The saga of Olav Sleggja
By Ă˜ystein Runde Colors: Seth Piper
Dictionary: Age (agi) Respect, mixed with fear. Fostbrother (fóstbróðir) As the vikings had left their families behind, they needed new family units to act as social insurance. The fostbrotherhood system was one such insurance. As a fostbrother, you had the judicial duties and rights of a real family member. Becoming a fostbrother demanded a complex ritual, shown in the comic. Fredlaus Literally - without peace. Outlaw. One who can be legally killed by anyone. Grid (grið) Mercy. Before Christianity, showing mercy was socially unacceptable unless one was in a position of power. Taking revenge was seen as a duty to one‘s kin. Holmgang (literally „walk on a small island“) was a type of duel regulated by many rules. The rules varied, but often the duel would take place on a small island, a „holme“, three to seven days after the challenge. Saying no to a holmgang meant loss of honor. Jomsviking Viking mercenaries from Jomsborg, a town on the Baltic coast of Poland. Kvad (kvæði)
Poetry. Being a poet was just as important as being a warrior; Egil Skallagrimsson saved his own life by creating an immortal poem of praise for a king who wanted his head. Kvitekrist White christ. The viking name for Jesus. Lítilmenni Little-human. Cowardice, pettiness or even cheapness could ruin your reputation as a viking. Metnad (metnaðr) The hunger for power and respect. Mikilmenni Literally „Much-man“ or „Much-human“. Grandiose, spectacular, generous. To a farmer, being just and fair was more important than being impressive; the viking mindset was much different. In the viking world, being „mikilmenni,“ or grandiose, was enough to make one a respected viking. To be a good human being was not necessary. Nid (níð) All things unfair and wrong, breaks of good conduct and dirty deeds were „nid“, and the culprit was a „nidingr.“ Even for a mikilmenni there was a difference between torturing men and killing women - the latter was nid. Ragnarøk The end of the world.
Rakfisk Fermented fish, usually brown trout. Eating rakfisk could lead to deadly botulism. It appears that the rakfisk of Erling, whose sales jingle Sleggja is heard singing, had a bad reputation. Sømd (soemd) Respect for the old ways and traditions. Common decency. Svolder The battle of Svolder is one of the biggest in Norwegian history. Swedes, Danes and Norwegians united to fight the oppression of King Olav Tryggvason. The exact location of the battle is unknown and disputed. Thrall (þræll) Slaves. A woman who married a freed slave would lose her inheritance. Virding (virðing) The respect given to you by others. Yule A Germanic religious winter festival, later absorbed into and equated with the Christmas holiday.
OLAV TRYGGVASON IS
KING Olav Tryggvason was a legendary king of Norway. His athletic abilities were praised by Snorri Sturluson as being the greatest in the land: Tryggvason could run on the oars of his ship while his men were rowing, juggle with three swords, and throw spears with both hands. Yet in torturing his enemies, he showed a sadism that was considered shocking even to his fellow vikings. Still he was considered a hero, being one of the first kings to commence Norway‘s conversion to Christianity. His merciless use of torture has been excused by some historians as the result of his belief that Judgement Day would come at the end of year 999, a popular superstition in Europe at that time. „If he believed this was the final date to save his fellow countrymen‘s souls from damnation, his actions are more understandable“, says Icelandic professor Sigur∂ur Nordal.
Summer 999.
my king.
Nidaros. Castle of king Olav Tryggvason.
yes, Olav sleggja?
Y0u’ve done a lot for me, my king. I know this.
there’s a rumor now. That my wife is alive.
but this is unjust, my king.
I owe you my life.
so you do, sleggja.
I haven’t been given the chance to repay you.
I need you to help crush the stones in his path ...
I can die for you, King Olav tryggvason.
but don’t force me to live my whole life in your debt.
You can’t leave me now, sleggja. The hour is near. The lord will soon be upon us with his judgement.
But ... there is one man. Råg.
you want me to kill ... him?
do not use any of my men. sail with no flag. Do it alone, or with that one-eyed friend of yours. alert no one. you sail tonight.
yes, i do. Råg “tryggvason”. The man who calls himself my “half-brother”.
Get rid of Råg and his entire bloodline. afterwards you will not only be free, but richer than you have ever been.
my king, i need to ask you something ...
you gave Sleggja this assignment that I was Never offered. Why him? Do you not trust me?
Solmund. one hundred of my men are already dead. Råg is formidable. perhaps he truly IS my brother.
huh?
so:
speak, Solmund.
Sleggja will not survive.
zssh
The Island Runde. autumn 999. Sleggja smells seawater. He can hear waves crash against the cliffs.
zzsth
the sound is so loud that it nearly drowns out the hiss of the axe.
the saga of
Show no mercy!
I deserve none!
a single apple tree grows on our island. it bears the biggest, sweetest apples seen for many lengths.
when we heard you were coming, we painted all the apples with poison.
you outsmarted me!
you ate from that tree.
Just tell me: How?
will those be your last words?
No.
I have a bet for you.
do you think I‘ll blink when the axe hits my neck?
of course you‘ll blink! Everyone blinks when they lose their head.
in death you will be no different from anyone else, viking.
haha!
you think?
and what would you win from that?
it‘s simple.
and if you lose? the word. the word that sleggja didn‘t blink when his head was felled.
I‘ll be remembered as the fool who did blink after all.
are you a fool? Of COURSE he‘ll blink!
two øre silver says he won‘t blink.
Oh, relax! He can‘t go anywhere, and he won‘t loosen those chains without a blacksmith.
Three øre says he‘ll blink. Deal?
Hahaha haha
Let‘s get this over with. No more waiting.
Ja.
he laughs..
Don‘t tell me he‘s laughing.
why d‘you laugh?
ha ha ha ha
e‘s ther only
four u! of yo
Watch out. You‘ll break my chains if you keep that up.
don‘t worry about that. we forged your chains with the strongest iron possible.
How generous.
No one is going to come.
no one is going to help sleggja.
there‘s only one way up:
chew
and swallow.