as told by Ibn-Fadlan, do not seem fully human. They ride on the back of a black horse and have the head of a bear. They are extremely fierce warriors and are quite vindictive. They give off a stench so strong it hurts to breathe because they consume human flesh and it is always on their breath. They come with the mist, a dark fog that encircles the land when the Wendols come. Mother Wendol is the leader of the wendols and said to be extremely old. To finally beat the Wendols, one must kill her. She lives in the cave by the sea surrounded by coiled serpents all the time. She makes an almost painful sound when she screams and smells the worst of them all. Ibn-Fadlan is an Ambassador to the Caliph of Baghdad and has been sent to teach the King of Bulgar the Islamic way of life, and to build a Mosque in the city. On his way to Bulgar, he stops with his party in the land of the Northmen. Being extremely hospitable people they welcome the Arabs to their homes and provide them with food, clothing, and shelter for a few nights. As it so happens, their chief is very ill and while they are there, he dies. The Northmen will not let the Arabs leave their land until after the funeral and ceremonies. During this long process, kin of the new leader arrives and asks for the Northmens help in defeating the Wendols. According to the Angel of Death, an old woman said to have magical powers, thirteen warriors must go to the land of the wendol, one of them not being a Northmen. Buliwyf, the chief of the Northmen demands Ibn-Fadlan to accompany the men in their battle and become the thirteenth warrior. He will not take no for an answer, and so, Ibn-Fadlan’s journey begins. Twelve other warriors accompanied Ibn, Buliwyf, Ecthgow, Higlak, Skeld, Weath, Roneth, Halga, Helfdane, Edgtho, Rethel, Haltaf, and Herger. With them, Ibn traveled across the oceans and fought many battles. Ibn learned their culture, way of life, and their language. He formed many ...
