Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi, Order of the Pelican, 2016

Quilliam, Queen-maker,

Queries his althing,

Speaks to skald-poets

Converses with carls.

Domhnail, dís[1]-born,

Daughter of dwarf-kin[2]

Muses with maðr[3]

Talks with red rekkr[4].

Who comes when called

Carries long burdens

Field and fen toiler

Works with the wain-kin[5]?

Who nears when needed

Knowing what’s lacking

Moils[6] in mead hall

Stands without sighing?

Kolbjorn, kappi[7],

Dreki-marked[8] kyrtil[9]

Tender of tree-lord

Binder of boughs[10].

Black bear[11] devoted

Born into Ramlands[12]

Frigg[13]-blessed father

Ring-rich in family.

Wise words well spoken

Well heard by high-born

Call they the Kolbjorn

Command they their carl.

Stood he in shire-land

At icy snow-battle

Added as årmann[14]

Joins band of blood-givers[15].

And so was Kolbjorn, loyal servant of Quilliam and Domhnail, inducted into Their Order of the Pelican, at Tournoi du Coeur des Glace, in Their Shire of Bastille du Lac, on the 30^th day of January, in the fiftieth year of the settlement.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, using the galdralag version of the ljoðaháttr meter (known as the “magic spell meter”).  This meter was likely used for magical or cult poetry, and since a Peerage elevation is a special event I thought it fitting.

Ljoðaháttr (“meter of chants”) consisted of a pair of line, each having two stressed syllables and being bound by alliteration, followed by a third line (the “full line” that alliterated with itself and had two or three stressed syllables. Galdralag added a fourth line that mirrored the third. Normally a stanza consisted of two sets of these three or four lines.

Sources:

Linguistics Research Centre, Old Norse Online, http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/eieol/norol-BF-X.html

Nordic Names, http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Kolbj%C3%B8rn

Viking Answer Lady, Poetry in Scandinavia and the North, http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/meters.shtml

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[1] A dis is a spirit of fate.

[2] Domhnail is a former baroness of Septentria. She followed Barony Cynred, whose short stature and long beard reminded many of a gnome.

[3] Henchmen, people.

[4] Warriors.

[5] A kenning referring to the Companions of the Order of the Wain, who have been recognized for their service.

[6] A verb meaning “to work”.

[7] Hero or champion.

[8] Referring to the dragon on Kol’s heraldry.

[9] Tunic.

[10] These two lines are saying that Kol cares for Yggdraasil, the tree that stands at the centre of the Norse universe.

[11] Kolbjorn means “black bear”.

[12] Kol is from the Barony of Ramshaven.

[13] Frigg is, among other things, the goddess of marriage.

[14] An admistrator akin to a steward or castellan.

[15] In medieval lore Pelicans were known for great sacrifice, even feeding their own blood to their young.

Lucia de Moranza, Award of Orion, 2015

Albeit the jealous temper of mankind, ever more disposed to censure than to praise the work of others, has meant that the work of the deserving sometimes goes unrecognized; therefore, prompted by that desire which nature has implanted in Us, Quilliam and Domhnail, King and Queen of the free north, to reward whosoever We think offers a common benefit to all, do We call Lucia de Moranza before Us. Good lady, We send you a gift, which is at any rate the least We could do to show Our appreciation for your endeavours in the arts and sciences. And in this writ, Our gift, We have expressed both Our love of your works in fabric arts, bobbin lacing, egg painting and tablet weaving, as well as the love of the people of Our lands. Take then this Award of Orion, in glad spirit, and give Us satisfaction in knowing that all now know the favour We hold for you. We have done this at Queen’s Prize Tourney, in Our lands of Petrea Thule on the feast day of Emperor Justinian in the fiftieth year of the Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the preface to Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius by Niccolo Machiavelli (c. 1517).

Jocelyn de Cranewall, Einvigi Rapier Champion, 2015

All is done              Ullr's season
Descends with        winter's sea-breath
From northern         frozen mountains.
End of strife            Einvigi age

Dealing cruel          death to swordsmen
Fought they did      for honour and
Fame; on now        to Odin's hall
Valhal's walls         valour recall.

Fiercely swords        did feast on blood
ullr's shields             shone most brightly
In misty                   morning ravens
Gather; whose          wounds form their feast?

And who would        win glory from
crown'd brow of        breaker of rings?
Though kin and        cattle all die
Famous deeds        forever live.

Famed the name        Known for her skill
Jocelyn            Joyful sword-maid
Challengers        Chose well their doom
With flick of        Flashing blade, fell.


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, as an award for a Royal Tourney.

Jocelyn de Cranewall, Einvigi Rapier Most Traveled, 2015

Harken Ealdormere!              Hear the words

From herald's lips;                Loud they proclaim:
Weather of weapons             Washed on our shores
And brave souls walked        The wide Whale-road.

Who sought the sea-steed    Sword holding high?
Wandering Odin                   Ne'er walked so far.
Not for Freyja's tears            Tore men from wives,
But honour and                    High esteem sought.

From land of far Skrael        to Skeldergate
Harrowgate Heath               hears loud spear-din.
Bryniau and Caer Draeth     call warriors
To take to ships                  taunting the Norns.

Konnugr Steinarr                Calls wandering
War-maiden here;              Mark well her deeds!
Fair Drottning Lyda             Lauds her labors!
Silver blade shone-            Shamed challengers.

Hails well from Cranewall-     Cry out her name!
Hail Jocelyn!                          judge you right brave!
Brav'd wind and weather       Breaker-of-Rings
Honours your name              Now homeward come.

Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, award for a Royal Tourney.

Gajin Suren, Award of the Maiden's Heart, 2014

Trumbrand, Khan of the north and destined thereof,
Truly ordained by spirits of Heaven above;
Truthful Kaylah, Khatun of Beauty and Love,
Trust well in Gajin Suren, whom they speak of.

He knows well the honour that comes of service,
Head or Hooves, for men courageous or nervous;
He hefts the plunder from field to cart - does this
Helps aged men and mighty Tumens thus.

Together none can easily vanquish you,
To be alone is to be broken in two,
Trains our warriors - Marshalls the lists do you,
Trade your many labours for honours new.

Thy breed were born of the fallow doe's offspring;
Thy service to us does us great honours bring,
Think upon the doe's grace the old men do sing,
"Thyself has earned the Maiden's Heart" says your King.


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen

Gwendolyn of Aldburg, Award of the Scarlet Banner, 2015

... As it was in days gone by,
When the Spear-Skraels and they who ruled them
Had Courage and Greatness. We have heard
much of those bygone Prince's heroic campaigns
alongside the Bear-Folk and the Wyrm-Born Kings of old.
Never be it said that those who followed them
Be nithing at war; strong are those born even now.
The powers of Quilliam wax and his worth is proved
Not only by Domhnail, blessed Queen of all those
Who call the Wolven-realm home; but by the strength
Of those who take the blood-worm to hand
Beneath the Scarlet Banner.

Thus did the Breaker-of-Rings seek forth one
Of the Skrael-Shieldlings to stand before him
And his lady, in their lofty hall.
So was Quilliam sent forth Gwendolyn,
Horse-Lady of Aldburg, White Ravens of Othin
Borne proudly upon her battle-shield.
Bright mail and tall helm she wore, but none
Outshone her martial pride; for trained had she
At the feet of her Uncle, who taught her never
Before the foemen yield, but to stand tall
As any fighting man who put arm to shield
Beneath the Scarlet Banner.

"What kind of Lady are you arrive
Rigged out for combat in your coat of maille
Riding here from distant Harrowgate Heath
Upon thy dun-skin mare? I have reigned
As King for some time, yet rarely before
Has a mightier man-at-arms been seen here
As stands here now; unless I am mistaken,
She is truly noble. No mere hanger-on in a hero's armour."
"I belong by birth to your people, the Skraels
And owe allegiance to none but you, great king."
"Then stand, and bear your arms and gear, and I shall guide you,
Beneath your Scarlet Banner."


Wording by Lord Dietrich Sachsen

Merewyn of Swenyeshie, Award of Orion, 2015

Let all who heren thisse asise,
Of Steinarr, Kyng of the Ealdormerii,
And Lydr, Quene who Wið-stod him.
Worldes bliss we pris nout,
Al be that the bliss of oure Kine-þeod we pris gretliche.
They that do multiplye the murthe of oure puple
With conning and queyntise - forgen bel beydes -
We wouldst wurðien. We bi-nemnen in oure loftye castel:
Merewen de Sweynesheie is grauntyed the Awarde of Orion.
Ne mon is gabben oure vassal!

(IN MODERN ENGLISH)
Let all who hear this decree,
Of Steinarr, Kyng of the Ealdormerii
And Lydr, Queen who stands beside him.
Wordly bliss we value not,
Although the bliss of our subjects we value grealty.
They that do multiply* the joy of our people
With cunning and artifice - forging beautiful beads -
We would honour. We declare in our lofty hall:
That Merewen de Sweynesheie is granted the Award of Orion.
Let no man scoff at our vassal!


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen