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For those who have read Blood of the Reich and are now familiar with the Ring of the Slain.

The Ring that plays an important part of the story in Blood of the Reich — the Valhringr, or Ring of the Slain — is available to readers of Blood of the Reich under certain conditions. The Viking creed that governs the Ring must be followed. The Ring cannot be purchased by the wearer, it must be purchased by someone else (a spouse, a family member, a friend) and bestowed. The wearer, as well as the bestower, must believe in the Creed of the Ring (see below).

Since the Valhringr cannot be sold for profit, 100% of profit, if any, is donated to charities.

The Creed of the Brotherhood of the Ring of the Slain

According to ancient lore, the Valhringr (Old Norse for Ring of the Slain) granted certain powers and benefits to any deserving warrior who wore it and believed in the Creed of the Ring. Wearing the Ring insured the wearer/believer that many battles would he win before finally falling. But all great warriors must eventually die, as do we all, and when it came time for death the Ring insured the wearer he would die gallantly (the ultimate hope of all Viking warriors). We know from Norse mythology that one task Odin gave his warrior daughters, the Valkyries, (the Viking angels, as it were), was to escort all valiant warriors to Valhalla, the Viking Heaven. The Ring lore contends that the Valkyries kept a special eye out for those who wore the mystical Valhringr. Brunhild herself, the most powerful, fearsome, and beautiful Valkyrie personally escorts Valhringr wearers to Valhalla—the Hall of the Slain.

Ring tenets and its legend include:

• The Ring is to be made of silver and have the midnight stone (a black stone, probably onyx or obsidian). Black emits no light, therefore granting its possessor invisibility against negative influences. The Ring is to be worn on the right hand (a certain finger is not specified).
• On the Ring are the symbols of Hrungnir’s Heart (the Valknot. i.e. knot of the slain), and Gungnir i.e., Odin’s Spear, or the Spear of Valhalla.
• Those who hold Hrungnir’s Heart swear to honor those slain in battle, including noble enemies.
• Those who display Gungnir proclaim they are defenders of Heaven, their native land, and family. A Ring wearer swears to defend to the death noble causes.
• The Ring must never be purchased or sold by the wearer. It must be bestowed upon the wearer by an admirer who feels confident the person granted the Ring is worthy to wear the Ring.
• Both men and women can wear the Ring if worthy. The Ring Brotherhood acknowledged that women were equally entitled to strive for a splendid death, perhaps because of the Valkyries.
• Those who wear the Ring must be skilled with a weapon (apparently of their choice).
• Those who wear the Ring are brothers and sisters unto death.
• Upon death of the Ring wearer, the Ring should be burned or buried with the corpse (Nordic peoples practiced both cremation and burial).
• The Curse: anyone who wears the Ring but does not believe in, or does not honor, the Ring’s doctrine is doomed to a dishonorable death and the loss of Valhalla. And the creed stresses that great woe will befall anyone who steals a Ring or acquires one through surreptitious means.

Rings are sterling silver with a black onyx or obsidian stone and engraved by master engraver Mike Dubber.

Ring sizes 6 thru 13     cost: $135

If you are interested in finding out more about wearing or bestowing the Ring of the Slain,

contact Mike Whicker directly at mike@mikewhicker.com.