Beowulf, is of course, a poem. And it wouldn’t be right to publish an adventure without a poem of its own! We were delighted to be able to work with Dave Oliver of Rattlebox Theatre, who performs all kinds of amazing puppetry and spoken word performances.
Here’s the poem that Dave composed for The Hermit’s Sanctuary. There will be more poems to be found in the core setting book of BEOWULF: Age of Heroes from Dave and others.
Hwaet!
A far flung isle
Mist mantled, Rune deep.
Surrounded by the whales way
A speck of footfall- firmly set
Upon a blue bright shield
A stone boss boldly sits
Battle-battered by billow maidens
Ancient bearer of grave and grove.
Home of bristle backed boar
Racked by wild winds keening.
Gulls wheeling screech, its scops;
Baleful beaked eagles unlock their wordhoard.
Bitter brine- not balming beer
Is lapped by that wyrd- wrought isle!
Once a holy held place
A blessing not bane to honest kin.
In hearth of deep dwelled slaughter,
Its leavings glut the grey cloaked wolf
Gorges the black ravens bent beak
Feast giver for Woden’s greedy birds.
Moon bleached, snow skinned
Shield breaker, blood drinker
A pale scabbard for a sword host
Of battle- bold warriors!
Hardened hearth-troop wreak their craft
Battle lights sing but do not sever
Blood embers swing –harmless their hewing
No war sweat stricken from war needles striking.
Forge fired, handiwork of smiths
Have no power present there.
Wyrd unravelled, blades bite dulled
Fates weave woe in warp and weft.
About The Hermit’s Sanctuary
The Hermit’s Sanctuary is a free, full-length, introductory adventure for the forthcoming BEOWULF: AGE OF HEROES for 5e!
Designed for one player and one GM, BEOWULF provides unique rules and support for single-player games in the Age of Heroes. Take to the Whale Road as a monster-slaying hero! Voyage to the island of the hermit, and investigate the cause of its woes!
Complete with pre-generated characters, maps, printable accessories, and more, The Hermit’s Sanctuary is entirely free.
Download the adventure for free at DrivethruRPG.
