The medieval peoples of the north believed that one’s spirit inhabited one’s body and the two could be separated. The body was referred to as a “lich” and the spirit was called a “hug.” If a traumatic event occurred, an individual could be separated from their own spirit and that freed ghost would cause all kinds of troubles. This person would be haunted by their own hug, a spirit that has broken loose of their body to precede them in the world. The hug would “forerun” the individual and could be sensed by people, especially those sensitized to the spirit realm. These forerunner ghosts were called “vardogers” or “fyreferds.” This was considered a curse and a person considered haunted by a vardoger may have been outcast or even killed to rid their family or clan of the jinx.
As an artist, I sought to find a tale that took advantage of legends and lore while not being too derivative of other historical fantasies. The idea that little Thorfinn could become a vardoger and fulfill his uncle’s prophecy by saving his life seemed an exciting way to tie the real legend into a new story. And this is not the first legend of the far north that will be woven into the adventures of Thorfinn and his Uncle Karl!