Skaldi at Vigra day 1
The tavern played music the style I have heard across the journey here.
It is well organised. I knew I had come at last to a place I will come back to often.
The warmth of this community.
A bard called Daz ( dazler ) introduced me to the Jarl Dagur Dagur Ulvestjerne ( dagur.ethereal )
A woman, a mystic, called Aparna Astrið-Aparna Refrsðóttir ( aparnavance ) showed me to the visitor hut where she shared with me some of the lore. Kind hearted, she offered to show me around. She shared with me places which my heart opened and my soul flew. I felt the love for her of a mother-daughter-sister, her gentle way of teaching, being an equal and one I will fight for. To recognise these true feelings, the bonding. She put the bonding on me and I accept.
The Jarl found us talking outside his fortress in a place of tournament games. He showed me to a hut I can live in. It is perfect. A place for me to heal and to create, an inspiration near the village.
Skaldi at Vigra day 2
I purchased oats from the market. There were clothes but nothing which fit, nothing which is ‘me’. A struggle within, the wanting to fit in, to be part of the local community, to put coin into the wellbeing of these good people. Yet also to retain my self, my individuality. The practicality of comfort, wearing clothes I actually feel natural in, with what is on offer to the people here and their ways. I am patient, the clothes will wait awhile. The oats here are good quality.
Today is Laugardagr (bathing day). I washed at the bathing cave.
I looked at the waterfall until time fell away.
Words came. I whittled sticks with words made of ideas linked in a chain.
I sat at the top of the cliff, listening, feeling, sensing, becoming known by the spirit of the place, letting it fill me until all which was left of me is observation of what this place is and how it is to be filled with it.
Fern, breeze lightly in trees, scents of moss and stone, the breathing of trees, gulls calling across the fjord, scents of meat cooking on open flame, wood burning in its prayer to the sky.
The sound of distant laughter and of animals in their daily routines of attending their daily concerns. The focus of human activities, crafting, working, building this life. Community sounds similar to any other and yet unique to the voices of this people. Woodcutting from the forest, scent of fish drying.
I decided at last I had come to a place to put long pondered thoughts into a form I can share, to be useful to the others. To be part of the culture of my ancestors that I may forward, through my actions, by letting go of my selfish desire to focus on doing what must be done. The community is such it becomes possible for me to achieve this, here. No fighting to survive, no struggle to find food or comfort. No tears of pain. All that is softened by this place. There is healing here. I will find wood and carve, runes and maps of journeys of thoughts. The Skald form, Heiti and Kenning. Perhaps later also the Edda form. To live in the kennings. I remember the witch with her dogs, the kennels as she called them, lessons taught of the workings of the mind and of the heart. Journeys remembered in song and storytell. So many stories. The way music shapes the key, weaving between what is said and what is meant, between what is now and how we echo the past as we are echoes of the past from those moments yet to shape. Somehow we can row this weaving. It does help to know where we are going. The shaping of these tales should follow these forms. I imagine carved wooden figures in a longboat, the aft and prow, each character a component of the story. They sit in a line, or they sit side by side in rows. Three figures, a begining, a middle, and end. Or two figures, before and after, to carve into this moment. Moments of awakening.
I feel the fur of my face growing longer even as it grows grey and white.
Skaldi at Vigra day 3
Woke, went to explore the village, passed a French girl kristaly who is visiting, found my way to the top of a hill upon which a hall of carvings with a sacred tree, beautiful serene singing of the goddess here. The village is larger than I had first thought. It is advanced, both in its being established and in its history being intact.
I listened at the Storytelling Hut to the tale of Rán the sea goddess. Now I know why I was given the symbol of Thurisaz, Thorn, to go by. A bronze pendant to bring me insight, “to cut a swathe” was the phrase the old crone old me as she tied it around my neck at the tavern on the nameless isle. It is for if ever as I ride the waves, Ran should rise. It is as payment for my life to save me from the drowning and feasting forever in her husband Ægir’s ocean hall below the deep.
I watched from the vantage of my cliffside ledge, the nearest neighbour Zyon Slade at his activities. Respecting his privacy and because he seemed busy and because I was busy I did not take opportunity to introduce myself. There will be time for that. I rested, meditated, felt the feeling of safety and of being home at last.
Returned to the market to discover a stall to hire for my Storytelling sessions. There is one available. I shall take it.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vigra/85/181/2701
At the market a thrall named Idun ( gustaverak3 ) danced erotically in a sand pit which was pleasing to watch for a time she held me enthralled. She was aloof and did no respond to my hailsa.
Skaldi at Vigra day 4
I was busy at the market stall, setting up shop. As a result I missed out attending the weekly Blessing Ritual by Volva Olafur. I will catch up next time. I did find some good clothes today however. I began etching into whittle-sticks, making notes, setting patterns, shaping runes.
Tonight I play my tagelharpa. Her bow travelled somewhere without me along the way, so I am learning to strum and pluck the strings instead. It is a different sound from the instrument. I like it.
Skaldi in Vigra Day 5
Spiritual Ceremony
with
Volva Tilgeil-Megan Darkheart Volkova (chellegavenkrantz)
Much celebration, blessings and cheering for Aparna’s baby, who will be born strong. The tribe are funny, they described ‘probably twins’ which became triplets and turned into quadruplets by the time the tale was half told. We finished the meeting in the tavern, gradually people came and went, until only Jarl Dagur, sabi Serpente and myself remained. I made excuses to leave them together, then explored the village of Raevik and a hill in its center, before heading to the harbour to go back to my store in the marketplace. There, Jarl caught up with me, we chatted, he told me some of his life. I respect him for making the time to get to know each other. He is a good Jarl. I am lucky to have landed here.
Present were:
Dagur Ulvestjerne (dagur.ethereal)
Tilgeil-Megan Darkheart Volkova (chellegavenkrantz)
Astrið-Aparna Refrsðóttir (aparnavance)
Leif (stefan.mrigesh)
Daz (dazler)
sabi Serpente
Hazel Tiger (hazel167)
Aαron Ɛ ĐϮⱧ Ɓ-A (aaron3092)
Talya Moleno
And others who were more quiet, whose names I do not yet remember.
Skaldi Vigra Day 6
Freya - DJ Wolf at the Market Tavern
Dagur (dagur.ethereal)
Jaz (jasmin.lacourte)
Monga (monger.lionheart)
The Fox Clan are all busy baby washing Aparna’s belly or perhaps the child is born already, I didn’t ’t think to ask. So the men folk chatted about Cornwall, storm Amy currently bashing Scotland fiercely and fast, mopping floors and needing maids, our heritages and locations, how to celebrate the Autumn/Winter festival in two weeks, music, general banter.
It has been two weeks since I found my way here on that first fateful night, and was welcomed into the community. I am grateful.
Day 7
went to the temple in the forest to pray gratitude, nobody else was there
Day 8
Vaettrskeldrin Saga session 1 with the Fox Clan - Character Creation session - it went slow but they've never done this sort of storytelling before so, as to be expected.
Sarah Galloway (sarahgalloway) (aka Olivir) the Fox Clan Volva for Vigra was complaining about a new volva in the village, for the wolf clan, Sarah is hoping she will not lose respect or popularity.
Visited by Daz (dazler) on horseback while I was sitting by my hut, scripting a prim to auto-generate contacts for Vaettrskeldrin Saga, converting Tables into Lindenscript using ChatGPT is 90% debugging. A strange form of storytelling. It is to shortcut the next session, everyone can copy paste the details onto their character sheets. The backstory and active story is built from such details.
Jousting Tournament
I got there late because I was on a hyper focus with the scripting.
Some people I don't know yet here and some I do.
Dagur Ulvestjerne (dagur.ethereal)
Rac Ulvestjerne (rachelsacks)
Balkan Sands (balkan.sands)
Nιƙ Aяαɯɳ Dɾαҽɠσɾɳ (acegrin)
Sarah Galloway (sarahgalloway)
Dagur Ulvestjerne (dagur.ethereal)
Leif (stefan.mrigesh)
ღ Kყανεℓ Dragonℜose ღ (kyaveldragonrose)
Sabi Serpente (sabi.serpente)
Talya Moleno(talya.moleno)
Roy Tiger (roy333)
Hazel Tiger (hazel167)
Nιƙ Aяαɯɳ Dɾαҽɠσɾɳ (acegrin)
Kαℓϊ (kalivrahu)
Day 10
In the hut I drew a new Rune;
NAUTHIZ
Represents Need
It symbolizes Restriction Conflict Willpower Endurance Self-Reliance and Delays
Now is a time to exercise patience
Poor health or feelings of oppression and the like will work out in their own time
Worrying won't help at all
Face your fears and think twice before taking on any new projects.
Wolf, musician at the Market Tavern
Says he’s seeing his family this weekend
People with families are lucky to have that
Daz arrived on horseback
Roy and Hazel
Leif danced with Sabi
Megan
Aparna with her babe
Flux called in at my bequest
Some chat and banter with those who made it tonight
As the embers burn low and the party go their ways, I sit at the fire listening to the sounds of the fire burning down, another log hisses and spits, the flames roast and roar, the cold of night outside is a world away.
The sound of the radio station at Vigr sim helps awesome, too.
Day 11
Exploring the village. Shrines, coast, and around the homes from outside.
Vigr village has everything needed for life. It is very well organised.
Sitting by open fire in village market,
approached by Daz and his horse Finn,
a fjord, the closest to a viking horse
Had a chat abut languages and map making.
Day has a good sense of humour.
His mind makes connections between things and he jokes about it.
Listening to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZNAYp5xBO4&list=RDIuFLEYGCcdA&index=9
Takatoshi Naitoh (内藤孝敏) - In The Forest (1993) [Full Album]
Vaettrskeldrin Session 2 - Pre-Session - in the Fox Clans Hall in Raevik
Raevik : http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vigra/213/113/3057
Some backstory - presenting the crude Village and Regional maps, and some backstory - introducing the idea of the Skreyja clans (raiders) and the feral wild folk who live in the world beyond the forest. It turns our Min Beck researches norse culture a lot and knew about the Vendel Era (when this story is set, circa 600-700 ad), before ‘the Viking Age’ began.
Players / Characters
Hazel Tiger - Isla Foxchild - thief/assassin
Roy Tiger - Fight When Sober - Innkeeper / Warrior
Daz - Dazler the Skald
Sabi serpente - Quinlinn the Hunter - has an affinity for animals
Sarah Galloway (Olafur) - Olafur the Shipwright
Min Beck - Fisherwoman / Warrior / Seidkona
Min stayed behind to finish her character. We spoke. She's a researcher too. She mentioned the Vendel period when the story is set. It is exciting to be talking with other scholars about Norse history which we all share a passion for.
DAY 13
Attended the Jousting Tournament.
Spoke with Jarl Dagur about the Vaettrskeldrin Saga.
Changing the day so it does not clash with the Battle Tournament,
Changing the location from Fox Hall to the Storytelling Hut.
I drew three runes; PERTHRO, SOWELO, RAIDHO
PERTHRO Represents a Dice Cup_It symbolizes Fate Chance Mystery Destiny and Secrets_This is a rune of mystery_It involves hidden things_secrets and occult abilities_Drawing this rune is a good indication that something that has remained hidden is about to come to light_Perhaps there will be a disclosure of some secret_Unexpected gains and surprises.
SOWELO represents the Sun_It symbolizes Health Honor Resources Victory Wholeness and Cleansing_It is a rune of victory_health and success_It indicates a time when power will be available to you for positive changes in your life_Also an indication of your being healthy and overcoming opposition_RELAX! Don't let worry and tension get to you!
RAIDHO Represents a Wagon_It symbolizes Travel Rhythm Spontaneity Evolution Decisions_RAIDHO is a sure sign of a safe and pleasant journey. Any travel you undergo is sure to bring you pleasure. Sometimes this is in reference to a journey within the self
Day 14
At the (Halloween) Autumn Friday night session
in the Market Tavern with
DJ Belleen StormRose VonHex ( neylinn ),
still trying to sort out which day to do the Vaettrskeldrin Saga storytelling sessions.
I might be doing two sessions a week!
I got some positive feedback from Daz copy pasting a conversation!
[11:17] Bea Le Strange (beabealestrange): oh, how was the D&D game?
[11:17] Daz (dazler): i'm loving the D & D sessions
[11:17] Daz (dazler): I'm really impressed with snake
[11:17] Hazel Tiger (hazel167): fantastic snake is a really good dungeon master
[11:18] Daz (dazler): snake is really organized and patient
[11:18] Hazel Tiger (hazel167): we do it on voice so you need to hear us
[11:18] Daz (dazler): (and he's also good at explaining everything)
[11:18] Hazel Tiger (hazel167): Daz hears us and is typing no problem with that
[11:18] Hazel Tiger (hazel167): yes he is really good
This makes it worth doing.
People are enjoying it.
I have value because I have purpose and a place in the community.
I love this group.
Day 15
Zìskrrmipaw ( etainog ) gave me a starter ring to show ranges of weapons
Balkan Sands ( balkan.sands ) gave me a sword and whupped my ass about fifty times.
Sky ( SkySunwalker ) taught me how to block and whupped my ass a bunch of times.
The ZCS hud / weapon system is a lot easier than I had anticipated it would be.
So far I have dropped my sword, lost my sword,
used the wrong weapon (a slow great axe)
and died about a hundred times.
All good fun
Day 16 - Volva weekly session
Day 17 - Halloween Party
I hate busy days where everyone is grabbing me and pressuring me, I am not their friend if I am busy doing other things, their need for company on such special occasions. Taking it personally that I am doing mown thing and not wanting to be owned. The pressure covert emotional abuse. I feel like I am letting people down, letting my friends down, by having more options than they do simply because there is so much going on and to be honest I don’t want to get involved in any of it. A friend wanted to introduce me to a friend so I felt obliged to go. Thus, I was in the Halloween Party only for a few minutes before breaking to the pressure. And then it was boring and nothing worked anyway because I was not supposed to be there. Other peoples egos inhibit other peoples freedom. I was affected by it.
Day 18 - Kya's Birthday Party
Kya’s birthday party. A secret location invite only. I don't know Kya but the Vigra crew invited me, kindly. I get a chance to party with them after all!
Day 19 - Vaettrskeldrin Open Group
Jarl Dagur's character
for Open Group Vaettrskeldrin sessions
at the Vigra Storyteller Hut
Day 20 - Chilling in the Hut
Meditating. Chilling out. Relaxing. Thinking. Feeling. Ideas floating in free-form association, bonding into place to build the framework of stories. Accepting, being Grateful.
Day 21 - Weekly Volva ritual
Attended Sarah's ceremony. A bulls blood drinking ritual. I feel more part of the community than ever.
Day 22 - Weaving and Sauna
Sitting with the Fox group with Daz and Megan while Hazel weaves and Roy spins wool, telling stories and talking about books and the news. Hazel bless her she made a weave of Skaldi’s face with a dreamcatcher, she made one for Daz also. I put it in Skaldi's store in the Vigra market. The G&K system loom, wool, sheep game.
KaelaBella messaged me. She is quite a surprise. She writes superb Gor fan fiction and her own work. We sat in the sauna at Vigra village, chatting and touching the sweat from each others bodies in the heat. Discussing Gor and relationships and paga taverns and her rl work, how our schedules encourage our freedom fro attachment, which is a Gorean lifestyle. We kissed. She’s a professional paga girl. I like her. She’s a talented writer. She is 3.30 where I am 8.30, she’s Pacific time.
Back in the hut I drew a rune;
PERTHRO
Represents a Dice Cup. It symbolizes Fate Chance Mystery Destiny and Secrets. This is a rune of mystery. It involves hidden things, secrets and occult abilities. Drawing this rune is a good indication that something that has remained hidden is about to come to light. Perhaps there will be a disclosure of some secret. Unexpected gains and surprises.
Day 23 - Skaldi's Market Stall (New Location)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vigra/147/134/2701
Jarl Dagur is the best.
He’s given me a different stall at the market, more central, facing the main area. It’s noticeable. Hopefully this will bring more traffic to the group. The Wednesday group is quiet from no advertising. This will help. It might bring traffic, players, but also it adds to the flavour of Vigra as a vibrant happening place with lots going on. It focusses me on developing the Vaettrskeldrin Saga game too.
