Today, October 9, is Leif Erikson Day in the United States (and kinda-sorta Canada, too)
It is a day perhaps best known as the basis for a quick gag in that one episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Specifically this one:
The real Leif Erikson was my primary inspiration for introducing a figure into Realmgard‘s history who is essentially Realmgard’s very own Leif Erikson: Hallvard the Circle-Farer.
So, with that in mind, I figure I’d mark the day by sharing a bonus Realmgard Short Scene that basically owes its entire existence to Leif Erikson Day…
Copyright J.B. Norman – Published by Emona Literary Services
“Check it out, Annie!” Dunstana says, pointing to her helmet. “I’m a Viking!”
Annie stares thoughtfully at her cousin’s horned headgear. “’Stana, real Hrimfaxi helmets didn’t have horns on them,” she notes.
Across town, the young Hrimfaxi mercenary named Skadi is suddenly feeling very vindicated but doesn’t quite know why.
“Is this because it’s Hallvard the Circle-Farer day?” Annie asks her cousin.
Now it’s Dunstana that stares sceptically. As she does, her too-big helmet slides over her eyes.
“Who’s Howard the… that guy?” she asks, lifting her helmet back up from over her face. “I just wanted to really be a Viking. They’re so cool, Annie!”
“Hallvard the Circle-Farer,” Annie repeats. “He was a Hrimfaxi sailor. He was the first person to sail all the way around Realmgard. He wrote a poem about the Red Cliffs of Duradero.”
“He was a Viking, though, right?” Dunstana asks.
“Actually, he was mostly a travelling merchant,” Annie answers.
“So…” Dunstana muses. “Mostly a merchant, means kinda something else. So, he must have been at least a little bit of a Viking! Cool!”
“Well,” Annie offers, “some of the later stories do say that he fought a sea monster, a giant bird, an army of magic of skeletons, another sea monster, a witch, and then a third sea monster.”
She frowns.
“Of course,” she concedes. “Those stories are considered apocryphal and historically dubious at best.”
Dunstana blinks at Annie and coughs into her elbow.
“And why is it Hal…pert Circle-Guy’s day today?” she asks.
“It was originally established to commemorate the Hrimfaxi Mercantile Association getting formal approval from the Prince,” Annie explains.
“Sounds boring,” Dunstana notes.
“Since then, it’s become a way to celebrate Hrimfaxi culture in Porthaven and to commemorate the contributions of people with Hrimfaxi ancestry to the city,” Annie continues.
Dunstana gasps excitedly. “We have Hrimfaxi ancestry!” she exclaims.
Guillaume d’Arquestone, the founder of the Darkstone family was himself descended from the Hrimfaxi Vikings who settled in the Kingdom of Gallicantu.
“Is there a Mermaid Heritage Day, too?” Dunstana asks.
“I don’t think so, ’Stana,” Annie notes.
Guillaume d’Arquestone, the founder of the Darkstone family is widely believed to have married a Mermaid.
“But there is a Hallvard the Circle-Farer parade where they march a big Hrimfaxi Viking ship through the Outlands Quarter.” Annie notes.
Dunstana stares incredulously at Annie.
“There’s a Viking parade every year? Why am I only learning this now?” she cries. “Seriously, Annie! Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“You didn’t even like Vikings until now,” Annie protests timidly.
Dunstana grabs Annie’s arm and starts hauling her towards the door.
“Come on, Annie! We need to go there! I bet they sell axes there, and I can’t be a proper Viking without an axe.”
“Actually, ’Stana, spears were the most common Viking weapon,” Annie notes.
“Axes are cooler,” Dunstana notes. “Oh, man, Annie! This is going to be best Viking Parade Day… Guy Day ever!”
Annie decides it’s for the best not to tell Dunstana that the parade in question culminates with everybody setting the ship on fire on the beach by throwing torches at it…
You can read all the other Realmgard Short Scenes I’ve written so far here.
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