#hlin

[notthesomefather]

Ritual for Hlín today. Asked for her help carrying the weight of shame and failure that I feel regarding some personal matters.

[grimnirs-child]

Masterpost: Frīg's Handmaidens Project

Who are the Handmaidens?

In the Prose Edda, twelve Goddesses are listed after Frigga as Ásynjur: Fulla, Gefjon, Hlín, Syn, Eir, Sága, Gná, Vár or Vór, Snotra, Vör, Lofn and Sjöfn. Modern Heathens sometimes refer to Them as Frigga's Handmaidens. (This is a piece of shared gnosis, not an historically attested term.) For many of the Twelve, this is all that survives in the way of attestations.

What is the Project?

Gradually over several years, and more intentionally recently, I have been building a devotional cultus around these Goddesses. As part of that, I've been putting together primers on each of the Twelve on my longform blog -- detailing Their surviving attestations, Old English God-names and epithets for Them, my own personal experiences and upg, a prayer, and devotional icon art -- as well as essays and modern myths exploring other aspects of Them and my cultus to Them.

Although I use Old English names for Them and honour Them in a syncretic heathen practice drawing on influences from across the British and Irish Isles, I hope these may be useful and/or interesting for practitioners working in a Norse, Continental, or other context. Or for anyone worshipping and building cultus to lesser-known and lesser-attested Gods!

I will update this post periodically, but if you like you can subscribe to my longform Wordpress blog for updates when I post.

Primers

Fulla

Geofen (Gefjon)

Hlēowen (Hlin)

Ār (Eir)

Saga

Lofen & Siofen (Lofn & Sjöfn)

Wearn, or Syn (Syn)

Essays and other posts

Introduction to the Project

Essay on abundance, ānanda, and Fulla

Essay on Frīg and Her importance to my cosmology

The Wren and her sister: a myth of Frīg feat. Ār and Gnæ

Essay on marriage as initiation, feat. Lofen, Siofen and Āþ

[lorellaishc]

The Next Generation

(( DWC November 2023, Day 6, Expectation/Selfish, CW: none; @daily-writing-challenge ))

The dust of battle had cleared, and for the moment, the forces of Azeroth had taken the field, but the enemy was yet unbeaten. Fyrakk had broken his way into the temple with his own powers, and he and his followers had retreated within.

Lorellai could hear the aspects making plans to pursue, talking about taking a team of their most able champions to aid the pursuit, while the rest remained without to handle any further attempts by the remaining flame druids, primalists, or djaradin to interfere. She saw her parents, as well as her many aunts and uncles, Henii, Dolraan, and Hlin among them, engaging in the conversation as well. That made sense. She and the rest of the team had handled the primalists in the vault, and down in Aberrus, but those had been fairly localized trouble, and happened fast enough to preclude calling for backup. But now Fyrakk and the Firelands were threatening the world tree and the emerald dream, and that surely meant bringing in the big guns, and well, what bigger guns were there than the heroes who'd saved the world time and time again?

She'd already started preparing herself to be okay with that when Drogar broke off from the group, followed by Darlain and Dolraan, heading her way. They looked every bit the legendary dwarven heroes they were. Her father in his mechanized armor suit, her mother in her angelic war-priest vestments, and though uncle Dolraan would argue that he was a poor dwarf indeed, a fine figure nonetheless in his shining silver and gold armor and argent tabard. Before they could say a word, she smiled and greeted them. "I guess we should wish you all luck in there! I'm sure Fyrakk and his cronies won't know what hit them." Lorellai was pleased with herself, she'd managed to tamp down her own disappointment, and show them the love and support they'd always showed her. But the way they looked at each other and smiled seemed odd.

"Er, lass, that's what we were coming over t' say to yeh. Th' Aspects are calling on your team to join them inside, we'll be holdin' th' line out here." Drogar said, clapping his daughter on the shoulder.

Lorellai gawped as Dolraan followed up. "You've got far more experience with these particular villains than we do, having just arrived. And you've all proven yourselves to Alexstrasza and her fellow aspects time and time again. This is your mission."

"Make sure you teach them a lesson about messing with th' peace of Azeroth, my little sparkler!" Darlain said, pulling Lorellai into a hug. "Make sure they know why every other villain fears going up against th' Meddlers!"

Out the corner of her eye, Lorellai caught Shansii hugging her mom as well, and a few others receiving well wishes from the older heroes. Hlin in particular seemed to be giving some last minute punching advice to Edmund, who was listening thoughtfully. "Are… are you sure?"

Drogar beamed back at her. "Oh hell no, but I trust you, and I believe in you, and I know that Alexstrasza wouldn't be askin' for yeh if yeh didn't have what it takes. But I won't be sendin' yeh empty handed! I cannae help but notice that spear of yers 'as seen better days. Maybe a bit more of a distant approach will suit yeh better in there, and I've got just th' thing, designed and built based on those lovely elemental ore samples yeh sent home." Drogar whistled, and Balinore lumbered over, dragging a long crate. Unlocking it, Drogar pried it open, and removed a beautiful looking rifle from the hay within, handing it reverently to his daughter. "I call it th' Firefighter, on account of it usin' elemental fire to enhance th' shots with which you might fight then fight fire with fire!" Drogar declared, inordinately pleased with his wordplay.

Lorellai gingerly took the weapon from her father's hands, running her fingers along the barrel. "It's.. it's beautiful."

"Wield it with pride lass, and give that' fire dragon a shot to th' eye he'll ne'er forget."

Lorellai pulled her dad into a hug, but already she could hear Rokishan calling her name, as everyone got ready to head inside with the Kaldorei and the Aspects. Loading a magazine, she nodded at her father, and turned to face the temple. It was time to meddle.

[brittrbrashear]

"Her name is

She, queen of the kings, runnin' so fast, beatin' the wind.

Nothin' in this world can stop the spread of her wings.

She, queen of the kings, broken her cage, threw out the keys

She will be the warrior of the North and Southern Seas." - Alessandra Mele

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen has captured my whole heart and attention. I simply cannot wait for book two in the Saga of the Unfated. This book made me wish I could draw out of a desperate desire to capture the scenes in fan art that's sorely lacking. I so hope that it will take off and gain a following.

[sirdolraan]

Understanding

(Daily writing challenge August 2022, Day 3, Sentimental/Feral. CW: None.)

@daily-writing-challenge

Ironforge Guard House 16 was very much like the various others stationed at various points in the great mountain city. Plenty of traffic in and out as guards came and went from patrols, various citizens came to pay fines or make reports, and occasionally a bit of drama as a suspect was brought in conscious and still with some fight in them. Hlin knew these guard houses well, and walked up to one of the desks with confidence, dropping a purse on it with a clatter. "Evenin' Bertha, I'm here for the Truthhammer girl."

Lorelai sat motionless, as small as she could on the bench, as Hlin laboriously went through the paperwork to secure her release. It didn't help that Hlin felt the need to comment on the proceedings.

"Come on Bertha, we've done this enough times that y'all know that ah know how it works, can we just hurry it along?!" the red haired dwarf admonished, clearly frustrated by the bureaucracy.

The woman on the other side of the table in full guard regalia remained impassive. "Once again, do you pay this fine of your own volition, with no demand of recompense from the accused minor?"

"Ugh, YES, ah'm not being coerced, nor do I intend to coerce my own dang god-daughter." Hlin snarled.

"You aren't her Godmother, you don't actually appear on any of her paperwork." Bertha retorted, her tone flat and unimpressed.

"Details, I love her like she was mine, can we go now? Y'all got all th' money for yer fine and th' repairs." Hlin's tone shifted now to a more diplomatic one, eager to be free of this place.

Bertha flipped through the paperwork one more time, before sighing, having found nothing else needing to be confirmed or signed for. "Thank you for paying the fine, stay out of trouble. Or next time we WILL be informing your father no matter whom shows up." the guards-woman declared, eyes fixed on the mortified young dwarven lady.

"Yeah yeah, you're big and tough when yer pickin' on kids, we're all super intimidated, come on Lorelai, let's leave these desk jockeys to their papers," Hlin scoffed, all but scooping the younger dwarf off her feet and ushering her out into the streets of Ironforge. They climbed on Hlin's yak and rode in silence for several minutes before Hlin realized that the girl was holding her extra tight and shaking.

Hlin gave the reins a gentle tug, guiding Yak out of the thoroughfare, and came to a stop before gently patting Lorelai's arms that encircled her waist. "Come on now, you're alright, you just got arrested for having too much fun, ain't no shame in that." The only response was a sob, so Hlin continued. "Hell, yer ma and pa have both been in the clink fer worse, especially that Pa of yers, man, the trouble he's gotten int'. And as for yer auntie Hlin, well, there's a reason ah know ol' Bertha by first name, and it ain't just because ah take the occasional contract from the guard. I must have been on the sucky side of those bars two nights out of ten in th' last year alone, and ah'm just fine. So don't you sweat it."

The sobbing slowed, and Hlin heard the girl ask quietly "what did my Dad get arrested for?"

Hlin chortled. "Ah hell, all sorts of stuff, but ah think th' funniest was th' time he was tryin' t' tame a wild crocolisk and the dang thing slipped the harness he had on it and had itself a walk through th' forge, scarin' all them smiths half t' death. You'd think they weren't a bunch of big muscly folk with a bunch of hammers and picks, th' way they jumped out of its way! And then there was all the explosions before he moved his lab outta Ironforge, and of course that one time with th' treason..." Hlin grinned as she looked back, Lorelai's eyes were red from crying but her expression was now one of awe, confusion, and curiosity. Much better, Hlin thought. "But that's a story y'all need t' get out of him yerself, that's th' rule with treason stories, you get 'em from the horses' mouth. Now, as fer yer ma an' me.." Hlin continued the stories as she nudged Yak back to a trundle, heading towards the Truthhammer estate to get Lorelai Truthhammer safely home after her very first arrest.

[crochetlesbian]

Can someone shoot me $20?

Had to drive downtown for my 2nd covid shot and ive been on e for 2 days

Paypal is @/bettybeep

Ill send pics of my cat as thnks!

[lokiwaffles]

Some of my magma doodles…had a blast hanging out with @bowandbrush (and @exhaustedwriterartist) and drawing haha.

[therunwayarchive]

Hlin Bjornsdottir at Yohji Yamamoto, Fall 2022

[someoneoffthestreet]

I played my very first game of dnd at my cousin’s bachelorette party; my dwarf barbarian now has an adolescent unicorn friend

[notthesomefather]

Notes on Hlin

My faith group and I have been researching the handmaidens. We’re doing a ritual in Hlin’s honor soon, but since we know so little about her from the lore I compiled everything I could find to help give me context.

Everyman Edda Snorri Sturluson, translated by Anthony Faulkes pages 30, 55, 157

Hlin: she is given the function of protecting people whom Frigg wishes to save from danger.

Hlin’s second sorrow comes to pass as Odin goes to fight the wolf…there shall fall Frigg’s delight.

Myths of the Norsemen Helene A. Guerber page 52

Hlin, Frigga’s attendant, was the goddess of consolation, sent out to kiss away the tears of mourners and pour balm into hearts wrung by grief.

She also listened with ever-open ears to the prayers of mortals, carrying them to her mistress, and advising her at times how best to answer them and give the desired relief.

Essential Asatru Diana L. Paxson page 84

Hlin defends us. She is the one who protects those Frigg wants to save and the refuge of those who are in danger.

Where Syn’s protection is defensive, that of Hlin is more active. She fights for her favorites and spirits them out of danger.

She protects against those who would take advantage of vulnerability.

Her token is the blade or shield.

Our Troth, Volume 2: Heathen Gods Ben Waggoner pages 218-219

Hlin is set to protect those humans whom Frigg will save from certain dangers; for that reason there is a saying that whoever saves himself finds a refuge “hleinir.”

Many scholars have assumed that Hlin is another name for Frigg, and some translations of Voluspa have simply replaced Hlin’s name with Frigg’s name in this verse. This doesn’t seem necessary: the verse makes perfect sense if Hlin is a goddess whom Frigg charges with protecting her loved ones. Hlin and Frigg would both grieve: both were unable to protect Frigg’s beloved son Balder, and both will be unable to help Odin when Ragnarok comes.

Hlin is the defender who provides personal protection and saves the hunted from danger; she is the refuge of the fugitive.

She is the passionate fury of the mother defending her cubs.

[kkoongie]

playing some dead by daylight with hlinvitte, bonusrat and liam!

[lorellaishc]

First Haggling

(( DWC February 2024 Day 3, Bargain/Myth, CW: None, @daily-writing-challenge ))

Clinking sounds filled the air as a goblin laid out various flasks and phials on the counter where Lorellai could see them. Behind her, Ghorren leaned against the door frame, acting every part the bored bodyguard-slash-father figure. "I'm telling you kid, you came to the right place. Your problems will disappear in a puff of applied alchemy, or my name's not Bindle Glintgold, accomplished alchemist!"

"I thought it was Bindle Glintgold, excellent entrepreneur?" Ghorren scoffed.

"That's enough out of you, or you might find your special weapon oils delayed by my emotional distress." Bindle shot back, turning back to Lorellai. "Now then, what seems to be the problem, young miss?"

"Well, it's not me, but my Hornswog. He got out of the pen and was rolling around in something just outside the city, and now he's got a nasty rash on his underside. The hornswog experts said I would need a mixture of decay-roused saxifrage and unaltered bubble poppy to salve it?"

"Ahhh, not a common mixture, but one I know well! I should be able to have a nice big jar ready for you by sundown, so all we need to discuss now is how you'll be paying for this wonder cure?" the goblin answered, all smiles.

"Well, I've got plenty of gold, how much will it be?"

"Ah! Great to hear. Let's see, we've got the raw supplies, there's a bit of a price adjustment on the decay-infused herbs these days, market forces, what are you gonna do, two hours labor, overhead fees.." Bindle began to list, before looking past the earnest eyes of the dwarven girl to see the glare of the troll behind her, idly cracking his knuckles. "-and of course, a discount for a bonafide hero making her first visit to my shop, hopefully the first of many eh?" the goblin quickly corrected.

"Oh! Well that's very kind of you mister Glintgold!"

"I am nothing if not kind, and I do love to provide first time customers with a true bargain so they remember me kindly when next they have need. Just come back this evening with thirty gold, and I'll have your salve ready," Bindle declared, ears drooping a bit as he looked at the troll again, who nodded quietly.

"If you're done here, girl, we still need to get those bags of gryphon feed for Jeb," Ghorren declared, pulling aside the curtain that seperated Bindle's little space from the greater chamber the alchemists were working out of.

"Coming! Thanks again mister Glintgold, see you tonight!"

They waited until they were out of earshot before speaking again. "You know he wanted desperately to wring out every last gold piece from your wallet."

"I'm an optimist, but I'm not a fool. When you and Hlin recommended him she mentioned that he was always looking for a big score. Why do you think I asked you to come along? I know I can trust you to have my back, big fella! Now I'll be able to deal with him more truthfully in the future."

"You aren't half as dumb as you look, short stuff," Ghorren teased, chuckling as she aimed a punch at his shin.

[shyesterin]

Hi it's Anonymous from your Inbox. What's a game or piece of media you enioy that you don't think gets enough attention?

hi anon from my inbox!!!

it's become almost kind of a meme at this point to say it but. I gotta say please play CrossCode!! it plays SO fucking well while also having mostly simple controls that feel SO good to master (it's a little overwhelming at first because it's a very fast paced combat system, but it's SO good and flows so well once you get into it), the protagonist is one of my favorite characters in anything ever (and I honestly couldn't fully tell you why) (I'm also very very attached to a lot of the other characters!! a lot of them are pretty wonderful :) Emilie and Hlin my beloveds), it has wonderful pixel art, a bunch of very cool concepts that I hope get explored more in a future game, some really good humor (though the DLC does get a bit too "haha reference" in its writing at times; the main game mostly keeps the reference humor in the sidequests and item descriptions, which works a lot better), it (IMO) NAILS the feeling of being in an MMO (the first proper area's music and vibe in general made me emotional cause it reminded me so much of first playing MMOs as a kid!!), it has a lot of kickass music... it's just so very good and such a fantastic experience and I wish more people would give it a shot!! I got it right after the DLC came out (which fleshes out the end of the story and gives it a more complete ending with post-game things to do) and I loved pretty much every second of it, really can't recommend it enough

also it has a really cute gay couple in it. not saying who but it might be fairly obvious as you go through it? it gets confirmed in the DLC part of the story in a really cute way

play CrossCode. for Her

oh yeah shit one more addition after posting this. the game has a demo you can download on steam so you can try it out and see if you like how it plays!! it's like an old build of the game so the main thing is more polished but it's still a good way to check if you enjoy the basic controls. it's good

[sirdolraan]

Family

(Daily writing challenge August 2022, Day 7, Peace/Unforgiven. CW: gambling)

@daily-writing-challenge

It had gotten harder for these gatherings to occur as the years had gone on, and each player had taken on additional responsibilities, but the stars had aligned once again, this time above a sleepy roadside inn set up on the road north from the Thandol span into greater Arathi.

"I've got t' say, this is a lovely little inn yeh found, Vasily" Drogar declared, passing his judgment as he took his seat at the felted table.

"It is certainly having its charms! Mistress Greysteel just built it last year to be providing rest and safety to the traffic brought on by the peace treaty. There are many merchants taking the overland routes into the hills nowadays." Vasily replied, setting out the colored chips and unboxing the deck of playing cards.

"Booze is good too!" Hlin hollered as she shouldered her way into the room, hands filled with pint glasses, spilling beer head to and fro. "Ah put down a nice beer deposit so go ahead and drink away boys! It'll make mah job easier!"

"Um, I'll pass on that, but thank you?" Janosis took his seat, picking up the cards and beginning to shuffle, the cards flying between his fingers. "Where's Dolraan, I thought he was joining us?"

Drogar took one of the pints from Hlin and took a generous drink before answering. "He should be along before long, apparently 'e's taken it upon 'imself t' invite a new player."

"Oho, a new friend to play with? Wonderful!" Vasily exulted, grasping Janosis and Drogar on either side of him and pulling them in close in a hug.

"Wonderful indeed, good evening everyone." Dolraan's voice rang out, pushing the door open and entering, pulling down his travelers cloak and welcoming in his companion. "Allow me to introduce Ghorren, he's been working with us for a while and happened to mention a love of card games, and I know we've been looking for a sixth."

"Uh, hello, everyone." Ghorren said, raising a slightly uncomfortable hand as he ducked under the door frame. While the inn had a sign that proclaimed all were welcome, the construction hadn't quite lived up to that. "I be Ghorren, of the Goldpact."

Hlin brightened up. "Ah heard of y'all! Yer Simah's boss, ain't ya?"

Ghorren nodded as Vasily rose to greet him. "Hello my new friend Ghorren! I am Vasily, these are our friends Drogar, Hlin, Janosis, and you are knowing Dolraan of course! It is nice to have a friend whom I can easily be seeing eye to eye with, yes?" the draenei joked, nudging Ghorren's ribs with an elbow as he was guided to a seat.

"Uh, yes, thank you, er, Vasily. Sorry, this is something new for me, playing with, well, Alliance."

Hlin smirked. "Don't worry, once ah've gotten all yer gold y'all will have something in common to talk about."

Drogar set aside his goggles. "Not this time, Stoutarm, I'm wise t' yer tricks, and I'm not lettin' yeh get th' better of meh this time."

Janosis started to deal the cards. "As long as you don't forget to pay attention to Vasily; he HAS won the last three nights we played."

Vasily beamed. "I am just happy to be spending time with beloved friends, old and new!" Vasily patted Ghorren on the shoulder as he slid a pint glass in front of him with a smile, before attending to his cards.

Ghorren adjusted himself in his seat. "Let's see how this goes then. I won't dishonor the Goldpact by going down without a fight. My girls would never forgive me."

"Then let the games begin. Place your blinds everyone, let's play some cards." Dolraan declared, pushing his chips forward as another great game began.

[snailboygirlrat]

Asks you about your dnd girls

hi dear anon

[ID: Traditional drawings of Hlin, a DnD dwarf girl with a scared expression. She is wearing a short puffy dress with a big hood over her head. Her hair is in two large braids that have dwarven jewelry in them; so do her ears and hand. She is loosely holding a battle axe. A smaller drawing shows her smiling timidly at a racoon being carried in her hood. End ID]

this is hlin :) she is so small and so scared. she is also a barbarian and really good at killing people. like dear god you pulled his head right off girl. slay.

shes selfconscious about not being able to growing a beard. she is desperately trying to imitate the other stone dwarf in the group who actually has his shit together. she keeps getting bamboozled by our fucking bard (who btw is a half elf who has everyone convinced that he is a full elf for no fucking reason. icon.) she is only really friends with the druid because they too are deeply terrified of everything. im planning on doing the totem warrior subclass so i can give her hairbuns that look like bear ears :)

[crochetlesbian]

DIABETIC LESBIAN NEEDS GAS AND CAT FOOD

If anyone can shoot me like $20 id be so grateful, let me know if you do so i can send you pics of my cat as thank you