Posted by
on April 2, 2018.Last updated by
on June 4, 2019.Despite starting in the Savage Coast, Strangers from a Strange Land takes place in the Blue Mountain and counts for Blue Mountain achievements.
Take a look at the nearby map on the wall above Red's TV (145,870).
Find and go to the first rune stone displayed on the map.
The location on the map may seem familiar.
The map is of the Blue Mountain.
Go to the rune closest to the entrance to the Black Goat Pass leading to the Savage Coast from within the Blue Mountain, the rune ᚱ (525,255). This rune, Reið, means ride or journey, and is fitting to begin the journey at.
Approach the magnificent stone and examine it.
Two birds fly down to the stumps by the rune stone. Talk to the raven on the left, Huginn.
"Thought comes before memory. But memory recalls the path. I'm thought, he's memory. You can have that one for free."
- Huginn
Talk to the raven on the right, Muninn.
"'We laid our blades upon this far shore, exhausted, only to lift them against the worshippers of a dark sun. We carved this story in stone, where it waits still to be read.'"
- Muninn
Proceed to the next rune stone.
Follow the map.
Consider what Muninn said.
The runes shown on the map may have a meaning to them.
Go counterclockwise to the next rune stone, ᛋ, which can be found to the east of the first stone (725,275). This Younger Futhark rune, called Sól in Old Norse, means sun. It's befitting a story regarding worshippers of a dark sun.
Take a closer look at the rune stone.
Talk to Huginn and heed his words.
"Memory is a servant of those who prove worthy of thought. Hint-hint."
- Huginn
Turn your focus to Muninn and listen to him.
"'From our frozen birthland, we crossed a white-capped sea to green isles of endless rain. This, too, we carved in stone.'"
- Muninn
Head to the next rune stone.
Continue following the runic map and the words of the birds.
Go north to the next rune, ᚢ, at (775,615). This rune is Úr, which means rain. Muninn certainly mentioned endless rain.
Touch the rune stone. Examine it. Study it.
Talk to Huginn and listen to what he has to say.
"A wise man once said of a king: 'Who is the great one who grasps the earth, swallowing wood and water? Bad weather he dreads, wind, but no man, and picks a fight with the sun.'"
- Huginn
If you at any time need to revisit Huginn's words, you can talk to him again.
Go to Muninn and give to the raven your answer.
If given the wrong answer, a Skaldi Horror will attack you and the mission will return you to the step of examining the rune stone.
Consider Huginn's words.
It is bad weather which touches earth, wood, and water while also challenging the sun itself.
Weather that touches both the ground, water, and vegetation must lay low in the atmosphere, especially if it fights the sun in the sky.
The answer is Fog, which is a low-lying cloud typically considered bad weather that obscures the sun and is common over bodies of water.
Select the Fog dialogue option and Muninn will speak.
"'We carried a sword out from the lands of rain, and gave thanks to the gods. All must pass before the gods.'"
- Muninn
Go to the next rune stone.
You should know the pattern by now.
As Muninn says the Norsemen gave thanks to the gods, so shall we. The next rune is ᚬ or Óss, meaning god (600,760).
Examine the mighty stone.
Huginn still has so much more. Listen to him.
"The same wise man asked the king: 'What beast is that which defends fighters; it bears a bloody back, but men it saves, meets spears, gives life to some, and lays itself inside a soldier's palm?'"
- Huginn
Give your answer to Muninn.
This beast is defensive, saving and defending lives in war.
It can be held in the hand of the soldier it protects.
The answer is Shield, as shields, while bloodied during combat, are used to protect the warriors wielding them and are worn in the hand or arm.
Select the Shield dialogue option for Muninn.
"'In our longships, we sighted where the dawn-people and sun-worshippers warred. We joined them, a hail of arrows sent before us to mark the path.'"
- Muninn
Make way to the next rune stone.
Keep in mind Muninn's words when considering the map's runes.
The fifth rune to come is Hagall, as per Muninn's description of a hail of arrows. ᚼ is east of the Authentic Wabanaki Village in the nearby ak'ab infested woods (410,630).
Examine the stone. Touch it.
Heed Huginn's words.
"Wise man, king, you know the drill: 'The mind-whacker, the word-thwarter, the word up-raiser.'"
- Huginn
Muninn awaits an answer.
The answer is something that hinders both mind and words
Not only does it hinder, but also encourages words to be spoken at the same time.
The answer is Ale. Alcohol inebriates, hindering the mind while also making it difficult to speak straight and enunciate properly. At the same time, it lowers inhibition and makes it far more likely that words that would otherwise have been repressed are instead spoken aloud and upraised.
Select the Ale dialogue option.
"'They did not know Loki walked among them, as he walks today. He fought at their side, but he is a trickster. Guided only by rivalry with his brother. Let the thunder god also guide you."
- Muninn
Determine the location of the sixth stone.
Remember Muninn's words.
In particular, "Let the thunder god also guide you."
The thunder god referenced is Thor. There is a particular rune that can mean Thor: ᚦ, or Þurs. Go southwest to the appropriate rune (340,560).
Inspect the stone as with before.
Listen to the thoughts of Huginn.
"The wise man asked: 'Four hang, four sprang. Two point the way, two ward off dogs, one dangles after and is always rather dirty.'"
- Huginn
Tell Muninn what you think the answer is.
This is something with many appendages.
Four of them hang downward, four of them spring around, two point in the direction it goes, another two are defensive, and the final one is at the back end.
The answer is Cow. A cow has: four udders, which hang down; four legs, springing the cow around; two eyes, which point in the direction the cow is looking and very often the direction it is moving; two horns, used to ward off predators; and one tail, dangling after the cow and very easily dirtied from the cow's excretion.
Select the Cow dialogue option. Do it for Huginn and Muninn.
"'The game was done, this battle won. They had earned the wealth which was their reward, and only one place remained for them to go.'"
- Muninn
Find the final rune stone.
Follow the pattern.
As per Muninn's words, only one place remains to go.
The final rune is Frey, ᚠ, the symbol for wealth. Go then to the final rune and take the wealth which is your reward (360,430).
As with all stones before it, the rune stone must be examined.
Hear what Huginn has to crow about.
"Have you guessed? The wise man was the All-Father, the Wednesday man. The raven-god. In his honey dreaming we shall carry him these new thoughts, these new memories."
- Huginn
Muninn, no longer playing games, has his own message to mention.
"'In time, they made to return to the lands of snow. Only to be taken by the sea where the Draugr drown. This Loki knew, so he did not sail. South, he went, to find the secrets of the dark sun.'"
- Muninn