COVENANT

SKJǪLDRINN

From times immemorial, Úlfhéðnar had always been fighting and slaughtering each other, despite sharing the same blood and ancestor. Never ending feuds kept alive by Óðinn, who feared the capabilities of a united Úlfhéðnar front. Particularly one that included Blendingar, as the half-giant half-men had the potential to build a bridge with Jǫtnar, and thus, form the most formidable force Níu Heimar (the Nine Homeworlds) had ever seen. In these old days, Úlfhéðnar, and most notably Hybrids, hadn’t really mastered Óðr, and could only reach a frenzy, passion, and spiritual as well as ecstatic state, with battle. Sex with women could be gratifying, but never even remotely provided as much fulfillment as killing. There was therefore a lot of slaughtering from all sides. Killing indeed provided Úlfhéðnar, and especially Blendingar, with great satisfaction they could not achieve in any other way.

One day, a particularly aggressive hybrid in the name of Áskunnr inn beytill (in reference to his rather generous endowment, even to Blendingr standards), found himself without any weapon and faced with a particularly belligerant and dangerous Úlfheðinn in the name of Skjǫldolfr inn þursasprengir (giant destroyer), known indeed for his skills in slaying Jǫtnar. As the half-giant contemplated many creative ways to slay the other hrottameiðr (warrior), he noticed that Skjǫldolfr appeared particularly responsive to his scent, becoming much more combative, but also, oddly aroused. Áskunnr saw the unusual situation as an opportunity to slay his opponent, and decided to impale him with the only arm readily available at the time, his göndull. Before applying the final and fatal blow through internal blunt force trauma, the hybrid, however, instinctively felt compelled to spread some seeds first, and in doing so, came to the realization that sexual release involving another geirmímir (warrior) provided a physical, mental and spiritual ecstatic state very similar to that of killing. The Blendingr therefore decided to spare the life of Skjǫldolfr, on the condition that the Úlfheðinn would allow him to channel his sexual energy as needed.

Skjǫldolfr was a basic being who disliked burdening himself with existential questions. Áskunnr was much bigger and stronger than him so he saw the situation as a natural order of things.  Furthermore, he had greatly enjoyed, somehow, the experience, release of energy, elation, contact and connection with the hybrid, and yes, his scent and sacred essence. Therefore, he simply agreed to Áskunnr’s terms without further considerations. This is how the norrœnt term for conflict, samgangr, came to also mean intercourse, interchangeably.

Soon, they both entered an Eiðr to not only spare each other’s life, but also of mutual protection. Within one vetr (winter) and one sumar (summer), both Úlfhéðnar had channelled and combined their strength and destructive power, and become one terrifying and nearly invincible fighting force. Their banner, representing two identical Úlfhéðnar facing each other on a sea of blood and around a common shield, became the universal symbol of war, destructive power, and ultimate military might. Áskunnr and Skjǫldolfr became so fierce and feared together that they managed to terrorize Jǫtnar sufficiently to prompt them to offer a friðgørð (truce) for the first time in the history of the worlds. It was during one last epic, yet unspoken battle at Skarsvåg, that Skjǫldolfr was mortally wounded by a spear crafted from the wood of Yggdrasil and adorned with a golden tip carved with rúnar. As his félagi (soulmate) was dying, Áskunnr embraced him one last time, deliberately driving the lance into his own heart as well. Both Úlfhéðnar had become one, and both Úlfhéðnar had succumbed as one.

Upon finding his fathers, the son of Áskunnr, already a legendary warrior at only 16 at the time, and proudly bearing the same name, drew together on their bare skin, with their mixed blood, the rún Ár for the name Áskunnr and the rún Sol for the name Skjǫldolfr, binding them for eternity. He then organized the most epic and spectacular bálför (funeral) Níu Heimar had ever witnessed, sacrificing einn þúsund (one thousand) þrælar, and inviting all Æsir, Ásynjur, Vanir, Jǫtnar, Aðrir, Kindir, and Kynja, with the exception of one: Óðinn. He then set sail to Jǫtunheimr, intent on enforcing the truce his fathers had achieved, with all Blendingar and other Úlfhéðnar convinced the young striðsmaðr (warrior) had gone to his death. Jǫtnar, who had come to greatly respect Áskunnr inn beytill, and particularly impressed by Áskunnr Áskunnarson’s courage and renowned combat feats, agreed to uphold the friðgørð entered with his father.

After nine days and nine nights of negotiations, which terms remain secret to this day, the Ice Giants further entered a friðeiðr (peace oath) with the son of Áskunnr, formalized by a Þurs made of their blood mixed with gold. The young gramr (warrior) then returned to Miðgarðr to ratify the agreement with all Blendingar. He then raised an army of both Jǫtnar as well as Blendingar and used it as leverage to convince all remaining Úlfhéðnar and the Berserkir under their command to join the peace agreement under his conditions, secret to this day as well. Finally, Áskunnr Áskunnarson proclaimed that the war band uniting Jǫtnar, Blendingar, Úlfhéðnar, and even some of their Berserkir was to be known as Skjǫldrinn, in reference to one of his fathers, Skjǫldolfr inn þursasprengir, known for both slaughtering Jǫtnar and later being instrumental in reaching a truce with them. As a symbol of unity and new beginnings. As an unbreakable shield over Norðrlönd (Scandinavia) to protect their land and their blood until the end of times. He made his fathers’ war banner his blood line banner, and the official banner of Skjǫldrinn. This was the year 748 on the Miðgarðr calendar. The beginning of a new era. The beginning of the Norse calendar.

When Áskunnr hinn gullúlfr Þórolfrsfélagi, the direct descendant of Áskunnr Áskunnarson, ascended to power by his mere existential perfection, and for all intents and purposes, to the the throne of Úlfheimr, he decided that his position could only retain legitimacy, and that he could only fly the Áskunnr war banner, if he was to demonstrate, without a doubt, his combat superiority, unbeatable strength, and ultimately unquestionable dominance. The Blendingr, already renowned as the strongest in the history of Tíu Heimar, therefore embarked on a quest to fight for dominance every single hybrid and their descendants across the Ten Worlds. The task took nine years, nine months, and nine days, and unsurprisingly, Áskunnr hinn gullúlfr Þórolfrsfélagi prevailed.

The war banner of the Áskunnr blood line, flown in battles throughout history, was back again. Across Úlfheimr, but also the other Níu Heimar. In the color of blood for Skjǫldrinn, for battle, and as the royal coat of arms. In the color of darkness for the Væringjar entrusted with the protection of all Blendingar and their offsprings. In the color of the skies for trade. Also with a new bind rune, as per tradition, to reflect the current heir, Áskunnr hinn gullúlfr Þórolfrsfélagi, and the other Úlfheðinn he had oathed, Þórolfr hinn grárúlfr Áskunnarfélagi. A combination of the Rök rúnar (Norwegian variation of the Younger Furthark actually in use during the Viking age) Ár (for the name Áskunnr) and Týr (For the name Þórolf, modernized to Thorolf as there cannot be three Þurs), holding together two Þurs, contained, as in having powerful and destructive power under control, but only as long as the two Úlfhéðnar are in harmony and the Skjǫldrinn covenant of 748 CE is in force.

As many times throughout history, events hadn’t turned out quite as expected. The spear meant to end it all, had in fact, started it all.