Poetry has always been associated with heroic and epic storytelling, and poetry - glorious, *bad* , beerhall poetry - is an important part of Heortling culture. The Gloranthan community has its share of meadhall poets 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 uploaded a list of Heortling kennings and similar poetic devices such as titles and epithets in both Excel (much easier to handle) and tab-delineated text formats. The list represents a beginning rather than anything definitive, but I hope it may prove useful. It presently contains some 2,200 separate entries representing approximately 5,000 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 over the last month I've deleted some 80% of the originals, 'translated' many of the rest into Heortling cultural terms, and added thousands more from our prime sources (TR, ST, AR, KOS), Viking sources (Skaldskaparmal) and my own twisted imagination. The categories presently covered are listed below.
HOLD ON, WHATS A KENNING? Over the next months, I'll be posting a few short pieces on Heortling poetry, hoping to encourage and assist the meadhall skalds among you, and leading up to a meadhall poetry session at Convulsions. Kennings are the first.
Kennings are one of several poetic devices used by Heortling skalds and storytellers. 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 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 KENNING LISTS If you're playing or gming a HW 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.
If you'd like to contribute to the master list, please email me your kennings and I'll add them, with your contribution clearly identified.
In a few weeks time I'll post some info on triads.
Cheers
John
COMPLEX KENNING ANSWERS
THE MASTER LIST 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, 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.
"We had no wind to raise our sleeping sun."
Taroskarla: The Death of Tovar.
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