Hagen
Hagen Lanleifssen Geatheti
The most famous Iolan hero before Varangr, famed for his slaying of the feline giant Klóaður, his winning of the games of King Harlyr as well as his tasks given to him by the mysterious figure Yfirumsjónr.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The golden belt and the ox
Holidays
Hagensnótt- Hagen's Night of feasting and revelry, is observed during the long winter months and a part of the general carousing atmosphere of the Iolans and Rókuri.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Generally, Hagen is seen as the strongest mortal to ever live, he is said to have torn Klóaður, the clawed giant in two with his bare hands. It was said that a favorite party trick of Hagen's was stealing an apple from someone and making it explode in his hands by squeezing it.
Special abilities
Above human endurance and natural strength due to his half-giant nature
Vastly enhanced strength due to the enchanted belt Styrkgjafi
Vastly enhanced strength due to the enchanted belt Styrkgjafi
Specialized Equipment
The Styrkgjafi
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Before even Varangr the Great, the might of Iola saw no greater champion than that of its first great son, a hero of unparalleled might. All fallen beasts shivered in thought at the roar of one who took to their ways more than that of men. This was Hagen, son of Lanleif of the Geatheti and of the giantess Hálsgjafi who raised the newborn boy on the island of Hindsola. Only a babe, Hagen astounded all with his strength, even as a babe he had the strength of a hundred men, pulling from the hard earth, timber, and rock.
When fair-haired Hagen grew to be a man, he set out into the wide world to earn renown to his name for he was taken by a glory-seeking heart. By his sixteenth winter, Hagen had become known as a ferocious shield biter, a war wolf, a lord of the frenzy upon the battlefield. Seeking out the employ of any chieftain who gifted him with gold and showered him with acclaim. In battle he wielded no weapon, he carried only a shield and his hands bludgeoned men, broke bones, and pulled limbs. He amassed a posse of men of fortune, men from all the dells, bogs, fjords, and caverns of Iola who sought the ringing of clashed swords and the smell of the ground, wetted in blood. Hagen and his Geathegns were among the most feared and prized Huskarls of the peninsula. None escaped the fury of the great lord of war, he spared none who stood before him, whether they be a man in mail or quivering maiden.
No feat was too daunting, no deed above him and soon his deeds made him an outlaw, though in truth he evaded none, coming before all who wished him ill bare-chested and unafraid. Yet known are the feats of valor and strength which even still resound in the halls of all the Jarls of the North. For he was unmatched in all tests of strength and power, without equal in trials of pain and blood. It is for this reason that a summons was sent to him and made its way to his encampment near the lands of Sigar the Tree-feller. Against the judgment of his kinsmen and advisors, Harlyr the king of Ukiah sent for him. offering an issue of pardon if Hagen would attend his celebratory games for the sixteenth birthday of his only child Hyra. Upon being ferried to the island by a fisherman, Hagen arrived by song and heralded, his arrival in the great yule hall of Harlyr, raised many suspicions. Men from Vik, of that mountainous palace, came to be jealous of stout Hagen's deeds, and doubting the judgment of their host, challenge Hagen to face each of them in contests of wrestling. Without a bead of sweat escaping his brow, Hagen bests the Vikmen though rage still eats at them. The men of Vik, together pull at the unbending Hagen with all their might. Though still a boy without his twentieth winter, Hagen bent not an inch to them and before all, threw every last one of them from Harlyr Jarl's hall. When a game was called, where three men were to escort stubborn oxen across a hundred paces to a finish line, the men of Vik frightened the oxen of Hagen, making it jump and disturbed. In stubbornness, Hagen again bested all, and so with a quick motion, the immense Hagen lifted the beast over his shoulders and carried it a hundred paces to the line of finishing, while mocking the men of Vik.
The final game now came, a game simple and challenging for most. Two men faced one another, one with a stone grasped between the fingers with the other seeking to take it from the other man. Throughout the day, men clawed and wrestled, expending themselves greatly. Yet when Hagen faced his man, he clasped the stone hard and refused to run from the man. He reached out his hand, stone inside, and bid the man try to take it from him. As the man pulled and pried as hard as any had the entire day, Hagen's fingers did not move an inch. Soon, the game halted and all before attempted to pull at Hagen's mighty fingers and none faired any better so Hagen was declared the champion of the games.
"Móðir mín spratt upp úr vatni, það gat aldrei endurheimta mig."
"My mother sprung from water, it could never reclaim me."
It was by Hagen's maddening guidance that the arrival of the Geathegns to the shores of Ukiah was not besmirched in a water grave. As Hagen and his men arrived in King Harlyr's hall, they were told of the nature of the beast they were to slay. The beast had attacked farmers coming back from harvest every day for the past year. Every farmer that was recovered bore the same manner of scars, either a single thick slash of the throat or they were bisected at the waist, again in a single strike. Hagen and his men began investigating, asking around the town for any other witnesses to the attacks while Hagen along with Hedred found prints of a large cat-like creature leading into a deep grove. The prints of this cat were the largest prints either had ever seen, larger than any bear, or any creature they had ever seen that walked on four legs. So Hedred assembled an idea for a trap, to lure the beast to Harlyr's hall, where they could prevent its escape and fight it in an enclosed area. Hedred assembled the bait and laid it just next to a window but out of reach. As the Geathegns readied themselves for the fight, they drank and feasted, and all sang praises for the glory their names would live on with if they were to slay such a mighty creature.
Soon, a quiet yet heavy set of feet was felt, Harlyr's monster was arriving and so the Geathegns donned their armor and weapons and awaited the fight. As the door opened, the silent predator eased its way in and revealed its immense size. The beast resembled that of a black barn or ship cat, but was larger than a bear, as nimble as a shadow, and had claws so fine and sharp that a slash from them would cut right through the armor Hagen had been wearing. To the astonishment of his men, Hagen donned in no armor of his own, nor weapon of any kind, lunged at the creature bare-chested.
The fight was long, the Geathegns kept their distance, peppering the beast with arrows and javelins and getting a thrust in from a sword whenever they could. Hagen himself rolled and wrestled with the beast whose hide was now sticking with arrows and javelins but it seemed unharmed. As Hagen tossed the cat and it bounced right back with furious speed, Hagen understood that its hide was impenetrable and like all cats, it landed on its feet when tossed. As he speculated, the creature lunged at him, and with an instinctive motion, he grabbed the beast's two front paws, grasped its stomach and lower body, and lifted the great beast above his head. The cat squirmed and wiggled but it was no use, the beast was now in the iron grip of Hagen, and with a grip like a great snake, Hagen grasped and pulled the beast apart at the midsection. Guts showered over him but the beast lay motionless, in two places, Hagen had done it.
By this great deed, he was acclaimed by Harlyr the king, and to his word he granted Hagen that which he wished, in addition to the great gift of the Styrkgjafi which he bore at his waist until the end of his days. Hagen wished for the hand of Harlyr's daughter, Princess Hyra whom he had seen so long ago and Harlyr acquiesced. For many days and nights, they reveled in Harlyr's hall, showered in gifts, and acclaim, regaled as heroes fit for song and saga. But as they reveled so, the stock of drink on Ukiah came to be dry, and Harlyr the king was forced to issue them to leave and so two years after they arrived on the black shores of Ukiah, Hagen, his men, and his new bride sailed off back for their homeland. As they arrived home, the old king and Hagen's father, King Lanlief burst with joy at sight of his son and for the tales of his deeds. A great feast was held for him, and his men and it was among the largest ever thrown in the North. From all corners of the Northern world, men, women, and children arrived and bid the hero his glory. Gifts and spectacles flowed like water, the feast was unlike any ever seen. All in attendance heard the story of Hagen's glory yet only one attendee remained unimpressed with Hagen's feats. This unknown figure, grey-bearded and with a wide-brimmed hat unsheated a dazzling sword, pulled from a scabbard far too small to hold it, and announced that he would believe in Hagen's great strength if he could pull the sword from where he would place it. Faerless Hagen accepted this challenge and the figure plunged the sword into the central oak tree of Lanleif's great hall. Hagen grasped the sword and with muscles bulging and red on his face, the sword only managed a slight wiggle. As the crowd whispered and murmured, Hagen became enraged, and with all his might he pulled and pulled at the sword, bringing the whole tree down on top of him. When the dust cleared, Hagen emerged, sword pulled but with remnants of bark still attached to the point, and he returned the blade to this stranger and bid his jest a joyful one.
Hagen's attention was now on this figure who introduced himself as Yfirumsjónr and now said he had a friend who wished to test him further. Yfirumsjónr introduced an enormous man, cloaked with a crimson hood, as large as Hagen and slightly taller who shook the ground with each step. The man introduced himself as Himminar, and he uncovered his hood and revealed his great bushy beard, and billowing locks of hair. Yfirumsjónr bid Hagen and Himminar arm wrestle, with the winner being gifted a special prize from the other. Both men agree and lock arms, with all in attendance looking on with worry as Himminar appears much larger than Hagen. When the two men begin, the table they are seated at breaks nearly instantly, and they are forced to lie down on the ground outside to properly arm wrestle. Both men strain and groan, Himminar gaining ground on Hagen who can be seen struggling. As Himminar seems to be about to win, he begins disrespecting Hagen and mocks him, again and again, while nearing his hand to the ground. Hagen roars with rage and begins recovering ground on Himminar who at first is dismissive but over time, as Hagen begins winning, comes to be astonished and shocked at how this is possible. As Hagen wins, he finishes the contest with a flourish, smashing Himminar's hand into the cold dirt and rising to meet the cheers of the onlookers. As Hagen embraces the crowd, Yfirumsjónr and Himminar relent and give Hagen a token of his victory, and once more Yfirumsjónr pulls from his satchel, the pelt of the beast of Ukiah which Hagen ahd slain, and it is said this great pelt can still be found along the wall of Lanleif's grand hall in Geatheti lands.
Many tales exist of Hagen's extraordinary strength, of his fishing and pulling up of the Franish Kraken, a beast later slain by the demigod Varangr. A tale is told of how Hagen led a great expedition down the Rhor river and destroyed the Rasennan town of Trevium, which was said to have been a city on the shore of the Rhor destroyed in a great fire. Hagen is also said to have participated in a sea battle near the cape of Thurif where he is said to have rowed out with his Geathegns and to have personally flipped a longship with his bare hands while engaging it.
The exact nature of Hagen's death is murky, some report that he was struck in the side by a boar tusk while on a hunt, and as the pain was too much for him, readied a pyre with the help of his friend and lover Hedred. Supposedly Hagen gave Hedred one last embrace, gifted him the Styrkgjafi, and threw himself on the pyre. Other reports indicate that Hagen's own progeny killed him, and his twelve sons banded together to slay him and claim their birthrights as leaders of the Geathi. Hagen, at this time an old and weary man, was still able to defend himself and supposedly slew half of his own sons in self-defense. Nevertheless, the crime of kin slaying would have damned Hagen to the cold confines of Vukalin, a fate many would have thought was undeserving of a hero of Hagen's caliber. The details of his death often depend on who is retelling the story, if Hagen is portrayed as a shining beacon of Iolan masculine might and power then he likely throws himself on a pyre rather than suffer through a long ordeal. If Hagen is depicted as a rash defier of the gods, a figure vain and full of himself, then he will likely be fated to the caves of Vukalin, to suffer for his challenging of the gods.
When fair-haired Hagen grew to be a man, he set out into the wide world to earn renown to his name for he was taken by a glory-seeking heart. By his sixteenth winter, Hagen had become known as a ferocious shield biter, a war wolf, a lord of the frenzy upon the battlefield. Seeking out the employ of any chieftain who gifted him with gold and showered him with acclaim. In battle he wielded no weapon, he carried only a shield and his hands bludgeoned men, broke bones, and pulled limbs. He amassed a posse of men of fortune, men from all the dells, bogs, fjords, and caverns of Iola who sought the ringing of clashed swords and the smell of the ground, wetted in blood. Hagen and his Geathegns were among the most feared and prized Huskarls of the peninsula. None escaped the fury of the great lord of war, he spared none who stood before him, whether they be a man in mail or quivering maiden.
No feat was too daunting, no deed above him and soon his deeds made him an outlaw, though in truth he evaded none, coming before all who wished him ill bare-chested and unafraid. Yet known are the feats of valor and strength which even still resound in the halls of all the Jarls of the North. For he was unmatched in all tests of strength and power, without equal in trials of pain and blood. It is for this reason that a summons was sent to him and made its way to his encampment near the lands of Sigar the Tree-feller. Against the judgment of his kinsmen and advisors, Harlyr the king of Ukiah sent for him. offering an issue of pardon if Hagen would attend his celebratory games for the sixteenth birthday of his only child Hyra. Upon being ferried to the island by a fisherman, Hagen arrived by song and heralded, his arrival in the great yule hall of Harlyr, raised many suspicions. Men from Vik, of that mountainous palace, came to be jealous of stout Hagen's deeds, and doubting the judgment of their host, challenge Hagen to face each of them in contests of wrestling. Without a bead of sweat escaping his brow, Hagen bests the Vikmen though rage still eats at them. The men of Vik, together pull at the unbending Hagen with all their might. Though still a boy without his twentieth winter, Hagen bent not an inch to them and before all, threw every last one of them from Harlyr Jarl's hall. When a game was called, where three men were to escort stubborn oxen across a hundred paces to a finish line, the men of Vik frightened the oxen of Hagen, making it jump and disturbed. In stubbornness, Hagen again bested all, and so with a quick motion, the immense Hagen lifted the beast over his shoulders and carried it a hundred paces to the line of finishing, while mocking the men of Vik.
The final game now came, a game simple and challenging for most. Two men faced one another, one with a stone grasped between the fingers with the other seeking to take it from the other man. Throughout the day, men clawed and wrestled, expending themselves greatly. Yet when Hagen faced his man, he clasped the stone hard and refused to run from the man. He reached out his hand, stone inside, and bid the man try to take it from him. As the man pulled and pried as hard as any had the entire day, Hagen's fingers did not move an inch. Soon, the game halted and all before attempted to pull at Hagen's mighty fingers and none faired any better so Hagen was declared the champion of the games.
Years after this celebration, Hagen and his men would one day return to the island again on the beckoning of King Harlyr, to slay a ferocious beast. For Harlyr was of the Megilung, of the clan of those island smiths, and lord of the Styrkgjafi, the belt prized above all for its splendor and power. So desperate was the king to be rid of this beast, that he had offered the relic of his house to whoever rid the island of this shadowed terror.
On the sea voyage to the isle, a great tempest arose and was hurled toward the ship of the Geathegns with waves about and rising nigh a hundred feet tall. Those who grew fearful refused to row, letting loose their oars and hiding from the cold ocean spray that had begun rocking the ship, threatening to turn her asunder. Yet there stood Hagen, at the front of his ship, laughing and laughing with a boom that rose above the noise of the tempest. All onboard could hear him, and spying his men becoming worried for him, Hagen's battle brother Hedred came to him and asked him why he would be laughing, and Hagen boldly exclaimed,
"Móðir mín spratt upp úr vatni, það gat aldrei endurheimta mig."
"My mother sprung from water, it could never reclaim me."
Soon, a quiet yet heavy set of feet was felt, Harlyr's monster was arriving and so the Geathegns donned their armor and weapons and awaited the fight. As the door opened, the silent predator eased its way in and revealed its immense size. The beast resembled that of a black barn or ship cat, but was larger than a bear, as nimble as a shadow, and had claws so fine and sharp that a slash from them would cut right through the armor Hagen had been wearing. To the astonishment of his men, Hagen donned in no armor of his own, nor weapon of any kind, lunged at the creature bare-chested.
The fight was long, the Geathegns kept their distance, peppering the beast with arrows and javelins and getting a thrust in from a sword whenever they could. Hagen himself rolled and wrestled with the beast whose hide was now sticking with arrows and javelins but it seemed unharmed. As Hagen tossed the cat and it bounced right back with furious speed, Hagen understood that its hide was impenetrable and like all cats, it landed on its feet when tossed. As he speculated, the creature lunged at him, and with an instinctive motion, he grabbed the beast's two front paws, grasped its stomach and lower body, and lifted the great beast above his head. The cat squirmed and wiggled but it was no use, the beast was now in the iron grip of Hagen, and with a grip like a great snake, Hagen grasped and pulled the beast apart at the midsection. Guts showered over him but the beast lay motionless, in two places, Hagen had done it.
By this great deed, he was acclaimed by Harlyr the king, and to his word he granted Hagen that which he wished, in addition to the great gift of the Styrkgjafi which he bore at his waist until the end of his days. Hagen wished for the hand of Harlyr's daughter, Princess Hyra whom he had seen so long ago and Harlyr acquiesced. For many days and nights, they reveled in Harlyr's hall, showered in gifts, and acclaim, regaled as heroes fit for song and saga. But as they reveled so, the stock of drink on Ukiah came to be dry, and Harlyr the king was forced to issue them to leave and so two years after they arrived on the black shores of Ukiah, Hagen, his men, and his new bride sailed off back for their homeland. As they arrived home, the old king and Hagen's father, King Lanlief burst with joy at sight of his son and for the tales of his deeds. A great feast was held for him, and his men and it was among the largest ever thrown in the North. From all corners of the Northern world, men, women, and children arrived and bid the hero his glory. Gifts and spectacles flowed like water, the feast was unlike any ever seen. All in attendance heard the story of Hagen's glory yet only one attendee remained unimpressed with Hagen's feats. This unknown figure, grey-bearded and with a wide-brimmed hat unsheated a dazzling sword, pulled from a scabbard far too small to hold it, and announced that he would believe in Hagen's great strength if he could pull the sword from where he would place it. Faerless Hagen accepted this challenge and the figure plunged the sword into the central oak tree of Lanleif's great hall. Hagen grasped the sword and with muscles bulging and red on his face, the sword only managed a slight wiggle. As the crowd whispered and murmured, Hagen became enraged, and with all his might he pulled and pulled at the sword, bringing the whole tree down on top of him. When the dust cleared, Hagen emerged, sword pulled but with remnants of bark still attached to the point, and he returned the blade to this stranger and bid his jest a joyful one.
Hagen's attention was now on this figure who introduced himself as Yfirumsjónr and now said he had a friend who wished to test him further. Yfirumsjónr introduced an enormous man, cloaked with a crimson hood, as large as Hagen and slightly taller who shook the ground with each step. The man introduced himself as Himminar, and he uncovered his hood and revealed his great bushy beard, and billowing locks of hair. Yfirumsjónr bid Hagen and Himminar arm wrestle, with the winner being gifted a special prize from the other. Both men agree and lock arms, with all in attendance looking on with worry as Himminar appears much larger than Hagen. When the two men begin, the table they are seated at breaks nearly instantly, and they are forced to lie down on the ground outside to properly arm wrestle. Both men strain and groan, Himminar gaining ground on Hagen who can be seen struggling. As Himminar seems to be about to win, he begins disrespecting Hagen and mocks him, again and again, while nearing his hand to the ground. Hagen roars with rage and begins recovering ground on Himminar who at first is dismissive but over time, as Hagen begins winning, comes to be astonished and shocked at how this is possible. As Hagen wins, he finishes the contest with a flourish, smashing Himminar's hand into the cold dirt and rising to meet the cheers of the onlookers. As Hagen embraces the crowd, Yfirumsjónr and Himminar relent and give Hagen a token of his victory, and once more Yfirumsjónr pulls from his satchel, the pelt of the beast of Ukiah which Hagen ahd slain, and it is said this great pelt can still be found along the wall of Lanleif's grand hall in Geatheti lands.
Many tales exist of Hagen's extraordinary strength, of his fishing and pulling up of the Franish Kraken, a beast later slain by the demigod Varangr. A tale is told of how Hagen led a great expedition down the Rhor river and destroyed the Rasennan town of Trevium, which was said to have been a city on the shore of the Rhor destroyed in a great fire. Hagen is also said to have participated in a sea battle near the cape of Thurif where he is said to have rowed out with his Geathegns and to have personally flipped a longship with his bare hands while engaging it.
The exact nature of Hagen's death is murky, some report that he was struck in the side by a boar tusk while on a hunt, and as the pain was too much for him, readied a pyre with the help of his friend and lover Hedred. Supposedly Hagen gave Hedred one last embrace, gifted him the Styrkgjafi, and threw himself on the pyre. Other reports indicate that Hagen's own progeny killed him, and his twelve sons banded together to slay him and claim their birthrights as leaders of the Geathi. Hagen, at this time an old and weary man, was still able to defend himself and supposedly slew half of his own sons in self-defense. Nevertheless, the crime of kin slaying would have damned Hagen to the cold confines of Vukalin, a fate many would have thought was undeserving of a hero of Hagen's caliber. The details of his death often depend on who is retelling the story, if Hagen is portrayed as a shining beacon of Iolan masculine might and power then he likely throws himself on a pyre rather than suffer through a long ordeal. If Hagen is depicted as a rash defier of the gods, a figure vain and full of himself, then he will likely be fated to the caves of Vukalin, to suffer for his challenging of the gods.
Sexuality
In very early sagas written about Hagen's deeds, he is noted for having numerous male lovers as well as female ones. It seems the mighty Hagen was a very promiscuous man and was known as a lustful and hedonistic figure.
In the Konungsbók, Hagen is mentioned to have had two primary lovers, his battle brother Hedred and Hyra, daughter of Harlyr, King of Ukiah.
In the Konungsbók, Hagen is mentioned to have had two primary lovers, his battle brother Hedred and Hyra, daughter of Harlyr, King of Ukiah.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Winning the ceremonial games of King Harlyr
Slew the giant feline Klóaður at Harlyr's request
Pulled the sword Prófunaraðili from the Ukian oak
Defeated the challenger Himminar in an arm-wrestling contest
Raided and destroyed the Rasennan town of Trevium
Toppled a fully crewed Longship during the battle at Cape Thurif
Slew the giant feline Klóaður at Harlyr's request
Pulled the sword Prófunaraðili from the Ukian oak
Defeated the challenger Himminar in an arm-wrestling contest
Raided and destroyed the Rasennan town of Trevium
Toppled a fully crewed Longship during the battle at Cape Thurif
Social
Family Ties
Son of Lanleif, King of the Geatheti and the Hindsolan giantess Hálsgjafi
Religious Views
Hagen was almost at odds with the gods throughout his life. His own strength came from the Jotnar, not from them, and as such, many "mysterious figures" in his sagas are generally seen as being the gods making their presence known and challenging him. Yfirumsjónr, the figure who tasks Hagen with pulling his sword from the Ukian oak and also with arm wrestling Himminar is generally seen as an alias of Ranir and Himminar, a name literally meaning "Sky Roamer" is generally believed to be Rymr's alias. This makes Hagen's defeat of Himminar an even more impressive feat given Rymr is generally considered the strongest of the gods.
Social Aptitude
Hagen was an almost obnoxiously impressive man, he spoke, acted and conducted himself as if he already knew his destiny, already knew of his greatness. Hagen floated over the head of every other man of his day and impressed all with his total nature, as a warrior he was unmatched, as a man of strength none dared challenge him and all heard tales of his romantic exploits with various lovers, be they man or woman.
Speech
Proud, brash, and arrogant in everything he did and ever thought, Hagen was more than willing to enhance his own perception of himself with loud acclaim of his deeds, his strength, and his prowess. Many claimed to be the one to make the loud hero finally be silenced and many were left with their ears ringing as Hagen stood over them and continued to shout his own praises in their ear.
Divine Classification
Deified
Species
Ethnicity
Realm
Circumstances of Birth
Apparent son of Lanleif of the Geatheti and a giantess of the island of Hindsola
Circumstances of Death
Mixed information of his death, either by fire or by sword
Birthplace
Hindsola, off the eastern coast of Iola
Spouses
Hyra
(spouse)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Light Brown
Hair
Bright Red, long, straight hair and beard
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
White
Height
7 ft
Weight
400 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"I am grinder and I am gasher! I am plunderer and plunger! I am strength and I am unconquered! Blood of the long-lasting! Blood of the sea, of the skies and of the winds! I AM HAGEN AND I HAVE COME TO SLAY YOU BEAST!!!"
Belief/Deity
Ranir and the Iolan Pantheon
Character Prototype
Beowulf but he's for the gays, and he's fucking crazy
(Hagen's followers, the Geathegns)
For the past few days, I was stumped on how I wanted to present a diety---and behold---I saw your article! Hagen's story was inspiring. Also, I like the depictions of the life and times of Hagen on the sidebar. (I can't draw, so I'm grateful for sites like Hero Forge to render character images.) I enjoyed reading your article and particularly liked the tale about when Hagen arrived at the shores of Ukiah to kill the beast terrorizing farmers. It reminded me of the story of Beowulf. Nicely done!
Thank you for the kind words they really mean a lot. I definitely drew a lot from Beowulf so I'm happy you made that connection.