True Furrows Saga Pt One

From: Giles Hill <waha_at_cix.compulink.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 97 22:03 BST-1


In-Reply-To: <199707041628.QAA00960_at_chaosium.com> Hi all

I unashamedly plagiarised huge junks of this story from from Njals Saga a 12th century Icelandic saga full of murder and kinstrife. It was used as an explanation as to why one players character, True Furrow a Sartarite of the Varmandi Clan (It seems all Sartarites are from the Varmandi clan these days) was all the way over in Prax.

Please note that True Furrow, who now bears the adult name of Wound Weaver denies strenuously his own part in these events, but as he wasn't there to deny them who's going to believe him.

If you like it Njals Saga is published by Penguin and it's a great source of material.

True Furrows Saga

There was once a man called Mord Fiddle, who was a Thane of the Varmandi and a son of Sighvat the Red. He was a powerful Thane and lived at Varmands stead. He had three sons and a daughter.  

The eldest Glum was tall and strong with a handsome face. Everyone said he was mean spirited, and with a quick temper that got him into fights, by the time of this tale he had already cost his father 400 ounces of silver paid in wergild.

The middle son was called Valfrif. He was not as handsome as his elder brother although he had the same mean spirit. Some say that sometimes he could call to the Storm Walk Mountains and summon Uroxi Spirits down from the Bulls sacred mountain there.

The third and last son was called Hrut. Of the three sons he was the best and most loved. Everybody said that he would be a thane when he grew up and perhaps a clan chief, but from an early age he said that he wished only to be a law speaker. He was tall and strong, many girls tried to catch his eye but he was only interested in one girl, Fawin who was Hoskuld Dalla-Kollsons' daughter

The daughters name was Theri but she does not enter into this saga much so we shall say no more other than she was plain in looks words and deeds.

The scene of this saga now moves West to Breidjaford and the hearth of Hoskuld Dalla-Kollson. Hoskuld had a half brother called Ketil Herjolfson who lived at Ketilstead, they had the same mother.

Ketil was a handsome man; he was tall, strong, and skilled in arms, even tempered and very shrewd ruthless with his enemies and always reliable in matters of great importance.

Hoskuld also had a daughter called Fawin. On one occassion Hoskuld was holding a feast for his friends; Ketil was there, sitting next to him. Fawin was playing with the house Alynxs along with some other girls; she was tall and beautiful even as a child and had long silken hair which hung down to her waiste.

Hoskuld called to her, and she went to him at once. Hoskuld tilted her chin and kissed her, and she walked away again. The Hoskuld asked Ketil "What do you think of her? Do you not think that she is beautiful? Ketil made no reply. Hoskuld repeated the question. Then Ketil said " That child is beautiful enough, though many will suffer for her beauty; though I cannot imagine how a thiefs and a killers eyes have come into our kin".

Hoskuld was furious with his half brother and had their not been blood between them they would have come to blows; even so there was coldness between them for many years. (1)

Our saga now moves south to the stead of Gunnar Hamundson his mother was Rannevig, the daughter of Sigufs the son of Sighvat the Red, who was killed at Sandhills ferry when the Lunars first came. Gunnars father was Hammund was the son of Gunnar Baugson brother of Hrafn the Law Speaker and father of Orm the Strong. Gunnar had three sons.

 the Eldest was called Skarp-Hedin he was a tall, powerful man, excellent at swimming and running and skillful at arms. He was quick to make up his mind and confident in his decisions, quick to speak and scathing in his words ; but for the most part he kept himself under control.

The second of Gunnars sons was called Grim. He was tall and strong and dark haired he was more handsome than Skarp-Hedin who everyone said was ugly round the mouth.

The youngest son was called Trufurrow because although he had passed fifteen summers he had suffered an illness which had prevented him becoming a man befor Orlanth, so he only knew Barntars ways. He was the worst of the three because although he was skillful in arms and strong and healthy now, he thought to much and spent to much time scheming. Although he was handsome many said that he had an ugly mind. He was the cause of all the ills that are to come to pass in this story.

True Furrow had feelings for the daughter of Hoskuld Dalla-Kollson, Fawin. But she could see the man he really was and did not like what she saw. Truefurrow tried to be alone with her at every opportunity but always she made sure that others were near so that he could not seduce her or do anything else improper which he might do.

In private Fawin said to the other girls that Truefurrow held neither her nor any other women in any esteem and that no good woman of Ernalda would marry him. She said this to his face once and added that he would never know a woman in his marriage bed but only women of Uleria, he was furious with her. Afterwards he avoided speaking with her, but that summer he always led his flock to the high pastures near Orlanth Oak,because he thought he might see her there.

  1. After this Ketil always followed the North Wind and severed his ties with his familly though he made peace with his brother.

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