Umathkel Orlgandisson was the second son of Orlgandi Ivikson of the Jungardi clan. He was a large brawny man, strong of arm and so skilled at the sword that it seemed to his foes that they faced three blades at once. His strength of arm was not matched with an equal quickness of wit and his fierce temper and impetuous words often landed him in trouble that only his strong arm could get him out of. He had no time for the intricacies of leading men, preferring the joys of the hunt and the quickening of blood in the heat of a raid. So when Kjalten-stone became family leader was content to bind his sword arm to his brother's service where proud Jarang left to seek his own honor.
When it came time for Umathkel to take a wife everyone was surprised when he sought the hand of Hindala Betisdottir, a beautiful woman but well known for her sharp tongue and quick mind. Despite the misgivings of his kinsmen the marriage proved a good and fruitful one. Hindala proved as adept at calming down her husband's rages as she was at provoking them and Umathkel soon came to depend on her sage advice. In the course of time Hindala bore her husband two sons and three daughters and another (1). Ivar, the oldest, was a strapping lab who grew to be a fine warrior who kindled the light in his father's eye. Heorl, the younger son, took more after his mother and where Ivar thrilled to the stirring tales of battles and exploits of arms, Heorl enjoyed those where the subtle arts of the mind and of words were strongest.
Heorl participated gladly in the boy's life and the rites of Voriof and under his care none of his father's sheep were lost, but he was most contented when listening at the feet of the wise elders and subtle jurors. His quick mind soon learned to appreciate the beauty and intricacies of the sacred laws handed down by Orlanth and great king Heort. His maternal uncle, Enderos who was rich in years and experience, for love of his granddaughter, humored the young boy and showed him many things such as the arcane art of writing and how the Law lets men live together in harmony and honor.
In his seventeenth summer Heorl cast aside his boyhood and joined the household of Orlanth with the others of his age. He served in his father's house and supported all their endeavors.
It came to pass that the Jungardi were beset by enemies in the form of a greedy and vicious Hendriki thane called Ortossi. From the first Ortossi sought to pervert the sacred laws so that he might take that which was not rightfully his. His instigated false and malicious lawsuits demanding compensation for imaginary crimes. To aid in his schemes he employed a devious sage, Ermanrig Deep-thought. Ermanrig was a master of rhetoric and the art of turning a man's words so that they no longer said what he meant them to say. In this manner he was able to turn many dubious suits in Ortossi's favor until Rostakos, the Jungardi clan chief, called on Enderos the old. The wise mans straight speech and the light of truth for Lhankhor Mhy exposed Ermanrig's weasel's words and Ortossi's grasping ways were stripped of their cloak of legality. It was not known how Ermanrig was able to escape the anger of Orlanth or pervert the Truth of Lhankhor Mhy with impunity.
Heorl was deeply impressed with his uncle's skills and achievements in defeating the ambitions of Ortossi and asked his father whether he might study the arts of the Law under the sage. Umathkel was initially unwilling but, under Hindala's prompting, granted his blessing. Heorl proved to be a quick study and it was in his twenty fifth year that he dedicated himself to the service of Orlanth's wise lawspeaker, Lhankhor Mhy.
Heorl took for a year-wife, Liena, a woman of the Oakridge clan. While they were happy together their union was not blessed by Uleria and Ernalda with any sons or daughters.
During this time Ortossi, unable to gain what he desired through legal means, resorted to the age-old Law of Violence just as Harand Sow husband had in ages past. He used all the methods that the strong have used to oppress others throughout history, murder, intimidation and violent theft. In a vicious and unprovoked, attack Heorl's uncle, Jarang was sorely wounded and his wife murdered. When Ortossi laughed at the just demands for wereguild and sent the messengers back with salted wounds many grew impatient with the legal process that appeared to offer no protection or recompense. Despite the protests of Heorl his father joined Rostakos in combating Ortossi with force of arms. He knew that if both sides ignored the law then both would forfeit the protection of Orlanth Justice-bringer and would lead only to further bloodshed. This was proved true when, in the next year, Rostakos and many of his thanes were brutally ambushed and murdered. Among the victims was Kjalten-stone as Umathkel was not there to protect his kinsman.
In a rage Umathkel swore blood-vengance on his brother's murderers. He was joined in this by his older son, Ivar. Despite his great age he was still a formidable warrior and many other hotheaded men joined him in his quest. Heorl, despite his hatred of Ortossi's deeds, did not join his father and brother in the hills. He felt that all that would be accomplished was more bloodshed and the destruction of everything that had been built.
The clan realized that the blood feud that would come of this would lead to a descending spiral of violence and bloodshed which the smaller Jungardi clan would be sure to lose. They thus turned to the King of the Hendriki to curb his rapacious thane.
The king proved as contemptuous of the Law as the other sons of Hendrik and offered them an ignoble submission to one of his favorites, Harstagar Ironsword who was another greedy and rapacious man.
Heorl joined with his uncle Jarang and many others to argue that this offer dishonored the clan and, if accepted, would strip away the protection of Law from the clan. When the mothers on the clan ring cravenly capitulated to the kinds demands Heorl joined Jarang and his family and many other like-minded kin in deciding to leave Heortland to seek new lands and freedom in the north. His wife, disappointed that they had as yet no children and not willing to face the rigors of the pioneer's life did not accompany him, a fact that weighed heavily on Heorl's heart.
Thus, at the age of 30, Heorl Umathkelson left his father's stead to travel to new lands to the north where the sacred Law of Orlanth and Heort could govern mens life in honor and peace.
End of Glorantha Digest V2 #45
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
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