Northen

Through the mists, through the hiding fog to sight lands off the prow a worthless land it seems to me flat stones where no fields may grow Are we lost in another world? a strange silence now falls watch our breath frost before your eyes hear our hearts like thunder in the winds Far from home, unseen by the sun is our fate to be lost? drifting closer to the edge of the world where did the gods guide our path? Helluland... where no gods or men live Helluland... where the giants sleep Helluland... where no ravens fly Where the ice flows, where no life kann grow Helluland... where no gods or men live Helluland... where the giants sleep Helluland... where no ravens fly where dead souls go, where no life blood flows The clouds gather to obscure the sun to shroud all in their night are those eyes, that watch from ashore? or shadows from the fading light Ghosts that whisper, of dead ages past of fallen gods and their might cursed men, doomed souls that will to live breathe life in lost tales that died this wretched cost and its winds that pierce far deep in our souls what dwells just beyond these shores? where does the sun hide its light? Helluland... where no gods or men live Helluland... where the giants sleep Helluland... where no ravens fly Where the ice flows, where no life kann grow Helluland... where no gods or men live Helluland... where the giants sleep Helluland... where no ravens fly where dead souls go, where no life blood flows They sailed right up to the shore and cast anchor, then lowered a boat and landed. There was no grass to be seen, and the hinterland was covered with great glaciers, and between glaciers and shore the land was like one great slab of rock. It seemed to them a worthless country. Then Leif said, 'Now we have done better than Bjarni where this country concerned - we at least have set foot on it. I shall give this country a name and call it Helluland.' - Greenlander's Saga

Submitted by Warbringer — Apr 25, 2025

In the darkness where I rule the light where the sun seeks not to fall across oceans far from headland home to rule a frozen land below I am King... where is my crown? I am King... where is my crown? No master shall I trust again to no other man I'll kneel where my own sword guides my fate where my hammer strikes the cross I seek further lands beyond this world I seek a name of high renown to carve my ancient runes on distant shores where my sons shall gain their fame I am King... where is my crown? I am King... where is my Crown? "The same spring King Olaf also sent Leif Erikson to Greenland to proclaim Christianity there, and Leif went there that summer... He took on the sea a ship's crew who were at the time in great distress and were lying on a completely broken wreck, and on that same voyage he found Vinland the Good... People afterwards called him Leif the Lucky, but his father Erik said that Leif'S having rescued a ship's crew and restored the men to life might be balanced against the fact that he had brought an impostor, as he called the priest, to Greenland. -Olaf Trygvason's Saga

Submitted by Corpse Defiler — Apr 25, 2025

I know... the runes that bite the flesh I know... the runes that heal the wound I know... the runes that curse the sword I know... the runes that stay my steed I know... the runes that calm the waves I know... the runes that ward the hall I know... the runes that charm the maid I know... the runes that birth the child I know the runes I know... the runes that that witches weave I know... the runes that spirits hear I know... the runes that giants fear I know... the runes of fire and ice I know... the runes that bring me wealth I know... the runes that slay my foes I know... the runes that guard my tomb I know... the runes that spell my doom I know the runes I know... the runes that break the chains I know... the runes that blunt the sword I know... the runes that cool the flames I know... the runes for the dead to speak I know... the runes that shield my men I know... the runes that halt the bow I know... the runes that Odin won I know... a secret I will never tell Erik was reluctant to abandon his old religion, but his wife, Thjodhild, was converted at once, and she had a church built not too close to the farmstead... Thjodhild refused to live with Erik after she was converted, and this annoyed him greatly. - Erik the Red's Saga Runes wilt through find, and rightly read, of wondrous weight, of mighty magic, which that dyed the dread god, which that made the holy hosts, and were etched by Odin. - Havamal

Submitted by Sexy Gargoyle — Apr 25, 2025

In this land of woods, where the trees stretch far down to the waves in the coldest of nights, in our darkest dreams, the One-Eye stares our souls cast down, like fallen stars, lost like rain in the endless sea we search for meaning long forgotten, its memory, a shadow on our hearts When our heathen home, turns away from our father's wisdom when our daughter's eyes, no longer shine like the deep blue skies when our sons cower, before the dark southern shadow when our mothers drown their young, lest they become as gods The northern sun set long ago, the throne has turned to dust the horn has long since called her song, the battle long since lost The golden hall no longer shines, the ravens fly no more the worm poisoned the sky above, the wolf swallowed the sun Markland... our dream across the waves The hammer... it fades the gods they sail away the hammer... it fades... no... The inhabitants of Greenland of their own free will abandoned the true faith and Christian religion, having already forsaken all good ways and virtues, and joined themselves with the folk of America. - Bishop Gisli Oddsson of Skailholt (1593-1638)

Submitted by VladTheImpaler666 — Apr 25, 2025

Branded by the sun, hidden from the moon blinded by the snow, dreams that must stay untold stone axes at their side, cast ashore the endless tide wide-eyed they cry their song, staves raised against the sun The gods curse you in this windswept land the northern star led us astray Smoke rides to the sky, dancing on the wind stars disappear from sight, to fall in the endless night skin boats are left ashore, hid from the raven's eyes Skrealings from the woods, left a thorn in my side The gods curse you in this windswept land the northern star led us astray But then Karlsefni's men saw a huge number of boats coming from the south, pouring in like a torrent. This time all the sticks were being waved anti-clockwise and all the Skrealings were howling loudly, Karlsefni and his men now hoisted red shields and advanced towards them. When theyclashed there was a fierce battle and a hail of missiles came flying over, for the Skrealings were using catapults. Karlsefni and Snorri saw them hoist a large sphere on a pole; it was dark blue in colour. It came flying in over the heads of Karlsefni's men and made an ugly din when it struck the ground. This terrified Karlsefni and his men so much that their only thought was to flee, and they retreated farther up the river. They did not halt until they reached some cliffs, where they prepared to make a resolute stand. - Erik the Red's Saga

Submitted by The Void — Apr 25, 2025

With storm and wind, and cast ashore our ship is smashed, our keel no more for many days, of toil and rest erect our keel on Kjalarnes For days we sailed, then settled in and found the home of Skraeling men this place I wished to live my life is now my tomb, to rest and die At Krossanes, where my spirit dies you raise the sign, the sign of foreign lies my father'S faith, his blood in mine the northern light, forever shines again My life is spent, my doom revealed the arrow'S flight, that pierced my shield that cursed point, that took my life will send me far, to Odin's side Will my kin return, to bring me home or will I stay, on barren shores that cursed cross, wheighs on my soul my people's fate, my people's heart At Krossanes, where my spirit dies you raise the sign, the sign of foreign lies my father's faith, his blood in mine the northern light, forever shines again A great swarm of skin-boats was then heading towards them down the fjord... The Skraelings shot at them for a while, and then turned and fled as fast as they could. Thorvald asked his men if any of them were wounded; they all replied that they were unhurt. 'I have a wound in the armpit,' said Thorvald. -'An arrow flew up between the gunwale and my shield, under my arm - here it is. This will lead to my death. 'I advise you now to go back as soon as you can. But first I want you to take me to the headland I thought so suitable for a home, I seem to have hit on the truth when I said that I would settle there for a while. Bury me there and put crosses at my head and feet, and let the place be called Krossanes for ever afterwards.' - Greenlander's Saga

Submitted by NecroLord — Apr 25, 2025

The old gods forsaken, the old ways abandoned, the new world shines bright on the waves the fading sun sets on the cruel seas that ward our homes, kin's blood spilled wide on the shore Where are my sons that carry the flame? Where are my sons that carry my name? Vinland your time has come heathen child under the sun spread your wings and fly ancient blood cast far and wide Vinland the Good they say northern home long gone astray the crosses' shadow on the waves your old god's memory fades away One-Eye guides the cold north winds to our long ship'S sails, the old cross is left far behind to forge a new way, with our god's blood within our hearts, this new world will give all we need Great are the songs that carry our names far we sail to eternal fame Vinland your time has come heathen child under the sun spread your wings and fly ancient blood cast far and wide Vinland the Good they say northern home long gone astray the crosses' shadow on the waves your old god's memory fades away People told me when I came hither all would be so fine the good Vinland known to fame rich in fruits and choicest wine now the water pail they send to the fountain I must bend nor from out this land divine have I quaffed one drop of wine - Thorhall the Hunter, Erik the Red's Saga

Submitted by Grave666 — Apr 25, 2025

The mists of time move onward reveal the land and skies the ice recedes far northward to forge before my eyes Great kingdoms long forgotten dead kings who ruled this earth northern men borne by gods whose doom the stars decried Where did they sail? To the sky? the gods, live again, and never die fates, tell again, of ancient sites the rise, the reign, of Northen kind The north men sail to new lands far where the ravens fly abandoned gods sleep restless rekindle ancient fires The ice and snow march forward all that lives shall die the dead sun sets in twilight Surt's fires reach the skies Where, do we sail? To the ice? Return again, to pay the price the hammer fades, the cross is nigh my father's wish, has come to die Nine ages past when the north kings ruled the earth nine worlds collapse under the sun the wolf age comes again, and the frozen throne is raised the light of the sun shines again... on the Northen the light of the sun shines on the Northen the light of sun shines on you Where, do we sail? To the ice? Return again, to pay the price the hammer fades, the cross is nigh my father's wish, has come to die One days sail beyond Thule, the sea is frozen... After he had explored the expanse of the Northern Ocean in his ships, there lay before their eyes at length the darksome bounds of a failing world, and by retracing his steps he barely escaped in safety the vast pit of the abyss. - Adam of Bremen, Description of the Northern Islands, late 11th Century

Submitted by Dahmers Fridge — Apr 25, 2025

Long have we sailed, to this far away land far have we come, to seek fame and as the days grow long and cold we yearn for home again The cold winds blow, and the ice sets in where our animals roamed and grazed the Skraeling men, who killed our kin did not escape our hate With timber, wheat, and vines so sweet filled our ships to sail away with last words said, we bury our dead set stones to mark our stay Years may pass, men come and go this land, our children may tame for when the sun sets, and the last ship sails they will still remember our names Let our trusty band haste to Fatherland let our vessel brave plough the angry wave while those few who love Vinland here may rove or with idle toil fetid whales may boil here on Furdustrand far from Fatherland - Thorhall the Hunter, Erik the Red's Saga

Submitted by Warbringer — Apr 25, 2025