Ulfar"Ulfar held no fear that his strike broadly sweeping his ally would catch in a glancing blow. He fought mercilessly, his heavy swings scribing scarlet runes upon the snow.
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Entry point 2 of 54
Ulfar"My verses you will hear, Glorious brothers, Of how the paths of Ulfar, called Thunderlung from the first, and the Last Wolf of the Baleful Howl, were intertwined. Over his brothers' cold bodies standing, Ulfar the hard-armed proclaimed to the sky their glorious sagas, and his last homage paid to those warriors proud, as his witness taking his companion of the line von Valancius. The blizzard was raging and the wind furiously howling, As under that terrible clawed paw, the snow crunched, and in the dead light of a moon strange to human eyes, a beast, long fur bristling, of death reeking, into the circle stepped."
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Entry point 3 of 54
Ulfar"The power of words spewed from the beast's mouth grinning, The cry of the wild hunt, and the embittered souls hearkened! Out of snow and wind wolf bodies were woven for the warriors who died an unclean death, the unavenged, evil never forgetting! Their ice-fangs gnashing, they approached, into the roiling sky howling. The first brother by Ulfar was vanquished..."
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Entry point 4 of 54
Ulfar"His gory breath to vapour turning, with guile and fierce malice his eyes glowing, the whirling eddies like a snow-cloak upon his shoulders lying, waiting for the beast to feed them with hot blood. Even the moon stood patron to him, his face hiding with the shadows of her deceitful dance. His howl the old tune echoing of the Fenrisian sagas of mindless rampaging and mortal carnage."
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Entry point 5 of 54
Ulfar"One on one the spirit and Ulfar warred, The flame of the mortal soul and the chill of the grave. But little by little the hot hearth began to dwindle, to Ulfar battle-strength granting.
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Entry point 6 of 54
Ulfar"...But the cry was drowned out by the harsh elements roaring. Magic, with snow whirling in a dance intertwining, for the beast left a bloody reaping of only two."
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Entry point 7 of 54
Ulfar"The ghostly wolf was struck down with a fearsome blow. In outrage howling, away into the storm he melted till no trace was left.
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Entry point 8 of 54
Ulfar"Fearsome was the blow, but the heat of mortals did not defeat that son of Helwinter's frost and craver of vengeance!
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Entry point 9 of 54
Ulfar"Among the winds they whirled in a dance of death, The cunning Aett-Vater evading, those front-fangs. By the hunt spellbound, the ghostly wolf darted to and fro, Till Ulfar's firm hand sent him scattering across the snow.
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Entry point 10 of 54
Ulfar"Twice the ghostly wolf came lunging, and when a third time he leapt, it was the promise of his death.
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Entry point 11 of 54
Ulfar"Then with laugh booming the heavens were split by the formidable Ulfar, his battle-friends guarding. With a mighty wrench the wolf's jaws he tore, opening them wide, the evil charms banishing.
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Entry point 12 of 54
Ulfar"Like stout armour in trouble's path standing, Ulfar boldly accepted the hail of blows. Numb to his wounds, the cruel foes he slew, his ally's looming death forestalling."
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Entry point 13 of 54
Ulfar"'You did not fear to meet me, Perfidious spirit, who the name Doppelgrendel claims. I see you have naught learned from the last battle, though you paid for it with gouged eye!' —so spoke Ulfar Thunderlung. And the beast replied— 'Of your spoils you boasted to the priests in vain, Ulfar Everlost. My body alone you wounded, but I your spirit maimed and your wyrd crippled.' Then came the turn of the Aett-Vater to speak..."
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Entry point 14 of 54
Ulfar"But it is not given to us to change fate's weaving. The children of Fenris hungered for mortal combat."
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Entry point 15 of 54
Ulfar"The grin was merry and full of bloody joy. 'For your insolence you will pay with tears and blood.' —so answered the dread spirit, and to that harsh oath served the hurricane itself as witness incorruptible."
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Entry point 16 of 54
UlfarFiercely roaring, forward stepped Brother Ulfar to meet him, taking the blow intended for the Aett-Vater. With a terrible blow he replied, and by the maelstrom the wolf was laid low, struck down and shamed."
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Entry point 17 of 54
Ulfar"...But the beast was not yet vanquished. Roaring, his body he threw into the fray like a mighty spear-thrust, Howling, his claws cut through the adamantine, The warriors fought, a river of blood spilling. Ulfar Thunderlung, his battle song singing, The black curse his vicious rival echoing. The warriors were clashing when the cunning Aett-Vater..."
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Entry point 18 of 54
Ulfar"Like scarlet runes upon the snow the blood lay. But the dark Wolf's grip did not slacken.
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Entry point 19 of 54
Ulfar"The dark Wolf howled in rage and agony, His eyes blazing with lust for vengeance.
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Entry point 20 of 54
Ulfar"A weakness spying in the strong armour's joins, The Aett-Vater to Ulfar cried out/a sign gave that a ruthless blow he should strike. His knife drawing, and a harsh cry unleashing, Thunderlung plunged the blade into the insidious spirit's foul flesh.
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Entry point 21 of 54
Ulfar"No matter how the Aett-Vater tried, no weakness could he/she spy in the evil spirit's stout armour.
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Entry point 22 of 54
UlfarEach the other's throat seizing, the warriors fought to the death. Both were flagging, but of cunning the beast had enough yet in store."
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Entry point 23 of 54
Ulfar"'By the power of icy Fenris, I do curse you! If you look into the past, you shall see only deceit, If you look into the future, you shall see only treachery! The false friend's dagger shall open your breast, the arrows of deceits wrought shall pierce your back!' —so spoke the spirit, born in sorrow, the Aett-Vater cursing. And then the bloody wound the Aett-Vater spied. His/Her breast was cut, His/Her heart was quiet, the Aett-Vater's death had caught him/her unawares."
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Entry point 24 of 54
UlfarWith dignity was met each brutal strike, and with savagery was slain each deadly foe!"
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Entry point 25 of 54
UlfarTo his knees the beast fell, and suddenly about his grey lips, a smile played of guile and fear."
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Entry point 26 of 54
Ulfar"...And like a veil that clouds the gaze the vision slipped away."
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Entry point 27 of 54
Ulfar"...But the evil spirit's mirage proved too strong.
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Entry point 28 of 54
Ulfar"The knife in the moonlight gleamed, across the wolf's face cutting, In a blink, the dark gloom receded, the spell dissipated."
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Entry point 29 of 54
Ulfar"But no strength was left in the cold, battered body.
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Entry point 30 of 54
Ulfar"The heat of these words the Aett-Vater's heart inflamed, the spirit's fatal vision banishing!"
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Entry point 31 of 54
Ulfar"But the bold words turned to stone, The cold of the grave chaining them in the weakened throat.
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Entry point 32 of 54
Ulfar"'Together, Aett-Vater, our horns at the feast we'll raise! My eyes are wearied by the sight of my companions perishing in battle!' —so came Ulfar Thunderlung's reply, the spirit's iron grip breaking. In agony, the malign son of Fenris cried out and the fog fled from the Aett-Vater's mind."
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Entry point 33 of 54
Ulfar"So the dark beast lay in the snow, His chosen name— the Doppelgrendel, and over his body standing, Ulfar said—'Before you die, answer me, evil spirit. Who killed my brothers, the Baleful Howl?'
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Entry point 34 of 54
Ulfar"Ulfar was grievously wounded, but the mighty beast he slew, and asked it with menace, his mangled hand the beast's throat gripping— 'Who is to blame for the deaths of my brothers? Answer me, fell spirit!'"
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Entry point 35 of 54
Ulfar"The pair stood together over the prostrate body, The body not of a beast, but of a brave fallen brother. The fearsome Ulfar declared an oath of vengeance, and the mighty Wolves to Kjalhalla went charging! They went knowing that from their betrayers three times the blood price would be exacted.
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Entry point 36 of 54
UlfarIn its death rasp, the Doppelgrendel answered— 'Brother, we were doomed not by the Archenemy's followers, nor by the despicable inhumans, who did not touch our armour, nor with dark sorcery did the malefics defeat us. No, it was the humans, who oaths of friendship swore, that plunged the blade into our back, their treacherous plot in malice hatched.'"
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Entry point 37 of 54
UlfarAnd the Aett-Vater also his/her piece spoke:"
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Entry point 38 of 54
Ulfar'The traitor's name for now remains unknown, but in the darkness I will find him and have my vengeance' —so answered Thunderlung.
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Entry point 39 of 54
UlfarFrom the mangled hand dripped blood hot and thick, spilt for the just cause. The fingers now bereft of their former furious strength, but it lived on in the wolf's cruel heart.
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Entry point 40 of 54
Ulfar'My brothers, the Allfather's hall entering, will boldly tell that in death they have not been forgotten. With a joyous roar these words they will answer, for they surely mean that fierce Fenris still stands.'
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Entry point 41 of 54
Ulfar"'For the cursed Wolf, there is no other path but to be the hand that punishment metes out to his brothers' slayers, The fires of their hearts by death are generously doused, but I, cooled forever, always endure.'
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Entry point 42 of 54
Ulfar'In this world there is no curse more terrible than that which the evil spirit, the Doppelgrendel, has upon me cast. 'Tis sweeter to lie a cold corpse under a banner of glory than to bury my brothers, and always survive.'
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Entry point 43 of 54
Ulfar"And so ended the saga of the Baleful Howl, May the Blackmane guide them to Kjalhalla! Only one was not claimed by Morkai the dark-hearted— Ulfar Thunderlung stood stalwart upon the ground. Too stubborn for death was this rebellious wolf, Too hot to be seized by the chill of the grave. His brothers praising, he raised his deadly axe— 'Fenris stands, so there will many yet to slay.'"
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Entry point 44 of 54
Ulfar"'Know, my brothers, that my heart will have no peace until I see you in Kjalhalla. I hear your laughter and your proud war cries, I will carry them into the darkness, for the Baleful Howl. Many foes I will smite to glorify your deed, Many I will put to death to honour your memory. When to the ground I fall, mortally wounded, You will meet the Lone Wolf in Kjalhalla.'"
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Entry point 45 of 54
Ulfar"'The Baleful Howl is no longer. All are dead,'—said he. 'And I call myself a dead man. My path lies not to Kjalhalla, but to a hollow end. My memory no longer holds the stories of my brothers. The seed of bitter losses and bloody hardships, As a weed, has sprouted and destroyed its firm ground. I remember now only blood in the arena, steaming wounds and dead comrades, empty oaths and oblivion... I remember how the spirit Doppelgrendel placed a curse upon me. And this curse I dutifully accept!'"
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Entry point 46 of 54
Ulfar"Let us remember, brothers, the Baleful Howl— daring hunters, fierce fighters, and trouble-makers without equal! Let us glorify their exploits and glorify their fall, with honour have these Wolves gone to Kjalhalla! Let us remember the mighty brother Ulfar, who did not abandon his pack in the snowy wastes! Let us remember the Trader of the von Valancius line, He/She whose name is known and honoured on Fenris. Let us raise our cups and cry into the face of Helwinter's gale— 'Father, we live still!'"
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Entry point 47 of 54
Ulfar"...So it was! But anguish does not plague the warrior's soul. He knew one day his brothers he would meet again, once the curse was broken and his honourable death he claimed in battle!"
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Entry point 48 of 54
Ulfar"...No, for he would betray his brothers' memory. The name of the Baleful Howl would not be forgotten, while the last had not yet fallen."
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Entry point 49 of 54
Ulfar"...Before, ones such as he to the Moritat would go, that black purge, warband sworn to death, in battle doom seeking and finding. But the years had passed, and the old brotherhood was no more. Only exile awaited the weary Wolf. There, far from his brothers and mortals, could he surrender to the poisoned curse that had cleaved his heart."
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Entry point 50 of 54
UlfarRegion: -classified- Location: -classified- Material: Oral retelling of "On Ulfar and His Brothers, the Baleful Howl" (saga) and "On the Last Wolf" (verse) Recorded by: Archronicler Olkert Memistat
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Entry point 51 of 54
Ulfar"Having spoken thus, upon the snow the Aett-Vater fell.
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Entry point 52 of 54
UlfarThe old spinners weave the wyrd-thread cruelly, no enquiries or entreaties accepting. Ulfar Thunderlung cast his gaze and clearly he beheld..."
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Entry point 53 of 54
UlfarSo Ulfar's mighty word was spoken. A proud funeral dirge was sung, His brother's weary body, cursed by grief, from his carapace was freed and laid upon the pyre.
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Entry point 54 of 54
Ulfar'My steps are dogged by doom, the worthy perishing, and I surviving!' —roared Ulfar Thunderlung, despairing, his brow darkened with blackest grief. In Ulfar's heart there was no trembling when his hand he thrust into the beast's maw. His scheming tongue firmly gripping, Ulfar began to wrench, heeding not the roar! The teeth snapped closed, the warrior's hand disfiguring, but the tormenting fog relented, the Aett-Vater releasing."