The Ese
Many are the gods that bend the wyrd of the Northlands but the Geats honour above all the Ese, of whom the foremost are Tiw, Thunor, Woden and the goddess Frige. Those who worship the Gods most keenly may receive of them Godgifts that allow them to wield some small fragment of the god’s power in the world of men.
Tiw is eldest of the Ese and their King. He is the god of war and the most honoured of the Ese amongst the Geats. Wise and courageous, Tiw sacrificed his own right hand that the other Gods might bind the Great Wolf that would swallow the world. He is cunning and cool in the midst of battle and wise in council. His sword craft is greater than any of the Gods for all that he must use his left hand. He gives fair judgement in disputes, witnesses the oaths of men and punishes oath-breakers. The soaring eagle and the noble horse are sacred to Tiw. Gold, silver and fine steeds are the most acceptable sacrifice for those who seek the favour of Tiw. Above all he honours those who sacrifice themselves willingly for their fellows. It is said he favours only those who lead a right and good life.
Amongst Tiw’s Godgifts are:
- Law-giving – Tiw sees the truth in men’s hearts. Those with this godgift are skilled in seeing through the words of men to the truth of the matter. They are often called upon to give judgement in disputes or discover that which is hidden by deceit.
- Oath-taking – A man who breaks an oath taken upon a Tiw-priest’s ring may be found and punished by the priest. Bad luck will follow him and he will have little defence against the priest’s curses.
- Battle-cunning – Tiw is deadly in battle because he knows the hearts and minds of his foes and sees small details, the flight of birds, the wisp of smoke from a campfire, the fallen branch that might trip an opponent. Together they give him foreknowledge of what is most like to come and allows him to order his troops in battle or anticipate an enemy in combat. His godgift allows the recipient to see and think in some small way as Tiw.
- Battle-Healing – This God-gift permits a priest of Tiw to heal the wounds of his comrades taken in battle so that they may take once more to the fray.
Woden is the god of death who gave an eye to obtain secret knowledge. His Waelcyrige scour the battlefield to select the most worthy of the slain to feast with the Gods and ride with his Wild Hunt. It is said that Woden’s gifts to mankind are all double-edged. He grants battle-madness or Wod to his worshippers which makes them heedless of pain or injury – but many awake to regret things they did or have had done to them under its influence. Rune-kenning is another of his gifts to man, which may be used to wreak both good and ill. Even the gift of poetry and word-smithing may be used to inflame men’s hearts against one another. The wolf and the raven are his companions. He loves the sacrifice of warriors above all, though like other gods he is greedy for gold, silver and fine beasts. It is said that his favour is fleeting and untrustworthy.
Amongst Woden’s Godgifts are:
- Battle Wod –This Godgift grants the power to summon at will the battle-frenzy that allows a warrior to cast aside all fear and care for their own person. Such warriors are greatly feared for they may ignore the effects of any but the keenest blows and attack with such ferocity that they are hard to stand against. However, their fears are not the only thing they cast aside for they will seldom abide to fight beneath the shelter of a shield and many’s the time a warrior who has fought in this way has come to himself to find he has taken woeful wounds that he wot not of when he was fighting. It is also said that on occasion the warrior may fail to tell friend from foe until their fury has abated, making them chancy allies in a fight. There are those who whose Battle-Wod seems a part of their nature and struggle to contain it. However, priests granted this Godgift by Woden have more control over themselves and know rituals to call it not only for themselves but may bring it forth from others.
- Fetch Mastery – It is said that every man or women has within them an animal spirit or Wod. For some it lies near the surface and those who allow it to come forth, unchecked, are to be feared and reviled for giving themselves over to their bestial natures. However, it is said that Woden, in his search for wisdom, sought first mastery of the secret powers within himself. The Godgift grants the worshipper control of Wod that it may be called forth at will. The powers that this state offers depend on the animal spirit they possess. The effects may be manifested through enhanced senses; the acquisition of the animal attributes in the human body; the projection of their animal spirit into the human world or physical shape-shifting.
- Helruning – Woden is Lord of the Dead and may grant power over the dead to his worshippers. The godgift of Helruning confers the power to strike the undead normally with iron weapons or banish them by force of will. It is said that powerful Helruners may summon, speak with or even command the dead. It is even said that those skilled enough may summon and influence the waelcyrige, though most would say that it is foolhardy to draw the gaze of the choosers of the slain.
- Spirit-walking – Woden the All-Seeing is the god of secret knowledge. Through trance and rune-casting a Woden-priest with this godgift may see into the “spirit world” and determine truths that are otherwise hidden. It may be used to find people and things; see things that are hidden in the mortal realm; see and converse with Aelfs. It is said that it may also be used to predict the likely success or failure of a course of action, though most would say that it boots nought to know the warp and weft of ones Wyrd, and may indeed make that come to pass which might not have been, had they but been blind to it.
Thunor is the god of the sky. He is the most manifest of all gods for one can hear the rumble of his ox-drawn chariot in the storm and see the flash of his gaze as he wages war against the enemies of man – the wights and particularly the ettins who would come down from the north to despoil our lands did he not keep them in check. Of all the gods, he is most mindful of the struggles of mankind and the most generous towards them. He grants good fortune and clement weather for their endeavours. He may also be called upon when great strength of heart or sinew is needful. Oxen are the most suitable gift to Thunor, although other domestic animals are acceptable along with gold and silver. It is said that of all the gods he is most heedful of those who call upon him.
- Shield of Mankind – Thunor is the protector of mankind. He gives hope and succour and sustains life. He may grant a fraction of his mighty strength to help a man undertake a worthy task or sustain them in adversity.
- Wight-ward – Thunor is the implacable enemy of Wights and Ettins and those creatures that are inimical to mankind. He is wise in their ways. His priests may detect their coming, ward against them – their tricks and sorceries laid bare – the better that they may be smitten down by the hands of mankind.
- Weather Wise – Thunor is the god of the sky. He is the master of the winds and the bringer of storms, which are the manifestation of his struggles against the Ettins. His moods seem unpredictable, but the weather wise may foretell them and influence or even harness the power of the winds and the weather. It is said that his most powerful priests may draw his lightning bolts from the storm-riven skies to strike at his enemies, or store the winds in a bag to summon at will.
Frige is the Queen of the Gods and grants peace, plenty and prosperity to mankind. She blesses their endeavours in the fields, pastures and fish-runs. She protects the household and is invoked in domestic matters, such as weaving, brewing and baking. She settles disputes by seeking reconciliation. Though her judgements are not given in the fashion of Tiw according to Law, but those who fail to respect her peace risk no less than foolish oath-breakers who fail to honour his judgements. She heals the sick and protects women in childbirth. For the most part, domestic animals and small treasures are sacrificed to Frige. At times, perhaps to ensure a good harvest after a number of poor ones, communities might sacrifice a young girl or boy to Frige. Like Tiw she asks only willing sacrifices but the will in this case is that of the steading not the individual. Although her adherents are most commonly women, her godgifts are also granted to men. Some of her godgifts are of obvious value in war as well as peace.
Frige’s godgifts include:
- Blessing of Healing – Frige’s is goddess of health and healing. Those with the Healing godgift have the power and skill to tend wounds, ensuring that they mend cleanly and quickly. They can detect and treat sickness and maladies of body and mind. Those with this godgift often obtain skill in herbs and simples. This allows them to prepare potions that may be carried by others and used at will.
- Blessing of Prosperity – Frige brings fruitfulness to the fields and the womb and success to domestic industry and peaceful ventures. Those granted this godgift may offer blessings to improve the outcomes of all domestic endeavours. This includes trading ventures of peaceful intent. However, no ship’s master would seek her blessing were there any intention to combine trading with raiding. That would show disrespect to the goddess and surely bring bad luck.
- Blessing of Peace – Frige’s sponsors peace within and between households and peoples. This godgift allows the recipient to bring a calming influence to the affairs of men. The aim is reconciliation, not judgement. If the parties to a dispute want wergilds and outlawry then let them approach a Tiw priest. Frige seeks lasting peace between parties and the fruitfulness of co-operation and friendship.
Other Gods of the Ese
There are many other Gods of the Ese who are powerful in their own domains:
- Wade – the god of waters
- Hynar – whose powers are Divination, Silence and Light
- Hella – goddess who rules over the halls of the dead
- Saeter or Lothar – a god of mischief, shape-shifting and fire
- Hrethe – goddess of honour and victory in whose name the Geats sacrifice in Hrethmonath to celebrate the defeat of winter.
- Eostre – the goddess of fertility and plenty to whom the Geats sacrifice in Eostremonath in anticipation of fine harvests in the months to come.