Poetry has always been associated with heroic and epic storytelling, and poetry-glorious, skaldic mead hall verse-is an important part of Heortling culture. The Gloranthan community has its share of mead hall poets, storytellers and skalds, and a suitably twisted poetic phrase can add a lot to the atmosphere of our in-game boasting, description and storytelling.
With this in mind, I've compiled a list of Heortling kennings and similar poetic devices such as titles and epithets, available for download in both Excel and tab-delineated text formats. The list represents a beginning rather than anything definitive, but I hope it may prove useful.
You can download the lists from
http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/nysalor/heortpoet.htm
or, if you're registered, from the files section of the Hero Wars list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeroWars/files/Heortling%20Poetry/
The list presently contains some 2,200 separate entries representing approximately 3,500 kennings. The list began life as a scholarly listing of Viking kennings (hence the pedantic tone in some entries - like the nineteen different bird names for a raven), but I have deleted some 80% of the originals, 'translated' many of the rest into Heortling cultural terms, and added thousands more from our prime Gloranthan sources (Thunder Rebels, Storm Tribe, Anaxial's Roster, King Of Sartar), Viking sources (Skaldskaparmal) and my own twisted imagination.
The categories presently covered are listed below.
Over the next months, I'll be posting a number of short pieces on Heortling poetry to the Gloranthan Digest and Hero Wars lists, hoping to encourage and assist the meadhall skalds among you, and leading up to a meadhall poetry session at Convulsions 2002. (Late night and beery - perfect! I'm exilharated and terrified :)).
First up, Kennings.
HOLD ON, WHAT'S A KENNING Kennings are one of several poetic devices used by Heortling skalds and storytellers. Deriving from Norse and Anglo-Saxon poetry, a kenning is a riddling reference to one item or concept which does not name it directly, but rather suggests it by the elliptical way in which the subject is spoken of. It is part literature, part entertainment, part game, and part code that cannot be broken by outsiders. Simple kennings are a mainstay of Heortling poetry, more complex ones are riddle games in themselves.
Some examples of simple kennings...
"high tongue of hilts" = sword
"mouse chaser" = stead alynx
"purse snow" = silver
"mead maker" = bee
"forest of skull" = hair
"floor of storm hall" = earth
"Elmal's Road" = air
Kennings are often used for the gods: it can be impolite or dangerous to call a god by name! When naming the gods, mythological references to their deeds and attributes are common.
For example, Orlanth is the Wind Lord, the Great Mover and the Breath of the World - all fairly straightforward and not necessarily 'poetic', but, more playfully (and obliquely) he is also the Bath-Survivor, the Last Son of the Mountain, and the Horn-Blower - titles only meaningful to those who know Heortling mythology.
And of course, once you start combining simple kennings to form more complex allusions, the fun really starts.
Who is "Umath-heir Orl's son, tempted-by-grapes"? Answer below.
What is the "broad-leaf balm that dams the carrion-brook of Humakt's swans"?
Well carrion-brook is blood, Humakt's swans are ravens, and broad-leaf balm is a healing plant. So the full answer... see below.
And you get extra marks for alliteration!
HOW TO USE THE KENNINGS LIST If you're playing or narrating a Hero Wars or Runequest campaign, I suggest you choose a dozen or so terms you like, and use them in play. Incorporate them into your description and storytelling. Start using simple kenning games to add to atmosphere. Use more terms as you become more familiar with their use.
If you're a storyteller or a meadhall poet, share some of your own complex kennings with the list. Experiment with some simple verses. Challenge and entertain us!
If you'd like to contribute your own kennings to the master list, please email me and I'll add them, with your contribution clearly identified.
In a few weeks time I'll post some information and examples of Heortling triads.
Complex Kenning Answers
Categories presently covered by the Kenning List
Animal - Beast:
Alynx, Alynx - Alusaring, Alynx - Earth, Alynx - Hevrening, Alynx - Murning,
Aurochs, Badger, Bazak, Bear, Bison, Brotard, Cattle, Cattle - Bull,
Cattle - Oxen, Cattle (Wild), Darvan, Deer, Deer - Hart, Deer - Red, Deer -
Stag, Dog, Donkey, Dream Dragon, Elk, Elurae, Farancham, Fox, Gargoyle,
Gazzam, Gazzam (General), Goat, Griffin, Hare, Harpy, Hippogriff, Horse,
Horse - Galana, Karkar, Lavala, Mammoth, Manticore, Mraloting, Mule, Nakasa,
Ooling, Panther, Pig, Pig - Boar, Pig - Wild Sow, Rabbit, Runner, Sabre Cat,
Sakar, Satyr, Serpent, Sheep, Sheep , Sheep - Ram, Sprite, Tortoise, Tusk
Boar, Unicorn, Uvasatha, Whale, Wolf, Zarur, Zebra.
Animal - Bird:
Aepyornis, Augner, Bird, Eagle (Manirian), Hawk, Hawk - Red Tailed, Owl,
Pigeon - Crowned, Raven, Thrush, Vrok.
Animal - Chaotic:
Bagogi, Basilisk, Brindithum, Broo, Do-Karal, Dragonsnail, Gorp, Hydra,
Krashtkid, Ogre, Walktapus.
Animal - Insect:
Bee, Insect Swarm, Karg Beetle.
Body:
Arm, Blood, Breast, Ears, Eyes, Fist, Foot, Forehead, Hair, Hand, Head,
Heart, Leg, Mouth, Neck, Nose, Palm, Skin, Tears, Teeth, Tongue, Wrist.
Characteristic:
Anger, Brave, Content, Courageous, Coward, Fashionable, Foe, Foolish,
Friend, Generous, Greedy, Joyful, Lazy, Long Bearded, Man, Marriageable, Moaner, Noisy, Persuasive, Powerful, Rich, Rough, Slow-Witted, Stranger, Strong, Ungenerous, Ungiving, Virtuous, Weak, Wise, Woman, Worthless.
Concept:
Death, Instant, Justice, Love, Poetry.
Cosmology:
Air, Chaos, Earth, Fire, Moon, Night, Sea, Sky, Sun, Wind.
Deity:
Aldrya, Alusar, Amprefesne, Ana Gor, Anatyr, Andrin, Arachne Solara, Arna, Arrion, Asrelia, Babester Gor, Barntar, Belveren, Beren, Berlintha, Besanga, Beseta, Beseta & Besanga, Bevara, Brastalos, Chalana Arroy, Chernan, Daga,Daka Fal, Dar, Daylanus, Desemborth, Destor, Dilfar, Donandar, Drogarsi, Durev, Efrodar, Elmal, Elmalhara, Enferalda, Engizi, Eninta, Entra, Eralda, Eralthoral, Erantha Gor, Ernalda, Esra, Esrola, Eurmal, Ferace, Finovan, Flesh Man, Gagarth, Garzeen, Gavren, Ginna Jar, Glorantha, Gultha, Gustbran,
Harst, Hedkoranth, Helamakt, Heler, Herald, Hevduran, Hu, Humakt, Inginew, Inora, Isbarn, Issaries, Istena, Jarani, Jera, Kadone, Kargan, Kero Fin, Kesta, Kev, Kudran, Ky Tora Tek, Larnste, Lhankor Mhy, Li Phanquann, Mahome,Makla Mann, Malamse, Malia, Maran, Maran Devor, Maran Gor, Mastakos, Minlister, Molamin, Murni, Nandan, Natyrsa, Nelat, Nevala, Niskis, Odayla, Ohorlanth, Orane, Orendarna, Orlanth, Orlanthandrin, Orlanthcarl,
Orlanthdovar, Ormalaya, Orolmarn, Oronio, Orstan, Orvanshagor, Orventili, Overdruva, Pelaskos, Pella, Pelora, Poverri, Pranjala, Quivan, Redalda, Rigsdal, Roitina, Sharla, Sisters Of Mercy, Skovara, Starkval, Suchara,Tarena, Tatouth, Telmor, Thunder Brothers, Torvald, Ty Kora Tek, Uleria, Umath, Uralda, Uroth, Urotha, Urox, Usara, Vadrus, Valind, Vanganth, Varanorlanth, Vela, Velhara, Vinga, Vingkot Champion, Vingkot High King, Vingkot Victorious, Vorela, Voria, Voriof, Votenevra, Wyter, Yan Starcere, Yavour, Yavour Lightning, Yelmalio, Yinkin, Yuhurol.
Deity - Daimones:
General, Hearth, Orothtrorol, Talosi, Umbroli.
Deity - Enemy:
Daga, Dayzatar, Deloradella, Doburdun, Gagarth, Gbaji, Jagrekriand,
Karjakan, Kyger Litor, Magasta, Malia, Malkion, Ragnaglar, Sedenya,
Shepelkirt, Sh'hakarzeel, Thed, Vadrus, Wakboth, Yelm, Zzabur.
Deity - General:
Deity - Spirits:
Dryad, Limnade, Limonaid, Oread, Potameid, Suberiad, Vough.
Dragon:
Aroka, Blue Dragon, Black Dragon, Green Dragon, Red Dragon,
Hero:
Alakoring, Argrath, Arkat, Broyan, Gorangi Vak, Gustin, Hantrafal, Harmast,
Hendreik, Hengall Vingkotson, Heort, Ivarne, Jaldon Goldtooth, Jarankol,
Minaryth Purple, Renvald , Sartar, Varantol, Vargast, Vogarth.
Landscape:
Cave, Gorge, Mountain, River, Rock, Stones, Storm, Place, Stream, Urnfield,
Wood.
Landscape - Stead:
Longhouse, Square House, Stead.
Metal:
Bronze, Copper, General, Gold, Iron, Silver.
Mythos:
Great Compromise, Hero Wars, West.
Object:
Armband, Boat, Coins, Drinking Horn, Mead, Moonboat, Necklace, Plunder,
Rain, Ring.
Peoples:
Aldryami, Aramite, Centaur, Dragonewt, Dragonewt - Noble, Dragonewt - Scout,
Dragonewt - Warrior, Dragons, Durulz, Giants, Heortlings, Lunar, Magisaurs,
Minotaur, Mostali, Nar Sylla, Uz, Uz - Enlo, Uz - Romal, Uz - Uzdo, Wyrm.
Place:
Arrowmound, Boldhome, Creek, Creekstream River, Dragon Pass, Kero Fin,
Skyfall Lake, Wilmskirk, Boldhome.
Plants:
Blood Millet.
Princes:
1. Sartar, 2. Saronil, 3. Jarolar, 4. Jarosar, 5. Tarkalor, 6. Terasarin,
7.Salinarg.
Seasons:
Dark Season, Earth Season, Fire Season, Sea Season, Storm Season.
Status:
Affine, Carl, Chief, Cottar, Couple, Disciple: Humakt, Disciple: Urox,
Disciple: Chalana Arroy, Disciple: Orlanth Adventurous, Disciple: Orlanth
Thunderous, Girl, Godi, Kin, King, Maiden, Priest (Orlanth), Relative,
Skald, Solar Priest/Disciple, Son, Spouse, Stickpicker, Thane, Warrior,
Wife.
War:
Battle, Conference, Corpse, Truce, Wound.
Weapons:
Arrow, Axe, Bow, Byrnie, Helmet, Shafts, Shield, Shieldwall, Spear, Sword.
Cheers
John
"We had no wind to raise our sleeping sun."
Taroskarla: The Death of Tovar.
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