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Lore

Legends 40: Skin & Bones

Duration
35m
Broadcast on
11 Nov 2024
Audio Format
other

The world around us shapes the stories we tell, even in the harshest conditions. So it's no wonder these legends from Greenland have the power to give us chills.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Alex Robinson, and research by Jamie Vargas.

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This episode is sponsored by Wildwood. From Leica, the studio behind Coraline, comes a new epic fantasy adventure. And at the heart of Wildwood is a simple question. How far would you go for someone you love? Wildwood is a handcrafted epic fantasy adventure that transports audiences into a secret magical and dangerously alive world just beyond their doorstep. At its heart is the story of a courageous girl, Prue McKeel, on a desperate mission to rescue her baby brother from a forbidden forest filled with enchanted creatures, endearing allies, and formidable adversaries. Her journey unfolds in a spectacular high-stakes adventure where the fate of an entire hidden world hangs in the balance. The film features vocal performances from Carrie Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, and Angela Bassett. And I have to tell you folks, I have seen the trailer for this film so many times, and I cannot wait to park my button to seat and experience this adventure. Wildwood is now playing in theaters everywhere, so grab your tickets today. Hey Denver, the Wayfair Store's grand opening weekend starts November 20th. Come shop, celebrate, and save with up to 80% off in store all weekend long. Plus, the first hundred customers in line each day get a free $50 gift card, bring the whole family for giveaways, music, entertainment, and surprises. So mark your calendar and head to the Wayfair Store at avenues at Northfield November 20th through 22nd for our grand opening celebration. Wayfair, every style, every home. Hey folks, Aaron here. Two quick things to nudge your way before we dive into today's episode. The lore tour has officially kicked off. Chad and I had a blast in Boston and Newark last week sharing lore stories from stage for big crowds who love history and spooky tales. We have four more shows this month in November here with Minneapolis on the 14th and Milwaukee on the 15th and then San Francisco on the 21st in Seattle on the 22nd. We would love to see you on the road. So if you haven't yet, grab your lore tickets over at lorepodcast.com/live. I'll also be in Cambridge, Massachusetts, tonight at Porter Square Books and in Naperville, Illinois on the 16th at Anderson's bookstore. Both of those events are part of the Cabinet of Curiosity's book launch and you can find information and links over at Aaron Mankey.com and click on the appearances menu. The book, by the way, will be released tomorrow November 12th and pre-orders are super important to the success of the book, but will also have hardcover copies at those live lore shows that I mentioned a moment ago. And that's it folks, lore is on tour this month with tickets at lorepodcast.com/live and the Cabinet of Curiosity's book arrives tomorrow with details over at grimandmild.com/curiosities. And now, on with the show.
Ludwig was getting desperate. He had been leading a Danish expedition across Greenland on dog sleds for well over a year now, and at this point they were running low on provisions. The entire purpose of their trip had been to map out as much of Northeast Greenland's icy landscape as they could, but they had hit a lot of roadblocks. The few existing maps of Greenland had been inaccurate and had led them astray more than once, costing them precious time. Most of the expedition's men had already gone back to the ship months before. The only ones left out in the wilderness were Ludwig and his two associates, Niels and Jurgen, and it wasn't looking good for them. The year was 1907, so there were no helicopters or airplanes to fly out and rescue them. The three men were on their own in one of the most desolate places in the entire world. And at first, that hadn't worried Ludwig. His plan had been to get his team across the ice, hunt for more food in the process, and eventually get back to the rest of the group. But now, unexpectedly mild weather had melted the ice they were supposed to cross on, covering their route back to civilization with freezing water. And instead of riding sleds across ice and snow, they were forced to travel on foot over sharp rocks, wearing away their footwear. And to make matters worse, by the time they left their sled behind on October 19 of 1907, the sun was disappearing until springtime, leaving the explorers in the dark. Slowly, one by one, each of the men died. Niels was first, dying of cold and exhaustion. He was soon followed by Ludwig. Jurgen made it the furthest, but eventually he too succumbed, with all their cartography sketches and notes still in his pocket. His body wasn't recovered for another six months. Niels and Ludwig were never found. Greenland boasts one of the harshest environments on the planet, and its winters have killed thousands of people over the centuries. But as terrifying as that might sound, the ice and snow there aren't the only things that we should be afraid of, because in Greenland, if the climate doesn't get you, the monsters will. I'm Aaron Mankey, and this is Lore Legends. In case you didn't already know, Greenland isn't actually very green. Near the coast, Greenland is slightly more temperate, but the rest of the island remains below freezing all throughout the year, enduring some of the most extreme Arctic conditions on Earth. In fact, a continental glacier covers about 80% of Greenland's landmass, one of only two continental glaciers in the entire world. So, naturally, the majority of the population sticks close to the coast, where it isn't coated in ice all year. Life there is hard, and unsurprisingly, Greenland has been abandoned by its residents time and time again. We know of at least four distinct cultures that settled Greenland throughout the past, from early paleo-inuit to Norsemen to paleo-inuit called the Dorset, to the ancestors of today's inhabitants, the proto-inuit Tula. The Tula made their way there in the 14th century, quickly adapting to the harsh climate and putting down roots. Then, the Danish started colonizing Greenland in the 18th century, bringing Christianity with them.

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