The Complete Idiot's Guide to Werewolves Read Online Free PDF Page B

and could not figure out how to change back.
     
    Despite this, Sigmund decided to make sport of the situation. He tells Sinfjötli that they will separate and seek to kill seven men each. When one of them came upon a group, he was to howl so that the other could join him. Sigmund was the first to come upon a group of men, and he howled out so Sinfjötli could join in the bloodshed. However, the overzealous young warrior pounced from the trees and killed the entire group before Sigmund had a chance to share in the fun.
     
    The two separated once more. This time, it was Sinfjötli who came upon a group of 11 men. However, he did not keep to the rules of the game and failed to howl so that Sigmund might join him. He killed all 11 men on his own, then rejoined Sigmund and told him what he’d done. Sigmund was angry and asked Sinfjötli why he had not howled out. Sinfjötli arrogantly claimed that 11 men posed no challenge to him and that he didn’t need Sigmund’s help for such a trivial matter. Enraged, Sigmund pounced upon Sinfjötli and tore out his throat.
     
    For the entire day, unfortunately, Sigmund could not figure out how to remove the magical garments, not from himself or the dead Sinfjötli. He dragged Sinfjötli back to the mead-hall and sat down next to him. Both men were still in wolf form. The story ends without really explaining how he returned to human form but with a somewhat comical quote from Sigmund—“Damn these wolf-forms!”
    Bark vs. Bite
    This particular tale of Sigmund’s encounter with what appear to be princes of the ulfheðnar can tell us something about how these men were viewed. Considering the magical nature attributed to the stolen garments, this story likely illustrates that the Norse held early beliefs in the divine and/or magical powers of the ulfheðnar.

Wolf Beggars (Romanian)
    In rural parts of Romania, it is customary to leave out food for wolves. It is also considered smart to give food to beggars whenever one can. This custom stems from folklore, which states that beggars are often werewolves, and for obvious reasons of self-preservation it is in one’s best interest to be well thought of by both wolves and werewolves.
     
    The reasoning behind this piece of werewolf lore is that, since a wolf is believed not to eat on a full stomach, a werewolf will probably be the same. Therefore, if one keeps full the bellies of the wolves and the beggar-werewolves, then they will not attack people or livestock. The practice seems to be effective since no one in rural Romania has been attacked by werewolves for centuries.

The Wolf-King (Arthurian)
    In the tales of King Arthur, there is a little-known story about one king’s experience with lycanthropy. The story is told to King Arthur by King Gorlagon, whom Arthur has sought out for wisdom. Arthur had been challenged by Queen Guinevere to discover the truth regarding the hearts, desires, and motivations of women. The king set out immediately on a quest to uncover this, vowing not to eat until he had succeeded.
    The Savage Truth
    Despite the fact that Arthur vows not to eat until he has found the solution to Guinevere’s challenge, he lacked the resolve to follow through. On at least two occasions, Arthur is convinced to rest and eat by his hosts and attendants. Some theorize that this is why Arthur does not receive an answer from the first two men he consults.
King Gorlagon’s Tale
    According to Gorlagon’s tale, a sapling had once sprouted on the day of a certain king’s birth. By some unknown means, it came to be known that if this sapling were ever cut, and one were to be struck upon the head with it while the words “Shape of a wolf, mind of a wolf” were recited, then the person struck would transform into a wolf, both in body and mind. For unknown reasons, perhaps just intuition, the king felt that the survival of the sapling was linked directly with his own. As a result, he had a tall stone wall constructed around the garden