The North Sea Saga of Wieland the Smith

“You took my legs, King Niðuðr, because you wanted what my hands make. Instead, you will lose everything.”

A particular runensolides, a type of gold coin, makes reference to a mythical figure named Wieland the Smith. One version of the Norse story tells of a demigod, leader of the Elves, and exceptionally skilled smith. His reputation ultimately worked against him: a king captured him and had him crippled so that he could not escape.

As with many Norse stories, the tale ends in a particularly dramatic fashion: Wieland took revenge on the king by murdering his sons and crafting various objects from their body parts, seduced his daughter, and ultimately escaped by crafting wings and flying away.

The fact that this coin was found in Frisia points to a deeply shared mythological heritage.

MythWatch

This story is well suited to the MythWatchgame. Guides who embrace the more mythological side of the game could do a lot with it. Players could experience Wieland’s story firsthand: being captured by the king and forced to work for him, before eventually escaping and deciding the king’s fate. Alternatively, players could discover Wieland’s captivity while in the king’s hall and help him escape without the king finding out. Either way, the objects crafted by Wieland would make perfect mythical discoveries for the players, while the ending of the story could lead to some interesting discussions and reflection after the game.