(Note: This painting by Jeff Easley first appeared on the cover of the revised AD&D 2nd Ed PHB, but it also appears in the Mystara chapter of D&D: Worlds & Realms, so it could be that the author thought of it as an illustration of the character discussed below.
INTRODUCTION
So, its nice to have a new Mystara product, but the next question needs to be, what can we use from it?
Since I have been working on so many Antalian/Norse related things, I think I will start with the character Ulf the Mad.
Ulf the Mad
by HåvardMORDENKAINEN'S ACCOUNTS
Ulf the Mad, a legendary figure from Ostland appears in the research Mordenkainen does, that will eventually lead the Greyhawk Wizard on the path to discovering the Hollow World. Ulf carved his story into the bones of a white dragon (did Ulf slay the dragon?) and this is how Mordekainen comes across his tale, after first hearing about the hero in while visiting the Northern Reaches. By Mordenkainen's understanding, Ulf was a warrior from Ostland who travelled across the Known World. His hunting party (adventuring party?) were attacked by an enormous Remhorraz (White Fang from AC9) named Dodzworm. During the battle, Ulf became separated from his companions. It is unclear if they actually destroyed Dodsworm, so I lean towards it still being out there somewhere. I rather like that this is a White Fang, since we have so few accounts of them. On the other hand, it could also be connected to the Annelids somehow?
Anyway, Ulf the Mad was now without his companions and seriously wounded. Only his Winter Wolf (Frost Wolf in AC9) Rattskjarl remained at his side. The wolf carried his master to the Altan Tepes mountains and into a portal to the Underworld. Mordekainen refers to this part of the story as legend, yet he says the accounts are directly from Ulf himself, and in great detail as carved into the dragon bones. At this point the legend becomes more epic where Ulf meets the Lord of Death in the Underworld. The Lord of Death wanted Ulf's soul, but Ulf challenged the Lord of Death to a series of competitions like wrestling and drinking. Ultimately, Ulf managed to drink the Lord of Death under the table and was able to leave with his soul and wolf intact.
Following the writings on the dragon bones, Mordenkainen was able to locate the tunnel. However, the tunnel did not lead to another plane, but rather to the Hollow World.
MY THOUGHTS
This is an interesting story, but it also raises many questions. What happened to Dodzworm? The story about the Underworld and the Lord of Death does not immediately make sense. Was it just a fever dream, since the wolf dragged Ulf to a tunnel leading to the Hollow World? Did he survive just by recovering on his own? Also, I am always thinking about how we can use this to expand on existing lore.
Now, having it be a fever dream seems like a missed opportunity when we can have a planar adventure as well, doesn't it? So what if Mordekainen confused a few elements in this story? Maybe Mordenkainen did not have access to all of the dragon bones and had to piece together a few clues of his own? What if Ulf the Mad both visited the Underworld AND later discovered the entrance to the Hollow World?
Now, being a character from Ostland, Ulf's Underworld should be Helheim. I was struggling to find out who the Lord of Death that he wrestled with could be, but turns out I already created such a character in Helreginn. I will update his entry with the story of how he once lost to Ulf the Mad. And what of Rattskjarl the Frost Wolf? How was he able to drag his master to the Plane of Helheim? What if Rattskjarl is actually a Howling Demon from Helheim who ended up in the service of Ulf? Perhaps Rattskjarl still serves Ulf's descendant. More interesting than having a named creature that likely died centuries ago. This version might be worth its own writeup.
New locations: Helheim, Altan Tepes Hollow World tunnel