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 Post subject: Old Hrynjandi Lore
PostPosted: January 19th, 2016, 2:53 pm 
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Count

Joined: December 5th, 2015, 1:47 am
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I'll be posting some of my recovered Hrynjandi lore here. It's of varying quality so I'll probably do some touching up on a few pieces before posting them here (still, I'm a lazy bastard so doing full rewrites of old lore isn't really on the table :P)

Let's start off with an old overview of the Hrynjandi tribes and an even older Skarendi legend.

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Hrynjandi Tribes

The Hrynjandi Tribes are as diverse as they are many. Even though all of them descended from a common ancestor, the Þingr, they have long since split apart and formed their own cultures often based on their ancestral way of life. The three principal tribes of the Hrynjandi are the Andel River Tribe, the Skaftind Mountain Tribe and the Þingey Island Tribe. The Hrynjandi Tribes were united in the third era when Vargon the Outsider brought peace to the Hrynjandi lands.

Andel River Tribe/Dyrendi:

The Andel River Tribe is the largest and most powerful of the three dominant tribes. They are mostly pureblooded descendants of the ancient Þingr that believe strongly in their racial purity and superiority. This conviction led to the Dyrendi developing an extremely warlike culture that values strength and purity of mind and body over everything else.

In ages past, the Dyrendi embarked on crusades against the other tribes and conquered most of the Andel river and the tribes that formerly lived there. This campaign continued for years until only recently when Skyspeaker Vargon came to power. Vargon was raised to the position of Skyspeaker after murdering Skyspeaker Farxe the Cruel. The Dyrendi disapproved of this at first and had already prepared the gallows for Vargon. It is unknown how he escaped his faith, but whatever happened on that faithful night seemed to put the fear of the gods back into the Dyrendi. Soon after, they installed Vargon as the new Skyspeaker.

The Andel River Tribe holds many rich mines along the Andel river and its surrounding countryside. They are the largest producer of metals in the Hrynjandi lands, however, they do not possess any wood of their own. Instead they rely entirely on their neighbours and occasional forages into Ossutoreria.

Skaftind Mountain Tribe/Skarendi:

The Skaftind Mountain Tribe is the second most powerful tribe in the Apocryphaen Wastes. Based on Mount Skaftind, the Skarendi have garnered a reputation as skilled miners and craftsmen. The raw materials of the mountain coupled with its proximity to Ossutoreria has lead to it being the most developed of the three tribes. The capital of the Skarendi rests on the summit of the mountain and the lower plains around it. It is the only town in Hrynjandi lands that has a wall surrounding it.

The Dyrendi have many times tried to sack the town but have always failed due to numerous factors that contribute to its formidable reputation. The steep ascent to the town coupled with skilled defenders and a functional wall is most often enough to repel even the most determined attackers.

The secret to the extraordinary quality of Hrynjandi metals is thought to have originated in this settlement. Deep under the mountain a place known as the Deepwatch is said to contain the only intact Þingr forge in the lands (How we acquired this information is none of your concern. Begone, peasant!)

The Skaftind Mountain Tribe society is the most mercantile of the three. They have great hopes of beginning trade with the outside world.

The current leader of the Skarendi is Skyspeaker Harvar the Benign who in turn answers to the Skyspeaker of Dyr.

Þingey Island Tribe/Alendi:

The Alendi tribe is located on the island of Þingey in the far north of the Apocryphaen Wastes. They are the smallest of the three great tribes but are vital to the continued survival of the other two. In direct contrast with the aggressive nature of the Dyrendi, the Alendi are generally very peaceful. The winters of their lands are not as long and the cold less ravenous. Their culture is closer to the distant and mercantile Skarendi than the closer but warlike Dyrendi. The current Skyspeaker of the Alendi is Herse the Cunning.

The Alendi lands are fertile and their crops are often large. Both of the other two tribes often make journeys to their island in small trade caravans to barter for wheat. Its proximity to the Iron Forest/Ernskor puts them in direct competition with the Skarendi. While nobody challenges the fact that Iron Forest wood is stronger than its Ossutorarian equivalent, its high price puts off potential buyers. It is mostly used by the Hrynjandi for weapons and occasionally for housing in conjunction with the lighter Ossutorarian wood.

The capital of the Þingey Island Tribe is Hrunbor, a small town built around an ancient stone circle. Unlike the other two tribes, the Alendi rely mostly on farming. Their lands are fertile but the ground poor in minerals.

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Beirand of Skar and the Deepwatch

In the dusk days of the 2nd Era lived a man named Beirand. He was of low birth with no ancestral links to the heroes of old. He was a large man, renowned for his prowess in combat in his hometown of Skar and the neighbouring riverlands. Though he was not a dim-witted brute, his intelligence was nothing to boast at. In his youth he wandered the lands bordering the Black and returned with many artifacts previously unheard of.

His days of roving the borderlands were cut short, however, during the Third Siege of Skar by the inhabitants of the Andel. Beirand took up arms along with his fellow Skarendi to defend their homes against their old enemy. The Dyrendi and their war-thralls brought siege engines constructed from Ironwood brought from Alendi lands. Unbeknowst to the defenders, the Dyrendi had previously sacked Þingey and their bountiful wheatfields. The men of the Dyrendi were well fed and thirsty for the blood of their brethren.

The following days the defences of Skar were pounded by huge rocks dug from the wall surrounding the town itself. On the fourth day of the siege, Beirand and a group of brave warriors gathered around the entrance to the legendary Deepwatch, constructed by the Þingr before The Fleeing. The scrolls of old, the Gaura, told of a weapon of immense power in the lowest pits of Deepwatch. It is said to be a place haunted by ancestral spirits and dark creatures known to the Skarendi as Duya. Many a man had ventured to the depths of that wretched abyss and never returned, only their screams echoing back from its black maw.

Beirand descended into the pit at the point of the group. His sword was poised to strike at any moment at the Duya should they emerge. The blade he wielded possessed the name Strunungr. Its black Ironwood handle was impregnated with iron making it sparkle in daylight and the blade had been blessed by Velsr with the gift of fire.

Halfway down the endless stairwell that was the Deepwatch, the first member of the team lost his mind. He grabbed for Strunungr but slit his canal-veins fumbling around in the darkness before catching fire and plummeting into the gap between the steps. He was the first to fall but not the last. Minutes later, Tarsen Foul-Mouth slipped on the wet stone slabs and cracked his skull 50 steps below his allies. The band of 6 men had now been reduced to four.

Third to meet his demise was Pervas the Red, a berserker of as much renown as Beirand himself. His death came at the hands of a Duya. Down from the blackness of Deepwatch an indescribable horror climbed the walls and grabbed Pervas' legs, dragging him down to meet a terrible fate.

Fourth was Veitas the Coward. He quickly took his life after the death of Pervas. Now his name lives in infamy as the face of cowardice.

Finally, fifth was Eresten the Faithful who remained with Beirand until the bottom was finally reached. His death was described by Beirand as gruesome and evil. His reward for following him was a slow death at the hands, or rather, tentacles of the legendary Þrykkja. Eresten had sat down on a stone bench for rest when the shadowy arms had penetrated his chest. The uncountable miniature mouths of the Þrykkja slowly tore into his flesh. Beirand could do naught but watch--

The page is torn past this point.

---------------------------------------------------

Chronicle of the Long Winter


"Lo, kin of the Storm, looketh upon the horizon and weep. It grows dark, and the winds blow strong. Already All-Crown has fallen to your arrogance and along with it, thy lifeblood. Sodrungr, bidr allr."

Those were the words spoken by Spyspeaker Merthe the Gaunt days before the Long Winter fell upon Dyr. They are the first thing Hrynjandi children learn from their parents once they are bestowed the gift of speech. Before the cataclysm that was the Long Winter, the Hrynjandi regularly feasted and spent their wealth on opulent lifestyles (By their standards.) Soon after the Long Winter descended upon Skar, the storms began. The formerly great cattle herds of Skar were quickly reduced to distant memories in the bitter cold and for the first time since its settlement, the legendary Flame of Velsr died.

All along the Andel river, tribes made haste to Dyr or Skar in a mass exodus from the formerly plentiful riverlands. Dyr quickly became overcrowded by the huge volume of Hrynjandi refugees. Skyspeaker Geron of Skar had closed its gates to Dyrendi refugees and angered Skyspeaker Merthe in the process. A great many Dyrendi warriors gathered around the walls of Skar to initiate the First Siege of Dyr under the leadership of Elron Blackhand of Dyr.

Days later, the siege ended in tragedy as a storm of epic proportions snuffed out the lights of the besiegers and all those ill fated enough to have been outside at the time. Almost half of the Dyrendi refugees in Dyr were taken by the eternal sleep that night under the vast blanket of white.

Many more tragedies befell the Hrynjandi during the Long Winter. In its year-long lifespan, this freak storm had caused more deaths than the longest of Hrynjandi wars. Among the casualties were ancient Þingr artifacts that were swallowed by the snow and crushed by the winds.

Eras in the future, the words of Merthe have become an integral part of the Hrynjandi way of life, although, their interpretation varies depending on the tribe.

The Dyrendi took them to mean that only the strongest should survive and cited them as justification for their already warlike actions.

The Skarendi kicked up trade in the region and quickly became the wealthiest tribe in the Wastes. Their walls have stood for ages against the Dyrendi warriors.

Finally, the Alendi capitalized on their position in the far north of the Wastes and became the only food supplier in the region. Soon, the other two tribes came to rely upon them to satisfy their food requirements.

Skyspeaker Merthe the Gaunt was killed during the Second Siege of Skar, which he took upon himself to lead. His body was moved to the badlands between Dyr and Hrunbor and buried deep inside the cave of Erendur. In a coming of age ritual, all Dyrendi males must embark upon a physical and spiritual journey to Erendur and recite the Words of Merthe over his tomb.

"Lo, kin of the Storm, looketh upon the horizon and weep. It grows dark, and the winds blow strong. Already All-Crown has fallen to your arrogance and along with it, thy lifeblood. Sodrungr, bidr allr."

_________________
The Hierophant of the Disciples || Halad adho Dakdakrok
-Count of the Isle
-Champion of the Games


Last edited by The Hierophant on January 19th, 2016, 6:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Old Hrynjandi Lore
PostPosted: January 19th, 2016, 5:36 pm 
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Joined: May 30th, 2015, 10:17 am
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Location: Stirling - Scotland
A very detailed look at the history of your people, Hierophant. I am glad to see a return from the ancient historical tales and information of old times.

I would ask, is the Þ symbol a "th" sound? As in "The" and " Þe " are similar?

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 Post subject: Re: Old Hrynjandi Lore
PostPosted: January 19th, 2016, 6:32 pm 
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Count

Joined: December 5th, 2015, 1:47 am
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Exactly!

---

Chronicle of the Long Winter


"Lo, kin of the Storm, looketh upon the horizon and weep. It grows dark, and the winds blow strong. Already All-Crown has fallen to your arrogance and along with it, thy lifeblood. Sodrungr, bidr allr."

Those were the words spoken by Spyspeaker Merthe the Gaunt days before the Long Winter fell upon Dyr. They are the first thing Hrynjandi children learn from their parents once they are bestowed the gift of speech. Before the cataclysm that was the Long Winter, the Hrynjandi regularly feasted and spent their wealth on opulent lifestyles (By their standards.) Soon after the Long Winter descended upon Skar, the storms began. The formerly great cattle herds of Skar were quickly reduced to distant memories in the bitter cold and for the first time since its settlement, the legendary Flame of Velsr died.

All along the Andel river, tribes made haste to Dyr or Skar in a mass exodus from the formerly plentiful riverlands. Dyr quickly became overcrowded by the huge volume of Hrynjandi refugees. Skyspeaker Geron of Skar had closed its gates to Dyrendi refugees and angered Skyspeaker Merthe in the process. A great many Dyrendi warriors gathered around the walls of Skar to initiate the First Siege of Dyr under the leadership of Elron Blackhand of Dyr.

Days later, the siege ended in tragedy as a storm of epic proportions snuffed out the lights of the besiegers and all those ill fated enough to have been outside at the time. Almost half of the Dyrendi refugees in Dyr were taken by the eternal sleep that night under the vast blanket of white.

Many more tragedies befell the Hrynjandi during the Long Winter. In its year-long lifespan, this freak storm had caused more deaths than the longest of Hrynjandi wars. Among the casualties were ancient Þingr artifacts that were swallowed by the snow and crushed by the winds.

Eras in the future, the words of Merthe have become an integral part of the Hrynjandi way of life, although, their interpretation varies depending on the tribe.

The Dyrendi took them to mean that only the strongest should survive and cited them as justification for their already warlike actions.

The Skarendi kicked up trade in the region and quickly became the wealthiest tribe in the Wastes. Their walls have stood for ages against the Dyrendi warriors.

Finally, the Alendi capitalized on their position in the far north of the Wastes and became the only food supplier in the region. Soon, the other two tribes came to rely upon them to satisfy their food requirements.

Skyspeaker Merthe the Gaunt was killed during the Second Siege of Skar, which he took upon himself to lead. His body was moved to the badlands between Dyr and Hrunbor and buried deep inside the cave of Erendur. In a coming of age ritual, all Dyrendi males must embark upon a physical and spiritual journey to Erendur and recite the Words of Merthe over his tomb.

"Lo, kin of the Storm, looketh upon the horizon and weep. It grows dark, and the winds blow strong. Already All-Crown has fallen to your arrogance and along with it, thy lifeblood. Sodrungr, bidr allr."

_________________
The Hierophant of the Disciples || Halad adho Dakdakrok
-Count of the Isle
-Champion of the Games


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 Post subject: Re: Old Hrynjandi Lore
PostPosted: January 20th, 2016, 4:51 am 
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Joined: May 30th, 2015, 10:17 am
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Location: Stirling - Scotland
A grim past for your people, much was lost, the cycle continues anew to this day, civilisations come to fall, things are forgotten and unremembered.

I would hear more of this.

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Petra Ravnikaar of The Veil


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