The Lost Saga

[El Pip]

Auld the Deep-Minded, now there is a name I do recognise. Unsurprising that one of her children would rise to the top, though must be awkward when Harald has Odin at his back while Auld was (in some sources) one of the first baptised Icelanders. Though I suppose one could go with the other sources where she stays pagan until the end, now I think about it going with the saga version of Auld would be more fitting for a work called 'The Lost Saga'.

 

[Aquasparky]

This is very interesting so far... Can't wait to see how history alternates from this point onward.

 

[Chac1]

Very honored to have @El Pip among the commenting crew. Thanks for your additions. Also, good to have @Aquasparky here too. Thanks for the comments.

This is very interesting so far... Can't wait to see how history alternates from this point onward.

The changes will be very subtle at first, but the big change will be keeping at least some of Odin's favor beyond where it stops in what is left of the original Saga. That change will align this AAR with the game play and provide the turn into alt-history.

Auld the Deep-Minded, now there is a name I do recognise. Unsurprising that one of her children would rise to the top, though must be awkward when Harald has Odin at his back while Auld was (in some sources) one of the first baptised Icelanders. Though I suppose one could go with the other sources where she stays pagan until the end, now I think about it going with the saga version of Auld would be more fitting for a work called 'The Lost Saga'.

So because we have been discussing the confusion of the historical record, some of that comes about because the rulers often have very similar names, and as is hinted at in the last entry, even the count of kings with the same name may be off a bit.

With that, does it surprise anyone that there are actually two women with almost exactly the same name: Auðr "the Deep-minded?"

Makes you wonder, why not make one of them Auðr "the Wise?"

Anyway, beyond my commentary, first there was Auðr Ivarsdottir "the Deep-minded" from the late 7th or early 8th Century, the daughter of Ivar Vidfamne (yes, mentioned in the game and in the latter parts of the Saga too).

The second Auðr was Auðr Ketilsdottir "the Deep-minded" from the 9th Century. Indeed she has quite the story and is part of the history not only of encouraging the further settlement of Iceland but also of the Catholic conversion as @El Pip mentions. (Some research shows she may be a playable character in CK3!)

The first Auðr is King Harald's mother. We will not be going into her dispute with her treacherous father Ivar, and that is one of the ways we are already departing from the original Saga. The game does not reflect that dispute and how she runs off to Russia with Harald to protect him from his grandfather.

An illustration of Iceland's Auðr Ketilsdottir "the Deep-minded" by Norwegian artist Andreas Bloch; the image is in the public domain.

King Harald's mother is the lesser known of the two and doesn't seem to have inspired much art work. However, if I find any, I will add it to this thread.

 

[Chac1]

XVII. The Lineage of Harald from Odin

(Odin teaches the art of war to King Harald “Wartooth” in this illustration by Norwegian-Danish artist Louis Moe. This image is in the public domain.)

Spoiler: Soundtrack:"Drums of Midgard" by Bjorth

The full soundtrack for The Lost Saga can be heard here.

The son of Odin, King of the Gods, was called Skjöld. He was the father of Fridleif, father of Frid-Froði, father of Herleif, father of Hávarðr "the Strong-fisted," father of Froði, father of Vermund "the Wise," father of Queen Ólöf who was also second cousin to Olaf "the Humble." Queen Ólöf was mother of Froði "the Peaceful," father of Fridleif, father of Froði "the Great," father of Ingjaldr Starkadarfostra, uncle to Hroðgar and Helgi, father of Hrólfr "Kraki" (or "the Thin"), second cousin to Hrœrekr Hnoggvanbauga, father of Halfdan, father of Hrœrekr Skjöldung, father of Harald "Wartooth." The brother-in-law of Harald was Randver, father of Sigurd “Ring” af Munsö. Harald’s wife would be Ingild, sister to Randver of House af Munsö.

Additional Note:

The work of Jón Þórðarson and Magnús Þórhallsson appears to fill in the missing piece of the genealogical record that stumped both Arngrímur Jónsson and Saxo Grammaticus as noted in Part XVI. From this source it appears there was only one king, Halfdan, missing from the original record in the Saga, and currently it appears no source has more information about this Halfdan.

Spoiler: Writing & Image Credits

This chapter of the Saga is adapted from “How Norway was Settled” by Jón Þórðarson and Magnús Þórhallsson in the Flateyjarbók from the 14th Century.

Any image credits not found here can be found on the Preface/Content page.

The Lost Saga
ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚᛟᛋᛏ ᛋᚨᚷᚨ
​

 

[jak7139]

A nice genealogy as we move into the gameplay portion! Recaps like this are always helpful.

 

[Chac1]

A nice genealogy as we move into the gameplay portion! Recaps like this are always helpful.

Thanks for staying steady with us @jak7139 . This remains a rather short AAR and still easy for folks to catch up with it, I think, especially for those who like short posts. Plus, because we are not including every chapter we have found of the old Saga, this gives folks an idea of some of the characters and stories we skipped.

Thanks also to @Aquasparky for pointing folks this way to check us out. Much appreciated.

 

[HistoryDude]

It's sad that Halfdan's deeds were forgotten here. It always sucks when only names survive. What does Odin think of the historians forgetting his descendant?

 

[El Pip]

Reminds me of the very large genealogy section which Icelandic Saga almost always start with.

 

[Chac1]

Thanks @El Pip and @HistoryDude for dropping in here. Thanks for your support.

Reminds me of the very large genealogy section which Icelandic Saga almost always start with.

Yes, these kings' tales and Sagas often start with the genealogy to establish the rightful rulers. In this case, if King Harald can trace his roots back to Odin then having divine blood gives him the right to rule.

It's sad that Halfdan's deeds were forgotten here. It always sucks when only names survive. What does Odin think of the historians forgetting his descendant?

This chapter was a bit of contrivance to at least add Halfdan to the list, even if including him equals less than half of a story. This chapter is actually not included in any parts of the tattered original Saga but at least one scholar has extrapolated that using this ably fills a gap in the narrative and as noted by @El Pip fills in the necessary genealogy.

Odin doesn't get to say anything about this because the Catholic historians are the ones who get the last word. But you can certainly speculate what he might have thought if the Old Gods had not fallen and been replaced. Because Odin is the god of poetry, and thus the Norse oral tradition, my speculation is he would have wanted the record set right.

 

[Chac1]

XVIII. Harald the Warrior

(A young Harald "Wartooth" holds Odin's raven banner as he prepares for battle. This image was created by Leonardo.AI using the Leonardo Vision XL image generator. This image has also been manually edited.)

Spoiler: Soundtrack: "Viking War Trance" by Eihwar

The full soundtrack for The Lost Saga can be heard here.​

​

Odin was pleased with Harald’s development and enchanted him at a young age so that no iron could pierce his skin, and afterwards he never carried a shield in battle, and no weapon ever found purchase on him. He soon became a great warrior and fought so many battles that there was no one among his kin who fought as many in the land as him, and so he was called Harald "Wartooth." He fought for the honor of his people and their lands. When his father Hrœrekr passed in his sleep, Harald became the king in Sjælland.

As Ragny the Skald tells us:

Spoiler: Writing & Image Credits

Portions of this were adapted from Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum, a fragment of the lost Skjöldunga Saga. The poetry is new.

Any image credits not found here can be found on the Preface/Content page.

The Lost Saga
ᛏᚺᛖ ᛚᛟᛋᛏ ᛋᚨᚷᚨ​

 

[Lord Durham]

@Chac1, you said the poetry is new. Is that your work? If so, you did a masterful job capturing the Skaldic form.

 

[The Kingmaker]

I enjoyed this very much. Well done, @Chac1! Also, congrats on a very realistic looking AI-generated image. That's very challenging.

 

[Midnite Duke]

No Iron may pierce skin, but maybe a broken pottery shard. A wooden club may dent the skull. Thanks

 

[Chac1]

Thanks @Lord Durham , @Midnite Duke & @The Kingmaker for dropping in here. Wish I could be more effusive but I have limited time. I will be on the road tomorrow and likely not back in the forums for a few days if not longer. So I will take my opportunity quickly.

Glad you all like the poetry. That poetry is from me and it is based on a Skaldic form and style.

@Midnite Duke has read his history and knows this Saga. In the real Saga, Harald "Wartooth" does meet his end through a wooden club to the skull, delivered by Odin himself! However, as this Saga borrows heavily but has a different plot, that won't happen here. This short chapter is there to inform what happens in the game play which is almost upon us in this AAR with perhaps the longest preface ever.

As for the AI image, I was very pleased with this experiment. Thanks for noticing @The Kingmaker . We are really at the point in this AAR where more of what follows will mostly be original and less will be borrowed. That image reflects some of that. (Plus try finding an image of the young Harald "Wartooth!")

And thanks again, LD: we will see if future attempts at skaldic poetry succeed like this one.

 

[Darknotez]

Figured since I'm on the road as well, I'd give a read of your AAR (Skald) and wow, opened my interest into the ancient Nordic histories! It does remind me a lot of Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker. Subbed especially for the poetry.

Now to finish reading your Lost Seasons of the Danes!

PS: Beautiful artistic descriptive writing, @Chac1.

But man, if I were to give a critique, my only one would be that I am so lost in the names, I can't even pronounce many of them xD

I guess it adds to the authenticity? In any case, thank you for the read and introduction. Will help with your Lost Seasons lol

 

[jak7139]

Some very nice poetry @Chac1. I enjoyed it! My guess is the "Wartooth" will take a large bite out of his neighbors.

 

[Bullfilter]

Caught back up again.

That poetry is from me and it is based on a Skaldic form and style.

I echo the others on this: bravo!

 

[HistoryDude]

The poetry is great, as always. Writing in Skaldic is impressive.

I look forward to seeing how the gameplay affects the saga! How will he die? What non-iron weapon will kill him? I can't remember if he died of old age in Lost Seasons or not.

 

[El Pip]

As Ragny the Skald tells us:

Even including the traditional dotted red underline on some words, the true mark of saga-age poetry. Sorry, I couldn't resist that.

To be serious on first read I thought that was a historic bit of skaldic verse, you certainly captured the style of them. While I would never claim to be a literary critic, a few more elaborate and riddling kennings would further enhance any future effort. It is not proper skaldic verse unless you have to spend a few moments working out what on earth the author meant!

 

[Chac1]

Thanks to @Darknotez , @jak7139 , @Bullfilter , @HistoryDude & @El Pip for reading and commenting.

Yes, excellent critiques as usual @El Pip . Rushing about a lot these days and debated about those ugly red spelling lines the computer warns me about. Decided to just include them perhaps as proof that authors know better than the computers sent to help us. Well, perhaps.

Indeed, the true skalds heaped kennings upon kennings. Those are the toughest. Doubt I will find the multilayered kennings any time soon in my work that would mark it as true skaldic excellence. But I will keep on trying. I am prepping the next post but it doesn't have poetry, so I will just have to promise to improve in the future.

@HistoryDude the answers to your questions will be coming in the next few installments. I hope to have one posted by the weekend. (My travels have been interfering sorry to say.)

Indeed, @jak7139 the next installment will rattle off more of the conquests of "The Wartooth," and will be the first full installment to mirror the gameplay.

Thanks for the comparison to Star Maker, @Darknotez . You are far too kind. That was a 20th Century classic and definitely influential.