Tonight the Keepers of Mystery discuss one of the novels of Poul Anderson, The Broken Sword. Specifically cited on Appendix N, it has also been cited by author Michael Moorcock as having greatly influenced his stories.

The book tells the story of Skafloc, elven-fosterling and originally son of Orm the Strong. The story begins with the marriage of Orm the Strong and Aelfrida of the English. Orm kills a witch’s family on the land and later half-converts to Christianity, but quarrels with the local priest and sends him off the land. Meanwhile, an elf named Imric, with the help of the witch, seeks to capture the newly born son of Orm. In his place, Imric leaves a changeling called Valgard. The real son of Orm is taken away to elven lands and named Skafloc by the elves who raise him. As the story continues, both Skafloc and Valgard have significant roles in the war between the trolls and the elves as things escalate until the restoration of…the Broken Sword.

The Stacks

Appendix N

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson

Adventures

Beyond the Black Gate by Harley Stroh

Doom of the Savage Kings by Harley Stroh

The Isle of Fury by Greg Oppedisano

The Old God’s Return by Michael Curtis

The Sorcerer’s Tower of Sanguine Slant by Terry Olson

Thieves of Cold Corner by Harley Stroh

The Trolls of Mistwood by David W. Fisher

Twilight of the Solstice by Marc Bruner

Fiction

The Tale of Halfdanur the Black by Colin Brodd

Music

Creature of the Wood (song) from the album Balance of Nature by Alexander James Adams

Creature of the Wood (song) from the album Life’s Flame by Heather Alexander

Edda: Myths from Medieval Iceland (album) by Sequentia Ensemble

How far to Asgaard (album) by Týr

Huldufólk (album) by Skáld

Íslandsklukkur (album) by Magnús Þór Sigmundsson, Rafn R. Jónsson

Källa (album) by Valkyrik

A Night at the Nordic House (Live with the symphonie orchestra of the Faroe Islands) (album) by Týr

Nordic and Viking Folk (album) by Ragnarök Nordic Viking Folk

Odin’s Raven Magic (album) by Sigur Rós, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Andersen and Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir

Vikings Chant (album) by Skáld

Podcasts

Glowburn

Settings

Dying Earth

Lankhmar

The Purple Planet

Viking Crawl Classics

Source Books

Divinities & Cults Vol 1 by Dan Osarchuk

Isles of the Celts

Tribes of the North

Warrior Horde of the Einherjar by James Spahn

Spotify Lists

Sanctum Secorum Playlist #51

Marc’s Full Word List

Busk – To prepare, to make or get ready; to put in order, array

Byrnie – A cuirass, corslet, coat of mail

Doughty – Possessing courage and determination; brave, bold, resolute

Fetch – The apparition, double, or wraith of a living person

Howe – An artificial mound, tumulus, or barrow

Leman – A lover or sweetheart

Lur horn

Quern – A large piece of ice; a crack or crevice in a piece of ice

Rede – Counsel or advice given by one person to another

Sea-mew/erne – The common gull/an eagle

Shield-burg

Skyey – Of, relating to, located in, or emanating from the sky

Weregild – There are fun examples actually codified in norse/anglo-saxon law

Zines

The Bachwezi by Ashraf Braden

The Kakondo by Ashraf Braden

Kamila by Ashraf Braden

Lukwata by Ashraf Braden

Sanctum Secorum Quarterly