20. Stories of recent heroes and legends

T.M.O.L.: Campaign Notes: Chapter 5

After the evening meal the townsfolk meet again around the stage to hear the stories of the heroes of the times. A large bonfire is lit at each of the streets entering the square, and on a distant mountain peak to the east a bonfire is visible like a burning coal.

Many people tell stories, glad stories of inspiration and sorrowful stories of warning. One retells the story of the war against Thera and all the heroes who helped win those battles, while another tells the story of a group called the Crimson Brothers who have slain numerous Horrors in their lairs. Another retells the legend of the Earthdawn, the magical skyship and its brave crew who spread the good news of the end of the Scourge.

Not all the stories are of the magical and powerful Adepts in the land. There are stories of a simple farmer from a hamlet in the southern plains who braved a swarm of vicious Wyverns to rescue his trapped son, and thus earned the status of a hero as the tales spread. In another story a weaverwoman outsmarted an angry fire spirit and tricked it into walking into some water.

Clearing his throat and stepping forward, Brashak indicates, much to everyone's surprise, that he also wishes to tell a story. "Uhm. . . as I have recently learned, New Lebensraum is also the hometown of Lucas the Weaponsmith. As it happens, I heard some news regarding him, before I left Throal. As it seems, he is currently adventuring with a band called Thorgrim's Chargers, a group consisting mostly of orks that have dedicated themselves to eradicating slavery in Barsaive. Lately they have been involved in fighting slavers along the Serpent. The last I heard, they had successfully attacked a group of slavers near the north of the Tylons. Rumour has it that these slavers were working for one of the t'skrang trading houses, although I don't know which one. It's also rumoured the Thorgrim's Chargers may be secretly working for the King."

This news surprises the people, who have not heard news of Lucas for quite some time. There is a murmur of conversation through the crowd, and then Kragen stands up. "That would explain why he wasn't back for the Festival, I suppose. But those slavers had better watch out, if Lucas is after them. That reminds me of the tale of Ilnor Pass. You've probably heard it before, but I'll tell it again.

"It came to pass in the winter as the snow fell thick on the Throal Mountains, and a band of brave adventurers were seeking shelter as they trudged through Ilnor Pass. . ." Kragen loves telling the story, which takes a long time to tell with all the embelishments and details. The group consisted of the troll Swordmaster Mattin of the Violent Heart, the windling Wizard Halig Cedartree, the dwarven Archer Grani of Ekranar, and the dwarven Weaponsmith Lukas of Lebensraum. They were carrying an important message through the Throal Mountains to take to the t'skrang House Syrtis on the ohter side, and for various reasons had to travel overland in winter. As they entered Ilnor Pass, which is in the valley between Mount Vassiki and Mount Moonlance, they were all suffering badly from the cold and desperately needed a place to rest. Grani spotted a cave, but as they neared it a huge monstrous form emerged. It was a big as a dragon, but with seven heads and no wings, and is called by the Name Hydra. The Adepts withdrew, but decided that they must fight the beast or freeze to death on the slopes. So Grani came up over the snowbank sheltering them and begin pelting the monster with fiery arrows, but they merely bounced off its scales. Halig tried to attack it with spells, but whenever he would affect the monster it would shrug off the effect. As the monster neared them, Mattin and Lucas charged to attack, but even the troll's great strength was not enough to penetrate the thick scales. With its many heads the Hydra attacked back, mortally wounding Mattin and severely damaging Lucas.

Then it was that Lucas called on the power of his Discipline, knowing that he was the only one with a chance of defeating the beast. While Halig distracted it, Lucas spotted a chink in the seemingly impenetrable armour, at the base of each of the seven necks. Heedless of his own safety he dived forward and thrust his sword deep into one of the necks. As the monster howled in pain, he thrust again, into another neck. Leaving a trail of blood steaming across the snow, the Hydra fled in pain, and Halig, Grani, and Lucas were able to take shelter in the cave. Mattin was obviously not the only one to fall victim to the Hydra, for the cave was littered with bones of animals and Namegivers, and many broken and rusted weapons. From the cave Grani of Ekranar recovered the Arrow of Night, a powerful legendary weapon, which he later used to defeat a terrible Horror. But that is a story for another time. Lucas and the others never saw the Hydra again, but they returned via a different route, along the Serpent, where they encountered many wonders including the mystical Lady of the Fountain. But those also are stories for another time, finishes Kragen as he takes his seat again.

One of the dwarves retells some of the legendary stories of Lisa of the Lance, one of the great elven Cavalrywomen since the Scourge. She is said to have been mostly responsible for the discovery and defeat of a group of Theran spies around the citadel of Eidolon, and one time singlehandedly charged a group of fifty ork raiders on Thundra beasts and made them all flee before her.

Juurnkal pushes his nephew Betrian until he finally agrees to tell the story that he heard from the area around his home town in the southwest. Betrian is quite eloquent once he gets started, and tells the story well. He tells how Lisa of the Lance was riding through the region on her giant lizard on the way to battle a Horror in the Mist Swamps. As she neared the town of Lower Fen, she saw a troll skyship coming down to attack the town and burn it with their fire cannons. Spurring her lizard Liz into action, she raced towards the low flying drakkar and half-leapt half-flew up onto the deck. Startled trolls scattered left and right as she thundered down the length of the ship and crashed into the huge troll Skyraider at the wheel, knocking him overboard. After the captain had floated unhurt to the ground she challenged the first mate to single combat, defeating him. Thus she declared herself captain of the ship by right of combat, and ordered the crew to bring the ship to ground. They did so, and picked up the captain. Lisa of the Lance gave the ship back to the captain on the condition that they would not raid the town of Lower Fen for a year and a day, to which they agreed and have upheld their word. Upper Fen has not been so lucky. And so it was that Lisa of the Lance continued on her way to the Mist Swamps, to do battle against vile Horrors and the evil minions of the Keys of Death.

When it is Tori's turn, the lady Troubadour is carrying a fine lute with her as she comes on stage. An attendant hurries out bearing a stool for her to sit upon. After bowing to her audience and introducing herself, Tori seats herself comfortably. "My tale is an old and sad one. Let me sing you the Ballad of the Weaponsmith. . ."

With that, she sturms the lute and begins melancholy tune. Tori sings a simple song, about the life of the mighty Weaponsmith, Tyrian Dunshirk, although he is not Named until the end. The ballad is broken into three parts.

The first part revolves around his life in the huge underground kingdom of Throal, and how his had always been an adventurous family, living close to the gates so they could be the first to see the sky, or the first to defend their home if required. Almost every one of the first expeditions out of Throal once the gates were finally opened contained a member of the Dunshirk clan. The Weaponsmith's own expedition was the first ever to return alive.

The second part of the song describes how he, with some close friends, journeyed far and wide about the countryside, encouraging others to leave their kaers and killing horrors when they found them and often succumbing themselves. The second verse ends with the climatic battle with a Bloatform that kills the Weaponsmith's companions and his declaration to give up adventuring.

The third long verse is a new addition to the old song which Tori has written since they returned from the trip into the mountains. It tells of what became of Tyrian when he left the Halls of Throal. With most of his dear friends and all of his family now gone, there is nothing keeping Tyrian in Throal. Saying it was doubtful he would ever return, the Weaponsmith disappears into the mountains and takes up residence near the tiny hamlet of Hollow. The villagers never found out where he came from, but he was a good man and made much-needed weapons and tools for them. The Weaponsmith, finally content with his life, died peacefully in his sleep -- something that many Adepts never get to do. Even today, his creations are still used in Hollow -- a memorial in themselves to the wonderful Talents of Tyrian Dunshirk.

The crowd is moved almost to tears by the emotional song, firstly from the recounting of the deaths of Tyrian's brave companions, and then at his loneliness and decision to leave Throal. Thord Thordson is surprised to hear the addition to the Ballad, and afterwards talks at length with Tori about her new information and the decision to add to the Ballad and the discovery of the Name of the unnamed Weaponsmith in the ballad. He ends up saying that he personally approves of the additions, and recommends a few changes to help match the style of the first two parts. Thord also suggests that she should submit it to some of the leading Troubadours in Throal sometime to recieve their approval.

Finally the people disperse to their houses, reluctant to go to sleep after the excitement of the day. The fire on the mountainside continues shining long into the night, and finally dwindles and dies at the next dawn.

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