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Oddny's Saga - a Shield-Maiden quest in the style of Icelandic family sagas
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The Death of Thorolf Hardhand
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impact!
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- a garden
Oddny's Saga
1. There was a woman named Signy, the daughter of Godless-Audr and Skallagrim the Early Riser. Skallagrim had two sons and two daughters, and they all grew up strong and bright, but none as much as Signy. She was the most beautiful women in the north of Solskjel. She was properly built, and rather tall. Her hair was black, so she came to be called Signy the Black. Some say that Gudrun the Fair, daughter of Ketil of Borg was more beautiful, but that is false. Signy was also very wise and had the gift of seeing. She would always know whether the winter would be harsh or light, and if she saw a man, she could tell if there was a doom upon him. However, her tongue was very sharp, and she was not always thought well of that. She was married to Thorolf Hardhand and moved to live with him on a farm called Flat-Hill.
Thorolf was an excellent man. He was broad-shouldered and dark, and very strong. He made a showing of taking a log and breaking it in half with his bare hand, which earned him his nickname. When he was young, he raided in the Lief lands, and brought great wealth with him to Solskjel. He also served the king Audbjorn, and was known as one of his best men. When he married Signy, people would say that this was a good match, but that it would turn either great, or bad, because she was a difficult woman. But they found their company very pleasant, and the marriage was deemed a success. When the king called, Thorolf would often leave the farm for a long time, and Signy would manage it then; she did so deftly, and soon Flat-Hill was known as the richest farm in the north of Solskjel.
2. In that time Earl Haakon, who was in the south Solskjel, married Gunnhild, daughter of Bjorn, king Audbjorn's brother. Gunnhild was a wicked woman, and very ambitious. She received ten golden rings from Haakon as his morning gift, each weighing a mark, and thought it little. So she said to him: "You give me the gold only because that Audbjorn gifted you". He said it was a very bad thing to say. But others heard that exchange and took to calling Haakon the Regiver, and he was laughed at throughout all Solskjel. Then he asked Gunnhild why did she shame him so. She said: "It is known that you are a bolder man than Audbjorn, who is old and infirm, and that he buys your compliance with gold you then give to others. This is very shameful and should not continue."
Haakon then called other great men from the south and asked them what they thought of it. They all said that it was true that he was a greater man than Audbjorn and that he should not remain an earl if he could become a king. So he asked them if they would follow him if he was to enter rebellion, and they all promised to do so. The plan was made so that they would attack in the spring.
3. King Audbjorn learned of this scheme. He sent messengers to all of his men to ask them to come to his aid, and Thorolf Hardhand was one of them. He received the arrow of war in autumn and readied himself to leave immediately. But before he did, he went to Signy and asked her if she sees doom upon him. She said that she does, and that she does not think anything good will come out of the war for anyone in Solskjel. She was with a child at that time. "Fate abides as fate must" said Thorolf. He then left Flat-Hill to join the king, who was wintering at Hightower.
4. There was a man named Ulf Sharp-eyed, who lived on a farm called Three-pines, which was next to Flat-Hill. When he was young, he was a renowned raider, but he became more peaceful with age. He and Thorolf were close friends and would often exchange gifts. He was married to Unn, daughter of Mork, who was at that time also with a child. When king Audbjorn sent him the arrow of war, however, he said he would not be a part of it. The messenger said that anyone who refused the call for aid would be declared an outlaw, but Ulf was unmoved.
When Thorolf left, Signy rode to Ulf to ask him for help. He was surprised to see her, but hosted her very well, because she was his best friend's wife. She said to him: "The way I see it, there are two ways things will turn out. Either king Audbjorn will win, and my husband will win great fame, or king Audbjorn will lose, and my husband will die, because he would never allow the king to lose while he was still living, and that I think is more likely. And I think you think that way too, because you did not join the war."
Ulf said it was all true, and that he fully expected that the war would go badly for Thorolf. He was also sure that if Haakon won, he would persecute the land very harshly, and make all freeholders his slaves. Then Signy asked: "Is it true that your brother Thorstein lives on the Free Islands?" Thorolf answered: "It is true, but he is a difficult man. He won't marry and likes only fighting. He is also a berserk." Signy said: "This is all bad news, but not too bad. I will now tell you what we should do: when the spring comes, there will be war, and if it goes badly for us, then we will take all that we have and put it on a ship and sail it to where your brother lives. There we will stay at his farm until we find land for ourselves."
Ulf thought it was a good plan, and so he agreed to it. Other people were less sure and said that taking an advice from a woman is a dangerous ploy. But Ulf knew that Signy had the gift of sight and that what she said was going to happen would happen, so he ignored them.
5. In the spring earl Haakon marched his army towards Hightower, and king Audbjorn met him nearby. They made battle to each another, and king Audbjorn was defeated and killed, along with most of his men. They say that Thorolf behaved himself most valiantly during this fight and that when he died, they could not count the number of wounds on his body, so great it was. The field the battle was fought was then called the Woe-field.
Next, Haakon took Hightower and was made the king of all Solskjel. He sent his men in all directions to take wealth off men who were loyal to Audbjorn, and to raise all kind of chaos and evil. Thus he was called Haakon the Greedy.
6. When the news of the battle reached Flat-Hill, Signy was despondent. She said: "Hard is the wisdom of a woman that gives her no power to avert evil fate; hard is the life of a woman who will never see her husband's corpse." By then she was heavily pregnant, and some said that it would be better for her to abandon the plan and stay at the farm. But she refused and had Ulf Sharp-eyed called to her, and she asked if he had a ship ready, and he said he had two. So they dismantled all that they could on their farms, and put it all on the ships, and Signy carried the high-seat pillars of her home there herself, which some thought was very arrogant of her. Then when there was no more room on the boat, they slaughtered all the cattle that was left and threw the meat into the sea, and then they set fire to the farms, so that nothing of them would be left for king Haakon the Greedy. Then they sailed to the Free Icelands, and the journey was swift, because the winds were favourable.
7. They landed on an island that was known as Rock-beak, where Thorstein had his farm. They took their supplies out of the boats and went to him so that he would host them, and give them advice on where to seek land. He was not very pleased to see them, because his farm was very small, and he was not a hospitable man. When they came, he stopped them at the haywall, and said that there is no room, and that they should sail somewhere else. Ulf said that it was a good idea, but Signy thought otherwise.
"I will not be turned away," she said, and she exposed her belly to him so that he would see that she would soon be giving birth. "And neither should Unn. The sun is strong on the sky, and the air is warm, so we will stay here at your fence-gate until our children come, or until you let us, and we will not move otherwise."
At that Thorstein grew very angry. "It is enough that my slave carries my child, now women for Solskjel seek to shame me and my brother is so weak that he goes with their will."
Ulf said nothing to that, but it was clear that he was not happy and that he would not bear more insult. But then Signy spoke again: "Now I hear that you are unmarried, but you say that your slaves bear your children. And it is known that every man who is worthy of respect should have a child that carries his legacy. Now I think that if you let us stay at your farm, and give birth there, one of us will give birth to a great warrior, but if you turn us away, then it is sure that none of that will come to pass."
Thorstein became incensed and gave them a bad look. But he knew from Signy's words that she had the gift of sight and that what she said would happen was going to happen. So he moved aside and allowed them to stay at the farm, until such a time that she, Unn, and his slave, who was named Emer, all gave birth.
Signy's prophecy came true, although not in the way it was expected. Oddny, the future shield-maiden, was born on Rock-beak, in the farm of Thorstein the berserk. She was born:
[ ] The daughter of Signy.
Pros: an encouraging mother not afraid to stand up to men or social norms, and who happens to be a seer. Good inherited wealth after Thorolf Hardhand.
Cons: no father in the family. Mother has a bad reputation. Inherited wealth will run out sooner rather than later.
[ ] The daughter of Ulf.
Pros: stable, respectable family. No bad reputation on either side, and father is a well-liked man.
Cons: stable, respectable family. Extant family of Thorolf Hardhand may attempt exact revenge on Ulf for abandoning his friend in the war.
[ ] Bastard daughter of Thorstein the berserk.
Pros: actually has a home on the Free Islands already. Berserk may be a teachable ability. Father is not very concerned with traditional family models.
Cons: Thorstein is an asshole, bastard status may become a handicap.
This is a small exercise of mine in writing in the style of Icelandic family sagas. The Quest will be presented in this format, and will focus on the adventures of Oddny, a shield-maiden. The setting this quest is set in is basically early medieval Europe with serial numbers filed off; elements of worlbuilding from my previous early medieval writing projects should be visible for those who remember it. Also there will be gender and queer themes. And violence.
Last edited:
The Slaying at Rock-beak
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
[X] The daughter of Signy.
8. The women were taken to the women's quarters, where they gave birth thusly: Unn, daughter of Mork bore a boy, who was very large and red all over. He seemed very healthy and everyone thought that he would grow to be a champion. He was presented to his father, who took him and named him Mork. Signy the Black bore a girl, and as her father was dead, she named her herself, calling her Oddny. Emer the slave also bore a girl, and Thorstein had the infant wrapped in linen to be put on a stone outside to deal as she would, as was the custom among the Free Icelanders in those times. But Ulf took pity on the girl and said to Thorstein that he would purchase her and her mother from him. Thorstein agreed to sell the girl (she was valued at three ounces), but said he would not sell Emer, because she was his favourite. It was however agreed that she would be allowed to nurse her daughter. However, Thorstein was disappointed in the lack of a son and approached Ulf, so that Mork would be given into his foster-care when he came to an age. This, however, was not to be.
Ulf and Signy stayed at Rock-beak for the summer. In that time, the part of Free Islands they were in were rather filled with people, so it was hard to find land, but eventually Ulf purchased land at a place called White Heath from Gunnar the Chieftain, and had a farm built there. Signy had less luck, and no one would give or sell land to her, because she was without a husband. She often lamented this injustice, but others were not very understanding of it.
9. When it became certain that Signy would have to spend the winter at Rock-beak, she approached Thorstein and said to him: "Now I know that you envy your brother, who has a son who is sure to grow to be a great champion." He asked why she would tell him that. She said she was unmarried and that her father was Skallagrim the Early Riser, who was the greatest warrior and athlete on Solskjel. This gave Thorstein a lot to think.
Then Signy went to Ulf, who was getting ready to move to White Heath, and she said to him: "It is likely that Thorstein will propose to take me into marriage." Ulf said that he was sure it would turn out badly, because it was known that Thorstein would not lie with a woman unless she was a slave, but that he would not prevent it if it came to pass. He then took all his belongings and settled at White Heath with his wife and his farmhands. He was very industrious and worked diligently, and before winter the farm was as good as any other farm on the Free Icelands, but he was short on cattle.
Thorstein then approached Signy, because her father and her brothers were on Solskjel, and asked her to be betrothed to him. Witnesses were called and they shook their hands on that, but the arrangement was considered rather unusual. Gossip went through the region that a berserk was being married to a man-hungry woman, and neither Signy, nor Thorsten were thought well because of that. The wedding was held not long thereafter, and it was rather sparse. When Thorstein took Signy to the bed closet for the night, nothing came out of it. He then grew very swarthy and spoke to her harshly. They quickly grew very cold to each another, and slept apart. Thorstein would often bring one of his slaves to amuse himself with. The marriage was considered a failure, and Signy was advised to seek divorce, but she did not do so.
10. It happened that a trader from Solskjel landed at Rock-beak, to spend the winter at Thorstein's farm. He was named Audbjorn. In his company, there was a man named Outlaw-Thorkel, who had an impetus reputation. He and Signy spoke often, and he could not keep his eyes off her. Thorstein was none the wiser to that, and some servants came to mock him for that.
When the winter feast approached, men left the farm to offer to the Sky God, as was appropriate. Then Signy called Emer to her, and commanded her to go White Heath and there relay to Ulf that the men from Solskjel had evil intentions for Thorstein. Also before the feast, she had a horse readied for herself, and Signy bundled so that cold would not harm her. Finally, she arranged it so that when the lots were drawn for drinking partners, she would be sharing the horn with Outlaw-Thorkel.
When the feat came, Thorstein was seated on the high seat, with Audbjorn opposite to him, and Thorkel next to Audbjorn. Signy sat on the crossbench. They drank good ale all evening and became very happy. Then Thorkel picked up Signy and seated her next to himself, so that all could see it. Thorstein grew angry at that, and said that it was a very low thing to do to take a man's wife like that. Then Thorkel placed Signy on his lap and said: "It is well-known that you have no use for a wife, for only bound girls amuse you." Thorstein said that he would not bear insult like that, and grabbed an axe, and swung it hard at Thorkel, but the blade got caught in the rafters, and could not be freed. Then Thorkel took a sword and thrust it into Thorstein, and split him open from neck to groin, so that his blood spilled all over Signy and drenched her utterly. There was a lot of chaos, and Signy slipped from the farm with Oddny, and took the horse. Even though the weather was very harsh, she rode through snow straight to White Heath.
There, she called Ulf out and declared to him that his brother had been murdered by men from Solskjel and that his blood was still on her. She said: "Now it cries out for vengeance, for only a coward leaves kin unavenged." Ulf, who already expected misfortune, said: "It seems to me that bad fate is the only thing you predict", but he called his farmhands, and they rode straight back to Rock-beak, twelve men in total. There, they surrounded the farm, and called on the men from Solskjel to come out. Thorkel came to the door and saw that he was doomed. He spoke: "Cold are the counsels of women". He then led other men in attack, but they were all killed with spears and arrows, and not a single one of them survived. Ulf then went inside and had the body of Thorstein wrapped in linens. A mound was erected from him outside the haywall, where it can be seen to this day. Ulf won much honour in this battle, but he found little joy in it.
Then the matter of inheritance was resolved as follows: all the property that Thorstein had went to Ulf, but for the land and the farm, which were given to Signy. She put the high seat pillars from Flat-hill there, and said that she was finally contented. She also kept Emer and released her from her servitude, but she went to work at Ulf's farm, where her daughter was bound to go. When it came to managing the farm, Signy turned out very industrious, and Rock-beak prospered. However, she was thought of very badly and few wanted to associate with her.
This should be it when it comes to having Signy as the focus of the story, and the next chapters will deal with girlhood deeds of Oddny. Before that happens, however, one thing must be decided:
[ ] Oddny was given for fostering to Ulf at White Heath
-Pros: Will help mend relationships between Signy and Ulf, will allow Oddny to grow up in a respectable family. Also better living conditions.
-Cons: More restrictive upbringing. Relationship with Signy more distant. Likely a lot of conflict with other children at White Heath.
[ ] Signy raised Oddny at Rock-beak.
-Pros: Better relationship with Signy. Getting raised by a hard woman. Less restrictive paternal care.
-Cons: Little respectability. Reputation will suffer because of Signy's actions. Being a single child will mean a lot of hard work and less time for leisure.
8. The women were taken to the women's quarters, where they gave birth thusly: Unn, daughter of Mork bore a boy, who was very large and red all over. He seemed very healthy and everyone thought that he would grow to be a champion. He was presented to his father, who took him and named him Mork. Signy the Black bore a girl, and as her father was dead, she named her herself, calling her Oddny. Emer the slave also bore a girl, and Thorstein had the infant wrapped in linen to be put on a stone outside to deal as she would, as was the custom among the Free Icelanders in those times. But Ulf took pity on the girl and said to Thorstein that he would purchase her and her mother from him. Thorstein agreed to sell the girl (she was valued at three ounces), but said he would not sell Emer, because she was his favourite. It was however agreed that she would be allowed to nurse her daughter. However, Thorstein was disappointed in the lack of a son and approached Ulf, so that Mork would be given into his foster-care when he came to an age. This, however, was not to be.
Ulf and Signy stayed at Rock-beak for the summer. In that time, the part of Free Islands they were in were rather filled with people, so it was hard to find land, but eventually Ulf purchased land at a place called White Heath from Gunnar the Chieftain, and had a farm built there. Signy had less luck, and no one would give or sell land to her, because she was without a husband. She often lamented this injustice, but others were not very understanding of it.
9. When it became certain that Signy would have to spend the winter at Rock-beak, she approached Thorstein and said to him: "Now I know that you envy your brother, who has a son who is sure to grow to be a great champion." He asked why she would tell him that. She said she was unmarried and that her father was Skallagrim the Early Riser, who was the greatest warrior and athlete on Solskjel. This gave Thorstein a lot to think.
Then Signy went to Ulf, who was getting ready to move to White Heath, and she said to him: "It is likely that Thorstein will propose to take me into marriage." Ulf said that he was sure it would turn out badly, because it was known that Thorstein would not lie with a woman unless she was a slave, but that he would not prevent it if it came to pass. He then took all his belongings and settled at White Heath with his wife and his farmhands. He was very industrious and worked diligently, and before winter the farm was as good as any other farm on the Free Icelands, but he was short on cattle.
Thorstein then approached Signy, because her father and her brothers were on Solskjel, and asked her to be betrothed to him. Witnesses were called and they shook their hands on that, but the arrangement was considered rather unusual. Gossip went through the region that a berserk was being married to a man-hungry woman, and neither Signy, nor Thorsten were thought well because of that. The wedding was held not long thereafter, and it was rather sparse. When Thorstein took Signy to the bed closet for the night, nothing came out of it. He then grew very swarthy and spoke to her harshly. They quickly grew very cold to each another, and slept apart. Thorstein would often bring one of his slaves to amuse himself with. The marriage was considered a failure, and Signy was advised to seek divorce, but she did not do so.
10. It happened that a trader from Solskjel landed at Rock-beak, to spend the winter at Thorstein's farm. He was named Audbjorn. In his company, there was a man named Outlaw-Thorkel, who had an impetus reputation. He and Signy spoke often, and he could not keep his eyes off her. Thorstein was none the wiser to that, and some servants came to mock him for that.
When the winter feast approached, men left the farm to offer to the Sky God, as was appropriate. Then Signy called Emer to her, and commanded her to go White Heath and there relay to Ulf that the men from Solskjel had evil intentions for Thorstein. Also before the feast, she had a horse readied for herself, and Signy bundled so that cold would not harm her. Finally, she arranged it so that when the lots were drawn for drinking partners, she would be sharing the horn with Outlaw-Thorkel.
When the feat came, Thorstein was seated on the high seat, with Audbjorn opposite to him, and Thorkel next to Audbjorn. Signy sat on the crossbench. They drank good ale all evening and became very happy. Then Thorkel picked up Signy and seated her next to himself, so that all could see it. Thorstein grew angry at that, and said that it was a very low thing to do to take a man's wife like that. Then Thorkel placed Signy on his lap and said: "It is well-known that you have no use for a wife, for only bound girls amuse you." Thorstein said that he would not bear insult like that, and grabbed an axe, and swung it hard at Thorkel, but the blade got caught in the rafters, and could not be freed. Then Thorkel took a sword and thrust it into Thorstein, and split him open from neck to groin, so that his blood spilled all over Signy and drenched her utterly. There was a lot of chaos, and Signy slipped from the farm with Oddny, and took the horse. Even though the weather was very harsh, she rode through snow straight to White Heath.
There, she called Ulf out and declared to him that his brother had been murdered by men from Solskjel and that his blood was still on her. She said: "Now it cries out for vengeance, for only a coward leaves kin unavenged." Ulf, who already expected misfortune, said: "It seems to me that bad fate is the only thing you predict", but he called his farmhands, and they rode straight back to Rock-beak, twelve men in total. There, they surrounded the farm, and called on the men from Solskjel to come out. Thorkel came to the door and saw that he was doomed. He spoke: "Cold are the counsels of women". He then led other men in attack, but they were all killed with spears and arrows, and not a single one of them survived. Ulf then went inside and had the body of Thorstein wrapped in linens. A mound was erected from him outside the haywall, where it can be seen to this day. Ulf won much honour in this battle, but he found little joy in it.
Then the matter of inheritance was resolved as follows: all the property that Thorstein had went to Ulf, but for the land and the farm, which were given to Signy. She put the high seat pillars from Flat-hill there, and said that she was finally contented. She also kept Emer and released her from her servitude, but she went to work at Ulf's farm, where her daughter was bound to go. When it came to managing the farm, Signy turned out very industrious, and Rock-beak prospered. However, she was thought of very badly and few wanted to associate with her.
This should be it when it comes to having Signy as the focus of the story, and the next chapters will deal with girlhood deeds of Oddny. Before that happens, however, one thing must be decided:
[ ] Oddny was given for fostering to Ulf at White Heath
-Pros: Will help mend relationships between Signy and Ulf, will allow Oddny to grow up in a respectable family. Also better living conditions.
-Cons: More restrictive upbringing. Relationship with Signy more distant. Likely a lot of conflict with other children at White Heath.
[ ] Signy raised Oddny at Rock-beak.
-Pros: Better relationship with Signy. Getting raised by a hard woman. Less restrictive paternal care.
-Cons: Little respectability. Reputation will suffer because of Signy's actions. Being a single child will mean a lot of hard work and less time for leisure.
Mork Girl-struck
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
[X] Signy raised Oddny at Rock-beak.
11. Then things were peaceful in the district, but the friendship between Signy the Black and Ulf Sharp-eyed deteriorated.
Signy raised Oddny alone in Rock-beak. Even when very young, she was already rather beautiful, even though she had her mother's hair, which some thought to be a mark of ugliness. She was also intelligent and robust. She was not allowed to play much, because few people wanted to work for Signy, and so she had to work like a servant would to keep the farm. This made her rather humble, and it was said that she would be a good match for any man, even though her mother was thought evil.
Now it came to be that Signy taught Oddny in all the feminine skills, but Oddny did not take to the teachings well. Her handiwork was sloppy and she would always waste good yarn when she spun, because when she was supposed to spin fast, she spun slow, and when she was supposed to spin slow, she spun fast. She also did not do very well at the loom. Other servant-women mocked her for that, and she lived in shame.
One spring, Signy took the spindle from Oddny's hand and said to her: "Now it seems obvious to me that not much will come of you doing this work, so you will now do something else. You will take sheep to the pasture for the summer at Red-field, and bring them back in the fall." Oddny was not very happy to hear that, because it was said that girls were rarely good shepherds. She took with her a single farmhand who was named Thord and was half-blind, and took the sheep out into the pasture. She spent the summer there, and slept in a shieling.
12. Now the saga turns to Mork, the son of Ulf. He was a very large child, and grew to be always bigger than others around him. His father favoured him above all other children that he had, because he thought he would grow up to be a great champion. He gave him a spear and a shield when he was ten, and always encouraged him to exercise. Mork always played with children older than him, but he was easily a match for them. He was very strong and quite boisterous, but some thought that he was also an overbearing man. In the summer, he herded sheep that were his father's.
There was a pasture at Red-field which belonged to White Heath. It was large and abundant, the finest pasture in the district. It bordered on the pasture which belonged to Rock-beak, and there was a fence erected between them.
Ulf's herd was rather big, because he had received more sheep from Gunnar the Chieftain. Mork thought that there were so many that they would not fit in the enclosure well. When he heard that the enclosure of Signy was cared for by Oddny and an old servant, he thought it easy to exploit. When he spoke of that to his farmhands, they advised him not to do so, because it was no better than stealing, but he did not listen. One night, he took two servants and moved the fence, so that his pasture would be larger.
13. When Oddny saw that the fence had been moved, she came to it and called for Mork. Then she said to him: "I see that there was a mistake in repairing the fence, and would like to fix it, so that our pastures are properly divided." He said that everything was as it should have been. Oddny saw that he was lying, so she said: "Now I think you think it easy to steal land from us, when you already have more of it. This is a very base thing to do." He then said: "Now you have insulted me, and had you not been a girl, I would have replied to you appropriately." Then he left.
When the night came, Oddny started to move the fence to back where it was. But it was large and heavy, and she was not yet done by the time the sun rose. Then Mork saw her, and came to her and said: "Now this will not end well for you", and he tried to grapple her. But Oddny grabbed her crook and hit him on the head with it, and such was the strength of the blow that the skin was split and a full half of his face was blooded. And that happened even though he was large, and she was a girl. Mork's farmhands all saw it happen.
Mork then tore a strip from his shirt and bound his wound, so that blood would not rush over his face, and he forbade anyone from mentioning what had happened, because he thought that a shaming blow had been dealt to him. Oddny finished moving the fence, and for the rest of the summer, things went along smoothly.
14. When Mork returned to White Heath, Ulf saw that he had a scar on his head. He asked him how it came to be. "I ran into a rock" Mork said, but Ulf thought it unlikely. He asked the farmhands that were with him, and they did not want to divulge at first, but finally they did. Ulf thought that his son's actions were most unmanly, and he made it known to him by saying that he would not seek compensation for the wound. From there on, he was no longer his favoured son. He became known in the district as Mork Girl-Struck, and no one treated him seriously.
When Oddny heard of it, she was quick to brag, but Signy was less pleased. "Now I see that this is not the end of the matter" she said "and that my daughter will not grow up to be a woman." And everyone thought it was a very dire thing she said, but she did not discuss the matter more.
15. There was a place between Rock-beak and White Heath which was good for seal-hunting, and Oddny would sometimes go there, because there were few others at Rock-beak who could do that. She was taught how to hunt by Sigurd the Lame, who was a servant. Now that she had spent the summer at Red-field, she was no longer shy about going alone, and some even said she grew mannish in her bearing. She turned out very skilled at hunting, and brought home meat and skins.
One day, a servant from White Heath saw her when she was hunting a very large seal. When he came back to the farm he said to Ulf that the daughter of Signy could hunt as well as any man. Now it happened that Mork the Girl-struck was sitting nearby, and he overheard all of it. He knew where the hunting spot was. Next day, he woke up earlier than everyone, and took his spear and his shield, and he went to the hunting spot, and there waited in ambush until Oddny came. When she did, he rose and threw his spear at her. However he had not been trained well in this skill, and so the throw came up short. Then Oddny grabbed the spear. He rushed her, because he thought he was larger and she was a girl, and when he did, she dealt him a blow to the chest, and he was impaled on the spear and killed.
Now Oddny rushed back to Raven-beak, and presented the bloodied spear to Signy. She then asked her if she had covered the body, and Oddny said she did not. Then Signy said: "Now this is what you have to do now, and it will not be light on you. You must go back to the hunting spot and cover the body with stones. And then you must bring witnesses and declare that Mork has forfeited immunity by attacking. Though Ulf did not ask for compensation for the first wound, he will surely seek redress for the second, and it may not turn out well for you."
Oddny did as her mother commanded her. She came back to the hunting-spot and piled stones over the body of Mork. Then she called witnesses and declared that Mork had forfeited his immunity by attacking her. And there was much talk in the district, because such slaying was very unusual, and no one knew what to make out of it.
Congratulations! You have killed your mother's first husband's best friend's son (who was also your cousin-in-law by her second marriage) over a dispute involving sheep, and now you will likely get involved in a lawsuit!
[ ] To avoid dragging the matter before the general assembly, Signy accepts arbitration.
-Pros: probably doesn't escalate the situation into a fully-fledged blood-feud when you are fourteen.
-Cons: arbitration means Signy is probably going to ruin herself paying compensation.
[ ] Signy does not accept arbitration and Ulf drags the matter before the general assembly.
-Pros: Oddny has a very strong case for being in the right in killing Mork. If the case is won, it means gaining recognition and at least a bit of an ego boost.
-Cons: neither Oddny nor Signy are good at lawsuits, Ulf has a lot of friends in high places, losing the case means that Oddny is getting hit with lesser outlawry.
[ ] Ulf goes straight for a fully-fledged blood-feud.
-Pros: Glory, honour and renown to be won aplenty. Oddny's warrior career will get a massive jumpstart.
-Cons: Overwhelming odds. Oddny will almost certainly die.
11. Then things were peaceful in the district, but the friendship between Signy the Black and Ulf Sharp-eyed deteriorated.
Signy raised Oddny alone in Rock-beak. Even when very young, she was already rather beautiful, even though she had her mother's hair, which some thought to be a mark of ugliness. She was also intelligent and robust. She was not allowed to play much, because few people wanted to work for Signy, and so she had to work like a servant would to keep the farm. This made her rather humble, and it was said that she would be a good match for any man, even though her mother was thought evil.
Now it came to be that Signy taught Oddny in all the feminine skills, but Oddny did not take to the teachings well. Her handiwork was sloppy and she would always waste good yarn when she spun, because when she was supposed to spin fast, she spun slow, and when she was supposed to spin slow, she spun fast. She also did not do very well at the loom. Other servant-women mocked her for that, and she lived in shame.
One spring, Signy took the spindle from Oddny's hand and said to her: "Now it seems obvious to me that not much will come of you doing this work, so you will now do something else. You will take sheep to the pasture for the summer at Red-field, and bring them back in the fall." Oddny was not very happy to hear that, because it was said that girls were rarely good shepherds. She took with her a single farmhand who was named Thord and was half-blind, and took the sheep out into the pasture. She spent the summer there, and slept in a shieling.
12. Now the saga turns to Mork, the son of Ulf. He was a very large child, and grew to be always bigger than others around him. His father favoured him above all other children that he had, because he thought he would grow up to be a great champion. He gave him a spear and a shield when he was ten, and always encouraged him to exercise. Mork always played with children older than him, but he was easily a match for them. He was very strong and quite boisterous, but some thought that he was also an overbearing man. In the summer, he herded sheep that were his father's.
There was a pasture at Red-field which belonged to White Heath. It was large and abundant, the finest pasture in the district. It bordered on the pasture which belonged to Rock-beak, and there was a fence erected between them.
Ulf's herd was rather big, because he had received more sheep from Gunnar the Chieftain. Mork thought that there were so many that they would not fit in the enclosure well. When he heard that the enclosure of Signy was cared for by Oddny and an old servant, he thought it easy to exploit. When he spoke of that to his farmhands, they advised him not to do so, because it was no better than stealing, but he did not listen. One night, he took two servants and moved the fence, so that his pasture would be larger.
13. When Oddny saw that the fence had been moved, she came to it and called for Mork. Then she said to him: "I see that there was a mistake in repairing the fence, and would like to fix it, so that our pastures are properly divided." He said that everything was as it should have been. Oddny saw that he was lying, so she said: "Now I think you think it easy to steal land from us, when you already have more of it. This is a very base thing to do." He then said: "Now you have insulted me, and had you not been a girl, I would have replied to you appropriately." Then he left.
When the night came, Oddny started to move the fence to back where it was. But it was large and heavy, and she was not yet done by the time the sun rose. Then Mork saw her, and came to her and said: "Now this will not end well for you", and he tried to grapple her. But Oddny grabbed her crook and hit him on the head with it, and such was the strength of the blow that the skin was split and a full half of his face was blooded. And that happened even though he was large, and she was a girl. Mork's farmhands all saw it happen.
Mork then tore a strip from his shirt and bound his wound, so that blood would not rush over his face, and he forbade anyone from mentioning what had happened, because he thought that a shaming blow had been dealt to him. Oddny finished moving the fence, and for the rest of the summer, things went along smoothly.
14. When Mork returned to White Heath, Ulf saw that he had a scar on his head. He asked him how it came to be. "I ran into a rock" Mork said, but Ulf thought it unlikely. He asked the farmhands that were with him, and they did not want to divulge at first, but finally they did. Ulf thought that his son's actions were most unmanly, and he made it known to him by saying that he would not seek compensation for the wound. From there on, he was no longer his favoured son. He became known in the district as Mork Girl-Struck, and no one treated him seriously.
When Oddny heard of it, she was quick to brag, but Signy was less pleased. "Now I see that this is not the end of the matter" she said "and that my daughter will not grow up to be a woman." And everyone thought it was a very dire thing she said, but she did not discuss the matter more.
15. There was a place between Rock-beak and White Heath which was good for seal-hunting, and Oddny would sometimes go there, because there were few others at Rock-beak who could do that. She was taught how to hunt by Sigurd the Lame, who was a servant. Now that she had spent the summer at Red-field, she was no longer shy about going alone, and some even said she grew mannish in her bearing. She turned out very skilled at hunting, and brought home meat and skins.
One day, a servant from White Heath saw her when she was hunting a very large seal. When he came back to the farm he said to Ulf that the daughter of Signy could hunt as well as any man. Now it happened that Mork the Girl-struck was sitting nearby, and he overheard all of it. He knew where the hunting spot was. Next day, he woke up earlier than everyone, and took his spear and his shield, and he went to the hunting spot, and there waited in ambush until Oddny came. When she did, he rose and threw his spear at her. However he had not been trained well in this skill, and so the throw came up short. Then Oddny grabbed the spear. He rushed her, because he thought he was larger and she was a girl, and when he did, she dealt him a blow to the chest, and he was impaled on the spear and killed.
Now Oddny rushed back to Raven-beak, and presented the bloodied spear to Signy. She then asked her if she had covered the body, and Oddny said she did not. Then Signy said: "Now this is what you have to do now, and it will not be light on you. You must go back to the hunting spot and cover the body with stones. And then you must bring witnesses and declare that Mork has forfeited immunity by attacking. Though Ulf did not ask for compensation for the first wound, he will surely seek redress for the second, and it may not turn out well for you."
Oddny did as her mother commanded her. She came back to the hunting-spot and piled stones over the body of Mork. Then she called witnesses and declared that Mork had forfeited his immunity by attacking her. And there was much talk in the district, because such slaying was very unusual, and no one knew what to make out of it.
Congratulations! You have killed your mother's first husband's best friend's son (who was also your cousin-in-law by her second marriage) over a dispute involving sheep, and now you will likely get involved in a lawsuit!
[ ] To avoid dragging the matter before the general assembly, Signy accepts arbitration.
-Pros: probably doesn't escalate the situation into a fully-fledged blood-feud when you are fourteen.
-Cons: arbitration means Signy is probably going to ruin herself paying compensation.
[ ] Signy does not accept arbitration and Ulf drags the matter before the general assembly.
-Pros: Oddny has a very strong case for being in the right in killing Mork. If the case is won, it means gaining recognition and at least a bit of an ego boost.
-Cons: neither Oddny nor Signy are good at lawsuits, Ulf has a lot of friends in high places, losing the case means that Oddny is getting hit with lesser outlawry.
[ ] Ulf goes straight for a fully-fledged blood-feud.
-Pros: Glory, honour and renown to be won aplenty. Oddny's warrior career will get a massive jumpstart.
-Cons: Overwhelming odds. Oddny will almost certainly die.
Blue options you may sometimes find in this quest represent doom, seen ahead thanks to the gift of sight inherited from Signy. Selecting them locks the quest towards one of its endings, and it is probably one that involves Oddny meeting her death. However, they also promise a death that will be remembered and worthy of a story. Vote cautiously.
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Oddny at the General Assembly
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
[X] Signy does not accept arbitration and Ulf drags the matter before the general assembly.
16. When Ulf Sharp-eyed learned of his son's killing, he took with him a number of men and drove to the seal-hunting spot. There, he uncovered the corpse and took it back to White Heath, where a mound was raised. He interred Mork in it, with his face towards the ground. Before the grave was closed, he said: "Harshly has my friendship with Thorolf been rewarded. Once I had a friend, a brother, and a son, and now I have none." Then the mound was finished. It was expected in the district that the slaying of Mork would not go unanswered, but matters did not proceed swiftly.
17. Seven days after the killing, Signy summoned Oddny, and said: "Now, you must go to White Heath and offer Ulf compensation."
Oddny had grown rather despondent at that, and responded: "I respect your commands, because you are my mother, but I do not think myself capable of doing that. I feel that my accomplishments come from luck more than ability. I think you are wiser than me, and more experienced, and you should go instead."
"Ulf will sooner hear from you than from me," Signy said. "I think he does not think very well of me. Also, your actions show to me that you do not know how to behave as a woman, and therefore must behave as a man. You will go and offer compensation, but you will not agree on anything unless I consent to it first."
Oddny was not too pleased to hear that, but she did as she was told to. She took a horse and rode to White Heath. There, she stopped at the hay-wall gate. As the day was very cold, there were no people outside, so no one noticed her. Since she did not know whether it was allowed for a man, or for a woman, to enter a home like that when seeking compensation, she waited. Although the wool of her cloak was thick, she grew very cold. Even then, she did not move past the gate.
Finally she was seen by a servant, who asked her if she was a beggar-woman. She said that she came to offer compensation for the slaying of Mork. Then she was led to the fire-hall, so that she could be warmed, and good hospitality was given to her. Afterwards, Ulf spoke to her, and said that he was willing to settle, and that the matter should be arbitrated by Gunnar the Chieftain, who was the fairest man in the district. On that they parted, and Signy was pleased to hear the news, because it seemed to her likely that the matter would be resolved in a peaceful manner.
18. After Oddny left, Ulf went to the sleeping closet to rest for the night. There he lay with his wife, but she turned his back towards him. He asked her what was the matter, and she said: "It appears to me plain as day that you treat the children of Signy the Black better than your own kin, even if they have done grievous harm to you."
"You speak bad words, woman," said Ulf.
"It is unlikely that the man I married would have allowed the slaying of his son to be done away with silver," she said, "and so the man I share the bed with must not be him."
They did not speak further, and slept apart. In the morning, Ulf made the decision to go to Harsh-dale, where Gunnar the Chieftain had his farm. He took with himself two strong servants, and was received lavishly, as befitting his station. He then told Gunnar of the situation.
"It is true," said Gunnar, "that your reputation suffers and some in the district think your conduct is rather unmanly. It is unlikely that you will earn much praise with a settlement, and the opposite may be the case. But it is also true that if you have agreed to settle, then you must not go back on your word, or else you will be seen as a dishonest man."
"This is well spoken," said Ulf. "Now I will ask you for advice."
"What you must do is to follow with the settlement," said Gunnar. "If you appoint me as an arbitrator, I will set the terms of the settlement such that Signy will have to break settlement. Then, you will put a lawsuit against Oddny at the General Assembly."
Ulf did everything as Gunnar said, and made it known to Signy that he would settle with her, and that Gunnar the Chieftain would be naming the terms.
19. On the day of arbitration, Signy again commanded Oddny to go in her stead. So Oddny took with her men who were available, and went to a place called Fair-circle, where the arbitration was to take place. Ulf was there, as well as other men from the district, among them Hallfrad the Kind and Glum, son of Glum, and many others, all of them respectable. Then Gunnar named the terms of the settlement and awarded Ulf six hundreds for the slaying of his son, Mork. Everyone saw that the terms were excessive and rather unfair. Oddny said that she would not be agreeing to them without her mother's consent, and then departed.
"Now it is a done thing," said Gunnar to Ulf. "You must prepare the lawsuit now. I think that you should give it to Thrain, son of Thorolf, because there is no better man at law in the district, and I do not expect this suit to be easy to win."
When Signy learned of the terms, she made it known that the settlement was dropped. Although she was not well liked, all agreed that it was the proper course. It was also assumed that should the suit be pressed at the General Assembly, it would go in her favour.
20. Thrain, son of Throlof, lived at a farm that was called Bright Dale. He was a very powerful man, old but very active. He had two sons, Odd and Thrain, who were both capable men, and well liked. He was very skilled in law. There were some who were considered better lawyers than him, but not many. He was a very good friend of Gunnar the Chieftain and fostered two of his sons. They supported each other in all manners, and swore that they would never do anything that could harm the other.
Ulf came to him after the settlement was broken, and asked him to take the case from him, because he alone could win in the district. Thrain agreed, but he said: "I do that because you are a friend of Gunnar, and I promised to always help him. But I do not think this case will win you any recognition, and in fact it may turn quite bad for you."
Ulf rode with him to the seal-hunting spot, and there summoned a panel of night of nine neighbours who all lived close to the site of the murder. Then Thrain took his hand and named two witnesses - "to witness that Ulf Sharp-eyed turns over to me the murder suit against Oddny, daughter of Siny, together with all the evidence for the prosecution of this case, to prosecute her for the slaying of Mork, son of Ulf."
Thrain named witnesses for the second time - "to witness," he said "that I give notice of a punishable assault by Oddny, daughter of Signy, in which she inflicted on Mork, son of Ulf, a brain wound or internal wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, and Mork died of it. I give this notice before five neighbours," and he named them all. "I give this lawful notice; I give notice that the suit was turned over to me by Ulf Sharp-eyed."
Then he said to Ulf: "Now that this matter is proceeding well, you must ride with me to the General Assembly. Take some men with you, but not that many; it is unlikely that Signy will have many men with her, because she has so few friends in the district."
They parted in friendship and did not see each other until it was time to go to the General Assembly.
21. When Signy learned that Thrain took the case over from Ulf, she summoned Oddny to her, and they went into the field to talk. Signy looked over Oddny to see if she was doomed, but it did not appear to be the case. She told her of that. Then Oddny said that it cheered her to know that she was not under a doom, but that she was concerned because it seemed to her that the way she was behaving would not win her any friends.
Spoke Signy: "You carry yourself in a very manly way, and make no effort to hide it. Now what is proper for a man is not proper for a woman, and you will not be respected because of that."
Oddny said: "I only do so because you have no son, and no brother, and no husband, and no father, and so you must command me to act unwomanly for your sake."
At that Signy said: "Now if that is the case, I may help you."
Oddny asked how.
Signy explained that she - "is of the age when it is proper for a girl to become married, and that there are many men in the district who would be more than an even match for her."
Then Oddny said: "If that is what it means to be a daughter, then I would rather stay a son."
They returned to the farm, and there spent the rest of the winter, and the spring until it was time to go to the General Assembly. And in that time, Oddny grew very unruly. She loathed wearing dresses and did work that was fit for men. She would also go swimming often, and showed to be a very strong swimmer, and there was no one in the district, neither man, nor woman, who could swim as well as she did. Some said that her beauty suffered for that.
22. When the time came, Oddny rode to the General Assembly alone, because all hands were needed at the farm for work. She took with herself the spear that Ulf gave to Mork, and carried it as if it was hers. When she arrived at the place of the Assembly, she went to a booth and covered it. Many spoke about how strange it was for a lone woman to behave like that.
Ulf rode with Thrain, and he took with himself six men, among whom were his sons Gunnlaug and Hoskuld. When they arrived, they covered their booths. Then they went to other booths and asked for support in the case. They were favourably received, and many promised to be their allies. They also gave notice at the Law Rock, as was mandated, so that the case could be put to the court. The notice was that Oddny deserved full outlawry.
23. There was a woman from the southern Free Island who was named Saeunn the Good. She was married to Mord the Chieftain, and was known for this habit that she would always go to the General Assembly with her husband to support him in all the matters there. She had many children and all of them grew to be very accomplished. Mord the Chieftain was known for being skilled in law, but never pursuing lawsuits. In that he was compared to Gunnar of High Hill, who was the best warrior and athlete in the Free Islands, but never fought nor competed against anyone.
When she heard of the suit against Oddny, she said to Mord: "I think there is something evil happening here. If what they say about the case is true, then I do not think they have much chance to win it, so they must be preparing some kind of trick. I think they hope that Oddny is not very skilled in law, and they seek to exploit that. It is a very low thing to do, and I think you should not let that happen."
"You are correct," Mord said. "However it is too late for me to take defense from her."
"Then you must teach her all that she must know about the law," said Saeunn. Mord agreed, and he went to Oddny's booth, and there he asked her to be taught all about the law. She agreed, and he explained to her all that was there to know about taking a sign, and about selecting witnesses, and about dismissing judges. He taught her for so long that they both did not sleep that night. An evil rumor was then spread about him and Oddny, and prosecuted against it, as is told in another saga.
24. Then was the time for the courts to begin. Both sides made ready. Ulf and his men put signs on their helmets, and Signy, who did not have a helmet, put one on her veil. They all went to the place were the court was held.
Now to cut the matter short: the case was pleaded by Thrain, who did it excellently. He named witnesses to the panel. Then Oddny dismissed two witnesses because they were kin to Ulf. Many said it was unexpected of her to be able to do so. The witnesses swore their oaths, and there was no fault in them. Then they presented their findings, and they were that the panel found Oddny guilty of slaying Mork, son of Ulf, but also that Oddny had made it clear that Mork forfeited his immunity by attacking her.
"I think this case is going poorly for us," said Ulf. "Oddny had been taught law, and I think that Mord of the Chieftain is to blame for that."
"This is indeed a difficult situation," said Thrain, "but the matter is not yet fully resolved. Let us see if she knows how to dismiss judges."
Then came the time to name judges, and Signy dismissed six of them as was required by law. Thrain dismissed six of them also. Next all the testimonies that were pertinent to the prosecution were brought before them, as well as all the testimonies that were pertinent for the defense. It seemed clear to everyone that the case was not going in Ulf's favour, because Oddny had claimed that Mork forfeited immunity by attacking her, with accordance to law. People were already talking about whether a counter-suit would be pushed.
"This bodes badly for us, and I am starting to think your actions are no match for your reputation," said Ulf. But Thrain then warned him not to fall into despair, because there was still one more thing to do.
Before judges passed the judgement, Thrain said: "Now I want to make one more call, and that is that the claim of forfeited immunity by Oddny, daughter of Signy, should be rendered invalid."
Oddny protested that she had claimed that Mork forfeited immunity in attacking her before five witnesses as was ordained in the laws, and that it was thus assumed correctly.
Thrain said: "Let us ask the Lawspeaker about that, because I think otherwise."
The Lawspeaker was called to tell of the law on immunity, and he said that to claim immunity, a man was to call five witnesses to the scene of the slaying, and declare that whoever prepared the attack or an ambush had forfeited his immunity in doing so.
Now Thrain said: "It is clear now that Oddny did not call for the forfeiting of immunity correctly, because no man spoke before witnesses, but a woman."
There was much uproar at that, because it seemed to many that it was a very underhanded trick. Oddny asked the Lawspeaker if that was correct, and the Lawspeaker said that it was, but he thought little of such actions. Many agreed with him. Then Oddny asked him about the law on punishable assault. Lawspeaker recited it thus: "If a man inflicts a brain wound or internal wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, then he will be submitted to full outlawry." Signy then said that as she was not a man, she could not be persecuted for punishable assault either, and asked if the Lawspeaker thought it correct. He said that it was.
25. Oddny went before the court and named witnesses - "to witness that here is a legitimate objection in this case - that a woman was persecuted for punishable assault, and that the letter of the law does not allow for it. Here are two witnesses who will testify that I am a woman. I name this two witnesses for myself and for those who may need to use or benefit from this testimony."
Then she called on the court to judge her defense.
Thrain said: "Now this is a development I have not expected, but I should have had. I do not think this case can be won anymore, but I think that we will not leave without anything, either."
He then went before the court and said that it was the law that if someone who was not allowed to stand in court stood, then he would suffer from lesser outlawry and - "that testimony had been given to the court for Oddny and all those who may need to use or benefit from it, that she is a woman. And it is against the law of the court and of the General Assembly for women to stand."
Then the court passed the judgement, and they found that Oddny was guilty of slaying Mork, but Mork had forfeited his immunity and so no sentence was to be passed. But then the court also determined that for standing in a suit as a woman, she would be sentenced to lesser outlawry, to leave the Free Islands for three years, and that she would go from the General Assembly to no more than three different places on the Free Islands, and that she would not stay in any other for longer than one night, and that she would leave the Free Islands next, and for all that she would pay the chieftain to which she was pledged one mark silver. And she was also sentenced such that if she was to return to the Free Islands before three summers, she would be given full outlawry.
When the sentence was passed, Oddny spoke to all that may hear: "Now I see that I am neither a man, nor a woman, and that I suffer the worst of both, and the best of none. But the worst as man is still sweeter to me than the worst as woman, for I work better with a spear than with a spindle."
Then she took the veil from her head and never wore it again.
You have won the case! Your property is safe, and you are not made a full outlaw, not to be fed, nor helped on her way, nor given any assistance. Neither is all of your property declared forfeit, half to Ulf, and half to the men in the district who have the legal right to the forfeited property. Instead you only have to leave the Free Islands and go abroad as an angry butch wo/man, leaving your mother with even less people who want to work with her.
[ ] Leave for Solskjel, to seek to become a king's wo/man.
-Pros: the safest option, a lot of honour to be earned, as well as wealth. Least potential for doing awful things to innocent people.
-Cons: may be difficult to become a king's man when you are a woman. The king of Solskjel has no love for Oddny's family. The king may have plans for Oddny that doesn't necessarily align with Oddny's own.
[ ] Leave for the Grass Islands, to serve its many kings.
-Pros: easy employment, they always need more warriors. A lot of wealth to win. A good experience in war-making.
-Cons: moderately dangerous. Reputation won in the Grass Islands will not necessarily translate well back to the Free Islands. Potential for getting swept in politics.
[ ] Leave to become a raider, pillaging the lands of the Lief people.
-Pros: possibility for great wealth and honour. A ton of alliances to be made, with people who can help on the Free Islands. Most freedom, least oversight.
-Cons: very dangerous. Will have to spend months stuck on a boat with young, angry men of the pillaging disposition. The reputation for being a raider is not necessarily a positive thing.
16. When Ulf Sharp-eyed learned of his son's killing, he took with him a number of men and drove to the seal-hunting spot. There, he uncovered the corpse and took it back to White Heath, where a mound was raised. He interred Mork in it, with his face towards the ground. Before the grave was closed, he said: "Harshly has my friendship with Thorolf been rewarded. Once I had a friend, a brother, and a son, and now I have none." Then the mound was finished. It was expected in the district that the slaying of Mork would not go unanswered, but matters did not proceed swiftly.
17. Seven days after the killing, Signy summoned Oddny, and said: "Now, you must go to White Heath and offer Ulf compensation."
Oddny had grown rather despondent at that, and responded: "I respect your commands, because you are my mother, but I do not think myself capable of doing that. I feel that my accomplishments come from luck more than ability. I think you are wiser than me, and more experienced, and you should go instead."
"Ulf will sooner hear from you than from me," Signy said. "I think he does not think very well of me. Also, your actions show to me that you do not know how to behave as a woman, and therefore must behave as a man. You will go and offer compensation, but you will not agree on anything unless I consent to it first."
Oddny was not too pleased to hear that, but she did as she was told to. She took a horse and rode to White Heath. There, she stopped at the hay-wall gate. As the day was very cold, there were no people outside, so no one noticed her. Since she did not know whether it was allowed for a man, or for a woman, to enter a home like that when seeking compensation, she waited. Although the wool of her cloak was thick, she grew very cold. Even then, she did not move past the gate.
Finally she was seen by a servant, who asked her if she was a beggar-woman. She said that she came to offer compensation for the slaying of Mork. Then she was led to the fire-hall, so that she could be warmed, and good hospitality was given to her. Afterwards, Ulf spoke to her, and said that he was willing to settle, and that the matter should be arbitrated by Gunnar the Chieftain, who was the fairest man in the district. On that they parted, and Signy was pleased to hear the news, because it seemed to her likely that the matter would be resolved in a peaceful manner.
18. After Oddny left, Ulf went to the sleeping closet to rest for the night. There he lay with his wife, but she turned his back towards him. He asked her what was the matter, and she said: "It appears to me plain as day that you treat the children of Signy the Black better than your own kin, even if they have done grievous harm to you."
"You speak bad words, woman," said Ulf.
"It is unlikely that the man I married would have allowed the slaying of his son to be done away with silver," she said, "and so the man I share the bed with must not be him."
They did not speak further, and slept apart. In the morning, Ulf made the decision to go to Harsh-dale, where Gunnar the Chieftain had his farm. He took with himself two strong servants, and was received lavishly, as befitting his station. He then told Gunnar of the situation.
"It is true," said Gunnar, "that your reputation suffers and some in the district think your conduct is rather unmanly. It is unlikely that you will earn much praise with a settlement, and the opposite may be the case. But it is also true that if you have agreed to settle, then you must not go back on your word, or else you will be seen as a dishonest man."
"This is well spoken," said Ulf. "Now I will ask you for advice."
"What you must do is to follow with the settlement," said Gunnar. "If you appoint me as an arbitrator, I will set the terms of the settlement such that Signy will have to break settlement. Then, you will put a lawsuit against Oddny at the General Assembly."
Ulf did everything as Gunnar said, and made it known to Signy that he would settle with her, and that Gunnar the Chieftain would be naming the terms.
19. On the day of arbitration, Signy again commanded Oddny to go in her stead. So Oddny took with her men who were available, and went to a place called Fair-circle, where the arbitration was to take place. Ulf was there, as well as other men from the district, among them Hallfrad the Kind and Glum, son of Glum, and many others, all of them respectable. Then Gunnar named the terms of the settlement and awarded Ulf six hundreds for the slaying of his son, Mork. Everyone saw that the terms were excessive and rather unfair. Oddny said that she would not be agreeing to them without her mother's consent, and then departed.
"Now it is a done thing," said Gunnar to Ulf. "You must prepare the lawsuit now. I think that you should give it to Thrain, son of Thorolf, because there is no better man at law in the district, and I do not expect this suit to be easy to win."
When Signy learned of the terms, she made it known that the settlement was dropped. Although she was not well liked, all agreed that it was the proper course. It was also assumed that should the suit be pressed at the General Assembly, it would go in her favour.
20. Thrain, son of Throlof, lived at a farm that was called Bright Dale. He was a very powerful man, old but very active. He had two sons, Odd and Thrain, who were both capable men, and well liked. He was very skilled in law. There were some who were considered better lawyers than him, but not many. He was a very good friend of Gunnar the Chieftain and fostered two of his sons. They supported each other in all manners, and swore that they would never do anything that could harm the other.
Ulf came to him after the settlement was broken, and asked him to take the case from him, because he alone could win in the district. Thrain agreed, but he said: "I do that because you are a friend of Gunnar, and I promised to always help him. But I do not think this case will win you any recognition, and in fact it may turn quite bad for you."
Ulf rode with him to the seal-hunting spot, and there summoned a panel of night of nine neighbours who all lived close to the site of the murder. Then Thrain took his hand and named two witnesses - "to witness that Ulf Sharp-eyed turns over to me the murder suit against Oddny, daughter of Siny, together with all the evidence for the prosecution of this case, to prosecute her for the slaying of Mork, son of Ulf."
Thrain named witnesses for the second time - "to witness," he said "that I give notice of a punishable assault by Oddny, daughter of Signy, in which she inflicted on Mork, son of Ulf, a brain wound or internal wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, and Mork died of it. I give this notice before five neighbours," and he named them all. "I give this lawful notice; I give notice that the suit was turned over to me by Ulf Sharp-eyed."
Then he said to Ulf: "Now that this matter is proceeding well, you must ride with me to the General Assembly. Take some men with you, but not that many; it is unlikely that Signy will have many men with her, because she has so few friends in the district."
They parted in friendship and did not see each other until it was time to go to the General Assembly.
21. When Signy learned that Thrain took the case over from Ulf, she summoned Oddny to her, and they went into the field to talk. Signy looked over Oddny to see if she was doomed, but it did not appear to be the case. She told her of that. Then Oddny said that it cheered her to know that she was not under a doom, but that she was concerned because it seemed to her that the way she was behaving would not win her any friends.
Spoke Signy: "You carry yourself in a very manly way, and make no effort to hide it. Now what is proper for a man is not proper for a woman, and you will not be respected because of that."
Oddny said: "I only do so because you have no son, and no brother, and no husband, and no father, and so you must command me to act unwomanly for your sake."
At that Signy said: "Now if that is the case, I may help you."
Oddny asked how.
Signy explained that she - "is of the age when it is proper for a girl to become married, and that there are many men in the district who would be more than an even match for her."
Then Oddny said: "If that is what it means to be a daughter, then I would rather stay a son."
They returned to the farm, and there spent the rest of the winter, and the spring until it was time to go to the General Assembly. And in that time, Oddny grew very unruly. She loathed wearing dresses and did work that was fit for men. She would also go swimming often, and showed to be a very strong swimmer, and there was no one in the district, neither man, nor woman, who could swim as well as she did. Some said that her beauty suffered for that.
22. When the time came, Oddny rode to the General Assembly alone, because all hands were needed at the farm for work. She took with herself the spear that Ulf gave to Mork, and carried it as if it was hers. When she arrived at the place of the Assembly, she went to a booth and covered it. Many spoke about how strange it was for a lone woman to behave like that.
Ulf rode with Thrain, and he took with himself six men, among whom were his sons Gunnlaug and Hoskuld. When they arrived, they covered their booths. Then they went to other booths and asked for support in the case. They were favourably received, and many promised to be their allies. They also gave notice at the Law Rock, as was mandated, so that the case could be put to the court. The notice was that Oddny deserved full outlawry.
23. There was a woman from the southern Free Island who was named Saeunn the Good. She was married to Mord the Chieftain, and was known for this habit that she would always go to the General Assembly with her husband to support him in all the matters there. She had many children and all of them grew to be very accomplished. Mord the Chieftain was known for being skilled in law, but never pursuing lawsuits. In that he was compared to Gunnar of High Hill, who was the best warrior and athlete in the Free Islands, but never fought nor competed against anyone.
When she heard of the suit against Oddny, she said to Mord: "I think there is something evil happening here. If what they say about the case is true, then I do not think they have much chance to win it, so they must be preparing some kind of trick. I think they hope that Oddny is not very skilled in law, and they seek to exploit that. It is a very low thing to do, and I think you should not let that happen."
"You are correct," Mord said. "However it is too late for me to take defense from her."
"Then you must teach her all that she must know about the law," said Saeunn. Mord agreed, and he went to Oddny's booth, and there he asked her to be taught all about the law. She agreed, and he explained to her all that was there to know about taking a sign, and about selecting witnesses, and about dismissing judges. He taught her for so long that they both did not sleep that night. An evil rumor was then spread about him and Oddny, and prosecuted against it, as is told in another saga.
24. Then was the time for the courts to begin. Both sides made ready. Ulf and his men put signs on their helmets, and Signy, who did not have a helmet, put one on her veil. They all went to the place were the court was held.
Now to cut the matter short: the case was pleaded by Thrain, who did it excellently. He named witnesses to the panel. Then Oddny dismissed two witnesses because they were kin to Ulf. Many said it was unexpected of her to be able to do so. The witnesses swore their oaths, and there was no fault in them. Then they presented their findings, and they were that the panel found Oddny guilty of slaying Mork, son of Ulf, but also that Oddny had made it clear that Mork forfeited his immunity by attacking her.
"I think this case is going poorly for us," said Ulf. "Oddny had been taught law, and I think that Mord of the Chieftain is to blame for that."
"This is indeed a difficult situation," said Thrain, "but the matter is not yet fully resolved. Let us see if she knows how to dismiss judges."
Then came the time to name judges, and Signy dismissed six of them as was required by law. Thrain dismissed six of them also. Next all the testimonies that were pertinent to the prosecution were brought before them, as well as all the testimonies that were pertinent for the defense. It seemed clear to everyone that the case was not going in Ulf's favour, because Oddny had claimed that Mork forfeited immunity by attacking her, with accordance to law. People were already talking about whether a counter-suit would be pushed.
"This bodes badly for us, and I am starting to think your actions are no match for your reputation," said Ulf. But Thrain then warned him not to fall into despair, because there was still one more thing to do.
Before judges passed the judgement, Thrain said: "Now I want to make one more call, and that is that the claim of forfeited immunity by Oddny, daughter of Signy, should be rendered invalid."
Oddny protested that she had claimed that Mork forfeited immunity in attacking her before five witnesses as was ordained in the laws, and that it was thus assumed correctly.
Thrain said: "Let us ask the Lawspeaker about that, because I think otherwise."
The Lawspeaker was called to tell of the law on immunity, and he said that to claim immunity, a man was to call five witnesses to the scene of the slaying, and declare that whoever prepared the attack or an ambush had forfeited his immunity in doing so.
Now Thrain said: "It is clear now that Oddny did not call for the forfeiting of immunity correctly, because no man spoke before witnesses, but a woman."
There was much uproar at that, because it seemed to many that it was a very underhanded trick. Oddny asked the Lawspeaker if that was correct, and the Lawspeaker said that it was, but he thought little of such actions. Many agreed with him. Then Oddny asked him about the law on punishable assault. Lawspeaker recited it thus: "If a man inflicts a brain wound or internal wound or marrow wound which proved to be a fatal wound, then he will be submitted to full outlawry." Signy then said that as she was not a man, she could not be persecuted for punishable assault either, and asked if the Lawspeaker thought it correct. He said that it was.
25. Oddny went before the court and named witnesses - "to witness that here is a legitimate objection in this case - that a woman was persecuted for punishable assault, and that the letter of the law does not allow for it. Here are two witnesses who will testify that I am a woman. I name this two witnesses for myself and for those who may need to use or benefit from this testimony."
Then she called on the court to judge her defense.
Thrain said: "Now this is a development I have not expected, but I should have had. I do not think this case can be won anymore, but I think that we will not leave without anything, either."
He then went before the court and said that it was the law that if someone who was not allowed to stand in court stood, then he would suffer from lesser outlawry and - "that testimony had been given to the court for Oddny and all those who may need to use or benefit from it, that she is a woman. And it is against the law of the court and of the General Assembly for women to stand."
Then the court passed the judgement, and they found that Oddny was guilty of slaying Mork, but Mork had forfeited his immunity and so no sentence was to be passed. But then the court also determined that for standing in a suit as a woman, she would be sentenced to lesser outlawry, to leave the Free Islands for three years, and that she would go from the General Assembly to no more than three different places on the Free Islands, and that she would not stay in any other for longer than one night, and that she would leave the Free Islands next, and for all that she would pay the chieftain to which she was pledged one mark silver. And she was also sentenced such that if she was to return to the Free Islands before three summers, she would be given full outlawry.
When the sentence was passed, Oddny spoke to all that may hear: "Now I see that I am neither a man, nor a woman, and that I suffer the worst of both, and the best of none. But the worst as man is still sweeter to me than the worst as woman, for I work better with a spear than with a spindle."
Then she took the veil from her head and never wore it again.
You have won the case! Your property is safe, and you are not made a full outlaw, not to be fed, nor helped on her way, nor given any assistance. Neither is all of your property declared forfeit, half to Ulf, and half to the men in the district who have the legal right to the forfeited property. Instead you only have to leave the Free Islands and go abroad as an angry butch wo/man, leaving your mother with even less people who want to work with her.
[ ] Leave for Solskjel, to seek to become a king's wo/man.
-Pros: the safest option, a lot of honour to be earned, as well as wealth. Least potential for doing awful things to innocent people.
-Cons: may be difficult to become a king's man when you are a woman. The king of Solskjel has no love for Oddny's family. The king may have plans for Oddny that doesn't necessarily align with Oddny's own.
[ ] Leave for the Grass Islands, to serve its many kings.
-Pros: easy employment, they always need more warriors. A lot of wealth to win. A good experience in war-making.
-Cons: moderately dangerous. Reputation won in the Grass Islands will not necessarily translate well back to the Free Islands. Potential for getting swept in politics.
[ ] Leave to become a raider, pillaging the lands of the Lief people.
-Pros: possibility for great wealth and honour. A ton of alliances to be made, with people who can help on the Free Islands. Most freedom, least oversight.
-Cons: very dangerous. Will have to spend months stuck on a boat with young, angry men of the pillaging disposition. The reputation for being a raider is not necessarily a positive thing.
Sorry this took so long - apparently writing courtroom drama is difficult.
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Oddny becomes Odd
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
26. Afterwards, the General Assembly ended. Oddny rode back to Rock-beak. She stopped only once, at Mord the Chieftain's farm, where she was very well received, along with other men from the district. Saeunn had the fires in the fire-hall stoked high, and tables put out. When the time came for the guests to be seated, Oddny sat opposite to the high seat.
One of the guests was Bolli, also known as Bolli the Boisterous. He was no hero, but also not given to modesty. When he saw that Oddny was sitting across of Mord the Chieftain, he spoke:
"It seems like soon she will be wearing breeches and a codpiece."
To that Oddny said:
"That may seem unlikely to you, but doesn't seem so unlikely to me."
They did not speak any more that night, and nothing more came out of it. There were also no other disturbances, and everyone enjoyed Mord's hospitality in full. Some said that Bolli had insulted Oddny, but others were not so sure, because she seemed to them a masculine woman.
Oddny rode out in the morning, and reached Rock-beak on the same day. When she entered the farm, Signy wasn't there. She asked one of the servants where she was, and was told that she was gathering hay in the field. Oddny went there, and found her mother hard at work, and with little help. Then, they gathered hay together. When they were done, Signy said:
"I do not foresee good things for me when you are gone."
They went back to the farm and made plans for the future.
27. Signy purchased for Oddny a share in a merchant ship, which was bound for the Thistle Island. The winds were quiet, and the departure was delayed, so Oddny stayed at Rock-beak for a time. One day, Signy saw that Oddny was wearing breaches and a cod-piece. She asked Oddny if that is how she wanted to be seen. Oddny said that it was. Then Signy went over to the chest, and opened it, and took from it an axe that was in-laid with silver, and a golden ring that weighed half mark. That was the last of the wealth she had saved from the marriage with Thorolf Hardhand. She presented the axe and the ring to Oddny and commanded her to take it.
"Now I name you Odd," she said, and from there on, never spoke the name 'Oddny' again.
"If that is so," said Odd, "then you should cut my hair, so that no mistake is made."
Then Signy had Odd's hair cut, so that he would appear as a man. Next day, the winds picked up again, and Odd boarded the ship, which was sailing out. An eastern breeze carried the ship swiftly towards the Middle Islands, and from there to the Thistle Island, where they landed in early autumn, in a place known as Flowerhaven. They moored the ship there, and took out the goods they had for trading.
28. Around that time, the Thistle Island was divided into three parts, of which the greatest was ruled by earl Sven the Brother-killer, who was the son of Ivar the Aggressor. Ivar the Aggressor had come into the Thistle Island and defeated its king in a great battle, and razed every city that did not pay him tribute. When he died, there was a rebellion against his rule, and two thirds of the kingdom was lost other kings, but not Flowerhaven. Sven held his court there often, when he was not raiding. He was a proud ruler, but a cruel one, and he surrounded himself with pirates and raiders. He had taken on the saintly religion, but then abandoned it, and offered sacrifices to the Sky God again. When he learned that a ship from the Free Islands had landed, he asked if there were any warriors on it, because he was often at war. They said that the ship was mostly merchants, but that there was one young lad on it which had the appearance of a warrior, but that little was known about his qualities. Sven had it that they sent for him, so that he would appear before him at the court, so that it could be seen what manner of a man he was.
29. When Odd disembarked, the earl's men came to him and told him to go to the earl's residence. The man who led them was named Eirik Rock-shoulders. He had this name because he was a giant of a man. They said he was descended from rock trolls. He was very strong and swift to action, and even bold men were afraid of him.
Odd did as they asked him to, and he was let into the residence. He had his axe with him, and wore the golden ring around his arm. Earl Sven was sitting at the table, surrounded by his men. Eirik was among them. The earl welcomed Odd and asked him for his for his name and if he was from Solskjel or some other place. Odd said that he was born in the Free Islands, where had been put under lesser outlawry.
When he spoke, earl's men looked at him, and thought that his appearance was very strange. He was slender for a boy, and short too, with very fair skin. His hair was black and cut very short. Some of them considered his appearance to be more of a woman's than of a man's.
When he finished introducing himself, Earl Sven asked his men what they thought of Odd. They said that he seemed to them youthful, but bold enough. Then Sven asked Eirik if he thought the same.
Eirik replied, "Now I have a different view. He looks feeble to me. I think that he is a man of poor quality, if he is a man at all, and not a sissy."
Then Odd turned red on the face in anger, and said, "It is a shameful thing to call man a sissy, and a greater shame to be killed by one."
He then grabbed his axe, and swung it at Eirik. Eirik drew a sword, and swung back. It looked like the matter would end in killing, but the women of the house raised a great cry, and threw cloth over their blades, so that the fight was broken up. Then earl's men surrounded Odd and asked Sven what to do with him.
The earl said, "It is obvious to me that a man who strikes at Eirik Rock-shoulders without care for himself must be very bold. It is also obvious to me that he was gravely insulted, and responded to that in a manly fashion."
Then, he addressed Odd, who was still very enraged, and asked him if he wanted to become his man, and go raiding on his behest. Odd agreed. Next, the earl asked him to make peace with Eirik. They shook their hands, and declared friendship to be between them. The men cheered for them.
In the evening, a feast was held, and there was much food and drink. Odd was seated on the lower bench, among younger warriors. He drank quickly, and as he was not accustomed to ale, the drink quickly got the better of him. From there on, the earl's men called him Odd the Girl-drunk. Later some even said that there might be merit to Eirik's insult, because few men would become drunk as quickly as Odd did.
And just like that, Odd/ny started his/her first job as a raider for a pirate lord! Also made some good/bad friends. As for them:
[ ] Odd/ny held onto the grudge towards Eirik.
-Pros: holding onto a grudge means that Odd/ny will be able to eventually get back at Eirik for damaging his/her reputation from day 1.
-Cons: Eirik is a dangerous man. Earl Sven asked Odd to give up the grudge and enter a friendship with him.
[ ] Odd/ny let go of the grudge towards Eirik.
-Pros: makes it easier to function. Means not getting in a conflict with a dangerous man and not breaking the earl's orders. Possibly also means that the friendship with Eirik can become a real thing.
-Cons: Runs at risk of forever sullying Odd/ny's reputation among the earl's men.
One of the guests was Bolli, also known as Bolli the Boisterous. He was no hero, but also not given to modesty. When he saw that Oddny was sitting across of Mord the Chieftain, he spoke:
"It seems like soon she will be wearing breeches and a codpiece."
To that Oddny said:
"That may seem unlikely to you, but doesn't seem so unlikely to me."
They did not speak any more that night, and nothing more came out of it. There were also no other disturbances, and everyone enjoyed Mord's hospitality in full. Some said that Bolli had insulted Oddny, but others were not so sure, because she seemed to them a masculine woman.
Oddny rode out in the morning, and reached Rock-beak on the same day. When she entered the farm, Signy wasn't there. She asked one of the servants where she was, and was told that she was gathering hay in the field. Oddny went there, and found her mother hard at work, and with little help. Then, they gathered hay together. When they were done, Signy said:
"I do not foresee good things for me when you are gone."
They went back to the farm and made plans for the future.
27. Signy purchased for Oddny a share in a merchant ship, which was bound for the Thistle Island. The winds were quiet, and the departure was delayed, so Oddny stayed at Rock-beak for a time. One day, Signy saw that Oddny was wearing breaches and a cod-piece. She asked Oddny if that is how she wanted to be seen. Oddny said that it was. Then Signy went over to the chest, and opened it, and took from it an axe that was in-laid with silver, and a golden ring that weighed half mark. That was the last of the wealth she had saved from the marriage with Thorolf Hardhand. She presented the axe and the ring to Oddny and commanded her to take it.
"Now I name you Odd," she said, and from there on, never spoke the name 'Oddny' again.
"If that is so," said Odd, "then you should cut my hair, so that no mistake is made."
Then Signy had Odd's hair cut, so that he would appear as a man. Next day, the winds picked up again, and Odd boarded the ship, which was sailing out. An eastern breeze carried the ship swiftly towards the Middle Islands, and from there to the Thistle Island, where they landed in early autumn, in a place known as Flowerhaven. They moored the ship there, and took out the goods they had for trading.
28. Around that time, the Thistle Island was divided into three parts, of which the greatest was ruled by earl Sven the Brother-killer, who was the son of Ivar the Aggressor. Ivar the Aggressor had come into the Thistle Island and defeated its king in a great battle, and razed every city that did not pay him tribute. When he died, there was a rebellion against his rule, and two thirds of the kingdom was lost other kings, but not Flowerhaven. Sven held his court there often, when he was not raiding. He was a proud ruler, but a cruel one, and he surrounded himself with pirates and raiders. He had taken on the saintly religion, but then abandoned it, and offered sacrifices to the Sky God again. When he learned that a ship from the Free Islands had landed, he asked if there were any warriors on it, because he was often at war. They said that the ship was mostly merchants, but that there was one young lad on it which had the appearance of a warrior, but that little was known about his qualities. Sven had it that they sent for him, so that he would appear before him at the court, so that it could be seen what manner of a man he was.
29. When Odd disembarked, the earl's men came to him and told him to go to the earl's residence. The man who led them was named Eirik Rock-shoulders. He had this name because he was a giant of a man. They said he was descended from rock trolls. He was very strong and swift to action, and even bold men were afraid of him.
Odd did as they asked him to, and he was let into the residence. He had his axe with him, and wore the golden ring around his arm. Earl Sven was sitting at the table, surrounded by his men. Eirik was among them. The earl welcomed Odd and asked him for his for his name and if he was from Solskjel or some other place. Odd said that he was born in the Free Islands, where had been put under lesser outlawry.
When he spoke, earl's men looked at him, and thought that his appearance was very strange. He was slender for a boy, and short too, with very fair skin. His hair was black and cut very short. Some of them considered his appearance to be more of a woman's than of a man's.
When he finished introducing himself, Earl Sven asked his men what they thought of Odd. They said that he seemed to them youthful, but bold enough. Then Sven asked Eirik if he thought the same.
Eirik replied, "Now I have a different view. He looks feeble to me. I think that he is a man of poor quality, if he is a man at all, and not a sissy."
Then Odd turned red on the face in anger, and said, "It is a shameful thing to call man a sissy, and a greater shame to be killed by one."
He then grabbed his axe, and swung it at Eirik. Eirik drew a sword, and swung back. It looked like the matter would end in killing, but the women of the house raised a great cry, and threw cloth over their blades, so that the fight was broken up. Then earl's men surrounded Odd and asked Sven what to do with him.
The earl said, "It is obvious to me that a man who strikes at Eirik Rock-shoulders without care for himself must be very bold. It is also obvious to me that he was gravely insulted, and responded to that in a manly fashion."
Then, he addressed Odd, who was still very enraged, and asked him if he wanted to become his man, and go raiding on his behest. Odd agreed. Next, the earl asked him to make peace with Eirik. They shook their hands, and declared friendship to be between them. The men cheered for them.
In the evening, a feast was held, and there was much food and drink. Odd was seated on the lower bench, among younger warriors. He drank quickly, and as he was not accustomed to ale, the drink quickly got the better of him. From there on, the earl's men called him Odd the Girl-drunk. Later some even said that there might be merit to Eirik's insult, because few men would become drunk as quickly as Odd did.
And just like that, Odd/ny started his/her first job as a raider for a pirate lord! Also made some good/bad friends. As for them:
[ ] Odd/ny held onto the grudge towards Eirik.
-Pros: holding onto a grudge means that Odd/ny will be able to eventually get back at Eirik for damaging his/her reputation from day 1.
-Cons: Eirik is a dangerous man. Earl Sven asked Odd to give up the grudge and enter a friendship with him.
[ ] Odd/ny let go of the grudge towards Eirik.
-Pros: makes it easier to function. Means not getting in a conflict with a dangerous man and not breaking the earl's orders. Possibly also means that the friendship with Eirik can become a real thing.
-Cons: Runs at risk of forever sullying Odd/ny's reputation among the earl's men.
It lives!