Here’s another fragment that is so old it is almost before the Dawn. Definitely in the WIsconsin era. It manages to combine Thanmor and Snodal into a single story, you get the earliest glimpse of the White Bear or at least the Big Bear, and lots more. You need to squint a lot here, like reading an Alexandrine Romance of the 12th century, but oh gosh the outline can be seen.
Thanmor was a young man at the time, the hair barely grown from his face. He was born to the warrior class of the Jonati, a barbarian tribe north of Frontem.
At that time, the Jonati had a particular ceremony. A youth, sometimes male, sometimes female, was brought to a certain spot in their lands, and there he was tied, unarmed and helpless. During the night there emerged a huge bear which killed and at the helpless victim. It was done because the founder of the tribe, one named Jonat, had sinned against the gods and in order to free himself from the bondage he would be in after he died, it was required that every year the tribe sacrifice one youth to him. It happened near the fall season.
But one day it chanced that the lot fell to a young maiden, and she was the betrothed of Thanmor. He obviously disliked the sacrifice, and against the words of the elders of the tribe, he swore to rescue his woman. He hid in the woods, and when the bear came, he slew it with his spear and sword. But in the process his woman was also killed.
When the elders heard this they captured the man, who was hiding in fear at the time. He tried to defend himself, but during the council there appeared the ghost of Jonat. The ghost condemned the youth, saying that none of the tribe could now have freedom after death unless they suceeded in killing great numbers of the enemy. Also Thanmor was outlawed, and the ancestors of him said that they would never help him again until he succeeded in capturing the seven chiefs of the Jonati. If he died before he succeeded, he would be condemned to the darkest pits of Nakala after death. He fled from the council, and hid in the woods. He decided to try to warn the Frontemi who were sure to be attacked, but he was too late in deciding. He was traveling south when he witness the battle where the Frontemi lost utterly. He managed to escape with the leader of their army, however, who was Prince Snodal.
They traveled north, planning to go to the lands of the snow-dwellers and await the coming of a trade ship from Frontem. On the way, however, Snodal was captured by the Hrolli (snow-demons), and Thanmor barely escaped himself. He went to the snow-dwellers and stayed there until the coming of the trade ship when he went south to the kingdom of Frontem.
In Frontem he lived in the city of Frontan, in the slums, among the other brigands and outlaws. There he stayed for a time, building up a following and becoming a leader of renown. When the army was raised again to great numbers to fight the feared invasion to the south, Thanmor offered his band to the king, Krital by name, as light cavalry. In dire straits the king accepted.
It was then that Snodal returned. He made peace with the Daga, and then prepared to fight the following Krjalki. Thanmor, now promoted to commander of the barbarian mercenaries, became friends with Snodal, at least as much as was possible between the two divergent characters. After the defeat of the Krjalki, Thanmor took his band and went north again, seeking the fulfillment of his geas.
Once there he made peace with the nymph of the land, and her dragon brother. He married her, and together they finally defeated the seven Jonati chieftains, as well as some other surrounding tribes. He ascended to kingship of the united lands, and a new kingdom was made.