This is the story of how our family came to Ormthanes Vale. On the first day of the season of fire, my father Jarang lead our family from the cursed lands of our first stead towards lands to the north where our distant kin Gulik the Stout moved over a dozen years ago. That day I gathered the herds and drove them north with the help of my brothers Utag the Carver and Illig Quicktongue and our cousin Heorl Truthseaker. My sister Theya Curse Loins and father Jarang the Proud rode in the wagon with Theya's little daughter Kaelis. Soon our stead was beyond our sight and
we looked forward to new lands and freedom from a stranger's rule.
For days we traveled north with Orlanth's wind at our backs. We passed through settled lands bounded by marker stones and full of well tended fields. We made quick progress and even water flowing uphill couldn't slow us. The landscape began to change after the first few days of travel. Gone were the well tended farms; wilder lands with wilder inhabitants stood in their place. Strangely there was little sign of game as we approached the lands of my mother, Leika Fierce One. The Kitori, renowned hunters, must have to travel far to follow their game. We reached the city of my mother's kin on the first day of the week of death. The Kitori greeted and welcomed us into the city with white walls. It was a magnificent place and I felt it was a focus for Orlanth's power. The walls were enormous and there was much room to shelter herds within the city.
Jarang gifted the Kitori with a cow and they granted us passage through
their lands and gave us hospitality. During the day we feasted but as
night approached they warned us to move indoors with our herds and stay
hidden
within for it was a night of death. At night we heard such screams and
chants that we were glad to heed their advice. For a time Illig told us
what the trolls were saying, for he has the power to understand their
noise, but he soon grew sullen and quiet. All of us stayed up with the
animals and calmed them as best we could. Leika's clan is indeed
powerful and would strike terror into any enemies foolish enough to raid
them.
Nervous about loosing animals to the Kitori trollkin we journeyed to
Centaur Cross quickly. At night we built great fires in the flat plains
of their lands and kept watch. I am proud to say that the only animal we
lost was the one gifted by Jarang days earlier at the Kitori city. When we
reached the Cross we conducted a ceremony to give thanks to Orlanth for
our safe passage. Heorl spoke of ancient times and Theya spoke of spirits.
Their gloomy moods were uplifted by Jarang's strong words about our
future. As I slaughtered the sheep I said a prayer to Odayla so its spirit
would
not be trapped with all the others Theya saw near the Cross. When we
prepared to pass the monolith Jarang ordered me to send one of our herd past
the
boundary first. I did as I was told but thought this strange. The dragons
Heorl spoke of
were mad at the humans of Dragon Pass, not the sheep.
We were greeted by a warrior when we entered the Balmyr Tribe's land. He was proud and suspicious of strangers. We gave him Orlanth's greeting and he offered us hospitality. We were blessed by arriving on this season's day of the Earth Mother and Theya took a goose to offer the goddess. Utag and I sought the companionship of women while with the Balmyr. The local men feared that Utag and I would take their women and confronted us. I explained that their only luck would be with their clan's herds.
When Illig came to our aid he brought Heorl and Jarang. The locals
calmed down as Jarang made excuses for his sons' behavior. We are strangers
in
this land but we are strong and I did not fear an innocent confrontation
We left in the morning with our herds.
We passed through beautiful land on our journey north. The hills were covered in thick stands of oak and pine and the vales were ripe with meadows and birch. Wild berries and grape grew everywhere. Game seemed plentiful, even in the areas of settlement we passed. It was all Jarang had promised.
A week later we arrived at Clearwine. The Colymar lands were well
cultivated and the wild lands had been pushed far back by the growing
settlement. At Clearwine that night Utag, Illig, Heorl, myself and Jarang
offered a
sacrifice to Orlanth at the great temple. Heorl offered his thanks to
Gray Beard and I to the Hunter. I gave Theya an egg to offer to the earth
goddess; I feared that if her generosity were indulged we would have no
herd when we reached our kin Gulik the Stout. The next morning we went
before the Colymar King Kagradus Colymarson and gifted him with a strong
cow from our herd. The King had a gray sage record our generosity. The
King was wise and spoke of the importance of respecting his rule. He
spoke of taking his due from the reluctant tribes to the north. When the
King
sent his sage to inquire of the whereabouts of our kin, Heorl was honored
to take his place at the King's side.
We soon learned that Gulik the Stout settled in the Ormthanes
Vale under the protection of Varmand the Strong. Belatedly suspicious and
lulled by the drink of Clearwine, Theya and Heorl argued against moving
on to the vale. They said that they knew of Varmand and he was to be
feared. They described a man who, like us, had his lands taken and had moved
on.
They described a man who had tamed a wild vale at a wild time. They
described a man who had fought against those who would take what he had
earned. I thought our kinsman Gulik wise for choosing the Ormsthane Vale.
Illig Sweetmouth said as much to bolster the sagging spirits of my sister
and cousin. Eventually it was Jarang who made the final decision to journey
to the vale and meet this Varmand.
We continued our journey north the next day. I was surprised at the number of thralls Kragadus kept to work his lands. He must be a fearsome warrior. We also noticed there were many who stopped their journey near Clearwine, for the area was thick with steads. I wondered at how the settlement grazes its herds without causing bloodfeuds between families every year. After a day the settlements dwindled and the land grew wild and lush once again. There were small pockets of settlements that took advantage of the fine country. After another few days we began to ascend a group of tree covered hills. There we passed a series of seven waterfalls as we descended into a new vale. We all amused ourselves by naming each for a Lightbringer.
The vale into which we entered was magnificent. Many creeks and streams ran through it and it boasted several stands of fruit trees and birch. There were a few steads already located along the waterways and the carls admonished us for our unruly herds. In the late afternoon of the
next day we followed a path between two oak covered hills almost to a new
vale. The path was crisscrossed with game trails and I performed a small
ceremony that night. In the morning we entered the Ormthanes Vale for the
first
time.
As we entered the vale we were greeted by Harstaglar, a herder with a magnificent stead nearby. We gave Orlanth's greeting and Harstaglar, hearing that we were kin of Gulik, rolled his head back and laughed welcoming us to the vale. I noticed that a hunter watched us from a stand of oaks nearby. The vale is well protected.
The vale was long and narrow and dotted with steads. Oak covered hills rose on three sides and birch grew in clumps in the valley. A narrow stream ran the course of the valley floor and passed many steads. Varmand's was easy to pick out. It was large, walled, and sat on a rise about 2 miles away.
Harstaglar himself led us to Varmand's hall where we met some of Varmand's kin. Eonislora, Varmand's beautiful wife, welcomed us in Vermand's name (he was out hunting in preparation for Orlanth's holy day) and gave us hospitality. I spent much of my time with our animals until Varmand arrived.
When evening approached, Varmand rode in with seven huscarls on
horses. Two thralls entered afterward carrying a large boar. Varmand
wore the blood of a wound where the boar gored him but ignored it as he
hefted
up the animal for all to see. Looking at him I could understand how he
could afford to keep so many warriors in his household. He was amazingly
strong, with a quick mind and sharp eye. His energy was contagious and
he soon had all in the household praising Orlanth and Varmand for the fine
boar. When the initial excitement of his entry subsided it was time to
introduce ourselves.
Jarang spoke for us and claimed his rights as kin, explaining that
we wished to settle in Varmand's fine lands. But our father was very weak
and ill. His speech was broken by a frightful series of coughs. Utag
stepped
forward and steadied Jarang. He spoke and sought to emphasize Jarang's
words. Utag, though not ill, spoke no better than Jarang. Varmand look
dubious until Heorl reminded him of Orlanth's laws. Then Varmand
welcomed us and promised that we would have our say during the council meet
on
Orlanth's Holy Day tomorrow.
All was well until Varmand went on to state that the council
meeting was merely a formality and we should swear loyalty to him at once.
Though
unusual, this seemed wise considering the circumstances; Jarang could not
live much longer on the road and our herds were tired. Besides it was
getting very late in the season and planting would have to happen soon if
we were to have winter wheat. I quickly glanced around at my kin and was
embarrassed to see the looks Theya and Heorl were exchanging. I stepped
forward to speak but before I could get a word out Illig was at my side
pledging his loyalty. Then Utag and Theya spoke quickly in succession.
Utag demanded Varmand recognize our status before he was bound by his
oath. Theya surprised me when she stated that she would follow her brothers.
Perhaps her mind was changed at the last minute by the number of eligible
men living in this vale; or perhaps it was the news of a large temple to
the earth goddess that piqued her interest.
When Heorl spoke his well known misgivings about Varmand were clear. I feared that Heorl's mind was made up while still quaffing wine at Kagardus's side. He spoke against any loyalty between himself and Varmand.
At last Jarang spoke. He swore no oath to Varmand and seemed to pass the management of our family to Utag. This was a deed I thought done more appropriately on the following day while Orlanth would bear witness.
When all their speeches were done I again prepared to speak. But I was
interrupted by Varmand and his huscarls who loudly welcomed Utag, Illig, and
myself
into the clan! My future was then bound into the vale and intertwined
with Varmands.
I eagerly look forward to the morrow and wonder about where in this beautiful vale we will reside.
End of Glorantha Digest V2 #83
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
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