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The [[Velheim]] have many stories, but “The Tale of Karl Ørretsund” is one of the oldest. The story came from the bards of [[Hedryll]], but actual records of a man named Karl Ørretsund are lost to time. Additionally, the oldest written manuscript of the story available to [[ | The [[Velheim]] have many stories, but “The Tale of Karl Ørretsund” is one of the oldest. The story came from the bards of [[Ellador|Hedryll]], but actual records of a man named Karl Ørretsund are lost to time. Additionally, the oldest written manuscript of the story available to [[Aloria]]ns (found in a book called the Blekgeit Manuscript) is lacking several episodes in the center due to missing pages. Others have filled in this gap with their own narratives, namely bards and modern storytellers, but the story presented here is the original version known from the Blekgeit Manuscript. | ||
==The Tale of Karl Ørretsund== | ==The Tale of Karl Ørretsund== | ||
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In Sterhaug, there was a man called Kanin who had a daughter, Saua. They lived by way of the hunt, and Saua was fully devoted to the art of archery. One day, she chased deer far through the forest and encountered a Tall Ship by the river. This ship was being captained by Skifer Skogheim, and he seized her as a Hildrae, for he was taken by her beauty. However, she was fierce and bit off his ear, and so he ultimately ejected her onto the sands before he returned to the sea. She returned home, and came to bear a son who was called Karl. | In Sterhaug, there was a man called Kanin who had a daughter, Saua. They lived by way of the hunt, and Saua was fully devoted to the art of archery. One day, she chased deer far through the forest and encountered a Tall Ship by the river. This ship was being captained by Skifer Skogheim, and he seized her as a Hildrae, for he was taken by her beauty. However, she was fierce and bit off his ear, and so he ultimately ejected her onto the sands before he returned to the sea. She returned home, and came to bear a son who was called Karl. | ||
Karl was hated by his mother. His grandfather, fearing his daughter’s designs upon this child, was ultimately forced to send him away to live with a friend. This man was called Granitt. With his wife Geita, he raised the child in their fishing village. When the boy turned ten, his second father came to him and explained his origin. Karl grew upset and fled along the coast until he reached a seaside cave. From within, he heard beautiful music and enchanting voices, and so he proceeded inside. He only carried with him a walking stick. | Karl was hated by his mother. His grandfather, fearing his daughter’s designs upon this child, was ultimately forced to send him away to live with a friend. This man was called Granitt. With his wife Geita, he raised the child in their fishing village. When the boy turned ten, his second father came to him and explained his origin. Karl grew upset and fled along the coast until he reached a seaside cave. From within, he heard beautiful music and enchanting voices, and so he proceeded inside. He only carried with him a walking stick. | ||
Within the cave, around a central circular pool were four musicians, two women and two men. They sang the same tune, and each held a different instrument. Karl did not interrupt them, for those of Ørretsund had raised him well-mannered. Instead, he sat and listened. When at last the song came to an end, all four turned to him. | Within the cave, around a central circular pool were four musicians, two women and two men. They sang the same tune, and each held a different instrument. Karl did not interrupt them, for those of Ørretsund had raised him well-mannered. Instead, he sat and listened. When at last the song came to an end, all four turned to him. | ||
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Karl pulled the axe from the wood and looked at the man. The man looked back. “As I said before, you are just the messenger, but unless you desire to become Staargir-like, I suggest you leave.” | Karl pulled the axe from the wood and looked at the man. The man looked back. “As I said before, you are just the messenger, but unless you desire to become Staargir-like, I suggest you leave.” | ||
Two weeks later, the parties met in the clearing before Saua’s house. With Karl was his oldest son, and across the clearing stood his father and his acknowledged son, Kullen. Ringing the space stood some hundred spectators, among them | Two weeks later, the parties met in the clearing before Saua’s house. With Karl was his oldest son, and across the clearing stood his father and his acknowledged son, Kullen. Ringing the space stood some hundred spectators, among them Judge Kveite and Saua herself. | ||
She marched across the ring before the fight began. Even in her age, her hair had yet to grey, and Skifer regretted for a moment what he had done. | She marched across the ring before the fight began. Even in her age, her hair had yet to grey, and Skifer regretted for a moment what he had done. | ||
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Karl and Kullen then began to fight, each with an axe and shield, with a dagger at their sides. Despite his older age, Karl held his own as wood and metal blows rang loudly. Gradually, the sun began to turn cold and people tired. By the time the sun was orange, both men were heaving wet, and yet neither had left the circle even as it had been tightened around them. | Karl and Kullen then began to fight, each with an axe and shield, with a dagger at their sides. Despite his older age, Karl held his own as wood and metal blows rang loudly. Gradually, the sun began to turn cold and people tired. By the time the sun was orange, both men were heaving wet, and yet neither had left the circle even as it had been tightened around them. | ||
The | The Judge stood and marched to the edge of the arena. “You, Karl, have stood your ground for quite some time. Do you not wish for a rest?” | ||
Karl shouted hoarsley his reply. “NO! My mother...is a woman of...of fair Soldi...as I am a man of fair...fair Soldi. I will NOT yield to the Baron’s lie!” | Karl shouted hoarsley his reply. “NO! My mother...is a woman of...of fair Soldi...as I am a man of fair...fair Soldi. I will NOT yield to the Baron’s lie!” | ||
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Gasping for breath, Kullen made his meek reply. “No...my father is a man of...of fair Soldi...as I am a man of fair...fair Soldi. I will not yield…” | Gasping for breath, Kullen made his meek reply. “No...my father is a man of...of fair Soldi...as I am a man of fair...fair Soldi. I will not yield…” | ||
The | The Judge glowered and shoved Kullen, causing the man to collapse exhausted to the ground and into slumber. “Your words betray you, you lie and dishonor yourself just as your father does!” | ||
Baron Skifer Skogheim was humiliated, and the next day, his household left to never again return. | Baron Skifer Skogheim was humiliated, and the next day, his household left to never again return. Judge Kveite then bestowed the title onto Karl Ørretsund, and in his final days, he was called up to serve in the court of King Eivind, then leader of great Hedryll, which he did until his hundredth year, when he died at peace surrounded by his great family. | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*Most bards insert an episode of Karl defeating the Solhest before another episode of him going to see his mother with his new bride, and saving his mother from a horrible monster keeping her in bondage. Others combine the acquiring of the bride and visiting his mother, before inserting a story about how Karl raided to a distant land of dark-skinned men, acquiring several of his thralls from the ensuing combat | *Most bards insert an episode of Karl defeating the Solhest before another episode of him going to see his mother with his new bride, and saving his mother from a horrible monster keeping her in bondage. Others combine the acquiring of the bride and visiting his mother, before inserting a story about how Karl raided to a distant land of dark-skinned men, acquiring several of his thralls from the ensuing combat | ||
*Some believe that this story explores a very transitional period in Velheim life, before raiding and pillaging dominated their lives. These analyses cite the presence of crops and agriculture in the story. | *Some believe that this story explores a very transitional period in Velheim life, before raiding and pillaging dominated their lives. These analyses cite the abundant presence of crops and agriculture in the story. | ||
*The document of the Blekgeit Manuscript | *The document of the Blekgeit Manuscript is currently in the possession of the Kingdom of Hedryll. | ||
{{Literature}} | {{Literature}} | ||
{{Accreditation | {{Accreditation | ||