The names for the days of the week in English seem to be a mixed bag. Saturday, Sunday and Monday are named after the celestrial bodies Saturn, Sun and Moon, but the other days are named after Germanic gods, Tuesday (Tiw’s day), Wednesday (Woden’s day), Thursday (Thor’s day) and Friday (Freya’s day). And it is Freya’s day that has been chosen for The Cardiff Dice Studz weekly get together.
The most famous of these dwelling-places of the dead is undoubtedly Valhalla (Old Norse Valhöll, “the hall of the fallen”), the resplendent hall of the god Odin. Those chosen by Odin and his valkyries live there as celebrated heroes until they’re called upon to fight by Odin’s side in the doomed battle at Ragnarok, the downfall of the gods and the rest of the universe. We are lucky that we have the excellent Firestorm Games here in Cardiff. The planned move has taken longer than expected so the doors reopen at the old Trade Street premises on Tuesday.
The goddess Freya is said to welcome some of the dead into her hall, Folkvang (Old Norse Fólkvangr, “the field of the people” or “the field of warriors”). Unfortunately, Folkvang is mentioned so sparsely in the sources that we today don’t have any idea what it was thought to be like. We have some idea when we remember what games were like before lock- down! This time we are hoping to recruit even more volk to the Vangr; with everyone’s favourite entry level game Saga!
Saga is so accessible, with just seventeen minis needed for a starter four point game. If you are not a Dice Studz member then please join us on the 4th June from 19:00 hours. Ideally let me know if you have minis. Membership of Dice Studz is of course not automatic but you’d be more than welcome to see if the club is for you?We intend starting with just four point armies and the club will provide all terrain. There is an entry cost at Firestorm per player.
Those who died at sea – not an uncommon way to go in a seafaring culture like that of the Vikings – are sometimes, but not always, said to be taken to the underwater abode of the giantess Ran. The fate of Cardiff gamers who do not take part is never recorded. You’ll only kick yourself if you miss the opportunity to be in at the start of something big! After Saga the plan is to add Bolt Action to the mix. Dave and Eddie will be down over half term when the intention is to play L’Art de la Guerre, another club favourite.
All the very best
Michael
Despertaferres 
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