Hi Jeff
This is great stuff as we are coming in to the Sylangi lands in my
house campaign. I want to involve my players with the hidden
strings. I strongly suspect they are a society headed by kinsmen of
King Broyan. What is known about them other than the vague
whisperings and hint (note the singular) in Barbarian Adventures.
Regards
Rob
wrote:
>
> How annoying - I posted a version of this travelogue that was rife
> with errors (an incomplete sentence and a missing footnote), a
> byproduct of my lousy filing system. Here's the corrected copy.
>
> Here's the account of Jaranal Gordangarsson of the Colymar tribe
of
> his journeys into Volsaxiland (circa 1616). I recently found it
> while rummaging through the Jonstown Library. Enjoy!
>
> -----
>
> "It is a two day trek from Wilmskirk to Whitewall, the first day
> spent on the Royal Road to Roadend and then another day through
the
> rugged fells and vales of Destor's Hills, a rough land populated
by
> largely herders and their livestock of cattle and sheep. The lands
> south of Roadend are tributary to the Volsaxi High King, although
> they have their own tribal kings. The people here are fierce
bandits
> who hold the windy rocks sacred to the gods and their ancestors.
>
> Whitewall is a marvel of the gods who built it. It is truly "the
> immense sacred rock of the Hendriking kings" - a solid rock of
> limestone that towers over the Northvale of Volsaxiland. No
hostile
> army could climb that impregnable rock, let alone conquer the
> gleaming white walls of its high fortress! Within the fortress are
> many buildings - the stone hall of the High King, granaries,
> guardrooms, workshops, shrines and residences.
>
> The Volsaxi High King, Broyan of Markdale (sometimes Broyan the
> Relentless), winters in Whitewall, spending his summers at
> Karstanstead in Volsaxiland. King Broyan travels to Whitewall to
> offer sacrifices to Orlanth and the other guardians of the tribe
and
> to preside over the Sacred Time rites. He spends much time hunting
> in the rugged hill lands and knows each fell and vale in Destor's
> Hills, Finovan's Hills and Styrman's Hills as though it was his
> place of birth. The king is a powerful man - broad of shoulders,
> strong of arm, and long of beard - with chestnut hair and eyes
that
> flash like lightning. He was born in Markdale and, as soon as he
was
> born, it is said he could speak words of power and run with the
> guardians of the Volsaxings. No razor ever touched his hari or his
> beard.[1]
>
> A host of exiled Sartarite chiefs, thanes and outlaws are under
the
> protection of King Broyan and many serve in his household,
including
> dread Queen Kallyr Starbrow and her followers, although I did not
> actually see her while I was in Whitewall. I was told by Ardinor
> that she carries out the High King's affairs in Sartar, although
he
> later denied that.
>
> Several hundred warriors serve the High King as his companions and
> warband - most are Sartarite or Volsaxar, but there are
> Heortlendings, Esrolians, even Tarshites and Praxians in his
service
> as household warriors. The king is also served by a band of
strange
> magicians, which he claims are the heirs of the ancient Larnstings
> of old. If these claims are true, then the High King must be a
great
> king of old, but I doubt these "Larnstings" are what the Volsaxi
> claim.
>
> I did see Leika the Singer while in Whitewall[2], and she asked me
> of news of our homeland in the seasons since she was overthrown.
She
> is favored guest of the High King. I was polite to her and told
her
> than Kangarl was not well-liked by the thanes and chiefs since he
> invited the Lunars into Clearwine. I hope I said nothing foolish.
>
> The North Vale and Volsaxiland are where the bulk of the kingdom
> resides. The North Vale belongs to the Bacofi tribe (who
acknowledge
> Broyan as High King). Further south is Volsaxiland, the home of
the
> great Volsaxar tribe. Unlike the steep fells and vales of Markdale
> or the Northvale, Volsaxiland is a wide and long
> bottomland with many prosperous farms. Looming above Volsaxiland
to
> the west is the dark Shadow Plateau, a haunted place ruled by
> vengeful trolls and evil spirits.
>
> The chiefs and farmers of the Volsaxar are very proud and
> independent - they feud and quarrel often - and the High King
spends
> much time impressing and placating them. This is how the Volsaxi
> like it: the clans chose Broyan as king, and, as one crusty old
carl
> put it, they can "unchoose" him as well.
>
> I did not travel to Vorda's Hill, where Kallai and Beneva Chan
> accepted exile. It is a famous temple to Ernalda the Queen and
> Urstera. I was told that the rumors of Kallai's passing are true.
> Ardrinor told me that Kallai's breath expired upon hearing that
his
> foster son and favorite kinsman had not only committed kinstrife
but
> had invited the Lunars within the sacred walls of Clearwine.[3]"
>
> [1] Jaranal's description of King Broyan is derived from the
> formulaic poetic description of the Orlanthi kings. Indeed, the
> description is almost identical to that of King Andrin the Mover
> given in the "Dragonbreakers Song", which in turn is derivative of
> the description of King Aventus Lawmaker given in the "Saga of the
> Hendriki Kings".
> [2] A derisive nickname of Queen Leika Orlkensorssdottir of the
> Colymar.
> [3] Other sources claim that King Kallai was killed by assassins
> while sleeping.
>[snip]