Gwendolyn of Aldburg, Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer, 2018

… Then it was like old times in that echoing hall,
Proud talk and the people happy,
Loud and excited; until soon enough
The crown did pass from one to another;
Kings came and went; Baldric now ruled from that storied place
Golden band upon his brow; beside him sat wolf-wise
Breyla, Queen of the North. And ever at their side,
Bold Gwendolyn, Horse-Lady of Aldburg, stood in defence
Of her Ring-Giver and her oaths. Her mail-shirt glinted,
Hard and hand-linked; the high-gloss iron
Of her armour, no doubt had rung upon the anvil
When the smith stuck with hammer.

Time went by; and thus it was that Gwendolyn was
Called to saddle her mare and ride to the lands where
Winter’s breath was rarely known. The sun dazzled on that
Field of Ravens where her Ring-Giver did battle. So she duly arrived
In her joyous war-graith and gear and stacked her wide shield
Of the toughest hardwood amidst the wall,
Then charged upon the enemy; battle-dress
And weapons clashed. At day's end she collected the spears
Of those retainers of the Middle King she had slain in a seafarer’s stook,
A stand of greyish tapering ash. Over fifty shafts were the proof
Of this hero’s prowess; neither thane nor thrall could stand before her
When her blade stuck like a hammer.

The war-bands returned home. Gwendolyn sat on the benches,
First oarswoman to her thane, Varenko of the Rus. Thus they arrived
Unto to a great feast in the lands of the Bear-Folk, where Baldric spake:
“Be acclaimed for strength, dear Gwendolyn; and
Delight in this weapon from Our armoury; may you prosper with it!
You have won renown: you are known to all men
Far and near, now and forever. So, my lady,
I wish you a lifetime’s luck and blessings
To enjoy this treasure. As it was when that great
Prince Osis reigned, so here each companion is true to the other,
Loyal to lord, loving in spirit.” Gwendolyn raised aloft that storied
Weapon; and bore Thorbjorn’s Hammer.

 Done on this 8th day of September, AS. 53, as we celebrate Feast of the Bear.

Wording by THL Dietrich von Sachsen

Kolbjorn skatkaupandi, Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer, 2014

Cattle die,

Kinsmen die

You yourself die;

I know one thing

Which never dies:

The virtue of a man's life.

Hammer of Thor strikes Anvil of Virtue,       Rings forth, naming Kolbjorn.

Brother they hailed,                                        Of Ealdormere the most blissfull,

Potent King in the high seat                           They wished him to join,

And the Brethren to sit                                   Happy at the feast,

Ever with Thorbjorn,                                       Pleasure to share.

Many songs they sung,                                   Rode on sea steeds,

The King and Queen,                                      Trumbrant Bold, Kayla Fairhair'd.

At the magestic house,                                    Odin listened,

Wrote he the runes.                                         Declare, Nornir! Kolbjorn,

This day Battle Brother                                  'Til Fenris does come.

Wording by HE Mahault of Swynford.

Lars Eriksson, Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer

His excellence on the field

Is matched by patient scholarship

An ardent teacher, a long-standing marshal

Our general at Pennsic on the rapier field

Father of the Ealdormere Academy of Defence

The beating heart of fencing in Ealdormere

For his valiant arm and staunch service,

We, King Etain au Naval,

Winter’s might upon the mountain

And Queen Valfreya Greenspear

Joyful hope-bringer

Induct Lars Eriksson into

Our noble Order of Thorbjorn’s Hammer

He has the right to wear the badge of the order:

Gules, a Thor's hammer within a bordure embattled argent

We also give unto him a Grant of Arms

And the right to bear his arms

With the Crest of the Kingdom.

Done this 12^th day of February

Anno Societatis 45

At Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre II

in Our Incipient Canton of Swans Keep

Wording, calligraphy and illumination by THL Asa Gormsdottir

Motif based on carved bed posts found in the Oseberg ship burial, early 9^th c.

Runes in Elder Futhark

Ealdormere Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer Wording

To all unto whom these presents come, know that We, [Sovereign], [King/Queen] of Ealdormere by right of Arms, and [Consort], by grace and inspiration Our [Queen/King], do know well of the great prowess which [recipient] has displayed [insert more details here]. As such exemplary skill should not go unrecognized, We do now commend [him/her] and induct [him/her] as a Companion into Our noble Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer and allow [him/her] to wear the badge of the Order: [leave space for badge blazon]. Further, We do confer upon [him/her] a Grant of Arms and the right to bear [his/her] arms [insert blazon here if one has been registered] with the crest of the Kingdom. Done by Our hands and seal while sitting on Our Lupine thrones in Our [group hosting event], this [day] day of [month], anno societatis [year], at [event].

[Source: Ealdormere Scribal College]