http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog daily 0.75 2015-10-26 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/56157b94e4b050d098d8ce86/1444321895643/Woods+1.JPG The Word http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/ribe-denmark monthly 0.5 2015-10-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5616954be4b0f6da032bec81/1444320596022/ribe-denmark.jpg The Word - The Lands Behind the Legend: Ribe http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/a-modern-classic monthly 0.5 2015-10-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/561690f9e4b0f890086164dc/1444319483334/Runemaster.jpg The Word - The Making of a Modern Classic The cover of The Runemaster, published in September 2015 by PJ Triplow. http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/edric-hunter monthly 0.5 2021-03-01 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/ruthwell-cross-runestone monthly 0.5 2015-10-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/56168859e4b01de619f480cb/1444317275338/Ruthwell-cross.jpg The Word - Real Runes: the Ruthwell Cross http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/lost-in-translation-man monthly 0.5 2021-03-01 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/Inspiration monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/English monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/Characters monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/Folklore monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/History monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/category/Audio monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/Adventure monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/mankind monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/werewolf monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/runes monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/jutland monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/Woden monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/dream+of+the+rood monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/chairman monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/anglo-saxon+runes monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/Runemaster monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/english+poetry monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/ribe monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/action+adventure monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/viking+settlements monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/modern+classic monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/ruthwell+cross monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/denmark monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/fantasy+novel monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/old+english monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/ribe+castle monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/man monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/oldest+town+in+denmark monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/northumbria monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/weblog/tag/runestone monthly 0.5 http://www.bloodofwoden.com/runestaves daily 0.75 2015-09-01 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e5e6dbe4b04539eab4b056/1438804021658/1.+Feoh.jpg Runestaves - FEOH (fee) The word feoh originally meant 'cattle'. In the days before coins came into use, cattle were often bartered for other goods. Because of this, feoh became a byword for 'payment', hence the modern word 'fee'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter F. In most positions, it was pronounced as a modern F, as in fether 'feather' or lyft 'lift'. Between vowels, however, it had the sound of a modern V, as in seofon 'seven'. The letter V was not used in Old English and did not become widespread until later in the Middle Ages. This rune is usually taken to mean wealth, worldly goods and the sharing of these. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b02a9b1df531f8/1438804021658/1.+Feoh.jpg Runestaves - FEOH (fee) The word feoh originally meant 'cattle'. In the days before coins came into use, cattle were often bartered for other goods. Because of this, feoh became a byword for 'payment', hence the modern word 'fee'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter F. In most positions, it was pronounced as a modern F, as in fether 'feather' or lyft 'lift'. Between vowels, however, it had the sound of a modern V, as in seofon 'seven'. The letter V was not used in Old English and did not become widespread until later in the Middle Ages. This rune is usually taken to mean wealth, worldly goods and the sharing of these. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b0735bb0e8aa79/1438804053563/2.+Ur.jpg Runestaves - UR (aurochs) The aurochs was a wild, longhorned ox renowned for its great strength and short fuse. It became extinct in Britain well before the first English settlers arrived, which suggests the rune was given its name while the English were still living in their continental homeland. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter U. In Old English, as in Modern English, vowels had both a long and a short sound. The short U in Old English was the sound we now have in the word 'pull'. The long U was more akin to the sound we hear in 'owl'. Examples include tun 'town', ful 'foul' and mus 'mouse'. Commonly cited meanings for this rune include brute strength, boldness and fearlessness. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b02a9b1df531fa/1438865368338/3.+Thorn.jpg Runestaves - THORN (thorn) While this rune is known as thorn in the Old English Rune Poem, it bears the name thurs in the other two poems. This is the same thurse which appears in the Blood of Woden books: a wild, savage and, thankfully, mythical monster. Thorn made the sound TH, as in þeof 'thief' and þær 'there'. The Roman alphabet had no letter for this sound, so English speakers continued to use a rounded version of the rune alongside the new Roman letters. From the twelfth century onwards, the rune was dropped in favour of the TH we use today. Thorn is usually taken as a warning not to grapple with what you do not know. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b0735bb0e8aa7b/1438864332127/4.+Os.jpg Runestaves - OS Os is the singular form of Esa, the kindred of gods at the heart of the heathen Germanic faith. The word went out of use years ago, although it does survive in names such as Oswald and Osborne. The Old English Rune Poem describes it as a speech rune. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter O. Like all English vowels, it had a long and a short sound. The short sound occurs in bodig 'body', while the long O gives both boc 'book' and brod 'brood'. As per the Poem, this rune is usually taken to rule speech and wisdom. Some also take it as a reference to Woden, the god most associated with these traits. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b02a9b1df531fc/1438865395213/5.+Rad.jpg Runestaves - RAD (road) The name of this rune is the old form of the word 'road'. Nowadays, this word tends to mean 'street', but back then it meant 'journey'. This meaning lives on in phrases such as 'the road to recovery' or 'one for the road'. Long overland journeys would have been made by horse in those days so it should come as no surprise that 'road' shares a root with 'ride'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter R. It was pronounced the same in Old English as it is today, for example riht 'right', træppe 'trap' and word 'word'. Rad represents both the road through life and any actual journeys made along the way. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b02a9b1df53200/1441129422027/6.+Cen.jpg Runestaves - CEN Cen had the meaning of 'torch' or 'firebrand' in runic times. This word did not make it into Modern English. In line with the explanation below, the rune would have been pronounced 'chen'. Common meanings include fire, fever and illness. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter C. Before A, O, U, Y and all consonants it was hard, for example cald 'cold', cynn 'kin' and cræft 'craft'. Before I or E it was usually soft, the soft sound being like modern CH, for example ceap 'cheap' and cild 'child'. (There were several exceptions, such as cene 'keen'). At the end of a word it could be either hard or soft, as in blæc 'black' and benc 'bench'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd2e4b0735bb0e8aa7e/1438864558536/7.+Gyfu.jpg Runestaves - GYFU (gift) In Old English, Gyfu meant both 'gift' and the act of giving. Giving and receiving were important in heathen society: wealth was to be shared and gifts were to be gratefully received. The Poem uses Feoh to promote sharing and Gyfu to encourage gratefulness. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter G. In Old English, G had three distinct sounds. Before A, O, U, Y and all consonants it was hard, as in gold 'gold' and glæs 'glass'. Before I or E, and at the end of a word, it was usually pronounced as a modern Y, as in geard 'yard' and hunig 'honey'. Between vowels, it made a kind of soft W, for example fugol 'fowl'. The sound we now get from D and G was made in Old English by C and G, for example ecg 'edge'. This rune is generally taken to stand for giving and receiving. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd3e4b02a9b1df53202/1438865463580/8.+Wynn.jpg Runestaves - WYNN (win) Wynn originally meant 'bliss' or 'joy'. In this sense, it lives on in the Modern English word 'winsome'. Although the verb 'win' does not come directly from wynn, the two words share the same root, which makes sense in terms of their meanings. Like Thorn, this rune continued to be used after the switch to the Roman alphabet, as it stood for a sound which did not exist in Medieval Latin. By the twelfth century, it had been replaced by UU, which evolved into the W we have today. It had the same sound as in Modern English: werig 'weary', swift 'swift'. The meaning is usually given as carefree and unbridled joy, making it the most positive of all runes. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd3e4b0735bb0e8aa80/1438860203602/9.+Haegl.jpg Runestaves - HÆGL (hail) Hægl refers to the small lumps of ice rather than the greeting. The word was pronounced as in Modern English. All three rune poems describe hail as being like corn. This is a pretty specific way to describe it and suggests the three poems share a common source. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter H. It was pronounced the same as in Modern English, for example heall 'hall' and hungrig 'hungry'. Unlike today, H was often used and pronounced before consonants in Old English, as in hwæt 'what', hlæder 'ladder' or hring 'ring'. Common interpretations of this rune include weathering the storm and overcoming hardship. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd3e4b02a9b1df53205/1438860251021/10.+Nyd.jpg Runestaves - NYD (need) The name of this rune is sometimes written Nied as this was the standard Old English spelling of 'need'. In runic times, the meaning of Nyd was skewed more towards hardship and suffering than it is today. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter N. It was pronounced the same way as in Modern English, for example standan 'stand' and nearo 'narrow'. Note, however, that it was never used in the combination NG. This had its own rune (see Ing). The rune is commonly said to mean hardship, need and sorrow, but with the upbeat promise that none of these cannot be overcome. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd3e4b02a9b1df53207/1438865540638/11.+Is.JPG Runestaves - IS (ice) The name of this rune means 'ice' (not 'is'). The properties ascribed to it include obvious traits such as cold and slipperyness, but also risk and trickery. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter I (although telling the difference would be hard). As with other vowels, it had a long and a short sound. The short sound was used in words such as fisc 'fish'. The long vowel is found in tigel 'tile' and writan 'write'. A third sound occurred when used before G at the end of a word, as in numbers such as twentig 'twenty' or adjectives such as dreorig 'dreary'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c25fd3e4b0735bb0e8aa82/1438865606150/12.+Gear.jpg Runestaves - GER (year) This word meant the same in Old English as it does today. It could also refer specifically to harvest-time, which is the subject of its verse in the Old English Rune Poem. The stave shown is the one from the Poem, but this was only used towards the end of the runic period. Until then, Ger took the shape of the Ior rune, which was not yet a separate sound. Ger was used sparingly in Old English, as it reproduced the soft G of Gyfu. In Modern English, we use the letter Y to represent this sound, as in 'yield'. In other Germanic tongues, however, the rune was replaced by J, as in German jahr 'year'. J did not appear in English until later in the Middle Ages. A meaning of harvest, fruitfulness and thanksgiving is usually ascribed to this rune. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26000e4b0b0ac34a236ba/1438866129168/13.+Eoh.jpg Runestaves - EOH (yew) The more common Old English spelling of 'yew' was iw, so the name of the rune may preserve an older form. To the heathen English, the yew stood for long life and stability. The rune is thus taken to represent both the hardness of the tree and its role as a marker of time. Eoh had no counterpart in the Roman alphabet. Soundwise, therefore, it is something of a mystery. Like Ger, this rune was seldom used in Old English, so examples are few. Where it was used, most notably on the Ruthwell Cross, it often appeared where we would now have GH, as in ealmihtig 'almighty'. In Old English, GH was written simply as H, examples being niht 'night' and toh 'tough'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26000e4b0c1953b61a6c7/1438862689925/14.+Peorth.jpg Runestaves - PEORTH The word peorth is known only from the Old English Rune Poem, so allotting a meaning is hard. There is nothing to suggest it was not a meaningful word, but other examples are yet to be found. Whatever the name means, the Poem describes Peorth in terms of play and laughter in the beerhall, so it was clearly positive. Drinking, games and sex have all been suggested. The only thing we can say with certainty about this rune is that it was replaced by the Roman letter P. It was pronounced the same in Old English as in Modern English, examples being pæth 'path' and æppel 'apple'. The letter P was uncommon in Old English words. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26000e4b0b0ac34a236bc/1438866602867/15.+Eolhsecg.jpg Runestaves - EOLH SECG (elk sedge) This rune is unique in that its sound comes in the middle of the name. Sedge is a wetland grass which grows all over Europe, while an elk is a large deer found in Scandinavia. There is no European sedge called elk sedge so the plant must now go by some other name. It is believed this rune originally stood for the sound we now know as Z. However, by the time Old English was being spoken, its sound had shifted to that of modern X. This was a rare sound in Old English and examples of the rune are likewise rare. It was replaced by the Roman letters CS or X, for example æcs 'axe' or fox 'fox'. Typically, this rune is described as one of protection and warding off harm. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26000e4b0c1953b61a6c9/1438868307256/16.+Sigel.jpg Runestaves - SIGEL (sail) Aside from the Rune Poem, the word sigel is known only from sigelhweorf - the name of a flower. Some sources claim it was an ancient word for 'sun'; others claim it comes from segl, the old form of 'sail'. The Poem describes it simply as something helpful to sailors. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter S. Most of the time, it made the sound we now get in 'horse', for example fæst 'fast'. Between vowels, however, it was generally pronounced as in 'choose', for example risan 'rise'. When followed by C, it was pronounced as SH in 'short', for example scip 'ship' and wascan 'wash'. The meaning of the rune is generally given as hope, guidance and reassurance. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26000e4b0c1953b61a6cb/1438868974681/17.+Tir.jpg Runestaves - TIR (tiw) Tir is an alteration of Tiw, the warrior god who appears in the Blood of Woden books. The name of this god varies widely, being recorded as Tig in some English place names and as Tyr in Old Norse. The word may also be used as a noun to mean 'victory' or 'glory'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter T, and was pronounced as it is today: tægel 'tail', metan 'meet'. Note, however, that Tir was never used to make the sound made by Thorn. When T and H appear side by side in Old English, they are always pronounced separately, as in Modern English 'hothouse'. Common meanings for this rune include victory, bravery and troth, as well as the god himself. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0b0ac34a236be/1438867250269/18.+Beorc.jpg Runestaves - BEORC (birch) This word meant the same in Old English as it does in Modern English, and was pronounced much the same way. It is one of four English runes named after a tree. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter B. It was pronounced as it is in Modern English, for example bosm 'bosom' or brecan 'break'. The Old English Rune Poem describes the tree nicely but offers little deeper meaning. The consensus seems to be that the rune stands for spring, growth and youthfulness. If this is the case, it may well have been linked to the goddess, Eoster. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0c1953b61a6cd/1438869107143/19.+Eh.jpg Runestaves - EH This was one of several words in Old English that had to do with horses. A few have made it into Modern English - hors being the obvious one and mearh 'mare' being another. Eh was one of those that did not, although it does share an ancient root with the Latin word equus, and thus the Modern English word 'equestrian'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter E. The short E was pronounced as it is today, for example ende 'end'. The long E could be pronounced either as in 'feet' or in 'name', for example secan 'seek' or thegn 'thane'. Note that this rune only represented E on its own: the pairings EA and EO had their own runes (see Ear and Ethel). Eh stands for the freedom and movement offered by a horse. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0b0ac34a236d5/1438868889742/20.+Man.jpg Runestaves - MAN (man) In Old English, the word mann meant simply 'human being'; it did not mean 'male human' as it does today. This meaning lives on in words like 'mankind' and in sayings such as 'all things to all men'. In Old English, a male man was a wermann and a female was a wifmann. The word wer does still exist but only as the first part of 'werewolf'. Wif is, of course, Modern English 'wife'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter M. It was pronounced the same as it is today, for example monath 'month' and dom 'doom'. The meaning is based upon a rather gloomy verse in the Rune Poem, which stresses the weakness and mortality of mankind. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0c1953b61a6cf/1438869195023/21.+Lagu.jpg Runestaves - LAGU The word lagu had two meanings in Old English: when spoken with a soft G it meant 'law' and when spoken with a hard G it meant 'sea'. It is clear from the wording of the Poem that the second meaning is intended. This word did not make it into Modern English, but it does share a root with the Latin word lacus, from which we get 'lake' and 'lagoon'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter L. It was pronounced the same as in Modern English, for example lang 'long' and wealdan 'wield'. Lagu is usually taken to stand for the breadth and depth of the sea, and mankind's powerlessness to tame it. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0b0ac34a236d7/1438869539412/22.+Ing.jpg Runestaves - ING (ingui) Ing is named directly after Ingui, the god at the heart of The Runemaster. Although this is the only time he is mentioned by name in Old English, he appears in several Old Norse poems as Ingui-Freyr. This rune is unique in that its sound comes at the end of the name. Latin did not have this sound so the Roman alphabet had no letter for it. Old English used N and G to represent the sound, as we still do today. The rune was pronounced with a hard G, as in 'stronger'. Examples include thing 'thing' and finger 'finger'. Its meanings are given as sex, manhood, fertility and plenty, all of which were attributes of Ingui. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0c1953b61a6d1/1438870003698/23.+Ethel.jpg Runestaves - ETHEL Ethel meant 'noble' in Old English. It forms the root of the word atheling, meaning 'prince', along with personal names such as Ethelred and Athelstan. The word is no longer used as an adjective, but it has given us the name 'Ethel'. This rune was replaced by the Roman letters EO. This was a very common spelling in Old English - far more common than E on its own. Today, however, EO has all but vanished: heofon has become 'heaven', sweoster has become 'sister' and so forth. Soundwise, Ethel was pronounced much like the EO in 'leotard'. This rune is usually taken to stand for the home and the importance of belonging. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26001e4b0b0ac34a236d9/1438869808662/24.+Daeg.jpg Runestaves - DÆG (day) This word had the same meaning in Old English as in Modern English, and was pronounced the same way. The Rune Poem focuses on the benefits of daylight rather than the day as a unit of time. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter D. It was pronounced as in Modern English. Examples include disc 'dish', fodor 'fodder' and wendan 'wend'. In most translations, Dæg stands for daylight and the feeling of safety and cheer that only daylight can bring. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26023e4b038d8dcc5a918/1441130203885/25.+Ac.jpg Runestaves - AC (oak) This word had the same meaning in Old English as in Modern English, and was pronounced much the same way. The Rune Poem deals with the qualities of the wood rather than the tree. As a result, Ac is generally taken to stand for proven strength and toughness. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter A. As a general rule, the short A in Old English was pronounced like the U in modern 'sun'. There were, however, plenty of exceptions. Compare the modern sounds in faran 'fare', hand 'hand' and hrathor 'rather'. The long A was more consistent and is today written O or OA. Examples include ath 'oath', blawan 'blow' and stan 'stone'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26023e4b06f664881cdf3/1438873206879/26.+Aesc.jpg Runestaves - ÆSC (ash) The name refers to the tree rather than to the leftovers of a fire. In this sense, it meant the same in Old English as in Modern English. The Poem describes a tree which holds its ground no matter what, giving a common interpretation of steadfastness and determination. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter Æ. As Old English gave way to Middle English in the twelfth century, Æ was shortened to A (hitherto only used for words spelt with the Ac rune). The rune appears not to have had a fixed long and short sound. Instead, it made a broad range of sounds, as witnessed by the following: nægl 'nail', hærfest 'harvest', nædre 'adder', ænig 'any', rædan 'read'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26023e4b06f664881ce0b/1438872037603/27.+Yr.jpg Runestaves - YR The names of these last three runes are simply the sound of the rune plus 'r'. All three are vowels which developed in Old English after the migration to Britain. The meaning most often ascribed to Yr is the honour of being a bowman and the pride of being one of the elite. This rune was replaced by the Roman letter Y. In Old English, Y was always a vowel, as it still is today in words such as 'fly'. The long and short sounds were little different, both being somewhere between the I in 'sing' and the EW in 'few'. Most words which used Yr are now spelt with I, for example lytel 'little', cyssan 'kiss' and hrycg 'ridge'. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26023e4b038d8dcc5a91a/1438959189236/28.+Iar.jpg Runestaves - IOR Ior is believed to have split from Ger in the ninth century: Ior took the shape of the old rune while Ger kept the name. The Poem refers to some kind of water-dwelling creature. There is no consensus on the meaning, but wellbeing and adaptability are often suggested. The Roman alphabet had no letter for this sound, so English speakers used I and O together. IO was never common in Old English and appears only in a few Northumbrian spellings. Liornung 'learning' and giornon 'yearn' show some of these Northumbrian forms. This sound no longer exists in English: words such as 'action' and 'fusion' come from French and represent a different sound. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c25fb9e4b083f9eddd5bc6/55c26024e4b06f664881ce0d/1438959570397/29.+Ear.jpg Runestaves - EAR Like Yr and Ior, the name Ear is simply the sound of the rune plus 'r', and has nothing to do with the word 'ear'. Its verse in the Rune Poem describes a body decaying into the ground, from which a meaning of death and finality is widely accepted. The Roman alphabet had no letter for this sound, so English speakers used E and A together. This was a very common spelling in Old English. Soundwise, the short sound of Ear seems to have stressed the A more than the E, as in ealdorman 'alderman', weard 'ward' and mearc 'march'. The long sound was the other way round, as in east 'east', death 'death' and beam 'beam'. http://www.bloodofwoden.com/dark-age-faith-and-culture daily 0.75 2015-09-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e07493e4b0c1436c8ffd4c/1441115646466/ inspired by the faith of a nation https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e06e58e4b0b4e73731764e/1440771951023/ inspired by the faith of a nation https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e5ad3be4b0df231a093907/1441115476692/ inspired by the faith of a nation https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55b90625e4b0c41d46928c12/1438189099422/Viking+Ship+1.jpg inspired by the faith of a nation https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e06fd2e4b0702d1240d82a/1440772051599/Shropshire+2.JPG inspired by the faith of a nation http://www.bloodofwoden.com/about-runes daily 0.75 2015-09-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e057e0e4b07f121348fd67/1440765973563/ a new twist on an ancient alphabet https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55c205cce4b081fdca9e43fc/1441114429975/Sun+1.JPG a new twist on an ancient alphabet https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e5a701e4b026b50ba7c13c/1441113955454/Runes+01.jpg a new twist on an ancient alphabet https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e5a966e4b05381dfa3f7c1/1441114550884/Runes+02.jpg a new twist on an ancient alphabet http://www.bloodofwoden.com/blood-of-woden-books daily 1.0 2021-03-01 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/59036724bf629ae3198d1937/1493395245743/Well+of+Wyrd+cover+for+Squarespace.jpg The Books Well of Wyrd is the second book in the Blood of Woden action adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e9b43ce4b099d613e70a0f/1441654346571/Runestone+Hall%3A+an+epic+action+adventure The Books Runestone Hall is the third book in the Blood of Woden action adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55edf9e6e4b0e884b1b798e1/1441659428296/The+Runemaster%3A+an+epic+action+adventure The Books The Runemaster is the first book in the Blood of Woden action adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e82cbae4b0b7a61566b2d1/1441279254936/ The Books http://www.bloodofwoden.com/adventure-in-the-midlands daily 0.75 2015-09-02 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55c1fac0e4b0b923e56fc70f/1438776005824/Gas+Street+Basin%2C+Birmingham made in the heart of England Birmingham is the modern-day setting for The Runemaster, the first book in the Blood of Woden fantasy adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55c1fae8e4b0e11e9db2c3b9/1438776044271/Tamworth%2C+Staffordshire made in the heart of England Tamworth provides the setting for much of the action in Well of Wyrd, the second book in the Blood of Woden fantasy adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55c1fb07e4b0429e4a4de57b/1438776075342/Ludlow%2C+capital+of+the+Marches made in the heart of England Ludlow provides the backdrop for Runestone Hall, the third book in the Blood of Woden fantasy adventure series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55cca554e4b0161b997879e6/1439475319159/Library+1.JPG made in the heart of England http://www.bloodofwoden.com/runestone-hall-book daily 0.75 2017-04-28 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55e9b3d4e4b070ac6169c04f/1441379286184/Barn+door.jpg Runestone Hall http://www.bloodofwoden.com/facts-about-birmingham daily 0.75 2015-09-22 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55c0dd21e4b0a594aacab17d/1439480086737/Cath+2.JPG Birmingham - Birmingham Cathedral St Philip's church opened in 1715 and became a cathedral in 1905. It is the third smallest cathedral in England and one of only two built in the baroque style, the other being London. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55c0dccce4b073d95bb15975/1438787030764/Boats+3.JPG Birmingham - Gas Street Basin For the past two hundred years, Birmingham has lain at the heart of Britain's canal network. This basin forms its hub. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55c0dd2fe4b06b4c770f3b5b/1439480086747/Law+8.JPG Birmingham - Central Hall Opened in 1904, this building is an excellent example of the Midland Terracotta style. Now largely disused, its sculptures call to mind the 'green man' of English folklore. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55ccb73de4b0ad0fe77d359e/1441122699129/Moor+1.JPG Birmingham - Moor Street Station Birmingham Moor Street was built in 1914. After several years of closure, the old platforms reopened in 2002. The whole station is decorated in the style and livery of a 1930s station. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55c0dd11e4b0536353984159/1439480086721/Corp+8.JPG Birmingham - Corporation Street This street was laid out in 1878 on the site of a Georgian slum. The top end (shown here) forms the city's legal quarter. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c0dcc7e4b0b4e803f2b322/55c0dcede4b073d95bb15a3c/1439480086705/Library+2.JPG Birmingham - Library of Birmingham Opened in 2013, this is currently Britain's largest public library. To its right is Baskerville House, built in 1938 as part of a proposed civic centre which was never completed. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c02ce4b0eaa138bb98bb/1442955312831/Ludlow.JPG Birmingham Ludlow provides the setting for Runestone Hall, the third book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c012e4b0eaa138bb982d/1442955286169/Tamworth.jpg Birmingham Tamworth provides the setting for Well of Wyrd, the second book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55cca9e2e4b01a54c904a4ea/1439479455349/Bennett+2.JPG Birmingham http://www.bloodofwoden.com/well-of-wyrd-book daily 0.75 2017-04-28 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/59036adfbe65942441e5f234/1493396293670/Squarespace+wallpaper.jpg Well of Wyrd http://www.bloodofwoden.com/facts-about-tamworth daily 0.75 2015-09-22 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1efb4e4b0b923e56fa93d/55c1f0aae4b0df9fe1178ebb/1441122304405/Tame+2.JPG Tamworth - River Tame Taken from the Lady Bridge, this picture shows the location of Tamworth's prehistoric ford, which features in Well of Wyrd. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1efb4e4b0b923e56fa93d/55c1f0b6e4b0df9fe1178edb/1441122324381/Hall+2.JPG Tamworth - Tamworth Town Hall Built in 1701 by the town's then Member of Parliament, Thomas Guy, who also founded the hospital which bears his name in London. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1efb4e4b0b923e56fa93d/55c1f08de4b0df9fe1178e77/1439478646552/Anchor+1.JPG Tamworth - Anchor statue One of Tamworth's more recent landmarks, this striking statue was raised in 2002 as a memorial to local war hero, Colin Grazier. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1efb4e4b0b923e56fa93d/55c1f09ae4b0df9fe1178e9f/1439479097024/Castle+1.JPG Tamworth - Tamworth Castle The statue shows Lady Æthelflæd, who made Tamworth a borough in 913. The boy at her side is her nephew, Æthelstan, who would go on to become the first king of all England. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c353e4b070c34c4555ce/1442956119565/Ludlow.JPG Tamworth Ludlow provides the setting for Runestone Hall, the third book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c319e4b0a97ba5d585c2/1442956063249/Birmingham.jpg Tamworth Birmingham provides the setting for The Runemaster, the first book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55ccb5ebe4b065516c5d946a/1439479277267/Editha+1.JPG Tamworth http://www.bloodofwoden.com/facts-about-ludlow daily 0.75 2015-09-22 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f501e4b0a109a2a28d50/1439476523972/Church+3.JPG Ludlow - Ludlow Church Ludlow's parish church is the largest in the county. The present building dates largely from the fifteenth century and is a superb example of the Perpendicular style. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f3b0e4b02ffdf28565e8/1439477245092/Broad+7.JPG Ludlow - The Buttercross The Buttercross is the stone building to the left, built in 1746 on the spot marking the centre of the town. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f50ce4b0a109a2a28d8b/1441121110129/Market+2.JPG Ludlow - Ludlow Market The western half of the medieval marketplace still houses a thriving market. Tuesday is the only day you will get to see it as empty as this. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f35ae4b0aa531a699291/1439476561061/Broad+1.JPG Ludlow - Broad Street, Ludlow Ludlow's half-timbered buildings are typical of this part of the Midlands, though few towns boast so many on one street. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f3c0e4b0612ff00804b9/1439476554050/Bridge+4.JPG Ludlow - Ludlow Castle Most English castles were built in the countryside or shoehorned into towns. At Ludlow, the town was built to serve the castle. The marketplace stands at its gate. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f399e4b02ffdf28565a2/1439477993046/Market+6.JPG Ludlow - Old Market This was once the eastern end of the market. Over the years it has become more and more built up, and now comprises four lanes and three blocks of buildings. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55c1f382e4b0a109a2a2894a/1439477013870/Bullring+2.JPG Ludlow - Old Bull Ring Tavern A classic example of a half-timbered inn at the eastern end of the old town. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/55c1f2bce4b00645a8e5cb18/55ccb21be4b0dc6eee3c8460/1439478508987/View+4.JPG Ludlow - Ludlow and Clee Hill The view from Whitcliffe Common shows Ludlow's setting below Clee Hill - the highest point in the Midlands. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c538e4b040a5bbf4ba75/1442956604347/Tamworth.jpg Ludlow Tamworth provides the setting for Well of Wyrd, the second book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/5601c4d3e4b04aa9439a83c0/1442956505342/Birmingham.jpg Ludlow Birmingham provides the setting for The Runemaster, the first book in the Blood of Woden series https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55ccb1a5e4b0f9761afa630e/1439478182470/Castle+1.JPG Ludlow http://www.bloodofwoden.com/the-runemaster-book daily 0.75 2015-09-15 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b65a85e4b0cc4be270db74/t/55edfabfe4b0c46828ecd1af/1441659589223/Plain+cover.jpg The Runemaster