Bare-axed Naked

S01 — Session 28

1626, Sea Season


Season, Week, Day

1626, Sea Season, Stasis Week, Windsday to Wildday

Dramatis Personae

Events

As before, the log will be recounted with extracts from Berra JarangsdottiHumaktisaga, from The Lay of Serala, Lance of the Cold Sun , The Death of Rajar, and NalaTiwrSaga. As with last time there will be extracts from the Sonnets to Varanis, and also The Sonnets to Mellia, Sweetest of Healers, White Lady of Esrolia, additionally, we will be seeing the Sonnets in Praise of Xenofos and from The Lays of Finarvi. There will be brief reference to the Accounts of the Travels of Irillo Goldentongue. Editorial commentary will be recorded [thus]. Both the {“D”} and “T” voice appear in this selection of extracts.

[“A short lecture today, you’ll be pleased to hear. But there is plenty of space for reflection despite that. I like to think of it as a pleasing character piece before we get back to the constant stream of heroism- even the supernatural threat of Farnan is light in relation to what is before and to come. A period of ‘comic relief’, if you will. So, let us start with The Lays of Finarvi before moving straight on to Berra JarangsdottiHumaktisaga“]

Running languid o'er the curvテΛd em'rald hill
Fair Finarvi saw a maiden fair, who asked him if he will
Run with her through the mossy dells and o'er the swelling mounds
To course with her, in pursuit, less like men, than hounds

They ran, like wind, like Orlanth, like the men of old
And rested them at least, in such a pleasant leafy fold
His destination, it was hers, and both their triumph found
As the horns of vic'try at their hunting sound!

[“I shall not comment further on this extract, other than to note a hero in the 1640s with the patronimic ‘Finarvisson1 The erotic elements to life in these sagas is worth reflecting on briefly- this is part of their charm, as we see the whole of human life laid out… so to speak. For example, considering Pseudo-Varanis,

Let her kiss me with the kisses of her mouth –
her lips taste of wine and honey.
Silky skin carries the scent of spring,
dizzying the senses.
Whispered words of longing – Hush. Don’t hurry.
Let Kalis bring you to her chambers.


As the lotus blossom opens to the sun,
so does my beloved to candlelight.
I gaze upon her beauty with covetous eyes,
her perfume swallowing my senses.
She brings me to her banquet hall.
Her hold over me is devastating.
Strengthen me with dates,
refresh me with peaches,
For I am faint with love
. Moving on, as indicated….”]

Ghost Graced gift
Given to Good Berra
Words whispered in woodenhalls
‘ware the Wight

Boldly braving barrow-wight,
Sword bearing Berra2 Some have suggested (See von Sturm) that the implication here is that the sword is bringing Berra, not Berra, bearing a sword. Given some of von Sturm’s more esoteric theories, not too much weight should be put to this.
, 3 Unusually given their history, it is Alleyn who is the strongest supporter of von Sturm’s position here, citing that indeed Death brought the Humakti here, for to a Humakti, Death and the Sword are identically one. brought Bright-lady and
Proud Praxian to pacify
Pale piercer of shade.

Giving to Ghost the gift of
Gladly going to Law
Fae Farnan foully
Refused fair faithful offer

[“NalaTiwrSaga gives more details of this. This would suggest that Berra lost to the ghost, but Nala saved her.”]

Sad loyal maiden
nearly falls to ghostly foe;
almost a relief.

[“This is aided by The Sonnets to Mellia which records,”]

When the battle goes ill for the Humakt
Fair Mel’ia holds ever true to her pact
And sleep heals the ravelled sleeve of torn minds
In her balmy embrace, the sweet one binds

[“Although not recorded clearly, in other sources, it would appear that Xenofos and Rajar had joined the trio, as we find Sonnets in Praise of Xenofos and The Death of Rajar making comments in their own idioms.”]

Coming o’er the hill with the barbari’n
Xenofos saw Humakti draw sword on
White Lady standing unarmテΛd and alone
When sweet Mell’ia struck her down as from a throne

After the battle
Berra was all unknowning of
What had possessed her

[“It would seem that some self reflection occured, for what is often recorded as ‘Pseudo-Nala’ has the following stanza,”]

Talks to mad Berra
of persistent self-doubt;
of hero-mother.
4 I have my own reasons for believing the pseudo to be a misidentification, hence its inclusion in the main body of the lecture here. The reasoning is too long and tedious to go into here, but relies heavily on the work of Mowbray.

[“We now move on to the initiation stanzae. Now, these are limited in size and number, perhaps reflecting the ‘mystery’ element of cultic practice. Nonetheless, they also provide an important element of ‘belonging’ to our group, albeit not all participated. It would appear that Xenofos, in particular chose not to participate, but also pledged his sword to Varanis, his kinswoman.”]

“No Sartarite I, instead do I stand
A proud Saiciae, with sword in my hand.
To you do I offer , cousin of mine
From cedarn valleys5 Clearly an Esrolian reference to hillsides of pine”

“Cousin, right gladly I accept your blade
Though through the gore of the Empire we wade
I shall not then fail thee, oh swordsworn man
And reward you I shall, when you need, and I can!”

[“Other views can be seen in others of the group.”]

Risks inherent in joining clan:
I'm a trader, not a warrior.
I see no place for trading or negotiation in the seasons to come.
This is not my place. Or rather, all places are mine.

{“There’s going to be a WAR! Why on earth would I be there?”}

“I wasn’t asked. RACISTS!”

[However, let us start with Berra JarangsdottiHumaktisaga‘s account, before moving on.]

Woad and Wyter welcoming
Dagger Washed with Water
Lost loyal lady
Led back to family lands

[“A similar message seems to have taken the others- the grazelanders in especial being granted a vision of more horses, than they expected.”]

The Blue Tree to her then granted a vision serene,
To the edge of the Tula her eyesight had seen
All the horses at pasture, a boon to her eyes noble blue
And a home had she gathered, afresh and anew!

[“Varanis and Rajar, however, appear to have had different experiences.”]

Varanis then stepp’d to the edge of the tree
And the Tula laid out, before her she see [“sic”]
From the edge of one snow armoured mountain
To em’rald valleys of the creek’s flood plain

“Do you take this, Thane, to guard and to hold?
As the Heroes yet will, and the Gods did of old?
Will ye care for th’ folk who live in this place
Will ye hold gainst lunar sword, and troll’s mace?”

The heroine wavered not the least whit
Though many would have paused just a bit
“I will! To the end of my life, my last breath!
I serve it in life, and save it in death!”

Rajar joins a Clan
Led by Urox, Chaos foe!
There is Chaos. Go!

Uroxi always
Are fully dressed if you are
prone to axing me.

[“We shall end with another extract from the Lays of Finarvi.”]

At the gift of Wyter sweet, the Praxian hero vanishéd
The heroes disputed there- they would follow where he led.
And so they rode out, Chaos seeking out that very day
Finarvi rode, Varanis Fair fast following in a special way.

What Really Happened

++++ Notable Moments and Quotes

Session Quotes

  • 1
    The erotic elements to life in these sagas is worth reflecting on briefly- this is part of their charm, as we see the whole of human life laid out… so to speak. For example, considering Pseudo-Varanis,

    Let her kiss me with the kisses of her mouth –
    her lips taste of wine and honey.
    Silky skin carries the scent of spring,
    dizzying the senses.
    Whispered words of longing – Hush. Don’t hurry.
    Let Kalis bring you to her chambers.


    As the lotus blossom opens to the sun,
    so does my beloved to candlelight.
    I gaze upon her beauty with covetous eyes,
    her perfume swallowing my senses.
    She brings me to her banquet hall.
    Her hold over me is devastating.
    Strengthen me with dates,
    refresh me with peaches,
    For I am faint with love
  • 2
    Some have suggested (See von Sturm) that the implication here is that the sword is bringing Berra, not Berra, bearing a sword. Given some of von Sturm’s more esoteric theories, not too much weight should be put to this.
  • 3
    Unusually given their history, it is Alleyn who is the strongest supporter of von Sturm’s position here, citing that indeed Death brought the Humakti here, for to a Humakti, Death and the Sword are identically one.
  • 4
    I have my own reasons for believing the pseudo to be a misidentification, hence its inclusion in the main body of the lecture here. The reasoning is too long and tedious to go into here, but relies heavily on the work of Mowbray.
  • 5
    Clearly an Esrolian reference