Mead/Alcohol made from Maple sap. Naming things isn't one of my best abilities apparently.
The Light of The North (Norse TL)
- Thread starter Tairo
- Start date
Um why not Maplemead?
Mǫpur(rin)mjǫðr or Mǫsur(rin)mjǫðr or Hlyn(rin)mjǫðr in Old Norse.
Or Sapmead Safinmjǫðr.
The Builders of The Lodge
The Builders of The Lodge
850 AD
When first contact was established between the Kannata at Taddasouac and the Norse, confusion abounded as the Norsemen noted the Laurentian peoples longhouses and political organisation of clan mothers choosing the war chiefs with one from their faith: Sessrúmnir, or Freyja's Lodge in Folkvangr where she took half of all those who fell in battle. As they learned of the others' Goddesses, both the Norse and Kannata came to see Freyja and Onatah as essentially the same deity, the stories of Hinon and Oniare comparing to Thor and Jormangundr all but confirming that they followed the same gods even if they were somewhat incorrect in places, although that was initally believed to be a result of the translations. Capitalising on this whether intentional or not, the Kannata brought to the their village and then their trade network the knowledge of Ironmaking, Horses, Cattle and Improved boat-making in exchange for the crops of the three sisters of maize, squash and beans, tobacco, the knowledge of the trading routes along the river and thralls. Quickly mastering horse-riding, the kannata at Taddosauc would embark on a mourning war against the Ojibwe to the west and by the decade's end would learn how to cultivate wild rice.
Both cultures would be radically altered forever however by one of the Kannata's new smiths that had learned Ironworking. One of the first nails made by the Kannata, was found to be defective as it would be too brittle to be of use. Marking it at what would've been it's top with a red ochre, the kannata's smith placed in a pot of water on a cloudless night and two men looked up. The nail-in-the-pot was transported through the village with the men checking it at several locations and recieving odd looks as they did so, they considered it worth the confusion however when both confirmed that the painted portion pointed towards a certain star in the sky. It ALWAYS pointed to the star. Talking with the Norse, they learned that was known to them as leiðarstjarna, it allowed them to sail long voyages as it's position was constant so they could navigate from it on clear nights. Curious as to how they sailed on unclear nights, they learned it was mostly by memory from captains who had sailed the routes before or the colour of the water allowing them to know how near or far they were from land. The two Kannata excused themselves, quickly requesting a meeting with the Clan Mothers. The 2 men excitedly relayed the information they had learned. The Norsemen had inadvertandly led them to the discovery of something that would allow long-range navigation regardless of weather.
As such journeys were currently of little interest to them, the Clan Mothers instructed the men to share the discovery with the Norse as a show of good relations. The Norse reacted to the revelation at first with scepticism and confusion before having it confirmed. The sharing of such knowledge to the Norse along with the subtle insinuations that they, the Norse, of course already knew the knowledge but were only relaying because they Clan Mothers instructed, the Kannata slowly garnered a reputation as Freyja's people on Midgard amongst a number of traders. While some were uncertain why Freyja had chosen the Kannata, insulting or otherwise disparaging them soon came to be a very bad idea amongst the Norse.
As the knowledge spreads through Utaneyjar and Iceland, the Norse faith began to take on a zeal not known to it's traditional interpretaions. The Influx of extra crops places Vinland, Greenland and Iceland in enviable positions - each of them have more food than their people need. For the Vesþing, this is of little concern as it can use the excess to influence the Skraelings that are ambivalent to it's rule, mostly those on the border regions. For Iceland it granted the free land a higher value as it would bring the settlers a lower risk of starvation.
--
In Europe, the raids into Dummonia escalate into a full invasion, with Harald suspicious of western trouble after the Essexian Nobles overthrow and slay Edmund the Martyr and attempt to reclaim Essex proper. The attempt is swiftly halted with both the Essexian rump and East Anglia falling to the counter-invasion of the Daneðing. The Kingdom of Jorvik invading Mercia from the east, managed to make several gains before being temporarily halted. Temporary or not, Mercia now stands as the sole anglo-saxon kingdom remaining.
850 AD
When first contact was established between the Kannata at Taddasouac and the Norse, confusion abounded as the Norsemen noted the Laurentian peoples longhouses and political organisation of clan mothers choosing the war chiefs with one from their faith: Sessrúmnir, or Freyja's Lodge in Folkvangr where she took half of all those who fell in battle. As they learned of the others' Goddesses, both the Norse and Kannata came to see Freyja and Onatah as essentially the same deity, the stories of Hinon and Oniare comparing to Thor and Jormangundr all but confirming that they followed the same gods even if they were somewhat incorrect in places, although that was initally believed to be a result of the translations. Capitalising on this whether intentional or not, the Kannata brought to the their village and then their trade network the knowledge of Ironmaking, Horses, Cattle and Improved boat-making in exchange for the crops of the three sisters of maize, squash and beans, tobacco, the knowledge of the trading routes along the river and thralls. Quickly mastering horse-riding, the kannata at Taddosauc would embark on a mourning war against the Ojibwe to the west and by the decade's end would learn how to cultivate wild rice.
Both cultures would be radically altered forever however by one of the Kannata's new smiths that had learned Ironworking. One of the first nails made by the Kannata, was found to be defective as it would be too brittle to be of use. Marking it at what would've been it's top with a red ochre, the kannata's smith placed in a pot of water on a cloudless night and two men looked up. The nail-in-the-pot was transported through the village with the men checking it at several locations and recieving odd looks as they did so, they considered it worth the confusion however when both confirmed that the painted portion pointed towards a certain star in the sky. It ALWAYS pointed to the star. Talking with the Norse, they learned that was known to them as leiðarstjarna, it allowed them to sail long voyages as it's position was constant so they could navigate from it on clear nights. Curious as to how they sailed on unclear nights, they learned it was mostly by memory from captains who had sailed the routes before or the colour of the water allowing them to know how near or far they were from land. The two Kannata excused themselves, quickly requesting a meeting with the Clan Mothers. The 2 men excitedly relayed the information they had learned. The Norsemen had inadvertandly led them to the discovery of something that would allow long-range navigation regardless of weather.
As such journeys were currently of little interest to them, the Clan Mothers instructed the men to share the discovery with the Norse as a show of good relations. The Norse reacted to the revelation at first with scepticism and confusion before having it confirmed. The sharing of such knowledge to the Norse along with the subtle insinuations that they, the Norse, of course already knew the knowledge but were only relaying because they Clan Mothers instructed, the Kannata slowly garnered a reputation as Freyja's people on Midgard amongst a number of traders. While some were uncertain why Freyja had chosen the Kannata, insulting or otherwise disparaging them soon came to be a very bad idea amongst the Norse.
As the knowledge spreads through Utaneyjar and Iceland, the Norse faith began to take on a zeal not known to it's traditional interpretaions. The Influx of extra crops places Vinland, Greenland and Iceland in enviable positions - each of them have more food than their people need. For the Vesþing, this is of little concern as it can use the excess to influence the Skraelings that are ambivalent to it's rule, mostly those on the border regions. For Iceland it granted the free land a higher value as it would bring the settlers a lower risk of starvation.
--
In Europe, the raids into Dummonia escalate into a full invasion, with Harald suspicious of western trouble after the Essexian Nobles overthrow and slay Edmund the Martyr and attempt to reclaim Essex proper. The attempt is swiftly halted with both the Essexian rump and East Anglia falling to the counter-invasion of the Daneðing. The Kingdom of Jorvik invading Mercia from the east, managed to make several gains before being temporarily halted. Temporary or not, Mercia now stands as the sole anglo-saxon kingdom remaining.
With a compass, soon they would have the entire east coast of North America mapped.
Some of the European Norse will be converting to christianity but Utaneyjar/American Norse will have little reason or incentive to do so.
Kind of, there's no Danelaw-Wessex resistance so full Norse rule is happening throughout England (Not exactly a spoiler at this point). I think I've prevented such a scenario from being ASB/Implausible.
A shifting Vesþing
The Shifting Vesþing, 853 AD
Existing since time immemorial and permeating every aspect of Norse culture, the þing is crucial to their political structure. It arrived with them on Vinland in the 9th century, the first were minor alþings('local') that saw inheritances settled and journeys planned, with further settlements inland lagþings('jarldoms') begin to be formed for governing a larger area. Each family could send one representative to speak their cases, usually meaning the male head of the household or the widow of such if the sons were not yet adults. Certain women however were allowed and at times indeed expected to attend the þing. Amongst these were the baugrygr/ringkvinna - unmarried women over twenty years of age without close male relatives who could inherit odal, movables and recieve fines on behalf of murdered relatives. Women in dispute with other women - Such cases permitted only the woman in question to recieve compensation and finally married women who's husbands were unable to attend either due to illness or travelling. Men had much less restrictions on their ability to attend the þing however, merely needing to be a bondi(landowner) over fifteen and having at least one person working for them.
The Vesþing on Vinland in the 9th century permitted eligibility to speak based on three further requirements. Those who were not foreign, defined as those who had lived on Vinland for no less than three years, who spoke Norse and who could pay the þingfararu kaup. These requirements brought it into intermettint conflict with the Skraelings, as to them the Norse were those who counted as foreign. Raids and counter-raids became common throughout the interior and hinterlands of Vinland as a result of this unfair exclusion. Had the conflicts started earlier the Norse would most likely have abandoned Vinland as on it's own there was not much reason to stay, the introduction of the crops of the Freyjalag however greatly increased it's settlment value and staying worth.
Fokeyjar nominally had similar restrictions on it's þing but were much less applied, a number of the L'nu villages had sworn fealty in exchange Ironworking and could speak norse for trading, so they counted as Norse to the lawspeakers.
The introduction of the Freyjanál(water compasses) from Björnland, þordis wishing to learn more of the Kannata enticed Baugrygr and Völvas from across her island and Vinland to head south to learn more of what was seen as seiðr from the Freyjalag as the lands to the west of the river came to be known. In doing so however, she reinforced the belief of the Kannata that they Norse were also a matrilineal society - Their first contacts were under her order after all they reasoned, so she was clearly a Hoyaneh/Clan Mother, if a somewhat odd one. A misconception she soon became aware of but saw little reason to correct, believing it to give her a greater trading privilege with them.
The continued and repeated sailing down Noatun river, brought intermittent contacts with the Maliseet and the Abenaki. The exploration of Odin's Bay was considered fully complete when sailing inward through Wolastaq two expeditions that had gone to further trade with the Passamaquoddy and the Maliseet learn of each other. As the Freyjanál became increasingly commonplace, sailing in the stronger winds of the north atlantic became safer so plans began for further expeditions southward. Not all contact was initiated by the Norse however, the Penobscot had learned of these "People of the Northern Light" from intermittent trading with the L'nu town of Agase'wit-gjiganji'j located inland on the Miramachi river. Iron spread quickly throughout the warmer lands of Austland taught by the L'nu and the Norse.
Greenland, barely settled recieves little attention from the norse but is explored enough that Helluland is discovered. As it is however, Greenland has little to entice many people to settle there over the warmer lands south. A situation that neither Vinland nor Iceland want is for it to be abandoned as it's position ensures a stable contact of trade with the other so each prepare their own plans for it. Vinland intends to send the more hostile of the Skraelings to it's Western shore, while Iceland would send Outlaws to it's Eastern shore. These actions would further antagonise the situation on Vinland as over the next decade the population would shift to more Norse than Skraeling.
Olaf gains most of the Mercian north before he is temporarily forced back to Ireland as a rebellion forces him to focus on expanding his rule through Mide but not before extorting a tribute from Alt Clut, where he is recognised as the Lachlann King of the south in exchange for their nominal independence.
Harald's advance is stopped at southern Mercia and he makes further no gains, however it's east is divided by the advancing armies of Jorvik and the Daneðing.
The Utaneyjar crops of Maize,Beans,Squash and Tobacco begin to be traded throughout the British Isles, Scandanivia and the Baltic, where they quickly prove popular. As result knowledge of a continent across the Atlantic enters European consciousness, however only the Northmen have the route to it, so no explorations are officially planned.
OTL equivalents and translations:
Noatun River - St.Lawrence River
Odin's Bay - Bay of Fundy
Agase'wit-gjiganji'j - Mi'kmaq for Trader Town
Freyjalag - Laurentian Iroquois realm as the Norse understand it.
Austland - East/Dawn Land, Norse name for New England from the Abenaki 'Dawnland'
Wolastaq - St.John's River
Lands known to the Norse
England/Ireland:
Existing since time immemorial and permeating every aspect of Norse culture, the þing is crucial to their political structure. It arrived with them on Vinland in the 9th century, the first were minor alþings('local') that saw inheritances settled and journeys planned, with further settlements inland lagþings('jarldoms') begin to be formed for governing a larger area. Each family could send one representative to speak their cases, usually meaning the male head of the household or the widow of such if the sons were not yet adults. Certain women however were allowed and at times indeed expected to attend the þing. Amongst these were the baugrygr/ringkvinna - unmarried women over twenty years of age without close male relatives who could inherit odal, movables and recieve fines on behalf of murdered relatives. Women in dispute with other women - Such cases permitted only the woman in question to recieve compensation and finally married women who's husbands were unable to attend either due to illness or travelling. Men had much less restrictions on their ability to attend the þing however, merely needing to be a bondi(landowner) over fifteen and having at least one person working for them.
The Vesþing on Vinland in the 9th century permitted eligibility to speak based on three further requirements. Those who were not foreign, defined as those who had lived on Vinland for no less than three years, who spoke Norse and who could pay the þingfararu kaup. These requirements brought it into intermettint conflict with the Skraelings, as to them the Norse were those who counted as foreign. Raids and counter-raids became common throughout the interior and hinterlands of Vinland as a result of this unfair exclusion. Had the conflicts started earlier the Norse would most likely have abandoned Vinland as on it's own there was not much reason to stay, the introduction of the crops of the Freyjalag however greatly increased it's settlment value and staying worth.
Fokeyjar nominally had similar restrictions on it's þing but were much less applied, a number of the L'nu villages had sworn fealty in exchange Ironworking and could speak norse for trading, so they counted as Norse to the lawspeakers.
The introduction of the Freyjanál(water compasses) from Björnland, þordis wishing to learn more of the Kannata enticed Baugrygr and Völvas from across her island and Vinland to head south to learn more of what was seen as seiðr from the Freyjalag as the lands to the west of the river came to be known. In doing so however, she reinforced the belief of the Kannata that they Norse were also a matrilineal society - Their first contacts were under her order after all they reasoned, so she was clearly a Hoyaneh/Clan Mother, if a somewhat odd one. A misconception she soon became aware of but saw little reason to correct, believing it to give her a greater trading privilege with them.
The continued and repeated sailing down Noatun river, brought intermittent contacts with the Maliseet and the Abenaki. The exploration of Odin's Bay was considered fully complete when sailing inward through Wolastaq two expeditions that had gone to further trade with the Passamaquoddy and the Maliseet learn of each other. As the Freyjanál became increasingly commonplace, sailing in the stronger winds of the north atlantic became safer so plans began for further expeditions southward. Not all contact was initiated by the Norse however, the Penobscot had learned of these "People of the Northern Light" from intermittent trading with the L'nu town of Agase'wit-gjiganji'j located inland on the Miramachi river. Iron spread quickly throughout the warmer lands of Austland taught by the L'nu and the Norse.
Greenland, barely settled recieves little attention from the norse but is explored enough that Helluland is discovered. As it is however, Greenland has little to entice many people to settle there over the warmer lands south. A situation that neither Vinland nor Iceland want is for it to be abandoned as it's position ensures a stable contact of trade with the other so each prepare their own plans for it. Vinland intends to send the more hostile of the Skraelings to it's Western shore, while Iceland would send Outlaws to it's Eastern shore. These actions would further antagonise the situation on Vinland as over the next decade the population would shift to more Norse than Skraeling.
Olaf gains most of the Mercian north before he is temporarily forced back to Ireland as a rebellion forces him to focus on expanding his rule through Mide but not before extorting a tribute from Alt Clut, where he is recognised as the Lachlann King of the south in exchange for their nominal independence.
Harald's advance is stopped at southern Mercia and he makes further no gains, however it's east is divided by the advancing armies of Jorvik and the Daneðing.
The Utaneyjar crops of Maize,Beans,Squash and Tobacco begin to be traded throughout the British Isles, Scandanivia and the Baltic, where they quickly prove popular. As result knowledge of a continent across the Atlantic enters European consciousness, however only the Northmen have the route to it, so no explorations are officially planned.
OTL equivalents and translations:
Noatun River - St.Lawrence River
Odin's Bay - Bay of Fundy
Agase'wit-gjiganji'j - Mi'kmaq for Trader Town
Freyjalag - Laurentian Iroquois realm as the Norse understand it.
Austland - East/Dawn Land, Norse name for New England from the Abenaki 'Dawnland'
Wolastaq - St.John's River
Lands known to the Norse
England/Ireland:
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Life in Kannata
While Norse women enjoyed significantly more freedom than that of other European cultures, said freedom did not compare to that of the Kannata or of other Iroquois tribes. Endowed by the Creator with the stewardship of the land, the work of their hands is theirs to do with as they see fit, families trace their lineage through female lines and clan mothers appoint or dismiss sachems. At no point would their thoughts and abilities defer to that of men. As a result a female child will be valued to a slightly higher degree than that of a male counterpart, although all children that mothers have chosen to bear are considered a joy and blessing.
When the Norse arrived at the village, a child watched them trade from the distance. She was born with boundless orenda, her child name was Carito.
Exceptionally curious, she placed her hands on several cows that they brought with them. Noticing the odd marks and growths on their udders, inquiries abounded as to what they were. Receiving the answer that they were a sign of illness that the cow was going through. Some people could get sick from it but the sickness was minor to the Norse. As elders sent odd looks towards some men that had learned ironworking in trade she placed her hands of the growths trying to trace them. She had caught the sickness soon after, although minor would not be her description of it.
Her illness passed before the traders returned however, allowing her to ask more questions of the patient travellers. Cow's skin could be worked into a material for warmth and protection, though it was usually done outside a settlement or downwind. A villager that tried do the work inside a longhouse soon lead to everyone understanding why, so clan mothers apportioned an area outside the village where they could work.
While cows had caused her illness and leather stank while it was made, she quickly became enamored with Horses. The foot holders and saddles provided her great comfort as she learned how to ride. Traders told her tales of a great city named Miklgarð where one leader appointed or dismissed on that leaders word alone, of how free warriors went a'viking to make their fortunes before returning home with great riches.
As baugrygyr and völvas began trips to their village, she learned of Yggdrasil and Laerad, Freyja's chariot and the runes which were used for writing. She learned of how Thor's fishing trip where he fought a great serpent they called Jörmangundr, was a story she knew with the names changed. She learned of how settlers in Iceland and Greenland traded land freely, while peoples further east tried to hold land in perpetuity, a concept that she had difficulty internalising before learning of the story of Iðavǫllr. She learned of how some washed their hair with lye to give it the light colour associated with them. The Frankish concept of bastardry utterly baffles her however as she imagines adult women reacting to the claim that their pregnancies aren't theirs.
Isolated from the community, girls were required to perform difficult, repetitive tasks such as chopping hardwood in a shed with a dull axe in order to become a woman. Iron axes dulled much slower than their copper ones, so when she went to become a woman, she was required to spend more time in the shed until it dulled. As her arms grew stronger from the repeated activity, her shed filled with much extra wood. From half-glimpsed sights of the Tanners she worked the excess wood in what she hoped was a similar fashion, using water collected from nearby rivers and streams. An odd pulp was the only result of the work however, so she tried again. Thinner pulp. Her extra wood shrank as the pulp became thinner but she was careful not to entirely deplete her stock. As her tasks became more repetitive, she fell into deeper sleeps, where she dreamed wondrous and terrible things.
She dreamed of a Turtle Island with clan mothers residing in a great city like that of Miklgarð apportioning the land to warriors who had pleased them due to answering the right questions or who had shown correct deference to them, of light haired men and women wielding iron weapons while they wore leather.
As she became a woman, a greater variation of the cows' illness spread throughout the northeast lands of Turtle Island. While some claimed it was the cows themselves, none knew for sure it's origin but it's effects were devastating. Affecting young and old alike, clan mothers soon called for a mourning war, where captives were symbolically adopted into their clans, to replace their numbers unknowingly further spreading the illness. The Algonquian tribes to the northwest were slowly destroyed by absorption and illness. Trade with the Norse slowed, as they were equally as devastated by the illness however few blamed them.
When she returned to the longhouse she shared her dreams with them, she found that many of the warriors were enamored with the visions her dreams had shown. Several of the clan mothers were hopeful but cautious however and so they decided to warn her with what became her adult name.
She lived on the road to war. Her name was Jigonhsasee.
The Americas 854 - Reworked map
When the Norse arrived at the village, a child watched them trade from the distance. She was born with boundless orenda, her child name was Carito.
Exceptionally curious, she placed her hands on several cows that they brought with them. Noticing the odd marks and growths on their udders, inquiries abounded as to what they were. Receiving the answer that they were a sign of illness that the cow was going through. Some people could get sick from it but the sickness was minor to the Norse. As elders sent odd looks towards some men that had learned ironworking in trade she placed her hands of the growths trying to trace them. She had caught the sickness soon after, although minor would not be her description of it.
Her illness passed before the traders returned however, allowing her to ask more questions of the patient travellers. Cow's skin could be worked into a material for warmth and protection, though it was usually done outside a settlement or downwind. A villager that tried do the work inside a longhouse soon lead to everyone understanding why, so clan mothers apportioned an area outside the village where they could work.
While cows had caused her illness and leather stank while it was made, she quickly became enamored with Horses. The foot holders and saddles provided her great comfort as she learned how to ride. Traders told her tales of a great city named Miklgarð where one leader appointed or dismissed on that leaders word alone, of how free warriors went a'viking to make their fortunes before returning home with great riches.
As baugrygyr and völvas began trips to their village, she learned of Yggdrasil and Laerad, Freyja's chariot and the runes which were used for writing. She learned of how Thor's fishing trip where he fought a great serpent they called Jörmangundr, was a story she knew with the names changed. She learned of how settlers in Iceland and Greenland traded land freely, while peoples further east tried to hold land in perpetuity, a concept that she had difficulty internalising before learning of the story of Iðavǫllr. She learned of how some washed their hair with lye to give it the light colour associated with them. The Frankish concept of bastardry utterly baffles her however as she imagines adult women reacting to the claim that their pregnancies aren't theirs.
Isolated from the community, girls were required to perform difficult, repetitive tasks such as chopping hardwood in a shed with a dull axe in order to become a woman. Iron axes dulled much slower than their copper ones, so when she went to become a woman, she was required to spend more time in the shed until it dulled. As her arms grew stronger from the repeated activity, her shed filled with much extra wood. From half-glimpsed sights of the Tanners she worked the excess wood in what she hoped was a similar fashion, using water collected from nearby rivers and streams. An odd pulp was the only result of the work however, so she tried again. Thinner pulp. Her extra wood shrank as the pulp became thinner but she was careful not to entirely deplete her stock. As her tasks became more repetitive, she fell into deeper sleeps, where she dreamed wondrous and terrible things.
She dreamed of a Turtle Island with clan mothers residing in a great city like that of Miklgarð apportioning the land to warriors who had pleased them due to answering the right questions or who had shown correct deference to them, of light haired men and women wielding iron weapons while they wore leather.
As she became a woman, a greater variation of the cows' illness spread throughout the northeast lands of Turtle Island. While some claimed it was the cows themselves, none knew for sure it's origin but it's effects were devastating. Affecting young and old alike, clan mothers soon called for a mourning war, where captives were symbolically adopted into their clans, to replace their numbers unknowingly further spreading the illness. The Algonquian tribes to the northwest were slowly destroyed by absorption and illness. Trade with the Norse slowed, as they were equally as devastated by the illness however few blamed them.
When she returned to the longhouse she shared her dreams with them, she found that many of the warriors were enamored with the visions her dreams had shown. Several of the clan mothers were hopeful but cautious however and so they decided to warn her with what became her adult name.
She lived on the road to war. Her name was Jigonhsasee.
The Americas 854 - Reworked map
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Good updates! Does this Jigonhsasee have anything in common with her OTL namesake? Cause I'm totally down for an alternate Norse-influenced *Haudenosaunee.
Judging by the map, the cultures in the Americas seem to be altered, have any as-of-yet not covered butterflies reached them? I've noticed that the Toltecs are far from their place of origin in the Valley of Mexico, and they have gobbled up the Yucatan even more so than OTL (supposedly that is, I've heard compelling arguments the Toltecs didn't exist in the first place). Any significance to that?
Judging by the map, the cultures in the Americas seem to be altered, have any as-of-yet not covered butterflies reached them? I've noticed that the Toltecs are far from their place of origin in the Valley of Mexico, and they have gobbled up the Yucatan even more so than OTL (supposedly that is, I've heard compelling arguments the Toltecs didn't exist in the first place). Any significance to that?
The Journeys of Ingjolfr the Red - Prelude
855 AD
The Journeys of Ingjolfr the Red - Prelude
Jarl þordis of Björnland was not an unintelligent woman, as news slowly filtered throughout Utaneyjar of the fall of the anglo-saxon kingdoms, she knew that landless adventurers that had oft spent time on her isle would soon see a great increase in number throughout Utaneyjar as the opportunities in Europe temporarily dwindled. Many of the adventurers came simply for thrill-seeking, with few staying. The island was at the time mainly settled by those who had arrived on her initial trip alongside few Innu-Skraelings. Unlike the Beothuk of Vinland or the L'nu of Thokeyjar, the Innu as a whole were mostly indifferent to Norse contact, at least on the island. Stories often circulated as to the indifference but one in particular took hold.
Snorri Buðlisson who had spent several years in Markland before coming south to the island claimed that he knew why. They guarded something precious beyond measure and were testing all visitors. That he had left Markland with two working eyes and arrived with one now a permanent-blue with blindness helped and hindered the believability of his tale.
The stories of the Innu recitence did not interest her however. What did interest was the story of Glooscap and Tobacco.
Tobacco was said to have been stolen by him from Grasshopper on an island on the ocean. As one of the original explorers who had crossed the Atlantic, she knew with certainty that no such island existed, at least in that ocean. Where then had the crop come from? Both the tribes on the south of the Noatun and the Lodge-Builders told of a great lake in the south, along with the repeated naming of this land as "Turtle Island", þordis reasoned it was not a lake at all but another ocean where such an island lay. Seeking veteran explorers from Vinland proved difficult however as those not inflicted with disease fought skraelings on the hinterlands, so she turned her attention inwards to the second generation on Björnland who had grown up on stories of how their parents had sailed across a water many times larger than that of Vinland Bay, offering Thralls and ships to those who would be willing to sail this unknown ocean. The offers were met with moderate enthusiasm, amongst those who took up the offer however four had a certain commonality: None of them had ever set foot in Europe.
--
Europe update should be up later in the week. All feedback welcome.
The Journeys of Ingjolfr the Red - Prelude
Jarl þordis of Björnland was not an unintelligent woman, as news slowly filtered throughout Utaneyjar of the fall of the anglo-saxon kingdoms, she knew that landless adventurers that had oft spent time on her isle would soon see a great increase in number throughout Utaneyjar as the opportunities in Europe temporarily dwindled. Many of the adventurers came simply for thrill-seeking, with few staying. The island was at the time mainly settled by those who had arrived on her initial trip alongside few Innu-Skraelings. Unlike the Beothuk of Vinland or the L'nu of Thokeyjar, the Innu as a whole were mostly indifferent to Norse contact, at least on the island. Stories often circulated as to the indifference but one in particular took hold.
Snorri Buðlisson who had spent several years in Markland before coming south to the island claimed that he knew why. They guarded something precious beyond measure and were testing all visitors. That he had left Markland with two working eyes and arrived with one now a permanent-blue with blindness helped and hindered the believability of his tale.
The stories of the Innu recitence did not interest her however. What did interest was the story of Glooscap and Tobacco.
Tobacco was said to have been stolen by him from Grasshopper on an island on the ocean. As one of the original explorers who had crossed the Atlantic, she knew with certainty that no such island existed, at least in that ocean. Where then had the crop come from? Both the tribes on the south of the Noatun and the Lodge-Builders told of a great lake in the south, along with the repeated naming of this land as "Turtle Island", þordis reasoned it was not a lake at all but another ocean where such an island lay. Seeking veteran explorers from Vinland proved difficult however as those not inflicted with disease fought skraelings on the hinterlands, so she turned her attention inwards to the second generation on Björnland who had grown up on stories of how their parents had sailed across a water many times larger than that of Vinland Bay, offering Thralls and ships to those who would be willing to sail this unknown ocean. The offers were met with moderate enthusiasm, amongst those who took up the offer however four had a certain commonality: None of them had ever set foot in Europe.
--
Europe update should be up later in the week. All feedback welcome.
Thoughts across Europe - 855
855 AD
For four centuries the southern lands of Britannia played host to a number of kingdoms that had been founded by invaders of angle, saxon or jutish descent. Nine years of Norse invasion however brought them all to their end. Mercia had withstood the longest, technically surviving until later in the decade but it's ability to resist was utterly spent by 855. Their fall coincided with the widescale adoption of New World crops and sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Backwater they may have been, they had served to limit the Norse's ability to project power across the Atlantic coasts. The need to consolidate their conquests afforded Francia, Asturias and Al-Andalus some years of relative respite but it would not last forever.
---
Kingdom of Dyflinn
Olaf the White, King of Dyflinn, the largest Norse realm on the British Isles grew more ambitious by the day. The repeated successes in England and Mide, alongside Alt Clut's nominal vassalage go to his head and so he set himself a new goal: The conquest of the Welsh Kingdoms. From Dyflinn and Mann, he launched two invasions and quickly seized the Isle of Angelsey
His second son, Kettilmund, however had a vastly different ambition. From several secondhand accounts, he calculates the distance from Ireland to Greenland to be 1400miles. As he became aware of Ptolemy's map, he came to believe a "Southern Greenland" existed southwest of Ireland and West of Al-Andalus, if the map was incorrect in the Northwest, then surely it was also so for the Southwest. 1400miles is a rather harsh trip even when you know land is there, so little of the Dyflinn Norse opted to join him when he proposed heading southwest. Temporarily halted, he then turned his attention to Harald's realm. Many of the Viking warbands had grown restless since the cessation of invasion, so opted to join, it is said that Harald was so dismayed to see them go that he gifted them more ships than would have been necessary. So, departing from Plymouth on the 3rd day of þorri, 600 norsemen set sail bearing southwest. While they would not find a "Southern Greenland", few if any felt a need to complain about what they did find.
---
Francia
Without the treaty of Verdun clarifying the borders of Francia, it found itself in a very awkward position. Neither Charles the Bald nor Louis the German could present a coherent response to Rorik's repeated raiding without encroaching on the authority of the other. With the south British coast now under Norse control, Charles can not neglect East or North without losing the other. Louis meanwhile can not neglect East, North or South borders without inviting heathen incursion. As the raids depleted their treasuries both agreed that something must be done.
--
Roman Empire
Northmen, Rus' and Varangian. All names that the Romans used for the Norse. For the last four decades their traders and travellers told of lands across the Atlantic. Like many in the Empire, Michael III, Basileus of the Romans and Vicegerent of Christ on Earth had dismissed them as tall tales that were told to give them a better reputation. As he examined the Atlantic Corn however, he was forced to admit that yes they really had reached a new land, for nothing in any land known to the Empire resembled it. His Parakoimomenos, Basil, had managed to get some of the new crops after winning a wrestling match against Bulgarians. Tobacco quickly became the young emperor's favourite crop alongside Safinmjǫðr becoming his drink of choice, his nascent reign came to be known as a period of degeneracy and debauchery. However when the wealthy and powerful adopt a new behaviour, it is not long before social climbers begin to imitate to it. Tobacco farms began to develop under various dynatoi, some of which would even turn a profit in their first year.
--
Kingdom of Asturias
Alarm was the first response to the spotting of Kettilmund's expedition, slowly giving to confusion as it passed by the Asturian ship without giving them much attention. When the ships returned a few weeks later wishing to trade for an absurd amount of sheep, confusion turned to curiousity as it was now obvious that the Norse had yet again found another hitherto unknown land. As they left some Asturian merchants heard the tail end of an argument that came to define the Norse settlement for the next few years: Stay, Continue Southwest or try for Due South?
--
Khazar Khaganate
The Norse crops that all but grew themselves (as he understood it), found themselves under intense scrutiny by Bulan and the representatives that he had invited to discuss conversion. The Rabbis and Imams found themselves at a loss to fit the story of the Three Maidens within their theologies, however it was not so for the Roman priests or the Buddhist priests who conflated them with the Trinity and The Three Jewels respectively. Bulan would not decide today but his choices had been helpfully narrowed.
Turning his attention back to the Norse he inquired all he could about the crops. The traders told him they had been grown by a people in a land far to the west across the sea, who had no horses of their own nor had they ever heard of them before the Norse arrived. A horrifying concept to any people of the steppe. Which god had they angered so to inflict such a punishment?
----
Stadacona Realm/Laurentia
Jigonhsasee proposes to the Clan Mothers that wood-pulping become one of a girl's adulthood rites, they agree but propose that the second pulping should be boiled overnight before working it again. As she begins to hear of Björnland's search for the Tobacco origin, she assembles three followers who would be willing to help her guide them to the Tionontati.
And bring them under one roof.
England/Ireland
For four centuries the southern lands of Britannia played host to a number of kingdoms that had been founded by invaders of angle, saxon or jutish descent. Nine years of Norse invasion however brought them all to their end. Mercia had withstood the longest, technically surviving until later in the decade but it's ability to resist was utterly spent by 855. Their fall coincided with the widescale adoption of New World crops and sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Backwater they may have been, they had served to limit the Norse's ability to project power across the Atlantic coasts. The need to consolidate their conquests afforded Francia, Asturias and Al-Andalus some years of relative respite but it would not last forever.
---
Kingdom of Dyflinn
Olaf the White, King of Dyflinn, the largest Norse realm on the British Isles grew more ambitious by the day. The repeated successes in England and Mide, alongside Alt Clut's nominal vassalage go to his head and so he set himself a new goal: The conquest of the Welsh Kingdoms. From Dyflinn and Mann, he launched two invasions and quickly seized the Isle of Angelsey
His second son, Kettilmund, however had a vastly different ambition. From several secondhand accounts, he calculates the distance from Ireland to Greenland to be 1400miles. As he became aware of Ptolemy's map, he came to believe a "Southern Greenland" existed southwest of Ireland and West of Al-Andalus, if the map was incorrect in the Northwest, then surely it was also so for the Southwest. 1400miles is a rather harsh trip even when you know land is there, so little of the Dyflinn Norse opted to join him when he proposed heading southwest. Temporarily halted, he then turned his attention to Harald's realm. Many of the Viking warbands had grown restless since the cessation of invasion, so opted to join, it is said that Harald was so dismayed to see them go that he gifted them more ships than would have been necessary. So, departing from Plymouth on the 3rd day of þorri, 600 norsemen set sail bearing southwest. While they would not find a "Southern Greenland", few if any felt a need to complain about what they did find.
---
Francia
Without the treaty of Verdun clarifying the borders of Francia, it found itself in a very awkward position. Neither Charles the Bald nor Louis the German could present a coherent response to Rorik's repeated raiding without encroaching on the authority of the other. With the south British coast now under Norse control, Charles can not neglect East or North without losing the other. Louis meanwhile can not neglect East, North or South borders without inviting heathen incursion. As the raids depleted their treasuries both agreed that something must be done.
--
Roman Empire
Northmen, Rus' and Varangian. All names that the Romans used for the Norse. For the last four decades their traders and travellers told of lands across the Atlantic. Like many in the Empire, Michael III, Basileus of the Romans and Vicegerent of Christ on Earth had dismissed them as tall tales that were told to give them a better reputation. As he examined the Atlantic Corn however, he was forced to admit that yes they really had reached a new land, for nothing in any land known to the Empire resembled it. His Parakoimomenos, Basil, had managed to get some of the new crops after winning a wrestling match against Bulgarians. Tobacco quickly became the young emperor's favourite crop alongside Safinmjǫðr becoming his drink of choice, his nascent reign came to be known as a period of degeneracy and debauchery. However when the wealthy and powerful adopt a new behaviour, it is not long before social climbers begin to imitate to it. Tobacco farms began to develop under various dynatoi, some of which would even turn a profit in their first year.
--
Kingdom of Asturias
Alarm was the first response to the spotting of Kettilmund's expedition, slowly giving to confusion as it passed by the Asturian ship without giving them much attention. When the ships returned a few weeks later wishing to trade for an absurd amount of sheep, confusion turned to curiousity as it was now obvious that the Norse had yet again found another hitherto unknown land. As they left some Asturian merchants heard the tail end of an argument that came to define the Norse settlement for the next few years: Stay, Continue Southwest or try for Due South?
--
Khazar Khaganate
The Norse crops that all but grew themselves (as he understood it), found themselves under intense scrutiny by Bulan and the representatives that he had invited to discuss conversion. The Rabbis and Imams found themselves at a loss to fit the story of the Three Maidens within their theologies, however it was not so for the Roman priests or the Buddhist priests who conflated them with the Trinity and The Three Jewels respectively. Bulan would not decide today but his choices had been helpfully narrowed.
Turning his attention back to the Norse he inquired all he could about the crops. The traders told him they had been grown by a people in a land far to the west across the sea, who had no horses of their own nor had they ever heard of them before the Norse arrived. A horrifying concept to any people of the steppe. Which god had they angered so to inflict such a punishment?
----
Stadacona Realm/Laurentia
Jigonhsasee proposes to the Clan Mothers that wood-pulping become one of a girl's adulthood rites, they agree but propose that the second pulping should be boiled overnight before working it again. As she begins to hear of Björnland's search for the Tobacco origin, she assembles three followers who would be willing to help her guide them to the Tionontati.
And bring them under one roof.
England/Ireland
The Long Nosed God Village
South of Chesapeake Bay
He-who-speaks-for-the-gods held the child still as the woman marked his forehead, frowning behind the mask on his face he doubted this child would be enough for the gods to send more of the beasts.
Five years ago, the gods had sent them the oddest beast after they had sacrificed 30 of the villages women. That beast had been smaller than the dogs and quickly took to spending time around the food stores, it occupied itself with the pests that often tried to steal from the stores so the village mostly left it to it's own devices[1]. Four years ago, the sacrifices brought to the village two more of that beast and two of a new beast. The new beasts resembled bizarre walking clouds, though the meat they had provided was agreed to be delicious to those who had the privilige of taking it[2]. The first beasts soon mated and then they were 8 of them. The third year saw the sacrifices doubled and the beginning of raids into the villages south, the gods had rewarded them with 4 of the cloudbeasts, by this time the pattern had been known to everyone in the surrounding area. The villages south repulsed the raids time and again, so he had called for taking the canoes across the bay and gaining sacrifices there. The sacrifices of the fourth year saw the gods reward them with the oddest beast so far. Long eared and narrow hooved it could and would carry anything placed upon it without complaint[3]. These new beasts seemed content to merely eat grass and flowers so they were fenced off on the outskirts of the village to prevent them from eating the crops.
Turning his attention back to the moment, the woman appeared to have finished with the preparations. The child would be lead to the mound at nightfall along with the other sacrifices, the purity of the children would undoubtedly be looked upon favourably by the gods. Two cups were brought to them, taking of his mask, he trailed the long nose across the woman's chest. Exchanging the mask for the cups he offered one to the woman. She nodded and both of them drank the Black Drink[4]. She was led away to his building, she would remain there overnight.
As the appointed time came and the village gathered, he returned the mask to his face and called for the sacrifices to brought to the mound. There were 80 prepared this time in hope of a new beast rather than more of the ones that had been sent so far. The tribes north and the villages south would no doubt soon be looking to extract revenge, no matter, the village would have new beast come the dawn.
The new beast arrived the next morning alongside more of the cloudbeasts. A brief argument occured as the new beast heavily resembled the third albeit larger and with one distinct difference: there was what was clearly a seat upon its back[5]. Swallowing his nervousness, he climbed atop the beast. It took him a few hours to discover what all the odd decorations on the beast did but he was soon able to ride albeit not very well. He also discovered one striking difference between this beast and the smaller counterpart. This one was fast. The village would need more of these, so many more sacrifices would have to be gathered.
[1]Cats
[2]Sheep
[3]Mule
[4]I didn't name this. Do not drink Black Drink.
[5]Horse
He-who-speaks-for-the-gods held the child still as the woman marked his forehead, frowning behind the mask on his face he doubted this child would be enough for the gods to send more of the beasts.
Five years ago, the gods had sent them the oddest beast after they had sacrificed 30 of the villages women. That beast had been smaller than the dogs and quickly took to spending time around the food stores, it occupied itself with the pests that often tried to steal from the stores so the village mostly left it to it's own devices[1]. Four years ago, the sacrifices brought to the village two more of that beast and two of a new beast. The new beasts resembled bizarre walking clouds, though the meat they had provided was agreed to be delicious to those who had the privilige of taking it[2]. The first beasts soon mated and then they were 8 of them. The third year saw the sacrifices doubled and the beginning of raids into the villages south, the gods had rewarded them with 4 of the cloudbeasts, by this time the pattern had been known to everyone in the surrounding area. The villages south repulsed the raids time and again, so he had called for taking the canoes across the bay and gaining sacrifices there. The sacrifices of the fourth year saw the gods reward them with the oddest beast so far. Long eared and narrow hooved it could and would carry anything placed upon it without complaint[3]. These new beasts seemed content to merely eat grass and flowers so they were fenced off on the outskirts of the village to prevent them from eating the crops.
Turning his attention back to the moment, the woman appeared to have finished with the preparations. The child would be lead to the mound at nightfall along with the other sacrifices, the purity of the children would undoubtedly be looked upon favourably by the gods. Two cups were brought to them, taking of his mask, he trailed the long nose across the woman's chest. Exchanging the mask for the cups he offered one to the woman. She nodded and both of them drank the Black Drink[4]. She was led away to his building, she would remain there overnight.
As the appointed time came and the village gathered, he returned the mask to his face and called for the sacrifices to brought to the mound. There were 80 prepared this time in hope of a new beast rather than more of the ones that had been sent so far. The tribes north and the villages south would no doubt soon be looking to extract revenge, no matter, the village would have new beast come the dawn.
The new beast arrived the next morning alongside more of the cloudbeasts. A brief argument occured as the new beast heavily resembled the third albeit larger and with one distinct difference: there was what was clearly a seat upon its back[5]. Swallowing his nervousness, he climbed atop the beast. It took him a few hours to discover what all the odd decorations on the beast did but he was soon able to ride albeit not very well. He also discovered one striking difference between this beast and the smaller counterpart. This one was fast. The village would need more of these, so many more sacrifices would have to be gathered.
[1]Cats
[2]Sheep
[3]Mule
[4]I didn't name this. Do not drink Black Drink.
[5]Horse
Mi'kmaq Syncretism 855
Hvitórnstadr, 1 Góa 855
Naku'set circles Muspel and holds back Surtr, ever watching should Muspell's sons be led to Ragnarok. Far below Jorð was placed in the centre of Naku'set's path, made from the flesh of Ymir. Creator caused a bolt of lightning to strike Jorð and from this formed an image of a human body and this was Glooscap, first shaped out of the sand. Jorð called for a bolt of lighting to give him life. Yet Glooscap was stuck to the ground and could not move. His head faced Surtr, while his feet faced Naku'set. His right hand pointed north while his left pointed south. Watching the plants and animals grow and pass him, he asked for the freedom to move about the world. From the third bolt of lightning, he was free to move throughout the land. Looking down, he thanked Jorð for giving sand for his creation. Looking up, he thanked Creator for the gift of soul and spirit.
Glooscap set out to explore, to see what he might learn of where he lived. Travelling towards the setting sun, he came to a great ocean that he named Vestri. From there he headed south until the land narrowed and he could see an ocean on either side, this he named Suðri. Travelling to the lands of ice and snow, he came to the barrier between Midgarð and Jötunheimr, this he named Norðri. Travelling back to where he started, for this was where he was created, he named it Austri. To each of these of lands a dwarf would be entasked to hold up the sky.
Travelling in the east, Glooscap came upon an old woman. She introduced herself as Urðr and told him she was his grandmother. Asking how she had arrived on midgarð, she told him that she owed her existence to the rock, the dew, and Naku'set. On a chilly morning, dew covered a rock as it lay in a valley, by midday, when Naku'set was most powerful,the rock became warm then very hot. From this rock she was formed already very wise and knowledgeable for she was Norn. As she was a Norn, she knew she could not live on Midgarð but would soon have to leave to seek out Urðarbrunnr. So glad was he of her arrival that he asked upon Aegir to find an animal of the sea that would give it's life so that Urðr could live. A Marten swam to shore as it had agreed. For the first time, Glooscap asked of Creator to restore the fish to life, for he did not want to find disfavour with the animals. The marten returned to the river and in it's place lay another marten. From this sacrifice, Glooscap called all animals brother and sister.
One day when Glooscap and Urðr were walking along in the woods, they came upon a young man. This young man was tall and physically very strong, and had grey-coloured eyes. Glooscap asked the young man his name and how he arrived to the Mi'kmaq world. The young man told Glooscap that his name was Vidar and that he was Glooscap's nephew. He told Glooscap that he was strong and that he could run after the moose and caribou to bring them down with his bare hands, so they could all live comfortably.
When Glooscap asked Vidar where he came from, Vidar said that while the East wind was blowing hard it had caused the waters of the ocean to become rough and foamy. This foam got blown to the shore on the sandy beach, and finally rested on the tall grass. This tall grass happened to be sweetgrass, and it held onto the foam until Naku'set was high in the midday sky. At that time, Naku'set gave Vidar spiritual and physical strength in a human body. Creator told Glooscap that if he relied on the strength and power of his nephew he would gain strength and understanding of the world around him.
Glooscap was so glad for his nephew's arrival to the Mi'kmaq world, he called upon the salmon of the rivers and seas to come to shore and give up their lives. The reason for this is that Glooscap, Vidar and Urðr did not want to kill all the animals for their survival, so in celebration of his nephew's arrival, they all had a feast of fish. They all gave thanks for their existence. They continued to rely on their brothers and sisters of the woods and waters, and on each other, for their survival.
Wishing to more of the world that he lived in, Glooscap traveled to the northern lands that seperated North and Jötunheimr where he saw an ash tree with roots that drew knowledge from all corners of Midgarð.
‘Ho there Glooscap, I’ve been waiting for you.’ said Mimir, for he had drunk from the Well, and knew everything that would happen, and everyone’s name before they told him. ‘Are you thirsty?’
‘Yes’ said Glooscap. ‘I have a great thirst for Wisdom, and yes, Mimir, I need to drink from your Well’,
Mimir laughed. ‘Many are thirsty for my waters, but they do not get to drink from them. No one has yet agreed to my price. You must give me your right eye.”
Glooscap considered one last time if the price was too high. His pale blue eyes were the colour of the sky on a bright winter's day, when the frost is hard on the ground. His eyes could pick out the tiniest bird miles and miles away across the frozen tundra. If a human, or even a god, looked him in the eyes, they could not but feel a kind of awe. But in the end, he did have two of them.
‘I will pay your price, Mimir.” And so saying, he tore his right eye from his head. The pain was searing. He gave it to the guardian of the Well. Mimir handed him a horn brimming with the waters of wisdom. Glooscap took a deep drink.
Immediately he saw everything that had happened and everything that was in the future. And when he saw the joy that would come to him, he laughed with happiness.
But seeing all the sorrows and troubles that would happen to humankind, he also knew what he could do to help. For even though the gods really have no need to trouble themselves about us mortals, and our puny lives and petty sufferings, they do actually care - at least some of the time. After he drank from the Well of True Wisdom, he knew that he must never let evil get the upper hand in the world of humans on a permanent basis
-----
Current Mi'kmaq-Norse Syncretism
Glooscap - Odin
Wsitqamu'k - Jorð
Nukumi - Urðr, a Norn
Netawnsum - Vidar
This should be both recognisable and contradictory, creation stories are rarely cleanly consistent.
Naku'set circles Muspel and holds back Surtr, ever watching should Muspell's sons be led to Ragnarok. Far below Jorð was placed in the centre of Naku'set's path, made from the flesh of Ymir. Creator caused a bolt of lightning to strike Jorð and from this formed an image of a human body and this was Glooscap, first shaped out of the sand. Jorð called for a bolt of lighting to give him life. Yet Glooscap was stuck to the ground and could not move. His head faced Surtr, while his feet faced Naku'set. His right hand pointed north while his left pointed south. Watching the plants and animals grow and pass him, he asked for the freedom to move about the world. From the third bolt of lightning, he was free to move throughout the land. Looking down, he thanked Jorð for giving sand for his creation. Looking up, he thanked Creator for the gift of soul and spirit.
Glooscap set out to explore, to see what he might learn of where he lived. Travelling towards the setting sun, he came to a great ocean that he named Vestri. From there he headed south until the land narrowed and he could see an ocean on either side, this he named Suðri. Travelling to the lands of ice and snow, he came to the barrier between Midgarð and Jötunheimr, this he named Norðri. Travelling back to where he started, for this was where he was created, he named it Austri. To each of these of lands a dwarf would be entasked to hold up the sky.
Travelling in the east, Glooscap came upon an old woman. She introduced herself as Urðr and told him she was his grandmother. Asking how she had arrived on midgarð, she told him that she owed her existence to the rock, the dew, and Naku'set. On a chilly morning, dew covered a rock as it lay in a valley, by midday, when Naku'set was most powerful,the rock became warm then very hot. From this rock she was formed already very wise and knowledgeable for she was Norn. As she was a Norn, she knew she could not live on Midgarð but would soon have to leave to seek out Urðarbrunnr. So glad was he of her arrival that he asked upon Aegir to find an animal of the sea that would give it's life so that Urðr could live. A Marten swam to shore as it had agreed. For the first time, Glooscap asked of Creator to restore the fish to life, for he did not want to find disfavour with the animals. The marten returned to the river and in it's place lay another marten. From this sacrifice, Glooscap called all animals brother and sister.
One day when Glooscap and Urðr were walking along in the woods, they came upon a young man. This young man was tall and physically very strong, and had grey-coloured eyes. Glooscap asked the young man his name and how he arrived to the Mi'kmaq world. The young man told Glooscap that his name was Vidar and that he was Glooscap's nephew. He told Glooscap that he was strong and that he could run after the moose and caribou to bring them down with his bare hands, so they could all live comfortably.
When Glooscap asked Vidar where he came from, Vidar said that while the East wind was blowing hard it had caused the waters of the ocean to become rough and foamy. This foam got blown to the shore on the sandy beach, and finally rested on the tall grass. This tall grass happened to be sweetgrass, and it held onto the foam until Naku'set was high in the midday sky. At that time, Naku'set gave Vidar spiritual and physical strength in a human body. Creator told Glooscap that if he relied on the strength and power of his nephew he would gain strength and understanding of the world around him.
Glooscap was so glad for his nephew's arrival to the Mi'kmaq world, he called upon the salmon of the rivers and seas to come to shore and give up their lives. The reason for this is that Glooscap, Vidar and Urðr did not want to kill all the animals for their survival, so in celebration of his nephew's arrival, they all had a feast of fish. They all gave thanks for their existence. They continued to rely on their brothers and sisters of the woods and waters, and on each other, for their survival.
Wishing to more of the world that he lived in, Glooscap traveled to the northern lands that seperated North and Jötunheimr where he saw an ash tree with roots that drew knowledge from all corners of Midgarð.
‘Ho there Glooscap, I’ve been waiting for you.’ said Mimir, for he had drunk from the Well, and knew everything that would happen, and everyone’s name before they told him. ‘Are you thirsty?’
‘Yes’ said Glooscap. ‘I have a great thirst for Wisdom, and yes, Mimir, I need to drink from your Well’,
Mimir laughed. ‘Many are thirsty for my waters, but they do not get to drink from them. No one has yet agreed to my price. You must give me your right eye.”
Glooscap considered one last time if the price was too high. His pale blue eyes were the colour of the sky on a bright winter's day, when the frost is hard on the ground. His eyes could pick out the tiniest bird miles and miles away across the frozen tundra. If a human, or even a god, looked him in the eyes, they could not but feel a kind of awe. But in the end, he did have two of them.
‘I will pay your price, Mimir.” And so saying, he tore his right eye from his head. The pain was searing. He gave it to the guardian of the Well. Mimir handed him a horn brimming with the waters of wisdom. Glooscap took a deep drink.
Immediately he saw everything that had happened and everything that was in the future. And when he saw the joy that would come to him, he laughed with happiness.
But seeing all the sorrows and troubles that would happen to humankind, he also knew what he could do to help. For even though the gods really have no need to trouble themselves about us mortals, and our puny lives and petty sufferings, they do actually care - at least some of the time. After he drank from the Well of True Wisdom, he knew that he must never let evil get the upper hand in the world of humans on a permanent basis
-----
Current Mi'kmaq-Norse Syncretism
Glooscap - Odin
Wsitqamu'k - Jorð
Nukumi - Urðr, a Norn
Netawnsum - Vidar
This should be both recognisable and contradictory, creation stories are rarely cleanly consistent.