The Sword to Unite

by Peter J. Hopkins

  The offspring of the Children grew in number in the days when the world lay barren. From Godric came the twin brothers of Baldag, the god of law and justice, and Sigberht, the god of war. From Arian, her daughter Bryanna, the goddess of alchemy. Welund wed himself to Boethius, the god of knowledge whose libraries record all of history, and fathered Domovoi, the hearth god who lives beneath the floorboards of all those who pour wine as an offering to his name. Domovoi and his wife goddess, Veria of fertile soil, gave birth to Trundor the Slayer-God, who forged all animals and wild things to be hunted.

  The gods together formed and molded the earth to their liking, and sculpted distinct continents divided by great bodies of water. The Moonlands, where the gods did do battle on the Earth. Yennen, the largest of its brothers, and filled with all manner of mythical races and sprawling kingdoms. Erastrius, the smallest of all the lands, dwarfed by Yennen, where the first of Baudoin’s line sailed from.

  Loden the Wanderer

  In the days when Cinder’s light burned brightly in the sky, but life had yet to fill the surface of the earth, Loden wandered alone on its barren surface. For years, he traveled alone, his gray cloak became browned as he walked through the dust, longing for companions. When he had traveled the distance of Yennen, the largest continent of the world, he collapsed by the seashore of Belfas, the frigid tip of the north. He wept for his loneliness, for there was no one else who could be at his side. Upon his tear, his magical soul was streamed, and the single tear of Loden fell from his silky white beard and mixed with the sand of the beach.

  When the foaming waves of the sea came and swallowed up the sand infused with the god’s tear, Loden was amazed to see a great beam of light pierce from the sea’s surface. He was blasted back onto his face, and from the bright light, the Children were born. Three beings, born from Loden, designed to bring companionship to the world. Godric, Welund, and their sister Arian filled the world with their creation, spreading man throughout the world, and Loden looked upon this and saw that it was good.

  For many passing years, this trinity satisfied Loden, while, to the south, Duwel and Trundor ruled with their offspring. Yet his soul still yearned for companionship, and so he spoke thus to his offspring, ‘My Children! What world is this that we are left so lonely, to the south my Brother Duwel is content with his creation, let us be like him.’ And so Loden gathered wet sand from the northern shore of Belfas, where he had once made true the image of his children. He took up handfuls of the mud, blessed it with his breath, and handed it to the three Children, that they might become a creator like him. In their father’s image, they molded man, strong, wise, brave, but also mortal, cruel, and easily tempted.

  The Demons

  These races of creations lived together in harmony for many years, giving praise and bounty to their respective gods and civilizing a once empty world. But this all was much to the displeasure of Cinder’s brother, Baphamont, who believed he and his demonic rulers should have dominion over the world and the creations of the gods. Baphamont, being brash and unthinking, attempted to strike down his brother Cinder, whose ever-consuming flame, burned the wicked demon, who was cast back to his domain beaten and disgraced. Baphamont’s offspring, known as Crassus Baal, Lord of deals and trickery and the most cunning and deceptive of the demons, came to his master’s aid and offered his skills of smoke and dagger to rid the world of the gods’ rule. Beelzus was formed shortly after, the demoness of disease and famine, hers was the silent and slow moving doom of the mortal races. Together, these demons forged their domain of hell, void of the gods’ very essence of existence, a land which is made in total mockery of creation itself.

  Regarding the First Kingdoms of Man

  In the first era of man, the people were scattered throughout the earth by their divine lords. In the Mist Lands, also known as Erastrius, the Erastrian people settled and established large cities, with massive ships and armies to support them and their noble lords became known as Sea Kings.

  In the northern tip of Yennen, the lands of Belfas, Midland, and Lorine, the Northmen thrived in spirit and hearth, forging smaller but nonetheless powerful kingdoms, referred to as the Ten Kingdoms of the North.

  In the lands below the freezing winters of Belfas, the men known as the Eln thrived in their little hamlets and green growing fields, content to live with beautiful music and rustic culture, to that of city building like their southern folk.

  In the south, where green hills turned to seas of sand, the Tanaric, also known as Sun-Kissed to the Northmen, rule the trading roads and watered cities. Their skin touched by the heat of their homeland, they are wise traders and fierce warriors, who can survive the desert as their camels do. Some of the Tanari exist as nomads, traveling the expansive desert like ants across a field, and are the most well-known to the outside world. However, most settled in the Sancti Lakebed and Arron Plains, where they live as any ordinary folk in Yennen. There they established many cities, including Sulita, the largest city in the south of Yennen, where clean water runs in equal in abundance to sweet tasting wine and exotic spices. The pride of the Tanaric people, Sulita was built by master engineers who labored over three generations to complete the groundwork of the city. Comprised of three walled sections, Sulita was built to withstand any prolonged siege, and a foreign power has never managed to sack it.

  To the northeast, the Hirdmen grew in number and wealth, both in cities and sweeping herds of cattle. Living in the grassy Hirdland, where sheep can graze for miles in any direction, the shepherds have ruled as rustic lords, living in wooden palaces and great tents. To their southern border, along the eastern seaboard of Yennen, live the Dradanian folk, broad in frame and taller than all others. Thereupon the northern coast, the Falklands rule with unprecedented knowledge of engineering and sciences.

  The Forging of the North

  To the North, the Ten Kingdoms arose, where noble knights swore oaths to smaller barons and dukes, owing their loyalty to that league of ten. It was here where Seax, Lorine, and other great noble kingdoms began their history. Rich in song and silver, the countries thrived and made great temples and shrines to their gods, carving out the mountains and massive stones in their honor. But it was all for ending, as Azrael, Prince of Crassus Baal, and defiler of man rose to power in the late days of these kingdoms. He slew the bravest sworn shields in pitched battle, and his blade was unmatched by any mortal man. He slew the ten kings of the north, from each taking their index finger, and forging himself a crown hewed from their skeletal remains, known as the crown of Ten Fingers, or Degsedd.

  In these days, hope grew dim in the land, and shadow covered and clouded the minds of the people, reducing them to servants of the evil one. It was by Adalgott, son of The Huntsman Godric, and Mable the lady of Canterbrick, that the north was saved. His mother sacrificed herself so he could live, for the agents of Azrael had tracked them to their homestead. She stood at the threshold of their home and outstretched her arms so none could pass. The assassins killed her, but her moment’s distraction had done its work. Adalgott’s father, Godric, swept down from the sky upon a golden chariot and placed him in Sulita, far away from the evil one’s influence. Son of god and man, Adalgott had the destiny for greatness, for either right or wrong, for Azrael could easily tempt one only half born of gods.

  King Uzmet, lord of the Tanari, educated Adalgott at Sulita, and he learned the ways of the sword and strategy, as well as the knowledge of stewardship. When he was sixteen, he was informed of his heritage by a vision of his father, who bid him return to his people. Adalgott did as instructed, and with a band of loyal courtiers, departed for the north. Godric bid his son not go without protection and ordered that his brother Welund forge a blade. Welund did so, lifting entire mountains to contain to the power of the flaming sword, Geanlaecan, meaning unite. Godric descended to his son the final time and presented the sword to Adalgott.

  On his journey, Adalgott was thrice tempted by Crassus Baal. The trickster came to him and his, off
ering them water, for they had none and were upon the hottest patch of the Tanaric desert. Adalgott shooed the demon away with his staff, and when he had done this, he struck it against a rock, springing forth water blessed by Godric.

  The second temptation came when Adalgott came to Nacia, and his mind was made known to pleasures of flesh. Crassus Baal bid him walk through the gauntlet of harems in that land, to prove his resolve and will. Adalgott did not abide, and rather, took a ferry across the sea of that land, for he would not allow himself to be tempted nor subject to the whims of a demon.

  The final temptation came as Adalgott arrived in what is now Lorine. A great crowd had gathered to see their chosen champion return to his homeland, and they waited to hear his voice. Crassus Baal appeared to him as a rat upon the ground, nipping at his heel. The rat promised this kingdom without bloodshed, installing Adalgott as the new Azrael if the half-god would but kneel. Adalgott refused and stomped on the rat’s head, crushing it into the dirt.

  From here, Adalgott’s rebellion spread like fire upon kindling. The liege lords and their armies flocked to the banners of Adalgott, the image of the flaming sword. Though not only men joined Adalgott, a griffin, thrice the size of a man, bowed before the rightful king, and rode into battle alongside its master. Azrael was challenged and eventually defeated at the Battle of Broken Fang. From this victory, Adalgott forged his kingdom, and he came to rule each of the ten as one, creating the Northern Kingdom. His people were codified by his law, which he recorded on stone for all to look upon and understand, and their culture thrived in the years to come.

  Adalgott ruled long, supposedly living beyond one hundred years. Without a word, he vanished from his court, leaving his people in disarray. The Ten Kingdoms returned to power, dividing the north into lands unable to unify since their schism.

  Morthwyl, Kingdom Across the Sea of Stars

  Once there was a folk who ruled where the Belfans now thrive, known as the Deanglians. The Deangli were born of Welund, god of smiths, for he descended to the mother of that race, Gweneth ard Moss, the wisest and fairest of all humankind. Her visage was pale as milk, though her skin was warmed by the fires of her forge. She was a modest smithy’s daughter, and she forged many fine pieces of jewelry and weapons. Welund gave himself to her entirely, for he was struck by her genius with metal, which rivaled his own.

  This period of love between god and man fell when war raged between Welund’s people and Baphamont’s legions. Baphamont learned there had been sired a second son of god and man, and so sent his minions to strike down the baby in his crib. Gweneth proved her strength, and repealed the host, losing her life in the process.

  Welund was struck grief, and, in a fit of burning rage, threw Baphamont across the Sea of Stars, towards the unnamed continent of the west. There the smith god hammered away at Baphamont, striking his frame so hard on the ground that the craters can still be seen today. For a year, Welund chased and beat Baphamont across that continent, till the demon shrunk to his domain far away from the realm of men.

  Welund returned to Yennen and took his orphaned son to that land he had hammered. When he had set foot upon the continent, he took a patch of dirt and sprinkled it upon his son’s forehead. Doing this, Welund named his son Pwyll, and granted him lordship over this land, giving him leave over the entire west. Welund also took the tribe of Gweneth and placed them as the vassals and oath bound to his son, blessing them and naming them the Deangli.

  Welund could not stay to educate his son or to raise his kingdom, for the war between gods and demons carried on. Welund plucked a tribe of Dweor, known as the Greys, and gave them the power over the mountains of the Moonlands. In exchange, the Greys guarded Pwyll and educated him to be a ruler in his own right. Until his sixteenth birthday, Pwyll was brought up in the halls of Zanula, where he studied under wise dwarven tutors and learned from the books of his mother’s people.

  When Pwyll had come of age, he was robust and tall, but still retained the wisdom of his mother and father. Pwyll was educated of his heritage and knew his father was Welund. Upon his birthday, he claimed the continent as his de jure kingdom. He forged his crown, and founded the city of Pwyllfeld. With this done, he named his new kingdom, Morthwyl, after the glowing hammer of his father. Welund returned to Pwyll upon his seventeenth birthday and granted his son a winged helm named Doeth. Since this time, Pwyll’s descendants, and the Deangli have ruled this land and worked the fields, creating a kingdom which thrives as the faithful to Welund.

  Pwyll was an accomplished statesman, and divided up his land into smaller baronies, to delegate the administration of his vast tracts of land. The Baronies of Afon, Blodeuyn, and Zirnhor, were given the lands to the south of the capital. These counties serve as the breadbasket of the kingdom, rustic and tame as the Lorinian countryside across the sea. To Pwyllfeld, Pwyll decreed the kings would rule the northern half of the country, the twin lands of Eirwen, an area blanketed by white snow and stone castles. Beyond Eirwen, the Duchy of Farcyle is a land of perpetual winter, snug across the freezing northern shore. The kings were also granted the Moonlands to the eastern coast, named due to the hammer marks Welund left, as well as the gray sand upon the beaches, resembling that distant rock.

  Since its founding, Morthwyl has thrived as a land undamaged by the wars of Yennen. Traders always stream into Pwyllfeld, bringing beautiful works of dweor and human craftsmanship, along with excellent wines from the Barony of Blodeuyn.

  Beyond Morthwyl, to the Howling Winds

  To the west of Farcyle, a freezing wind has blown since the dawning of time. The White Mountains are the savior to Morthwyl, for this wind would roll over every hamlet in its path, leaving land unfit to sustain life. Rangers of Morthwyl once journeyed out into that tundra, and claimed to have discovered a great palace composed of ice. They had fear they would be killed by some foul force, but found instead a jolly king of that castle. Father Winter, they dubbed him, an ancient spirit composed of cold, though he had a warm heart to his guests. His jovial song is the winter’s howling wind, which spreads in harmonious orchestra across the world.

  Tales of the Hlútrian People

  In days when the Children walked amongst their people, Duwel, god of the sky, came to form his people. From his silky white clouds, he shaped and molded his people, light and pure as the stuff of their creation. The Hlútrian people were born, with sharp features and pointed ears, they came to conquer the lands between Eln and the north. The two surviving kingdoms of these people are The Golden Court and their eastern cousins the Silver Hlútrian who survive in Geladhithil. These folk, though bright in wisdom and beauty, never grew to the numbers of their human counterparts, and rather found strength in their solitude.

  To the common tongue, they are elves, for Northmen and Elnish alike mistook the bright folk of Duwel for that of woodland fairies, reducing the true majesty of their creation to pesky creatures clad in leaves for clothing. In the kingdom of Geladhithil, the elves rule as with a rustic disposition, keeping faithful to their origins in the green realm of Glanfech, known for its wooden halls and numerous vineyards. To the Golden Court, the elves live mainly in the walled city of Evrand. Evrand is the largest city in Yennen, consisting of three isles upon the Lake Evrand, as well as a walled section upon the banks of that country. Ruled by a council, the elves take pleasure in their exclusion from the world, often refusing emissaries out of sheer contempt for the world beyond their stone walls.

  The Lusani

  In the early days of the Ten Kingdoms of the north, the Lusani, known as the woodland elves to man, came to thrive in the land between Lorine and Belfas. In the Lusani Forest, their kingdom grows shaded from the blight of the outside world, much like the Awaerian of the Ithon.

  The role of government typically falls to the women amongst the noble families, with the men of the houses overseeing warfare and agriculture. Another distinction between the Awaerian and Lusani is that the Lusani are masters of engineering and architecture, forging great
rustic halls and shaping the earth according to their plans. Their chief god is Duwel, though the Lusani also give plentiful worship to their huntress, Kyshnael, the wife of Duwel, who taught the elves how to hunt with bow and spear.

  Conflict with the kingdoms around them has been constant, with man slowly encroaching further into the forest. The woodland elves are not kind to outsiders, often whole bands of simple villagers are found dead upon forest roads. When a batch rangers from Lorine were butchered along the southern border of Lusani, King Dechart marched his whole army into the woods for revenge. His army was crushed, and his head placed along the forest’s wall upon a spike. Since this event, none have dared enter the woods, and the relation between the Lusani and men is nothing but ruined.

  Kendrick and Juliana

  In the oldest days of man, when bards still wrote the great tales of love and courage, the greatest tale of love in the north was born, born from the love of a northern warrior and a Hlútrian lady. Kendrick, lord of Canterbrick and most brave and kind of the lords of Belfas, found himself in the woodland realm of Lusani, where the elvish folk live in the splendor of culture and hearth.

  Kendrick traveled through the forest alone, tearing his majestic cloak of gold on the spikey twigs of the numerous trees. It was when his face was covered with dirt, his clothes torn, and his hands thick with tree sap, that he found a clearing where Juliana rested on an old oaken stump. Dressed in elaborate lavender, with metal working of gold and gems across her thin and pale neck. Her hair was a bright brown, like that of her kingdom’s landscape, and her face was smooth with eyes as blue as the sea on a sunny day.