In fear of evil, of spirits unchecked, ambitions of the lowly and the highly, i, Helgi of the Kingdom of Rurikgorod have taken upon myself to write the story of my grandfather Rurik,. Though there are a plethora of threats to once self, non is greater than time. For in its irresistible and ceaseless flow carries along on its flood all created things, and drowns them in the depths of obscurity, no matter if they be quite unworthy of mention, or most noteworthy and important.
While I have achieved much in my life, This Edda is not written to record my own deeds. For we have created dedicated men to record the many great deeds of the Kings of Rurikgorod. I, Helgi, son of Helgi, son of Rurik, son of Helgi, son of Rurik, King of Rurikogorod and all of the Rus shall put in eternal ink the deeds of my grandfather and his greatest achievement of reforming our faith and leading us into a brave new world
In Tysdagr of Solmanudur in the Christian Calendar of 997 AD, in the mighty keep of Holmgaror, after having gained the blessings of our priests and having conducted thorough research, speaking with many witnesses of the great Nordic Council of 920 and having received the testimonies of trustworthy men and women, I am confident that I have a clear view of the past events that will suffice to be taken as truth. I shall now write the words as spoken by the men and women who were present in the council. I shall present first the main members of this council who at the time represented the majority of our people
King Rurik ‘The Brilliant’ of Rurikogorod, son of Helgi ‘The Seer’, son of Rurik ‘The Troublemaker’
King Djostolfr ‘The Proud’ of Ruthenia, son of Hrolfr, son of Dyre ‘The Strange’
King Haukr of Sweden, son of Tore ‘The Cruel’, son of Kjotve
King Haraldr of Denmark, son of Vagn, son of Sigurdr ‘Snake in the Eye’
Jarl Djostolfr of Jorvik, son of Hjalmar ‘The Stranger’, son of Sigfrio
Jarl Arni of Iceland,son of Ingolfr, son of Arni
Jarl Ogmundr ‘The Quarreller’ of Gulapingslog, son of Dorbrandr, son of Hroogar ‘The Hideous’
Jarl Emundr of Upplond, son of Anundr, son of Dag
All the great Nordic jarls and kings had assembled into the noble halls of Rurikgorod. All the preparations were made to host this mighty assembly. From the lands of Aengland to the frozen depths of Norway. The ports of Rurikogord had to quickly be enlarged to facilitate the great navies that were arriving daily. All the rulers came with their own entourage that also included many soldiers.
King Rurik welcomed each leader personally and had organized one week of festivities, celebrations and battles to open this great council. He had commanded all the participants to celebrate as if they had already entered Valhalla. There are still many men who speak of the various events that happened between the jarls who fought each other but in the end of the day they all laughed and drunk their meads.
After this one week of celebrations, all the lords gathered into the newly constructed Mead Hall of the town. It was built on top of the central hill of Konugador overlooking the Iilmen lake. The wood was gathered from the mighty and sturdy trees from the northern parts of the realm in Vyangi. The door and the façade of the Longhouse features many elegant carvings of Odin, Thor, Freya, Heimdall and many either deities. It also feautures Helgi “the Seer” being granted a vision from Heimdall about the future of the faith.
The inside of the hall is as beautiful as the outside. With a great dining hall in the center and a wooden throne carved by oak at the end of the house which is also slgihtly elevated. There are four fireplaces that provide heat in the hall and it is well insulated against the elements. Great stone pillars support the entire structure and there are eight rooms that are connected to the hall that provide accomodations and other nevessities for the hall
And thus all the jarls and kings sat on a table with Rurik at the head of the table for he was the one who called all of them here and was the orchestrator of the meeitng and for his actions he was the first to speak
“It is my honor, under the auspicies of our Gods, to open this council for the future of our faith and its place in this world. We are norsemen and wherever we go we bring our own faith. From the lands of Hispania to the shores of Arabia. From the isle of Iceland to the isle of Sicily. Yet, wherever we go and we settle, we see the erotion of our traditions. Our people become comfortable in their castles and titles and they quickly forget what made them Rus and even adopt the Christian God. They spit on our faith and traditions. Thankefully, I King Rurik, son of Helgi, son of Rurik and King Djostolfr, son of Geror, son of Dyre, have not lapsed in our duty and have dutifully not only maintained our faith but also spread it to the peasants and the locals that we rule over. Their old and wrong tree worshiping ways have slowly dissapeared and our Rus lands are a heaven for our people.”
King Djostolfr spoke second as he was the only other King in the Rus lands who maintained and advanced our religion
“It is true that I too have advanced our cause and duty to spread the glory of Odin and the other Aesir. Yet this effort has been especially troublesome in my lands. We are much more vulnerable than the rest of you to the deceptions and trickery of the Christians as my lands are much closer to them than yours. They have been sending missionaries from time to time and some unfortunate people, either northmen or slavs have adopted their teachings. Our lack of a codified teaching and set rules have made us vulnerable to their indoctrinations. It is time for us, the great Norsemen rulers to set down the doctrines and the teachings of the Aesir and spread them to all who will hear. By force if necessary.”
King Haukr spoke third as he held one of the most imporant holy sites for all the followers of Odin
“Only those of weak faith and who are craven have anything to fear from the Christians. We have pillaged and raided the christians for many years years. They are weak and their God is even weaker. Where was their Jesus when we sacked his churches and his villages. I see not why we should change any of our own things that we know to be true. You tell us oh King Helgi that your father had a vision from Heimdall himself. Why should we believe you. This seems to be a ploy from the Rurikids to grasp for more power for yourself. I have looked long and communed with many of our priests and what you are suggesting goes against generations of traditions”
While the tradition was to allow all rulers to speak first, King Helgi rose from his chair and confronted the accusations of King Haukr
“Woe to you King of Sweden who thinks the House of Rurik lusts for power. My father, who now rests in Valhalla was known in his time and to many whi are still alive as a great seer. Many had come to him for advise and to for answers from the Aesir. In his late days he received the most important vision of all. He described what he was told and seen with such vivid detaiil that any who would suggest he is a lier insults himself, the Rurikids and the Gods themselves. We did not convene this council to gain power as we already have plenty of it and our name and legends are known far and wide.”
King Haraldr of Denmark spoke fourth as the ruler of the great Kingdom of Denmark, the last kingdom that has remained in the old lands.
“I agree with King Helgi. I too have seen some of my people have converted to the catholic christianity. It is time to set down the doctrines and consolidate the pillars of the Aesir. This is the only way that we will manage to ensure the longevity and preservation of our faith. One of the core tenets that I believe is in need of reform is the act of Kinslaying. Like the Aesir is one family and they greatly punish the acts of taking a family member’s life unjustly. Remember the act of Loki against his brother Baldr and other similar acts. He who takes such a life shall be punished equall to his station. For the common peasant death is the most approriate punishment but for those of higher titles, all titles should be stripped from them and banished from their own realm.”
Jarl Djostolfr of Jorvik spoke fifth as an honor to his family line that comes from Ragnar Lothbrok
“I believe I am the one who is most suitable to speak on the matter of the danger that the Christians pose to us. You think them weak when you raid them but you have not seeen them when they organize. Their coordination is impecable and are very capable to quickly raise grand armies. Very few of us are left in Aengland and one of the reasons is because we attempted to live peacefully with the the people. What we decide here on our tenents and beliefs shall be enforced by blood and iron. No longer should we be dividied by different doctrines and beliefs about the Aesir. We are the lords of all the important lands of our faith and we are the arbiters of the will of Odin. Our faith is the one true faith and our ways are the only true ways. Only by such act shall we bring unity and strength to our people who lose ground every day to the christian faiths.”
The old Jarl Arni of Iceland spoke sixth for his wisdom and age provided valuable insight
My lands are far and distant and this trip was a challenge by itself for me in this age. We are distant from the politics of Europe and few if any christians have reached our shores. In my old age and in our island I have found myself looking for the guidence and wisdom of Odin more and more. We have created several rituals that allow us to commune with the spirits more and more and those spiritwalkers are venerated as Tyr’s guardians for their great wisdom and foresight. I believe that our new rituals shall only benefit our people in the coming days. They have not been polluted by any interactions with the christians and are the purest form of our beliefs.
Jarl Ogmundr spoke seventh as the steward of the Holy and secret land of Nidaros
Though I am no king, and my yarldom is small compared to others, it is an honor to be here and help determine the future of our faith. So far I have listened carefully and I agree with the ideas that have been presented on this table. Though we gather here as friends today I fear that tommorow we will be fighting amongst each other for land and dominion over others. It is my wish and proposition that through this council today, that we ensure that our realms do not go to war for atleast one decade. This shall give us all time to teach our people about this new blessed doctrine that we will create today.
Jarl Emundr of Upplond who was invited more as a courtesy than for any other reason spoke last.
Truly wise was King Rurik for calling this assembly of all the great rulers of our lands. Much wisdom has been presented on this table and under the auspicies of Odin we have been guided to the right path. All have given their insight and input and I shall not be of any difference in this manner. My lands are at the center point of the center of our faith and I have seen much conflict and war between ambitious jarls. This new faith of ours should unite not divide and leave us vulnerable to external influences. With the guidence of Odin, the strength of Thor, the dilligence of Freya and the vigillance of Heimdall, we shall overcome all storms that come before us.
Beliefs The discussions lasted for several hours but I have received many different versions of what was said in those discussions. So many that any version I might put in this Edda will not be the truth. Some accounts claim that a brawl occurred between the jarls. Others say that some of them fell asleep due to how long the meeting was. Other versions claim that a yarj left the meeting before it was concluded and others say that the meeting was a failure. I will now continue with what was said for certanity and that all the accounts I have received agree to.
Close to the end of the meeting, Queen Cecilia, wife of King Rurik had entered in the main room. She was in an adjacent room and could hear the entire meeting. Clad in the armor of the shieldmaidens she walked infront of the table and started speaking
You great kings and jarls gathered to decide the future of our faith but you have forgotten that we too share this faith of ours. We who warm your beds and raise your children. Who hold your houses and dutifully serve you. The man who disregards the advice of his wife will quickly find misfortune as it is told in our sagas
Some of the Kings and Jarls laughed and asked what possible input can a woman have in this council of men.
I may be a woman Jarl Ogmundr but I am more of a man than you. I am of the House of Ragnar Lothbrok and that name still carries weight. I lead the Rurikgorod armies against my usurper uncle Jarl Harkon and I taught him what it means to rebel against the Rurikid house. When Ingimar Ivaring had arrived to take over our lands, no general was capable of outsmarting him in the field of battle except him. I crushed his forces in Murom and I executed him in single combat. I have led countless raids in the christian lands and
have plundered many towns. The thousands of soldiers I have led are all witnesses to my prowess. Always at the first line bleeding and killing alongside my soldiers.
The Sagas speak of many great men yet you forget about the great women. The epics of Lagertha, Veborg, Thornbjorn, Brynhildr, Hed, Visna and many others. Time and time again we have showcased women are as just as wise if not wiser, just as strong if not stronger and just as bloodthirsty if not more savage than men.
“And what do you wish of this council my dear and fearsome wife?” Asked Rurik
“I want what men have and enjoy. To be on the equall footing with men and enjoy the same privileges and hold the same burdens as them. To be councilled and heard the same way.”
While there was much discorce amongst the members of the meeting, King Helgi rose and spoke
“Truly my wife speaks the truth. For only a strong Norsewoman can create strong Norsemen. My wife is one of the many fine speciments of what a woman can achieve and even surpass other men. Few even
here can reach what my wife has reached indeed and I shall accept her request for that is proper and right and the will of our Gods.”
The other members dared not to object. Either from fear of this magnificent woman, apathy to her requests or actual astonishment and awe of the achievments of Cecilia
