Could skald be a title?

[Token]

Im working on a name for my chapters version of Bjorn, his name will be Ulv, but i want the name to have something more, like Bjorn the fellhanded. Could "skald" be a title? A skald is a person who tells stories, right? Im thinking he could be named "skald Ulv the something", perhaps "skald Ulv the wise", what do you think of that?

[CODE40K]

If he's going to be a story teller then maybe the foreteller or the truth wolf?

 

Dont know just an idea

 

DOC

[Einheri]

Hi, I'm doing my PhD in Old Nordic and Anglo-Saxon Philology so maybe I can help a bit.

 

Skald wasn't a title like Jarl (Earl) or Konungr (King), but was more like an occupational title like Bondi (farmer) or þræll (slave). A Skald was basically a precursor to the High Medieval court-poet and generally wrote to curry favour (and gifts) with important people.

 

I don't see why you couldn't use it as a title in 40k (it is fantasy afterall). If you want to add a more Old Norse flavour then maybe put the title after the name (as was the practice) such as Ulv Skald the Wise. So, I guess using Skald as a title depends on how historically accurate you want to be.

 

Edit: You could certainly have it as part of a nickname. Eyvind skaldaspiller (ruiner of poets/poems) or Arnórr jarlaskáld (the Earl's poet), for instance.

[Token]

Thanks, lots of info.

[Frostfang]

Back in the day of 2nd edition 40k, Skald was the title for the level 1 Rune Priest to the Space Wolves (Skald lvl 1, Rune Priest lvl 2, Rune Master lvl 3 and Rune Lord lvl 4). Fluffwise they were at the beginning of their careers, and travelled between the different Great Companies. At each, they stayed long enough to learn all (or most?) of their traditions and sagas, before moving on to the next Great Company.

 

So in that case, Skald would be an accepted title, although the rumours say that only Blood Angels put psykers in Dreadnoughts :lol:

[stinkenheim]

but he could have been the skald to a wolf lord (possibly the current lord of your great company) and simply been the Lord's scribe almost. a member of the wolf guard who kept a record of great victories won by the wolf lord, to be sung out over the fires at feasts or times of celebration. it could also be part of your companies hstory that they have the skald there to tell of the Wolf Lords achievements should he die, almost like someone reading out a poem at a funeral. a way of keeping his memory going in his death.

he doesn't have to be a psyker is all im saying :)

[Token]

Dont think i want him as a psyker, fluffwise. Stinkheim, good idea, the story telling part could be what makes the marines fearless should he fall and becoming an objective, they like hearing his stories. Was thinking of making his dreadnought body being experimental and therefor important, but that wouldnt make sense making space marines fearless if he falls.

[Sarapham]

I would simply use it as an occupational/descriptive "surname", so Ulv the Skald... Ulv Skaldr... Ulv Skalden (Swedish) and so on.. keeps it simple yet works.

[Token]

Ulv the skald works, tack. Though not 100.. Other ideas?