The Myth of Ulfet Glandor'en, The Wolf of Glandor

This ancient Glandorian myth tells of events which took place at the climatic end of the First Kanapan-Glandor War; it was predominantly an oral tale, but it has been found engraved in pictorial form in many places through the Glandorian peninsula. This version, however, is a translation of the text in the single greatest source of modern knowledge pertaining to the peninsula, the Skarlbog, or Skarl Book. This document is believed to be the result of an effort by Konig Gotiravow the Scholar to compile all Glandorian culture into one document; to this end, the great skarls - poets, scholars and sometimes users of magic - of the kingdom were summoned and ordered to record their memorised songs, tales and histories.

Prevalence. This myth is believed to have been common in the past Kingdom of Glandor, and would have been a familiar part of any skarl's repertoire. Now, however, it is almost unknown except among scholars and those with a particular interest in the Glandorian peninsula.

History. The seeds for this myth were laid by the heroism of Glandor in defence of the peninsula and people later to bear his name. After a fort was constructed on the site, a miracle - at the time - of architecture, it is said that Glandor swore no Kanapans would ever pass it. However, the events that this tale is based on occurred twenty years after Glandor's death; a Kanapan army was attacking the fort, and a group of Glandorian warriors - including future Konig Lamskun, already known as "the Warrior" - claimed to have been aided by the spirit of Glandor, returning from death to fulfil his oath.

Importance. This myth was one of the cornerstones of Glandorian cultural identity, and vital for those who wish to understand their vibrant and influential culture. While it may not hold much fascination for those uninterested by the Glandorians, for those who are interested it provides a prime example of their verse and fills a vital niche in their mythology, as the basis of one of the most persistent myths about Glandor himself - that, when the peninsula of his people is threatened, he will return to repulse the invaders.

The Tale. Below you find the tale of Ulfet Glandor'en, the Wolf of Glandor, a translation of the text in the single greatest source of modern knowledge pertaining to the peninsula, the Skarlbog, or Skarl Book. Added were footnotes by the translators.

Picture description. Ulfet Glandor'en and his companions defending their tribe's peninsula - a legend that should be told until this very day. Image drawn by Bard Judith.

Thorulf the Old had been on the throne five times five years and was grown old.
The Black Killers[1] were nearing the unbroken tower.
The crow and the eagle descended on the field[2].
Men killed and were killed, and the battle-metal[3] of the living became blood.
The death-cry and the killing-cry split the air and the cloak of Meanra[4] hid man from sword-brother.
In the blood of The Accursed[5] were boys made into men.
At that time battle-sons were parted and fought alone, praying to Hanranns for strength.
The battle-skarl of Thorulf was slain as he brought strength to the men with his song.
Thorulf, gold-giver, life-taker[6] was surrounded by a blackness.
His wigthwepterns[7] stood by his shoulder and killed.
Their hands were blood; their faces were blood; their blades were blood.
The crow and the eagle circled above the struggling warriors.
The skarls brought weakness to the minds of the Black Killers,
But they were too few and could not bring down so many.
One by one, dozen by dozen, men were falling everywhere.

On a hillock in the misty swamp stood but a dozen men.
Their names at that time well known to all Thorulf's gold-given[8].
Glandor himself alone and his closest friends were thought of more highly.
Adalulf , Jordwoc, Hrimknut and his brother Fasteknut.
But more famous than these was their leader.
He was greater than Adalulf, who slew three wolves on his skarlnet[9].
He was greater than Jordwoc, who could not be thrown by half one dozen men together.
He was greater than Hrimknut and Fasteknut, though they moved as one and with the speed of Meanra's breath[10].
Known to all as The Warrior, his name is with us today: Lamskun.
His blade moved like lightning and his mind was faster yet.
He had studied under the greatest of warriors and the greatest of skarls.
Lamskun led these tired and hopeless men, the overwhelmed heroes of a nation.
They were muddied, they were bloodied, and they bled from their battle-brands[11].
The din of the fight was a hellish clamour and they had lost their comrades' voices in it.
Lamskun had lost his helmet in fighting as they became separated from their fellows.
As he took to his knees in exhaustion, his men did likewise, but not long did they remain so.
As Lamskun raised his head, the shroud before his eyes moved.
He beheld the familiar walls of our unsullied fort.
At first he was overtaken by a bleak despair, for it seemed that The Accursed would humble Glandor's pride.
Then the Black Killers were upon them in their hordes.
The weary ones took up their blades once more and bade each other farewell.
Hrimknut swore to Fasteknut that they would fall as wintery waves on the shore[12].
Jordwoc raised his frame from the ground and bound his great fists with iron.
Adalulf stood poised and proud, to kill those who were rigged to die.
Lamskun, mighty Lamskun, touched his blade and murmured Glandor's refrain[13].
"I know not what death tomorrow brings,
But to those who bring it to me may I bring theirs."
His sword was strong, for the skarls had aided in its forging, and such an object bends the world.
Oaths and refrains said upon it gain weight and power.
Upon such a blade had Glandor sworn that no Black Killer would pass our greatest pride[14].
Holding such a blade had he declared his famous refrain on the eve of our greatest battle[15].
And Lamskun gave again that proud refrain and stood before our unbroken tower.
And Glandor - proud Glandor - remembered his oath, and with his brothers of deed and blade did he return.
Not even the bonds of death can hold the giver of such an oath at such a time.
From their slumber arose Glandor, with Ersknut and Vorulf and their companions.
They heeded not the muddied soldiers of Thorulf.
Glandor led them in silence more terrifying than the raven's screech[16].
At the killers from the night they charged, and they swung weapons of unearthly awe.
With them ran Adalulf, quick and refreshed, and with him Hrimknut and Fasteknut.
Behind them came mighty Jordwoc, the wounds of his flesh no more than stone-pricks.
Ahead of them all, by the very side of Glandor, strode Lamskun.
He was no longer just a man of Glandor, but his very companion.
He was as steady as the spirits who moved across the broken ground like men on their own ships.
Within moments they struck The Accursed, who before Glandor's silent fury quailed.
They beheld something far greater than themselves, and knew then that there was no hope for any.
Though the first fought like men who face death ought, those behind fled.
Those who dallied in the charge led in the retreat, and those who led in the charge dallied in the retreat.
But neither lived.

Those who fled were availed nothing, though they were swift.
Adalulf was swifter, and the cowards, dead already in spirit, began to fall to his blade.
With escape blocked, they fought like the cornered wolves he had killed to become a man.
Again did Adalulf prove himself a man, and those who fled a second time met only Jordwoc.
To stand and fight avoided only the death of honour, for the death of the body was certain.
Lamskun and Glandor, Ersknut and Vorulf were implacable.
Between those who tried to flee and those who tried to fight were Hrimknut and Fasteknut.
They harried the backs of their foes and forced them to turn.
They fought as one until there were no more foes to fight.
At that time Glandor and his retinue faded back to their rest.
Their oath was fulfilled and the honour of Glandor safe, but the battle remained unwon.
Lamskun and Adalulf, Hrimknut and Fasteknut, and mighty Jordwoc.
Victors of one fight, they led their countrymen to the next, that another conflict might be won.
Growing in number, they swept across the field until they came to the place where Thorulf lay.
The tale of their unearthly allies told, the weary warriors paid their respects to Thorulf, dead in battle.
And Lamskun, the Wolf of Glandor, was lauded above all men.

Here the poem ends; it is not recorded here how Lamskun became Konig Lamskun the Warrior, but it was almost certainly on the strength of his tale as well as his previous reputation as a fighting leader. Thorulf died in fighting the Kanapans in the centre of the battlefield, despite his advanced age; he may have been looking for a glorious death, in a culture which valued honour and sacrifice highly.

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Footnotes.

[1] Sort Ban'enns, their name for the Kanapans [Back]
[2] Battle was joined [Back]
[3] Swords [Back]
[4] Fog [Back]
[5] Tranergete, another name for the Kanapans [Back]
[6] Liege-lord, warrior [Back]
[7] Battle-servants, shortened from wigtheowepter'enns [Back]
[8] Pledged men [Back]
[9] Coming of age, where the skarls proclaimed a boy a man [Back]
[10] The wind [Back]
[11] Here: wounds; often: scars [Back]
[12] Within moments of one another and with great force [Back]
[13] From the tale of the Kanapan invasion [Back]
[14] The fort [Back]
[15] The original Battle of Glandorfield, won by Glandor and his army [Back]
[16] As it descended on a corpse or cripple after a battle [Back]