Mythology

[kgauck]

A long time ago in Brectür, an old wizard names Heinrich von Glauzwitz claimed that by use of magic, he could defy fate. This angered Sera, and she sought to thwart Glauzwitz. She sent the famed thief Günther to kidnap Glauzwitz and bring him to a prison belonging to her priestesses. Günther had the luck of Sera, and avoided all of Glauzwitz’ magical traps, and seized the old wizard. In the prison, the powerful priestess told him that he was to be forever imprisoned for his blasphemy against Lady Luck. Knowing that Sera was a gambler, Glauzwitz offered her a deal. If the goddess would select a trick and he could guess the trick, he could be set free, otherwise he would become her prisoner in both life and death. Sera reasoned that the gift of Glauzwitz’ soul was worth the gamble, and besides, no matter how powerful a wizard, he could not know the mind of a goddess, so she could not lose. She selected as her trick, the turning of a coin. Being a secret, even a divine secret, the Lord of Secrets would know it, if he could but touch Sera. But, Sera, did not deign to appear before Ruornil, certain that he would share this knowledge with so powerful a wizard. But Ruornil knew another way. Eléole knows all secrets without exception. So Ruornil invited her to see his latest invention, a fruit that ripens in the winter. Eléole was intrigued, and so came to look that the new fruit within Ruornil’s palace in the night sky. Ruornil handed his daughter the fruit and clasped his hands around hers giving him knowledge of Sera’s requirements. That night as Glauzwitz gazed up towards the moon, it rapidly appeared to pass through all of its phases, giving the wizard the impression of a turning disk. How odd thought the old wizard, it must be a sign. If it were intended for me, it must refer to a disk that Sera would have recourse to as well. And so Glauzwitz, now gazing upon the new moon, flipped over the coins in his pocket. The anti-magic sphere of the prison was withdrawn, and Glauzwitz teleported back to his tower. Hearing of this, wizards all over began to turn their coins in their pocket on the appearance of the new moon, to win the favor of Sera by reenacting the trick as Ruornil had presented it. At first Sera was angered by Glauzwitz’ escape and Ruornil’s hand in it, but as wizards around Cerilia began turning their coins, it became obvious that Ruornil had created a ritual for all wizards to honor Lady Luck. This she accepted as a fair price for the vanity of one wizard. After all, it was not magic that had conquered luck, it was Ruornil’s invention of a new ritual. A fair bargain and a good exchange. For one act, Sera is still earning interest. Today everyone who seeks the favor of Lady Luck turns their coins on the new moon, and so Ruornil is honored by the time of the ritual, and Sera is honored by the act of turning a coin.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

[kgauck]

In the marshy lands of the Eastern Marches of Anuire, there was some special reverence for Ruornil. When Ruornil's palace shone down, people could find their way through the bogs. They could keep to the safe paths and avoid the sucking mud that could trap you there hopeless. For this reason alone it would make sense that people would give special notice to Ruornil. But there was more. When Ruornil's palace shone its bright face away from Cerilia, the link to the Shadow World was strongest, and the barrier between them weakest. All maner of wicked creatures might wander into Cerilia. There were the living dead, foul spirits, trickster fairies from the Seelie, and creatures that would steal a new baby and replace them with a changeling. Of course Ruornil abhored the Shadow World, and it was only because he shown is palace on one part of the world that some other part had to do without the moon's light. So the people of the bogs called out to Ruornil to spare their appointed days of darkness so that they could live peacably in the bog. Unable to spare his light from other parts of the world, Ruornil instead called to his followers, that a few might take up permenant residence in the bogs. Today, the people of the bog are heartened because the swamps are protected by small cadre of Ruornil's followers. Rangers, wizards, and moon-priests help those lost in the bogs or beset by creatures from the shadow world who have taken refuge in the bog.

What remains unknown is what role, if any, the Swamp Mage or the Second Swamp Mage play in this outpost.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

[Lee]

In a message dated 11/1/02 2:18:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
brnetboard@TUARHIEVEL.ORG writes:

<< kgauck wrote:
A long time ago in Brectür, an old wizard names Heinrich von Glauzwitz
claimed that by use of magic, he could defy fate. <snip> >>


Hey, that`s a good one! I`ll give that to my group ASAP!

Lee.

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

In the Zikalan Temple of Avani, this particular exchange between Avani and
Sarma is a particular favorite. Its is read on the Day of Rebirth. Other
sects generally don`t neccesarily reject the occurance of such an exchange,
but see no advantage in celebrating it, especially on a day important to
Sarma.

Avani said
`Mad you are, Sarma,
when you reckon up your ugly, hateful deeds;
Rilni knows, I think, all fate,
though he does not speak out.`

Sarma said
`Be silent Avani, I know all about you;
you aren`t lacking in blame;
you steal the honor of my gifts to the Khinasi here,
for `tis I who bestow their prosperity.`

Avani said
`False is your tongue, I think you just want
to yelp about wicked things;
the Khinasi are furious with you, for they are knowing,
you are nothing but greed.`

Sera said
`Be silent, Avani, you`re a witch
and much imbued with malace,
you turn your magic to evil and destruction,
you know nothing of prosperity.`

Avani said
`You covet the love of my people,
you think it a fine thing to steal what you want;
but I say unto you, the Khinasi know
that I protect them from the likes of you.

Sera said
`You mistake yourself that you are loved;
your people fear that all their lands
will burn as a desert
if they do not placate you

Avani said
You are as mistaken as Eloéle,
who is foolish in her estimations;
for neither of you can discern
what is means to be loved

Sera said
`You`re confused and must be dreaming,
when you hint that Khirdai loves not my daughter`

Avani said
`That the night was ravaged by storms,
is well known to all;
but the beauty and warmth of Leira
pleaseth Khirdai`s heart like
the fire suits the rider come out of the rain
You cannot take what is mine,
nor your daughter what is my daughters;
your greed and grasping ways are too
well known to us and to the Khinasi people
go home to your pile of coins
and find in them cold comfort

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

This Rjurik story explains why Erik`s consort the Sun, does not simply do
battle with the Ice Lady and why, therefore, the Rjurik must endure their
long, cold winters.

Erik gazed down from Nature`s Rest to see the snow fall upon the Rjurik
people. He saw the fishermen put away their nets and hooks, for the lakes
and ponds were frozen. He spread his spirit among his people and felt their
chill. Erik declared that the Ice Lady concealed herself in the northlands
because her power was no match for Vani. Why should Vani not come up to the
northlands and chase her away, leaving the whole world free from the burdens
of winter? So Erik left his forest home and traveled to solar palace of
Vani.

Erik asked Vani to steer her palace to shine its light and heat further
north. "My dear husband, whose spirit fills the world with life and who
does love all the world. I hasten to remind you that Karesha hides not only
in the far north, but also in the far south. If I pursue her north, she
retreats south, and when I pursue her south, she retreats north. For me to
catch her, someone must hold her down, but none are willing to touch her,
for her cold is a painful and bitter cold. Besides, it is assured that
Bjallanik would drive off her captor. Perhaps, loving husband, we could
find another way to bring warmth and joy to your Rjurik people."

They lay together and brought forth Erik`s love for life and Avani`s warmth
and judgement. So it was that Lara was born. Lara has come among the
Rjurik people with her warming flame, sent by her mother, Vani, to warm the
people of the northlands. She brings not only fire and hearth, but love and
spiritual warmth too. She brings song and good cheer, and artful beauty to
enliven our lives. She gave the druids the secret of brewing.

In this way, Vani`s cunning and understanding out witted Karesha and gave
warmth to the cold. As such, Lara has but one enemy among the gods, and it
is Karesha. The rest love her, and she is acknowledged as the most loved
diety in the heavens.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

The ancient dragon Illuyankas had fought alongside Azrai at Deismaar. The
wyrm escaped destruction then and kept himself hidden for ages. And so it
was for hundreds of years, until the young god, Cuiraécen, seeks him out to
prove himself as the god of battle. In a valley in the Rain Serpent
Mountains, Cuiraécen stops off and rests, sleeping on the soft turf. There
Illuyankas spies him and breaths a fog down into the valley. This fog
conceals the approach of the old serpant. Before its too late, Cuiraécen
awakens and senses the dragon. Unable to see for the fog, the Stormlord
fills the skies with dark clouds blocking out sight of Avanalae`s palace.
The Stormlord sent bolts of lighting to strike into the hidden places in the
valley looking for Illuyankas. Suddenly the dragon flew ferociously
directly at the young god and knocked him into the sea. The sea embraced
Cuiraécen and he was unharmed, but when he returned to the mountains, the
dragon had fled. However, the young diety saw how the people of
mountainsides all grew grapes and delivered wines to a temple in offering to
the dragon.

Cuiraécen went to Laerme, who produced for him a ton of intoxicating
ambrosia, the divine liquor. After spending some time with the lovely Lady
Love, Cuiraécen returned to the hidden valley with the ton of ambrosia. He
left it in the dragon`s temple, where the local people made their offering.
He took his gear off his great chestnut charger, Arviragus, and told beast
to graze nearby and keep watch for the dragon. Then the Stormlord went back
his celestial feasthall. Laerme appaered briefly to wish Cuiraécen strength
and victory, and gave him a kiss. When Arvirgaus called to him, the
Stormlord was back in a clap of thunder. Illuyankas, however, did not
notice, since he was drunk on his ton of ambrosia. Now it was Cuiraécen`s
turn to sneak up on the sleeping wyrm. After the first blow of his great
spear, Naekea, the ancient dragon awoke and summoned up a great breath of
flame, but it harmed the Stormlord not, for the kiss of Lady Love saved him
from the pain of any fire. The serpent cast spells, and the Stormlord threw
lightning. The serpent bit and clawed at the young god, and he replied with
his mighty spear. In the skies, a rolling thunder was heard continuously
and the rains fell hard.

Cuiraécen killed the old ally of Azrai, and was thereafter known as the God
of Battle.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[Lee]

Regarding Illuyankas and Cuiraecan: Again, great stuff! One quibble: did
Cuiraecan use a "ton" (i.e. 2000 pounds) of ambrosia, or a "tun" (IIRC, 255
gallons, or something like that)?
So, is that dragon "The" Rain Serpent of the Rain Serpent Mountains?

Lee.

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Hanna" <LeeHa1854@AOL.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 9:46 PM


> did Cuiraecan use a "ton" of ambrosia, or a "tun"?

He used an amont that would be described as a kajillion in modern parlance.
Another way to put it would be more than you could imagine carrying.
Certainly enough to intoxicate the dragon.

> So, is that dragon "The" Rain Serpent of the Rain Serpent Mountains?

He`s the serpent who got rained on. :-)

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[Ariadne]

Very nice story of Cuiraécen and the rain serpent. More of this...

[marcum uth mather]

Bravo folks. Its snowing in LaCrosse and you guys just gave me a good marning of stories!!!

[Eosin the Red]

Keep these up. I want more, very good flavor.

Eosin the Red
Randy


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth Gauck" <kgauck@MCHSI.COM>
To: <BIRTHRIGHT-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2002 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Mythology [2#1074]


> The ancient dragon Illuyankas had fought alongside Azrai at Deismaar. The
> wyrm escaped destruction then and kept himself hidden for ages. And so it
> was for hundreds of years, until the young god, Cuiraécen, seeks him out
to
> prove himself as the god of battle. In a valley in the Rain Serpent
> Mountains, Cuiraécen stops off and rests, sleeping on the soft turf.
There
> Illuyankas spies him and breaths a fog down into the valley. This fog
> conceals the approach of the old serpant. Before its too late, Cuiraécen
> awakens and senses the dragon. Unable to see for the fog, the Stormlord
> fills the skies with dark clouds blocking out sight of Avanalae`s palace.
> The Stormlord sent bolts of lighting to strike into the hidden places in
the
> valley looking for Illuyankas. Suddenly the dragon flew ferociously
> directly at the young god and knocked him into the sea. The sea embraced
> Cuiraécen and he was unharmed, but when he returned to the mountains, the
> dragon had fled. However, the young diety saw how the people of
> mountainsides all grew grapes and delivered wines to a temple in offering
to
> the dragon.
>
> Cuiraécen went to Laerme, who produced for him a ton of intoxicating
> ambrosia, the divine liquor. After spending some time with the lovely
Lady
> Love, Cuiraécen returned to the hidden valley with the ton of ambrosia.
He
> left it in the dragon`s temple, where the local people made their
offering.
> He took his gear off his great chestnut charger, Arviragus, and told beast
> to graze nearby and keep watch for the dragon. Then the Stormlord went
back
> his celestial feasthall. Laerme appaered briefly to wish Cuiraécen
strength
> and victory, and gave him a kiss. When Arvirgaus called to him, the
> Stormlord was back in a clap of thunder. Illuyankas, however, did not
> notice, since he was drunk on his ton of ambrosia. Now it was Cuiraécen`s
> turn to sneak up on the sleeping wyrm. After the first blow of his great
> spear, Naekea, the ancient dragon awoke and summoned up a great breath of
> flame, but it harmed the Stormlord not, for the kiss of Lady Love saved
him
> from the pain of any fire. The serpent cast spells, and the Stormlord
threw
> lightning. The serpent bit and clawed at the young god, and he replied
with
> his mighty spear. In the skies, a rolling thunder was heard continuously
> and the rains fell hard.
>
> Cuiraécen killed the old ally of Azrai, and was thereafter known as the
God
> of Battle.
>
> Kenneth Gauck
> kgauck@mchsi.com
>
>
************************************************** **************************
> The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
> Birthright-l Archives:
http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
> To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
> with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.
>

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

In one of the Brecht states of the Overlook, which one varries with
different tellings of the story, the hero Rodrik der ehrenwert returned from
Deismaar pretty quickly and was hailed by the local notables as the
caretaker of the realm until their king returned. After most of the other
champions who survived the great battle returned, it was had become clear
that the king had died in the battle. It had also become clear that Rodrik
had inherited part of the essence of Anduiras. It was said that no one who
stood with Rodrik in battle ever felt panic or terror. It was also claimed
that he was able to identify lying words the moment they were spoken in his
presence.

After several hundred years, the line of Rodrik died out, and the land was
without a king. The once seccure kingdom was now plagued by civil wars and
disorders of every kind. Rebel lords sought to gain control of the weak
kingship and the guilders broke any bonds they had to the king and acted as
lords of commerce. Finally a wise lord was able to restore order, but not
without making enemies. He was named Frimunt von Majestätiburg. Gerhard
der Schwarzherz was one of his vassals, and a key military commander of
Frimunt`s, but Gerhard was ambitious and disloyal. Gerhard rebelled against
Frimunt and allied with the most powerful guildmaster in the region. This
guildmaster, Bittan von Köflach, was the half brother of the neighboring
king, Harvey von Köflach. King Harvey was devoted to the cult of Belinik
and lead many score of fierce warriors, some of them neighboring Vos
mercenaries. It is said that Harvey had the power to turn himself into
being of elemental fire. He was also able to travel among all his lords and
military camps by stepping from fire to fire.

At first, Gerhard and his auxillury forces from Harvey had the upper hand,
and Frimunt was hard pressed. But Frimunt was a noble and courageous lord
and his repuation for honor and justice attracted Herrick der Blau, who was
said to dress in a blue surcoat upon armor of a dark blue color. With
Herrik`s aide, Frimunt faced Harvey and Gerhard in battle. Harvey had more
soldiers including some Vos who possesed the rage of that barbaric people.
But strangely, no man who stood that day with Frimunt felt the terror or
panic of combat, even when a company of Vos battleragers charged them.
Through the courage of Frimunt`s men, and the skill of Herrick`s
deployments, Frimunt`s army drove off Harvey once and for good, and captured
Gerhard, the traitorous vassal. Frimunt offered Gerhard an opportunity to
renounce his rebellion and swear loyalty to him. However when Gerhard spoke
the words, Frimunt knew them to be lies and treachery. So instead, Frimunt
imprisoned Gerhard. When Frimunt returned to his castle, a blind seer who
lived in the forest approached the king and told him that the mantle of
Rodrik was upon him, and that only the highest duty and good stewardship
would be his calling henceforth.

Eventually the successors of Frimunt were cast down, although it is belived
that the bloodline of Rodrik still waits to assert its just and righteous
purpose somewhere in the Overlook. Whether some scion bears the blood of
Rodrik, or whether it lays dormant in the land awaiting a suitable vessal is
not known. Those beset by the anarchy of the Overlook sometimes pine for
the arrival of Rodrik`s successor, and hope that he will arrive in their own
lifetime, or at least in that of their children.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

Once upon a time there was a great realm in Khinasi known as Irbouda. This
kingdom lay to the north of Zikala and to the east of Binsada. A harsh and
powerful sultan Beshéd ruled there and his pride was great. Along the
alluvial plain of the Asarwe river a great civilization prospered. The
sultan`s ancestors has driven the Anuireans from their lands, but their
successors took the dignity for granted. Now the sultan was just such a
one.

One night, the sultan Beshéd had a most troubling dream. He saw a great
tree in the midst of the earth. Abundant with leaves and fruit, the tree
grew until its top reached heaven. A great eagle appeared in Beshéd`s dream
and ordered him to cut down the tree, leaving only its roots bound in iron
and bronze among the field grasses. The same being then decreed that the
sultan`s mind be changed from a man`s to a beast`s.

The sultan did not understand the dream, so he called for the wise alim,
Khalil of the red land to interpret it. Khalil told Beshéd that he was the
strong tree in his dream. He said that the dream was a warning from Avani
that the great sultan ruled without concern for reason or the care of his
subjects would be driven to dwell with beasts so that he would recognize his
error. Beshéd disregarded the dream`s warning and continued to misuse his
power. When he failed to show mercy to those he oppressed, the dream came
true.

Neither Haelyn nor Avani protected the sultan when the greatest threat to
his realm arrived and to drive him into the wilderness. Danil the
Inquisitive, a dark wizard had run afoul of a savannah cat, and the
consequence somehow turned out to be the Sphinx. The Sphinx did not delay
for too long before driving Beshéd from his realm and seizing the lands of
Irbouda. Driven from human society, Beshéd found himself eating grass as
oxen do. Eventually the alim, Khalil, happened across the once great sultan
and took him to the monestary at Andujar in the land of Binsada, where
Beshéd lived out his days as a humble monk.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

When last the Gorgon rampaged men of pure and noble heart from throughout
Cerilia came to Mhoried, Elinie, Ghieste and Dhalaene to fight off the
ambitions of that foul spawn once known as the Black Prince Raesene. One
such man was Aldbjorht Thormundsson, Jarl of Stangajord. He had the druids
invest his wife, Karela Hreggvidsdotter with his rulership as a caretaker
until his return. After the wars and battles, Aldbjorht set out to return
home to his devoted wife, Karela, and his people in Stangajord. As it
happened, Aldbjorht was making his way along the Rjurik Way, the road from
Hollingholmen to Aaldvika which passes through all of the Rjuik lands.
While eating supper in an inn in Leivika, he overheard a pair of older
warriors discussing his homeland of Stangajord.

The one told the other that the old Jarl had not returned from the
Gorgonwars and that word had arrived that old Aldbjorht was dead. He went
on to say that jarls, warriors, and champions of many lands had decended
upon his longhouse at Lindome to make suit for his wife and his lands. The
other man asked if the first planned to go to Lindome and make his own suit.
No, he replied, for the men who had come were of a most unscrupulous sort,
and they might well kill any rival to their suits. No man`s back was safe
when making such a suit as this. After all, the former jarl`s son is the
rightful heir, but is too young to rule himself, being only eleven years
old.

Aldbjorht was taken by fears he had not know on the fields of Balteruine,
Sioleite and Conallier. He set off at dawn and made very rapid time to
Skapa Hjarring just outside of his lands. There he hired a fisherman to
carry him across the Hjarringsmouth. From the northwest part of his
province, Aldbjorht made his way to Lindome. Several hours away from
Lindome, Aldbjorht came upon an old man and a young boy hunting the jarl`s
deer. Aldbjorht burned slowly, imagining all the suitors at his camp
consuming his boar, deer, and making demands on his yeoman. He snuck up on
the pair and sprung out at them knocking the boy down and pinning the older
man beneath him. The old man struggled and the boy tried to assist him, but
the jarl was mighty and was able to hold down the old man and grap and hold
the boy as well.

"Who are you to eat the jarl`s deer!" He cried out.

"I am the true and rightful jarl, and my justice will condemn you, sir, even
here and now!" The boy screamed back.

The jarl held the boy fast, and looked deeply into his face, "What is your
name, boy?"

"I am Visin Aldbjorhtsson, now let me go!"

"My son!" The hardened veteran brought the boy close and held him tight.
The boy was too confused to make much resistance to the warrior`s embrace.
Aldbjorht put his son down and got up off the older man. "Son, who is this
who is with you? And why are you out here among the stag?"

The old man got up and identified himself, "My lord? I am Frodi quickbee."
The old forrester stood up and looked Aldbjorht in the eye. "My lord! You
live and breath. Erik has save you from harm!" Tears began to roll down
the eyes of old Frodi.

"Father?" The boys eyes widened.

"Sure!" the old forrester declared, "It is your father, my lord."

"But why are you here and not safe and before the fires at Lindome?" The
jarl asked of both the man and the boy.

Frodi quickbee replied, "My lord, your wife and caretaker instructed me to
take young master Visin out into the woods to preserve him from the suitors
who have made decent on Lindome. They are great in number and camp outside
your longhouse hunting your deer and boar and oppressing your yeoman. Your
holdings are now fallen into disarray, as your servants seek to avoid cold
murder by clinging to your name despite the brutal warriors come to steal
your lands. Lady Karela no longer rules, though no single suitor can claim
to be jarl either."

"Then we have no time to lose. Let us make way to the stones at Næstved!"

Aldbjorht took his son Visin and the forrester Frodi to the druid`s stand at
Næstved. When they arrived, they saw smoke comming from the smokehole of
the druid`s cabin and knocked on his door. A young man in white, fur-lined
robes opened the door, greeted the trio, and invited them in.

"Where is my old friend Cynric?" The jarl asked.

The robed man replied, "Cynric is gone to Nature`s Rest and watches over the
forest from there. But I am druid of Stangajord now, and I can perform
whatever service Cynric might have."

The stood tall and said, "I am Aldbjorht, lord of Lindome and jarl of
Stangajord, servant of Erik and friend of Næstved. My camp is best by
vultures and I must needs leave my son in your care while I drive them out
of my lands and away from my home."

"I see. I ask you wait here until the sun sets and we might look at the
heavens, for matters of noble justice are found in the heavens where Holn
resides."

"Great father, I must be off to Lindome, for my lands are in jeopardy."

"Defender of Stangajord, stay until dark, and I will put you in Lindome if
the stars decree it."

Aldbjorht agreed to wait and let the druid read the skies. As the sun set,
the druid prepared stew for the forrester and the boy, as well as for the
jarl and himself. As darkness crept over the sky, Cynric bid farewell to
Vani, and led the jarl to the circle of standing stones. Taking account of
the date and time, he set in a specific location and looked up at the stars.
There he saw clear signs that Aldbjorht was the true and just jarl and fated
to fight that which obstructed his star. The druid asked one more delay,
and Aldbjorht consented. Cynric painted a rune of Calm Emotions on
Aldbjorht`s wrist guards. He instructed the jarl to command an audience in
Erik`s name, and told him that Erik would compel their attention. The white
clad priest told the jarl that he would take him to Lindome and then return
to Næstved to protect Visin. Then Cynric cast a spell and spoke loudly,
"Lords of grace, Erik, protector of the Rjurik lands and guarantor of life,
Holn protector of jarls and guarantor of justice, we beseech you to make us
like a vapor wherein the winds of the air might bring us to Lindome, seat of
the jarl of Stangajord, wherin justice might be done and life preserved."

The winds kicked up and in a dozen minutes Aldbjorht took solid form.
Cynric returned as he said he would. Aldbjorht made his way to the wooden
wall around his camp at Lindome. Fires lit up the camp and the jarl could
hear the bellows and hearty laughs of the crowd of warriors inside the camp.
He pounded on the gate. Some voices called out "Go Away!" So, Aldbjorht
easily pulled himself over the wall, and he jumped down into the camp.

"Well, now that you`re here, take a seat by the fire, but know that I shall
be jarl here as soon as my new bride, Karela Hreggvidsdotter, realizes its
been fated by Nature`s Rest." Those gathered laughted heartily, and
several challenged the speaker and made their own claims to being the next
jarl. During the night, Aldbjorht sized up the men, their numbers,
alliances, and prowess.

At dawn few of them men bothered to awaken and give Vani here due.
Aldbjorht gave thanks for the light of day and the warmth of the sun. He
then renewed his vows to Erik for duty and service. By late morning the men
had all awakened and began their daily clamor for Karela to give them some
answer about which of them she would choose as her husband and name as the
new jarl of Stangajord. Eventually the double doors of the jarl`s longhouse
burst open and Karela surveyed the warriors assembled. Her intention was to
once more insist on delay until more word arrived about the fate of her
husband.

Aldbjorht looked directly at Karela and she too saw her husband. Her eyes
welled up and her knees grew weak. She could not call to him for fear that
the assembled vultures would fall on him and kill him. Still she could not
keep from weeping. The warriors clamored for the caretaker to name her new
husband. She announced that she now knew the true fate of her husband and
would accept as her husband the winner a contest. She sent for her
husband`s powerful longbow and offered a prayer to Erik, which the warriors
dared not interupt. When Aldbjorht`s famed longbow was brought to Karela,
she said, "The skilled craftsmen Frodi made this bow so powerful that only
my husband Aldbjorht could string it. Only a man with his strength will
take his place as my husband."

Many of the warriors tried to string the bow, but none proved able. The
crowd of fighters grew angry and began to call out that no man could string
the bow, and called the contest a trick. One man dared to call Karela a
sorceress. It was then that Aldbjorht grabbed his wrist guard and the rune
there, and called out, "In Erik`s name, hear me! The lady has made her
condition, and not until every man is given the chance to satisfy the
challenge will any one of us put this challenge aside." He strided towards
the bow and held it high, letting the cord dangle from the upper part of the
bow. He then held the bow as he had done many times before and strung it
properly without any problem. "Now, I claim my wife and my lands, for I am
Aldbjorht, lord of Lindome and jarl of Stangajord. Go now and may Erik
bless you."

Many of the men began to wander away stupified by what they saw and many
appeared to be struck dumb. A few, however, drew swords and challenged the
jarl. He handed the bow to one of the nearby servants and drew his own
sword, Skadril which had struck down the lives of litterally hundreds of
goblins, orogs, and other servants of the Gorgon. The few remaining
challengers lacked the hard experience of Aldbjorht and were able to make
only double the attacks as the jarl was able to reply with. Instantly, the
challengers knew that they miscalculated. No doubt the price for failing to
honor the goddess of reason and judgement. Aldbjorht knocked the sword of
one warrior out of his hands, pushed another over, knocking him prone, and
inflicted a deep cut on another. Aldbjorht pushed forward deflecting the
blows of his rivals. He disarmed another warrior, stunned another with an
unexpected punch to his jaw, and then swung his sword overhead giving out
the warrior`s scream, terrifying all of the challengers. They ran, dropped
their weapons, and otherwise abandon their fight.

Aldbjorht stepped outside and yelled after them, "Praise Erik, the jarl is
returned!" His loyal wife celebrated his return, and his son Visin was sent
for. The people rejoiced, and all his servants reaffirmed their loyalty.
Aldbjorht lived a long time and saw his son grow to be a noble and powerful
warrior, and a just and fair man. For the rest of his days, the authority
of the jarl remained strong and unchallenged.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[Birthright-L]

On Sat, 9 Nov 2002, Kenneth Gauck wrote:

> After the wars and battles, Aldbjorht set out to return
> home to his devoted wife, Karela, and his people in Stangajord.

Nice resetting of the end of "The Odyssey". Mythology exists to be
plundered and rewritten! =)


Ryan Caveney

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

When the Straits of Aerele were land, and the Deissmar range stood tall in
the from the Five Peaks into Anduria, a number of small islands hugged the
coast between Albiele and the mouth of the Spider River. Among them was a
small kingdom known as Cliu. In the days before the Godswar, these islands
were inhabited by simple fisherfolk, who plied the waters of rich fisheries.
The revered Masela, the patron of those who take their living from the sea.
The Masetians had come from further south, but had passed by Cliu in their
way to Cerilia, and their faith in Masela had stayed behind among the
fisherfolk. Masela occasionally spoke to the mystical leader of her people,
Elizabeth, who spent her time contemplating and meditating on the shore,
overlooking the ocean. Their king was little more than a leading fisherman
with official duties. He resolved disputes, distributed the surplus catch,
and was privy to the advise of Masela.

When the Shadow came, it did not attract the notice of Cliu, on their
islands, away from the larger kingdoms. When great armies arrayed at Mount
Deissmar, the fisherfolk of Cliu were vaguely aware that there were great
wars going on elsewhere. Elizabeth knew that the gods faced their evil
nemesis, Azrai, with their champions arrayed. Before the gods gave
themselves to destroy Azrai, Masela told Elizabeth that her champion,
Nesirie, would take her place; and that she should look forward to the
benevolence of her successor. As the gods destroyed themselves at Mount
Deissmar, Nesirie, only just ascending told Elizabeth that the great
explosion would swallow up the small islands of the Cliu. The new sea
goddess told Elizabeth her people needed to take to the sea and journey to
the northwest to avoid destruction. Elizabeth took to the sea with her
people and by the aid of Nesirie, made swift journey across the water.
Their islands were washed away and are now the homes of coral and their
reefs. Elizabeth`s people made landfall in the Erebannien. Immediatly, the
story of Nesirie`s protection of her people spread, and Elizabeth`s teaching
founded the faith now the basis of the Eastern Temple of Nesirie.

From the great battle, Udonhotep, one of the few Masetian survivers, a
friend of Nesirie made he way back east. He stopped to take notice of the
new faith, and had a vision to serve his old friend in a new way. He took
the devoted followers of Nesirie and organized them into a temple to
perpetuate and carry on the message of Elizabeth. For twenty years,
Udonhotep built the Temple of Nesirie with Elizabeth. Eventually Elizabeth
succumed to old age, but Udonhotep was chosen by Masela for long life.
After Elizabeth`s death, Udonhotep married a fisherman`s daughter and gave
birth to three daughters. Each of them had a great role to play. One of
his daughters succeeded her father as Priestess of the Easter Temple of
Nesirie. One married the son and heir of the imperial duke of Aerenwe and
helped found a dynasty. The third took up with the elves who remained in
the Erebannien at that time. Her grandson is known today as the High Mage
Aelies.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

************************************************** **************************
The Birthright Homepage: http://www.birthright.net
Birthright-l Archives: http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html
To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
with UNSUB BIRTHRIGHT-L in the body of the message.

[kgauck]

Adare, duke of Ghieste was a proud and noble lord. His two sons, Haley and Ailin, were each talented and worthy each in their own way. Haley showed promise as a wizard. Ailin was a powerful knight. As Haley was the older, Ailin eventually turned his service to neighboring Mhoried, where he became a captain of infantry and saw much service against the goblins of Markazor.

Haley was sent to Illien to study true magic under the mastery of the great mage Bertram Aglondier. Under Bertram's training, Haley became a skilled wizard. Adare had wanted Haley to learn not only true magic, but statecraft as well, for Bertram was also the count of Illien. Haley, however, neglected administration, diplomacy, and politics.

Ailin became close friends with Robert Mhoried, the Mhor's heir. When Robert succeeded his father, Ailin became a trusted lieutenant. Ailin eventually was encouraged to go in search of the Ruby of Moyers, a sielshegh gem said to extend the power of a ruler's authority.

While Ailin searched for the Ruby of Moyers, Adare, duke of Ghieste died and Haley returned to Ghieste to succeed him. He brought along his wife, Chandra, who was a priestess of Ruornil and skilled with the arcane arts as well. He also brought her brother, Sanat, a cunning aristocrat and a great seeker of power. Haley did not concern himself with his duchy and was easily persuaded to make his brother-in-law Chancellor. Sanat carried the ducal signet ring and never had difficulty getting Haley to use the great ring to enact any policy Sanat proposed. The Chancellor imposed heavy taxation. The court became lavish. The army was enlarged. Castles were built. Magical activities were well funded.

In Mhoried, the lovely Alera of Bhalaene, who had once been romanticaly involved with Ailin, convinced the Mhor to help her find Ailin to let him know what was transpiring in Ghieste. In Brectür, Alera caught up with Ailin. He had recently aquired the shield known as feürfest. Ailin abandoned the quest for the Ruby of Moyers and returned home.

continued...