The First of Snowberg
From EastKingdomWiki
This is written in the Old Norse Meter fornyrthislag by Magnús hvalmagi, though the general construction is inspired primarily by epic Anlgo-Saxon poetry.
It is the traditional charge of the Baronial Bard of Concordia to chronicle the deeds of the Snowberg Army at Pennsic. In AS 48, Magnús hvalmagi held the position of Baronial bard, but could not witness the Pennsic battles. Instead, he recounted the tale of the origin of the Snowberg army - the tale of a long-lost warrior of the north whose bravery inspired generations.
1. The world was joyous - | wealth and peace were | |
found in all the lands - | few were troubled. | |
But idle minds | and idle souls | |
flourished in those fair | fields of plenty. | |
2. A sin begat | a greater sin, | |
and soon the ills | of ailing hearts | |
tainted and tortured | the track of men - | |
evils arose | to wreak their doom. | |
3. Far to the west | was found a cleftland | |
stretching deeply - | still it is so named. | |
Deep in the belly | of boiling earth | |
was birthed a beast | of burning rage. | |
4. Of ache and hurt - | of heart-woe and | |
sinful vengeance | was sired the monster. | |
The enemy of man | was eager to work | |
his schemes and plots | through the sky-burner. | |
5. Let not hearts falter | though fearsome this beast | |
Bare now your blades | for our Baronies’ sake | |
Lay down your lives | in our leaders’ names | |
Hark to the names | of the noble ones | |
6. Laurencia the deft | deep-minded and wise | |
Lyle the clever, | whose calls ring out | |
Elwynn the fierce, | ne’er flinches from war | |
Angus the bright-armed, | bravest of men | |
7. Bear the honor | of your brethren too | |
Who before did fight | fierce as tigers | |
Bought they with blood | two Baronies’ fame | |
Hear as I hail | these heroes of war! | |
8. Who fought cornered | ‘gainst castle wall | |
Or strong shield met | and stopped berserkers | |
Who in deep forest | fought like seven, | |
Who spilled the foe’s | flight-swifts like rain, | |
Or lunged through the foe | like a spear-head | |
9. These warriors names | need not be sang | |
For heroes to the hall | homeward will come | |
Warmth of the hearth | welcomes the fighters | |
Skalds will then chant | the champions’ fame | |
10. Your bard calls out, | keen hear his voice. | |
Your baron calls, | bide no longer, | |
Your King calls out, | come to his side! | |
Let Tiger’s roar | rouse you to battle! | |
11. Concordia heed | the call of war! | |
Bergental rise! | To battle we go! | |
Your fame will not fade | if this fray takes you | |
Deeds on this day | endure for all time! |
©2013 Peter Olsen