Andu Indorin
Retired Druid
The Legend of Rurik, Founder of Rus
In the dawn of time, there was a wandering hunter by the name of Rurik. It chanced one day that, while sitting by the fire eating his latest kill, a one-eyed strange wanderer joined him. The stranger introduced himself as Bolverk Ygg, and he told Rurik that it would be his responsibility to lead a people to commence their destiny. Rurik considered this an ill omen. But the stranger gave him four scrolls that revealed secrets that Rurik had never dreamt of. One scroll told him how to take copper and tin and forge a stronger metal called Bronze; another scroll revealed how to carve Runes so as to communicate at a distance; another revealed how to tame a wild animal called the Horse and ride upon its back to travel greater distances; and the final scroll revealed the importance of burying the dead so as to honor them in their journey to the hereafter.
After receiving these scrolls, Rurik was dismayed with the responsibility placed upon his shoulders, and asked "Why me?" The stranger merely pointed up at the heavens and said, "Follow in the direction of that Cross in the southern skies; and when you come to the base of a mountain you will find the people that require your leadership." After Rurik had identified the Cross in the sky, he turned to the stranger to again ask, "Why me?"; but the stranger had disappeared; but by his fire he found a sword made of what must be Bronze.
The next morning, the entire experience seemed as if it were a dream; but there were those four scrolls and the sword. So Rurik travelled southward, and after many days he espied a mountain. Coming to the base of that mountain, he discovered a large band of wandering nomads. Impressing them with the might of sword and the depth of his knowledge, he assumed leadership of the wandering band. He divided the band into two groups. He directed one band to head south to the shores of the southern sea and there they were to found a village called Novgorod (3950bc); the other band he led northeastward, where there were rumors of another small tribe. Coming upon this tribe, Rurik discovered that they had already discovered the secret of Horsemanship; and in the face of Rurik's sword and wisdom, they decided to join him (3950bc). Rurik then took command of these Horsemen to further explore the lands of the region, and he directed the remaining nomads to head north to found another city as they deemed fit; these nomads, having discovered a shoal good for fishing, they founded the city of St. Petersburg in (3750bc).
Rurik led his Horsemen first to the east; while they discovered mighty sea beasts that were called Whales, he found that there was but little land to the eastward (3900-3800bc). Returning westward, he was pleased to learn that his people had not been idle, for the wisemen had discovered a Code of Laws (3650bc); he set them the task of discovering the wisdom of Monarchy. Continuing west, he encountered another small village; living by the sea, they revealed the wisdom of Map Making (3650bc). Continuing westward into the unknown, he encountered along a narrow stretch of land strange trees covered in Silk, mighty herds of Buffalo that roam the plains, and more whales (3600-3500bc). Westward and westward he continued, until he came upon another small village; so impressed with his Horsemen that they decided to join the mighty peoples of Rus, and Rurik christened the new village Kiev (3450bc). Rurik headed south from Kiev, but encountered more water; proceeding westward, he found only fish and more water (3350bc-3300bc). Having discovered what seemed to be the "known world," Rurik despaired. And pagan that he was, he climbed a mighty cliff by the sea and threw himself into the accursed waters. Thus ends the legend of Rurik, founder of Rus.
In the dawn of time, there was a wandering hunter by the name of Rurik. It chanced one day that, while sitting by the fire eating his latest kill, a one-eyed strange wanderer joined him. The stranger introduced himself as Bolverk Ygg, and he told Rurik that it would be his responsibility to lead a people to commence their destiny. Rurik considered this an ill omen. But the stranger gave him four scrolls that revealed secrets that Rurik had never dreamt of. One scroll told him how to take copper and tin and forge a stronger metal called Bronze; another scroll revealed how to carve Runes so as to communicate at a distance; another revealed how to tame a wild animal called the Horse and ride upon its back to travel greater distances; and the final scroll revealed the importance of burying the dead so as to honor them in their journey to the hereafter.
After receiving these scrolls, Rurik was dismayed with the responsibility placed upon his shoulders, and asked "Why me?" The stranger merely pointed up at the heavens and said, "Follow in the direction of that Cross in the southern skies; and when you come to the base of a mountain you will find the people that require your leadership." After Rurik had identified the Cross in the sky, he turned to the stranger to again ask, "Why me?"; but the stranger had disappeared; but by his fire he found a sword made of what must be Bronze.
The next morning, the entire experience seemed as if it were a dream; but there were those four scrolls and the sword. So Rurik travelled southward, and after many days he espied a mountain. Coming to the base of that mountain, he discovered a large band of wandering nomads. Impressing them with the might of sword and the depth of his knowledge, he assumed leadership of the wandering band. He divided the band into two groups. He directed one band to head south to the shores of the southern sea and there they were to found a village called Novgorod (3950bc); the other band he led northeastward, where there were rumors of another small tribe. Coming upon this tribe, Rurik discovered that they had already discovered the secret of Horsemanship; and in the face of Rurik's sword and wisdom, they decided to join him (3950bc). Rurik then took command of these Horsemen to further explore the lands of the region, and he directed the remaining nomads to head north to found another city as they deemed fit; these nomads, having discovered a shoal good for fishing, they founded the city of St. Petersburg in (3750bc).
Rurik led his Horsemen first to the east; while they discovered mighty sea beasts that were called Whales, he found that there was but little land to the eastward (3900-3800bc). Returning westward, he was pleased to learn that his people had not been idle, for the wisemen had discovered a Code of Laws (3650bc); he set them the task of discovering the wisdom of Monarchy. Continuing west, he encountered another small village; living by the sea, they revealed the wisdom of Map Making (3650bc). Continuing westward into the unknown, he encountered along a narrow stretch of land strange trees covered in Silk, mighty herds of Buffalo that roam the plains, and more whales (3600-3500bc). Westward and westward he continued, until he came upon another small village; so impressed with his Horsemen that they decided to join the mighty peoples of Rus, and Rurik christened the new village Kiev (3450bc). Rurik headed south from Kiev, but encountered more water; proceeding westward, he found only fish and more water (3350bc-3300bc). Having discovered what seemed to be the "known world," Rurik despaired. And pagan that he was, he climbed a mighty cliff by the sea and threw himself into the accursed waters. Thus ends the legend of Rurik, founder of Rus.
to Succession Game #4. Is Thunderfall in as well?
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