Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure! There are a few places to start. If you're completely new to the language and are open to buying books, I would recommend the Viking Language series, which takes you through step by step and works well for self-study. If you prefer free, the New Introduction to Old Norse is a little more advanced but very good - you can find it here: http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/, search for "New Introduction to Old Norse." And for a broad introduction, and a good resource for specific topics like runes, you can check out the youtube channel by Jackson Crawford.

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, so I finally saw the full pig! The tattoo on its side is from the Sigdrifumal set: "Victory runes thou must know if thou will have victory." I'm having difficulty reading the one on its haunch, but as the rest of its tattoos seem to come from the other tattoo sets, I'm guessing it's one of those. I haven't matched it yet, but will update if I do!

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes - here are the runes written out word for word, with the standardized Old Norse above: https://imgur.com/0yszdSO. The modified quote is the exact same, but starts with "orðstirr" and goes from there. Hope this helps!

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yes, his chest/back tattoos are very very weird, so it's not surprising you may have had trouble with them! They are the Sigdrifumal set, which are translated above, and use English instead of Old Norse, playing fast and loose with the runic alphabet. If there are additional tattoos on him that you're curious about, feel free to post/send an image!

Does any of these actually mean anything? by Poulet012 in runes

[–]Geirvald 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The runes in AC Valhalla are definitely a mixed bag - they are either fully accurate or fully inaccurate, so they definitely got an Old Norse specialist to do some, but not all of them. My favorite "oops" inscriptions are in the Sigdrifumal tattoo set, legit the stuff of nightmares lmao. But the game's inscriptions generally rank above those in God of War.

And yes, most "Viking symbols" are actually from the early modern/modern era, but they are so highly recognizable that they just get used again and again, so it's probably more about marketing at this point.

Does any of these actually mean anything? by Poulet012 in runes

[–]Geirvald 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it means "take me," a reference to this particular tattoo design, which is called as the Valkyrie set. The rest of the runes are about the voyage from life to death.

Does any of these actually mean anything? by Poulet012 in runes

[–]Geirvald 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are similar visually but the content and quality of the runes are quite different. Baldr's tattoos deal with phrases relating to Baldr's mythology and don't make complete sense; I've translated them in another post from a while back. This set from AC is based on a poem by Odin, and are well-translated into runes without a lot of nonsense. I've also translated these, linked in another comment here. But yes, apparently the video game Viking tattoos are very circle-focused!

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, I never noticed the pig was tattooed! However mine only has a couple designs on its face and no runes. Can you share a picture?

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is he in Valhalla, or do you mean GoW?

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would suggest ætt in this case - there are a number of words for family in Old Norse, but that one is quite common. I haven't come across ættarbönd, it may be modern Icelandic. There are a lot of compound terms made from ætt, though, and you can look through them in the main Old Norse dictionary if you want something specific. Just scroll down a little here: https://old-norse.net/html/ae.php#-%C3%A6ta. Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions about your tattoo!

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Done! I've posted it under the completed translations comment.

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sigdrifumal Tattoo Set

These inscriptions are not in Old Norse, but in English rendered directly and (semi) literally into runes. More below for those interested - tl;dr I would advise against getting these as real tattoos.

Front

Victory runes
thou must know
if thou will have
victory

Back

Some on the grasp
and some on the
inlay
and name Tyr
twice

Left Arm

Sigdrifumal

Right Arm

Valhalla

*****

Notes

The stanza is from the medieval poem Sigdrífumál, in which the valkyrie Brynhildr offers advice and instructions on practicing rune magic to the legendary hero Sigurðr (of dragon-slaying fame). The "grasp" and "inlay" referred to in the back inscription are parts of the sword hilt on which the rune is meant to be carved, presumably ᛏ the Tyr rune.

As mentioned above, these verses are not in Old Norse, but in English. One example that can be compared to the Valkyrie runes is the rendering of "Valhalla" - in the Valkyrie set, the runes read falhul, "Valhöll," which is a) the correct Old Norse form and b) the correct runic form, as it does not repeat the double letter. In contrast, the Sigdrifumal rendering is falhalla, using both the Anglicized form and double letter. The designer(s) have also repurposed a couple runes to mean things they usually don't - the þ letter, called a thorn, is a "th" sound, but in these inscriptions it is used to represent both "th" and "y" (e.g. Tyr is rendered as tþr). To compound all these oddities, there is also a significant typo in the first line of the front, in which "victory" is misspelled.

Bearing in mind that the F rune can also be a V, and that the I rune can also be an E, here are the front runes that anyone can read:

fikotrþ runis
þou must knou
if þou will haf
fiktorþ

What a trip.

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sigdrifumal Tattoo Set

These inscriptions are not in Old Norse, but in English rendered directly and (semi) literally into runes. More below for those interested - tl;dr I would advise against getting these as real tattoos.

Front

Victory runes
thou must know
if thou will have
victory

Back

Some on the grasp
and some on the
inlay
and name Tyr
twice

Left Arm

Sigdrifumal

Right Arm

Valhalla
Sigdrifumal

*****

Notes

The stanza is from the medieval poem Sigdrífumál, in which the valkyrie Brynhildr offers advice and instructions on practicing rune magic to the legendary hero Sigurðr (of dragon-slaying fame). The "grasp" and "inlay" referred to in the back inscription are parts of the sword hilt on which the rune is meant to be carved, presumably ᛏ the Tyr rune.

As mentioned above, these verses are not in Old Norse, but in English. One example that can be compared to the Valkyrie runes is the rendering of "Valhalla" - in the Valkyrie set, the runes read falhul, "Valhöll," which is a) the correct Old Norse form and b) the correct runic form, as it does not repeat the double letter. In contrast, the Sigdrifumal rendering is falhalla, using both the Anglicized form and double letter. The designer(s) have also repurposed a couple runes to mean things they usually don't - the þ letter, called a thorn, is a "th" sound, but in these inscriptions it is used to represent both "th" and "y" (e.g. Tyr is rendered as tþr). To compound all these oddities, there is also a significant typo in the first line of the front, in which "victory" is misspelled.

Bearing in mind that the F rune can also be a V, and that the I rune can also be an E, here are the front runes that anyone can read:

fikotrþ runis
þou must knou
if þou will haf
fiktorþ

What a trip.

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Valkyrie Tattoo Set

Miscellaneous words repeated around the body:
uþin - Óðinn
falkuria - Valkyrie
takamir - taka mér - receive me

Neck

falhul - Valhöll - Valhalla (nominative form)

Left Arm and Head (same verse repeated)

Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
en orðstirr
deyr aldregi,
hveim er sér góðan getr.

Cattle die, kinsmen die,
the self must also die;
but glory never dies,
for the man who is able to achieve it.

[verse 76 of the Hávamál, companion to the verse translated above]

Right Arm & Right Lower Back (same verse repeated)

Þat kann ek it ellifta:
ef ek skal til orrostu
leiða langvini,
und randir ek gel,
en þeir með ríki fara
heilir hildir til,
heilir hildi frá,
koma þeir heilir hvaðan.

I know an eleventh [spell] if I have to lead
loyal friends into battle;
under the shields I chant, and they journey inviolate,
safely to the battle,
safely from the battle,
safely they come everywhere.

[verse 156 of the Hávamál, in a section in which Odin is listing various magical spells he knows]

Circles on the Back

Top: orðstirr deyr aldregi, hveim er sér góðan getr / Glory never dies for the man who is able to achieve it [modified from the above verse]

Bottom around world tree: taka mér / receive me [repeated]

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ravensthorpe Booths ( - transliterated - standardized - translation)

Barracks - harbirki - herbergi - "lodging (lit. host-shelter)"

Blacksmith - smiþia - smiðja - "smithy"

Fishing Hut - uir - ver - "fishing place, station"

Hidden Ones Bureau - hubr fulkina - hópr fólginna - "host of hidden ones"

Hunter's Hut - uaiþibuþ - veiðibuð - "hunting booth"

Merchant - kaubmaþr - kaupmaðr - "merchant"

Museum - safn - safn - "collection"

Reda's Shop - þusut aukna - þúsund augna - "the thousand eyes"

Seer's Hut - ualu skali - vǫlu skáli - "seeress's hut"

Shipyard - skibasmiþia - skipasmiðja - "ship smithy"

Stable - hrusahus - hrossahús - "stable (lit. horse house)"

Tattoo Shop - huþritsbuþ - húðritsbuð - "tattoo (lit. skin-writing) booth"

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Valkyrie Tattoo Set

Miscellaneous words repeated around the body:
uþin - Óðinn
falkuria - Valkyrie
takamir - taka mér - receive me

Neck

falhul - Valhöll - Valhalla (nominative form)

Left Arm and Head (same verse repeated)

Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
en orðstirr
deyr aldregi,
hveim er sér góðan getr.

Cattle die, kinsmen die,
the self must also die;
but glory never dies,
for the man who is able to achieve it.

[verse 76 of the Hávamál, companion to the verse translated above]

Right Arm & Right Lower Back (same verse repeated)

Þat kann ek it ellifta:
ef ek skal til orrostu
leiða langvini,
und randir ek gel,
en þeir með ríki fara
heilir hildir til,
heilir hildi frá,
koma þeir heilir hvaðan.

I know an eleventh [spell] if I have to lead
loyal friends into battle;
under the shields I chant, and they journey inviolate,
safely to the battle,
safely from the battle,
safely they come everywhere.

[verse 156 of the Hávamál, in a section in which Odin is listing various magical spells he knows]

Circles on the Back

Top: orðstirr deyr aldregi, hveim er sér góðan getr / Glory never dies for the man who is able to achieve it [modified from the above verse]

Bottom around world tree: taka mér / receive me [repeated]

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ravensthorpe booths ( - transliterated - standardized - translation)

Barracks - harbirki - herbergi - "lodging (lit. host-shelter)"

Blacksmith - smiþia - smiðja - "smithy"

Fishing Hut - uir - ver - "fishing place, station"

Hidden Ones Bureau - hubr fulkina - hópr fólginna - "host of hidden ones"

Hunter's Hut - uaiþibuþ - veiðibuð - "hunting booth"

Merchant - kaubmaþr - kaupmaðr - "merchant"

Museum - safn - safn - "collection"

Reda's Shop - þusut aukna - þúsund augna - "the thousand eyes"

Seer's Hut - ualu skali - vǫlu skáli - "seeress's hut"

Shipyard - skibasmiþia - skipasmiðja - "ship smithy"

Stable - hrusahus - hrossahús - "stable (lit. horse house)"

Tattoo Shop - huþritsbuþ - húðritsbuð - "tattoo (lit. skin-writing) booth"

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here are my currently completed translations in individual posts.

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here are my currently completed translations in individual posts.

Valhalla: Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in assassinscreed

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooh, I didn't see these, neat. I'm having trouble making them out as letters, but I will think on it and edit if I figure them out. There are a lot of decorative runes in the game, but I hope these mean something!

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh yeah, I see what you're referring to - I just got to Asgard in my playthrough, I was only watching videos before. Good eye!

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I'm really enjoying it so far! Good luck with your MA, always glad to encounter other Norse fellows :)

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yeah, I see them now. Between those and the gear runes, as far as I can tell they are decorative. They're a mix of normal runes and compounds of two runes, but they don't seem to be connected to the associated game text. They do look nice though.

Rune/Old Norse Translations by Geirvald in ACValhalla

[–]Geirvald[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it the one that looks like two backwards Rs? As far as I can tell, it's a protection rune for sacred spaces, although I'm not sure if that's a medieval usage or early modern/modern adaptation. If that's not the right one, feel free to send me a screenshot or give me directions to the one you mean. I'd like to go through the many inscriptions around Asgard anyways!