Varangr
Varangr Faedassen (a.k.a. Wuldur (Glory-Seeker)
The greatest hero of the Iolan sagas, Varangr was the half-giant son of the sky god Rymr and the Jarlskona Faeda.
Divine Domains
Fathers
Heroics
Courage
Celebration
Passion
Heroics
Courage
Celebration
Passion
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Vinnahjelm
Holidays
Varansblót- festival in the summer, this event began the trading and fishing season, featured retellings of sagas and stories during the nights, began local and far off raids and was the time when most weddings occurred.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Varangr is one of the embodiments of Iolan masculinity, godly strong and with an iron will and determination, Varangr was in the highest weight class of mortals.
Special abilities
Strength similar to his father Rymr
speed of Lightning
skin thicker than Rikvalr, the great whale of the Daudhlera
Protection from mind altering spells and magic given by the Vinnahjelm
speed of Lightning
skin thicker than Rikvalr, the great whale of the Daudhlera
Protection from mind altering spells and magic given by the Vinnahjelm
Specialized Equipment
Given his iconic Vinnahjelm by his half-brother Veidr at the start of his journey, the helmet was forged by the mysterious smith Smíðr, the personal smith of his father Rymr. The helmet gave the wearer divine sight and protection from spells and other magic. The Vinnahjelm became a symbol of Varangr and became a common piece of apparel for special occasions like a Brudlaup or even just as a helmet for battle if the wearer was particularly pious and rich.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born of great passion, Varangr's father Rymr, lord of the skies had descended from his high throne and for some time fell in love with the Jarlskona Faeda of the line of the great giant kings of ancient days. Raised by Faeda, Varangr was kept from her husband Jorrin in a cave beside their township. Entrusted with the maiden Kildseti who cared for the babe Varangr for over a year. Finally, when the baby of the cave was discovered, Varangr was presented as a girl to Jorrin and named Gefiki and Jorrin welcomed what he assumed to be his long-lost daughter.
Raised happily beside his mother and stepfather, one day Varangr had wandered afar from home and became lost. Soon the toddler was encircled by a pack of snarling wolves, fearful the boy hid beneath a downed tree. In mere moments, thunder roared above and when Varangr arose, each of the wolves was seared to the bone as if struck by swift lightning. A hooded figure cloaked in black then appeared and guided the baby Varangr back home by the hand. Thankful for the rescue of her child, Faeda asked the stranger his name which he replied was Haladr, and then asked to present the child with a gift. The stranger Haladr gives Faeda a magnificent helm of shining gold, with wings upon its head of silver with a great upon it. Haladr explains that this helm will be Varangr's when he comes of age and will protect him like no other helmet. Many other myths of Varangr's childhood depict him using his newly found godlike strength to save numerous people in his village from a variety of wild animals and finding riches in long-lost caves to the far north.
Varangr's journey truly began when he visits a völva who tells him that she has seen his fate and that he is destined to have two lives one full of tears and another of glory. After hearing this news, the rambunctious boy runs away and tells his entire village of his supposed destiny. Faeda hears of her boy's supposed fate and implores him to act wisely and without the rashness of his father. Instead, Varangr joins a crew of sailors alongside some friends and seeks to travel the world, saying goodbye to his mother and stepfather and leaving his village for the first time. On the high seas, the crew who are known in the future as the Brodahod, sail throughout the Iolan world stopping in towns and hailing Varangr as the son of a god and invincible to all weaponry. Making their riches as a traveling circus act, Varangr's skin is indeed impervious to penetration and this along with his stunning physique and face attracts many lovers to the young demigod. One such lover, a woman named Banmada falls deeply in love with Varangr and the two are wed for a brief time. Varangr and Banmada have a son together named Eihakr but not long after, Varangr moves on from Banmada who turns to revenge in her heartbreak.
The years go on and Banmada remains vengeful as her son looks more and more like the man who left her so she tells him to go find his father but to not reveal his identity and to not back down from a challenge. This concoction of bad advice reaches its zenith when Eihakr finds Varangr who mistakes the boy as another challenger. In their fight, Varangr is surprised by Eihakr's skill and ferocity and he almost beats his father in battle but misses his spear shot on purpose as he finds out in the middle of the fight that Varangr is his father. However Varangr strikes with his ax and in his final moments reveals himself and before dying says that they would have carried the whole of Iola on their backs had he simply been faithful. Varangr immediately breaks down, carries his son outside, sails to his home, and buries Eihakr in view of his family and childhood friends proclaiming himself to be no son of a god and little more than a murderer.
Varangr tries taking his own life but is stopped by his half-brother, the god Veidr who tells him that his crimes deserve penance and he tasks Varangr with finding the cave of the world tree for the gods. Veidr gives Varangr a winged helmet crafted by the blacksmith Smíðr that will give him the divine sight of the gods and aid him on his journey. Beginning, Varangr's journey to the cave of the world tree has dozens of stories of his search for it. One of his first adventures is his slaying of the Franish Kraken, a gigantic beast that terrorizes the shore of the Franish jarl who calls on the demigod. Varangr slays the beast with help from Hermóða who cripples the beast when Varangr battles it below and throws it ashore. Hermóða allows Varangr to give the killing blow and according to some traditions, she and Varangr spend the night together while according to others, they roast the Kraken and celebrate in the Jarl's hall. After this adventure, Varangr supposedly buys a warhorse from a stable and names it Frasigr after his victory against the Franish Kraken.
Vrangr and Frasigr then ride to the north where he refuses to stay at his childhood home as he is still ashamed of his murder, sending Frasigr into town to sleep comfortably and sleeps by himself in a nearby cave. Varangr and Frasigr journey north along the coast and come into conflict with a squabble between two rival Jarldoms, one called Harlgard is ruled by an old man named Herlov who is an old warrior battle-scarred and weary of war. Herlov enlists Varangr to help him and his people against the forces of Jarl Rolfr who is depicted as a bloodthirsty, glory hungry, and rash leader sending his people to die against the walls of Harlgard's defenses. On the field of battle, Varangr leads a contingent of warriors against Rolfr's own. Varangr faces a renowned foreign warrior named Rora Machail who Varangr struggles against but is ultimately victorious against, instead of killing Rora, Varangr spares him and asks if he will accompany him on his own adventures. After this duel, Varangr meets Jarl Rolfr who challenges him to a holmgang. With the eyes of the two Jarldoms watching, Varangr soundly defeats Rolfr and again spares his enemy before proclaiming that all have seen Jarl Herlov prevail and the feud between the Jarldoms has been settled. Varangr's words strike the hearts of the warriors and they lay down their arms, embrace one another, and set about burying and honoring the dead together. That night, the two Jarldoms are joined as one as Herlov has his daughter Torda marry Helgi the son of Rolfr ending the warring.
Now Varangr, Frasigr, and Rora journey farther north and come across the Daudhlera, the endless northern sea and a place where no ship returns from. The trio then sits at the shore for a time thinking of how to cross a supposedly endless sea. In their thought, an old and ragged sailor with an oar as a staff and a raggedly brimmed hat introduces himself as Nils and tells them of a supposed magical tree in the middle of a forest that has bark that would make a great hull for their ship. The trio set off to find the forest where they find a giant man guarding the entry. Rora hails him but the giant does not return it, then Varangr asks to enter the forest to which the giant rises up to face them with his large club in hand, Rora backs off and Varangr battles the giant. Evenly matched, Varangr and the giant's battle shakes the ground with every clash and soon Varangr is eventually beaten, with the giant standing over him. Instead of finishing Varangr, the giant grabs him and picks him up before propping a few boulders for his new guests to sit on. Intrigued, Rora and Varangr sit and the giant explains that he's been tasked with battling every person seeking entry into the forest and that he was simply doing his job. The giant then introduces himself as Attagur and says that Varangr has been one of his toughest fights in a while, he compliments Varangr on his prowess and Rora on his humility and asks what their business is inside the forest. Rora says they need the bark from a magical tree to build a ship that will cross the Daudhlera to which Attagur asks why. Varangr explains that they need to cross the Daudhlera because they've been told at the other side is the entrance to the cave of the world tree. Again Attagur asks why they need to enter the cave and Varangr explains that he needs to achieve penance for the murder of his son. Attagur then rises and says they may enter but he does not know if the bark from this magical tree will aid them in their crossing.
Now Varangr and Rora enter the forest together but soon become lost and separated in the labyrinth paths of the forest. Varangr spots a man resting on a rock and calls out to Rora but receives no reply. Varangr asks the man who he and the man question how he doesn't know who he is when he's spent half his life remembering him. The man then reveals himself to be Eihakr and Varangr immediately falls to his feet sobbing and pleading for forgiveness. Eihakr then tells him to rise and walk with him, Varangr does so and Eihakr leads him to the edge of the forest where a cliffside gives a long view of the sea. Eihakr and Varangr sit together and begin talking with Varangr asking for forgiveness three times before Eihakr says that Varangr has already been forgiven by him but never by himself. Eihakr explains that if a dead man can forgive what can one who's alive do and Varangr collects himself and says he thinks often of his last words and how together they could have done great things. Then the father and son sit together in calm silence for a moment, Eihakr breaks it by saying that the sunrise must be beautiful to which Varangr agrees as the both of them gaze across the sea and watch the sunrise together. Eihakr says goodbye to his father and Varangr finally embraces his son and says goodbye to him. Rora stumbles upon Varangr alone, gazing across the sea towards the sunrise; When Rora asks what happened, Varangr calmly says that he talked with someone and felt much better. The pair then accomplish their task and return to the shore, building a ship with Nils' help. Varangr says he would like to set sail alone and thanks Rora for all he has done, he gives him his belt, and his sword before saying goodbye to Frasigr. Rora last sees Varangr as he disappears over the horizon as Rora rides south and back to Varangr's home to retell his story and present Faeda with her son's belongings.
The years go on and Banmada remains vengeful as her son looks more and more like the man who left her so she tells him to go find his father but to not reveal his identity and to not back down from a challenge. This concoction of bad advice reaches its zenith when Eihakr finds Varangr who mistakes the boy as another challenger. In their fight, Varangr is surprised by Eihakr's skill and ferocity and he almost beats his father in battle but misses his spear shot on purpose as he finds out in the middle of the fight that Varangr is his father. However Varangr strikes with his ax and in his final moments reveals himself and before dying says that they would have carried the whole of Iola on their backs had he simply been faithful. Varangr immediately breaks down, carries his son outside, sails to his home, and buries Eihakr in view of his family and childhood friends proclaiming himself to be no son of a god and little more than a murderer.
Varangr tries taking his own life but is stopped by his half-brother, the god Veidr who tells him that his crimes deserve penance and he tasks Varangr with finding the cave of the world tree for the gods. Veidr gives Varangr a winged helmet crafted by the blacksmith Smíðr that will give him the divine sight of the gods and aid him on his journey. Beginning, Varangr's journey to the cave of the world tree has dozens of stories of his search for it. One of his first adventures is his slaying of the Franish Kraken, a gigantic beast that terrorizes the shore of the Franish jarl who calls on the demigod. Varangr slays the beast with help from Hermóða who cripples the beast when Varangr battles it below and throws it ashore. Hermóða allows Varangr to give the killing blow and according to some traditions, she and Varangr spend the night together while according to others, they roast the Kraken and celebrate in the Jarl's hall. After this adventure, Varangr supposedly buys a warhorse from a stable and names it Frasigr after his victory against the Franish Kraken.
Vrangr and Frasigr then ride to the north where he refuses to stay at his childhood home as he is still ashamed of his murder, sending Frasigr into town to sleep comfortably and sleeps by himself in a nearby cave. Varangr and Frasigr journey north along the coast and come into conflict with a squabble between two rival Jarldoms, one called Harlgard is ruled by an old man named Herlov who is an old warrior battle-scarred and weary of war. Herlov enlists Varangr to help him and his people against the forces of Jarl Rolfr who is depicted as a bloodthirsty, glory hungry, and rash leader sending his people to die against the walls of Harlgard's defenses. On the field of battle, Varangr leads a contingent of warriors against Rolfr's own. Varangr faces a renowned foreign warrior named Rora Machail who Varangr struggles against but is ultimately victorious against, instead of killing Rora, Varangr spares him and asks if he will accompany him on his own adventures. After this duel, Varangr meets Jarl Rolfr who challenges him to a holmgang. With the eyes of the two Jarldoms watching, Varangr soundly defeats Rolfr and again spares his enemy before proclaiming that all have seen Jarl Herlov prevail and the feud between the Jarldoms has been settled. Varangr's words strike the hearts of the warriors and they lay down their arms, embrace one another, and set about burying and honoring the dead together. That night, the two Jarldoms are joined as one as Herlov has his daughter Torda marry Helgi the son of Rolfr ending the warring.
Now Varangr, Frasigr, and Rora journey farther north and come across the Daudhlera, the endless northern sea and a place where no ship returns from. The trio then sits at the shore for a time thinking of how to cross a supposedly endless sea. In their thought, an old and ragged sailor with an oar as a staff and a raggedly brimmed hat introduces himself as Nils and tells them of a supposed magical tree in the middle of a forest that has bark that would make a great hull for their ship. The trio set off to find the forest where they find a giant man guarding the entry. Rora hails him but the giant does not return it, then Varangr asks to enter the forest to which the giant rises up to face them with his large club in hand, Rora backs off and Varangr battles the giant. Evenly matched, Varangr and the giant's battle shakes the ground with every clash and soon Varangr is eventually beaten, with the giant standing over him. Instead of finishing Varangr, the giant grabs him and picks him up before propping a few boulders for his new guests to sit on. Intrigued, Rora and Varangr sit and the giant explains that he's been tasked with battling every person seeking entry into the forest and that he was simply doing his job. The giant then introduces himself as Attagur and says that Varangr has been one of his toughest fights in a while, he compliments Varangr on his prowess and Rora on his humility and asks what their business is inside the forest. Rora says they need the bark from a magical tree to build a ship that will cross the Daudhlera to which Attagur asks why. Varangr explains that they need to cross the Daudhlera because they've been told at the other side is the entrance to the cave of the world tree. Again Attagur asks why they need to enter the cave and Varangr explains that he needs to achieve penance for the murder of his son. Attagur then rises and says they may enter but he does not know if the bark from this magical tree will aid them in their crossing.
Now Varangr and Rora enter the forest together but soon become lost and separated in the labyrinth paths of the forest. Varangr spots a man resting on a rock and calls out to Rora but receives no reply. Varangr asks the man who he and the man question how he doesn't know who he is when he's spent half his life remembering him. The man then reveals himself to be Eihakr and Varangr immediately falls to his feet sobbing and pleading for forgiveness. Eihakr then tells him to rise and walk with him, Varangr does so and Eihakr leads him to the edge of the forest where a cliffside gives a long view of the sea. Eihakr and Varangr sit together and begin talking with Varangr asking for forgiveness three times before Eihakr says that Varangr has already been forgiven by him but never by himself. Eihakr explains that if a dead man can forgive what can one who's alive do and Varangr collects himself and says he thinks often of his last words and how together they could have done great things. Then the father and son sit together in calm silence for a moment, Eihakr breaks it by saying that the sunrise must be beautiful to which Varangr agrees as the both of them gaze across the sea and watch the sunrise together. Eihakr says goodbye to his father and Varangr finally embraces his son and says goodbye to him. Rora stumbles upon Varangr alone, gazing across the sea towards the sunrise; When Rora asks what happened, Varangr calmly says that he talked with someone and felt much better. The pair then accomplish their task and return to the shore, building a ship with Nils' help. Varangr says he would like to set sail alone and thanks Rora for all he has done, he gives him his belt, and his sword before saying goodbye to Frasigr. Rora last sees Varangr as he disappears over the horizon as Rora rides south and back to Varangr's home to retell his story and present Faeda with her son's belongings.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Slayed the Franish Kraken
Brought peace to the warring northern Jarldoms
Fought the giant Attagur
Brought peace to the warring northern Jarldoms
Fought the giant Attagur
Failures & Embarrassments
Murder of his son Eihakr
Mental Trauma
Murdered his child and lived with an ill view of himself for years.
Intellectual Characteristics
Passionate
Rash
Ambitious
Rash
Ambitious
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Receive penance for the murder of his son
Social
Contacts & Relations
Battle Brother of Rora Machail
Friend of Hermóða, Herlov and Attagur
Friend of Hermóða, Herlov and Attagur
Family Ties
Son of Rymr and Faeda
Father of Eihakr
Half-brother of Hemella and Veidr
Half-Uncle of Timur, Szabikos, Onerion and Irea
Father of Eihakr
Half-brother of Hemella and Veidr
Half-Uncle of Timur, Szabikos, Onerion and Irea
Social Aptitude
Portrayed in the Bókrinn Gamallinn Iöna, a book on the collection of myths surrounding Varangr's journeys as a deeply thoughtful, emotional and devoted man, Varangr was initially motivated to complete his task for penance and forgiveness in the eyes of his people and the gods but after briefly talking with his long dead son in the forest of Tilgitt he learns that his journey was meant to make him learn lessons in the build up to learn to forgive himself.
Hobbies & Pets
Rode his famous horse Frasigr to the forest of Tilgitt.
Speech
After the murder of his son, Varangr's speech in the Bókrinn Gamallinn Iöna changes as he becomes very retrospective and emotionally distant. It does not take much to get Varangr emotional as reminders of his past tend to make him either withdrawn, furious or defensive. In the end, Varangr's speech at the end of his story is the only time he is shown speaking in a calm, collected and peaceful manner.
Divine Classification
Demi God
Species
Ethnicity
Date of Birth
Archaic Age
Circumstances of Birth
Born in secret to the Jarlskona Faeda and the god Rymr
Circumstances of Death
Disappeared sailing into the Daudhlera to be called upon in the end of days to return and save Iola
Spouses
Banmada
(spouse)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Long, White (formerly dark brown)
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
White
Height
7 ft
Weight
350 lbs
Related Myths
Character Prototype
Heracles and Cú Chulainn
(Varangr's mother Faeda)
(Varangr's trusted companion Rora Machail)
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