great draugr continued. "Now, let us be properly introduced. This is not the first time we have met. I remember you well as a young man; your spear-thrust in strength was impressive, you could run as fast and for as long as any man in our army and your zeal in combat was without equal. I have more than one memory of, in the great confusion of a battle, above the great clamour a courageous voice that had to be yours rallying the men around you when your heroic leader had been slain and above the clashing swords, spears and shields a great axe held aloft as a banner for all men and a signal to push the attack. I was once a hero of great renown; my hammer feared and my stratagems praised. In life, my name was Álarr, and I was one of the closest advisors to Óblauðr when he was the single greatest raider in all the northern territories of the continent. You served in his army for a time, before he and I fell together at Lindeng, and all of the generals of his magnificent force split. I believe it was Hrappr whom you followed, but I may be mistaken. When you die, news is very slow in coming."

Rauðbjörn replied, "Oh! the ravishments of age and death are potent indeed. I would never have recognised you, great Álarr. Yes, I do remember you also; the memories of Óblauðr and his army fade in my old age, but I do recall conversing with you on many topics related to warfare on which you were very knowledgable. Of Óblauðr, I know little; I never met the man. However, your wisdom was always admired by myself and Hrappr, who even in recent days would liken any great stratagem to be worthy of Álarr himself. In honesty, the tactical ideas of today's warriors are less than they once were. The greatest men have all passed away. While you linger, your genius has been locked away in a barrow, for the good of none. When this quest of mine is over, you must ask of Líknvé a small raiding force of your own and a restoration of your previous bodily state in return for your assistance. I am sure she will be able to secure such a thing. What I said of her is true, she is probably the most powerful mortal."

Álarr shook his head. "Look upon my rotting flesh, Rauðbjörn. I do not deny the power of the witch, but even if she restored my looks to what they once were, I would still be decaying on the inside. Sköll has chased the sun of my generation from the sky. I am a shadow of a great man lingering where he should not be. The greatest honour I can hope to achieve now is to help you in your quest, and that I aim to do. There are some matters I would like to settle myself before I finally go to die. There is a dispute in my family now that must be settled and it would seem only I have the sense to do it. No, your words are kind but meangingless. My time is over." With these words, the hero and the great draugr affirmed their plans to sail across the sea to the East and set about making the great longboat ready to sail.

[Andreas the Wise]

It's great to see sagas from other nations!