King of Dragon Pass - Moyzan's Saga

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Ancient Lore

During the marriage of Orlanth and Ernalda, our men whooped and drank with Orlanth, making Orlanth our main deity.

Our clan’s earliest famous event was the Procession of the Animals, when Uralda the Cow Mother led the sacred herds into Orlanth’s stead.

During the Storm Age, we adopted strangers into our clan. Our worst enemies in those days were the beastmen.

We were originally a Balanced Clan.

At the Dawn, we first awakened Orlanth, the Father.

Our attitude toward dragons and their ilk was neutral; we did not go along with them nor actively make war on them.

1329

When we arrived in Dragon Pass, we claimed lots more land than we probably needed. We built a clan hall, some steads, and a temple to Orlanth. But when we left Heortland, we lost much of our connection with the gods.

1330

The god-talkers said we would be blessed with many children this year.

One of our carls was found dead, a victim of secret murder. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors groaned, and said that Orkarla was murdered by bandits crazed by bad wine. We blamed outlaws for the crime. We sent a war party to punish the outlaws. We did not find any outlaws to punish.

The Greydogs declared a feud with us, for their chief was plagued with bad visions of our clan ring.

Ferena led a caravan to trade with the Turtles.

Hindala’s uncle found out that she was sneaking off into the forest to speak with a spirit. We sacrificed to the spirit. Our god-talkers saw many good omens after the sacrifice was made.

We were raided by the Greydogs. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Markalor, a thane of the Gorind clan, complained that Angorri insulted him, and said there would be a feud if we did not punish our trickster. We told Markalor he should not take Angorri’s insults so seriously. He was doubly offended by this suggestion. "By saying I should not take an insult seriously, you are saying that my clan has no honor!" He left, scowling and cursing.

The harvest was plentiful.

Outlaws attacked our exploration party in the tula. Ferena blustered and shouted at the outlaws, but they just laughed. Ferena attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

While exploring our tula, we turned up a cave with green-colored clay that we can use for making high-quality pottery.

A delegation from the Holy Country came to give us gifts and ask us to commit a treasure of theirs for safe-keeping. We agreed to keep the treasure, which they called the Iron Spike.

We stole 21 cows from the Greydogs.

1331

Issaries said that if we acquired more treasures in the next two years, he would reward us richly in years to come.

Humakti warriors sought our help in a war party against walking corpses. We sent warriors to fight alongside them. They said we were honorable, and then departed with our warriors in tow.

The Tree Brother clan offered us 40 cows worth of goods in exchange for telling them our source of green clay. We refused their offer.

Bandits attacked our exploration party in the southeast. Ferena blustered and shouted at the bandits, but they just laughed. Ferena and her forces killed and scattered them.

Ferena came back from the mountains and told us that she had found the lair of a wyrm. We sent Angorri to take the treasure without killing the wyrm. Angorri found the wyrm to be quite intelligent, although not quite intelligent enough. Angorri taught it how to gamble, and beat it handily at dice.

The warriors refused to raid the Greydogs during Sea season.

We raided the Greydogs and eluded their patrols. We drove the Greydogs from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

Our scouts found a strange clan of beast folk who were like ducks. The treacherous ducks rebuffed our kind offer to share their land, responding with a savage attack.

We were raided by the Beaker Ducks. While we tried to gain the advantage of terrain, the Beaker Ducks retreated from the field. We swore grim vengeance against a deceptively puissant foe.

A delegation from the Greydog came to our tula to suggest a peace settlement. We demanded that they submit to a ritual of truth. They said that they would be happy to comply, for the gods knew they had honorable intentions. The god-talkers performed the ritual. The fires burned in the right direction, the colors of the flame were true. The Greydogs truly had honorable intentions. Together, we began a peace parley on neutral ground. The leaders of the two clans resolved the long-standing disputes that divided us, and made peace. Our feud with the Greydogs was over.

The Beaker Ducks refused our request for tribute and insulted our emissary.

The young farmer Brandig reported that his stead was haunted. We sent Enothea to bless Brandig’s stead. Enothea was seized by the ghost, and afterwards forgot some things she had previously known. Brandig reported that the ghost was still haunting his stead. The ring ordered Brandig to move, and burned down the haunted stead. Brandig agreed that this was a wise decision.

Bandits attacked our exploration party in the west. Ferena blustered and shouted at the bandits, but they just laughed. Ferena attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

Garnath led a delegation of weaponthanes to complain that the carls were being favored over them. We thought their grievances exaggerated, and tried to make them see this, too. After much cajoling, the warriors laughed and agreed that they had been making much out of nothing.

We sent Angorri to the Turtle tula to try to buy a treasure from them. He bought the Strong Man’s Toothpick.

We were unable to conduct a raid against the Blue Spruces due to a winter storm.

Venharl said he had been given poor hospitality among the Mule Deers, and that they were deliberately slighting us. We composed a poem satirizing the Mule Deers. Dorasor’s poem was well-received. Our warriors laughed when they heard it, and it soon spread among the other clans in Dragon Pass. The Mule Deers became known as the Dirty Rag Clan.

The Vanstali challenged us and others to a cooking contest. We volunteered to serve as judges. We chose the deserving clan, the Vanstali.

A huge troll named Umulguk warned us that having the Iron Spike meant we were enemies of the trolls. She said we should give her the Spike. We gave it to her. She said that the trolls would remember what we had done for them.

We discovered a large cache of bones and ivory in one of our tula’s valleys.

1332

The god-talkers said that Orlanth wanted us to make a pilgrimage to Mount Kero Fin.

We were raided by the horse nomads. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Asborn spoke for the warriors when he said that they were stretched too thin, and that more fighters were needed. We sent Angorri on a mission to find the best warriors available.

We found a very old cart with dragon insignia on it. We decided to trade it away. We sold it for a goodly sum.

Ferena led a caravan to trade with the Badgers.

The Blue Spruces raided us for 35 cows.

We were raided by the Bachadi. We exchanged missile fire with them, but never closed.

The widows of three men slain in a Bachad raid demanded vengeance.

We raided the Bachadi. Ferena noticed that the Vanstali warriors who joined our raid were in danger of being routed from the field. She charged to the Vanstali’s aid, but could not prevent them from routing. We drove the Bachadi from the battlefield, striking them down as they fled. We raided the Bachadi and won vengeance for Askula and the other wronged women.

The Vostangi raided us for 9 cows while we were raiding.

Drenyan, a Varmandi clan trader, offered us 10 goods in exchange for the source of our ivory. We refused them.

Our expedition to Mount Kero Fin returned. There Orendal encountered explorers of the Badger clan, who so offended Orendal with their lack of reverence towards the mother goddess that Orendal scolded them for their impiety, and said that they were descended from newts and toads. They responded in kind with many harsh words about our clan.

The warriors refused to raid the Blue Spruces during Earth season.

Nobles from the Badger clan warned us that they were starting a feud against us. We apologized for past wrongs. The nobles haughtily ignored our words. "Only blood will wash away the memory of your past insults," they said, as they departed.

The young farmer Jarstakos reported that his stead was haunted. We launched a legal claim against the ghost. The ghost claimed that it could not oblige us by leaving the stead, for it had promised the Blue Spruces that it would vex us. "They sacrificed a sheep to me, and so I cannot answer your suit without opening myself up to a countersuit by the Blue Spruces." We launched a legal claim against the Blue Spruces. We made the claim before their clan ring. They said that we had proven ourselves their enemies, and that no amount of legal jabber would convince them to release the ghost from service to them. "You are lucky we only send ghosts against you, instead of the deadly mercenaries of the Badger clan." We attacked the Blue Spruce.

We raided the Blue Spruces. Dorasor, our war leader, took a serious wound and fell near Enothea. She exhorted our warriors to avenge him. We drove the Blue Spruces from the battlefield, striking them down as they fled. The people were glad that we had struck against our ghost-loving foes. After the attack, the hauntings stopped, and we assumed that the Blue Spruces had released the ghost from its obligation to vex us.

The Blue Spruces sent word that they held two of our warriors hostage. We paid the ransom they demanded.

Someone killed some of our horses. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that this crime was committed by the Badgers. The people were not surprised to hear this, for they were feuding with us. We made the claim before their clan ring. They denied that they had slain our horses. Dorasor, who argued our case with them, thought they were lying.

We saw a rainbow; the people were cheered by this good omen. Because we were lucky, we decided to pursue trade opportunities.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. We could do no more than fight on the land we wished to claim, and eventually had to withdraw.

1333

The omens said that Chalana Arroy would reward us if we refrained from raiding this year.

Led by Natalina, the women of the clan reproached the ring for losing so many of their husbands and sons in battle. The clan ring arranged marriages between widows and the clan’s surviving bachelors. Natalina herself married a fine carl named Hend, and helped the other women of the clan adjust to their new husbands.

Two handsome young men of our clan were kidnapped by outlaw women. We conducted a divination. Our god-talkers asked the spirits of our ancestors what to do, but the spirits only swirled sand around the temple floor and blew out our candles. No one knew what this meant.

The two captured fellows came back. Although they told a different story, some of the clan women thought they had engaged in adultery with the outlaw women. Dorasor questioned Heortarl, exhorting him to admit his adultery. Heortarl told more lies, and more lies, and even more lies, until he became tangled up in them, and Dorasor showed that they could not all be true. Heortarl admitted his adultery, and reluctantly implicated his friend Yorsar, as well. We outlawed both adulterers; the people said we had behaved in a just manner.

Angorri convinced the Kardarvi to create a new trading route.

While plowing the fields, the carls found something strange. It was the enormous skull of some kind of dragon creature. We used it to decorate our clan hall.

Janerra convinced the Rangdani to create a new trading route.

We were raided by the Bachadi. We drove the Bachadi off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

Beneva told us we should take in Orlkensor Bronzebones, a warrior outlawed by the Blue Spruces. We demanded that he explain why he was outlawed. Orlkensor would not say. We gave him quarters in the chief’s hall. We heard some grumbling from the other weaponthanes, who said that Orlkensor had not worked for this honor. Later, when they had time to grumble, the warriors complained that we should have respected Orlkensor’s obviously honorable desire to remain silent.

The harvest was poor.

A Uroxi warrior came to demand that Orlkensor Bronzebones fight him to the death. We suggest that they resolve their differences peacefully. This won a sad look from Orlkensor and crazed laughter from the Uroxi. We asked the Uroxi what Orlkensor had done to besmirch his honor. "It is not your business," the Uroxi said. "It is between the defiler and me." We used force to drive the Uroxi off. Enraged, the Uroxi fought off the warriors we sent to drive him away. He wounded some of our fighters, and then said he would leave. "Orlkensor should not consider our dispute settled," the Uroxi said. "I will not violate the sanctity of your clan hall by going in to get him now. But I shall get him. That I swear, by Urox’s horns."

Foul weather turned back our trading caravan bound for the Turtle clan.

Gardrostan, a thane of the Jenestni clan, asked us for information about Swen, chief of the Turtle clan. He reminded us that we owed his people a favor. We endeavored to answer his questions. Gardrostan asked us if Swen was honest, or full of guile. We said, "Swen is not only honest, but has a keen nose for the dishonesty of others." Gardrostan departed, and thanked us for the information. Not long afterwards, he returned to our tula to withdraw his thanks. "The information you gave us was mistaken at best and deceitful at worst. Our relations with the Turtles have been sorely tested, and it is your careless words which are to blame."

While exploring in Prax, we found a group of bird-riding nomads willing to help us raid a neighboring clan. We gave them their silver, and told them we would call on them later.

Foul weather turned back our trading caravan bound for the Turtle clan.

Korstardos, a thane of the Jenestni clan, asked us for the details of the "How Things Began" story. We told him we did not have the knowledge he sought. He said he was sorry to have bothered us, and left. The people laughed and made sport of him after his departure, for of course we did know the secrets he wanted.

Orendal attempted the heroquest of Orlanth and Aroka. Orendal became as one with Orlanth. Ernalda told him that his nephew, Daga, was causing a drought and harming the people. Orlanth said that he would drive off or imprison Daga. Orendal fought against Daga. Orendal parried Daga’s blows, and withdrew when it was safe. Orendal gathered weapons, then other enemies attacked him. Gagarth buffeted Orendal with the awesome Wind From Above. He returned a punch that stunned Gagarth, and Orendal took the Wind From Above. Orendal slew trolls with his klanth, and took their weapon, the Darkwind. The Dark Woman wounded Orendal in the center of his soul, but Orendal fought back and drove her away. Orendal found another heroquester, who proposed to take the role of Orlanth’s brother Urox, saying it was his right. He told the Storm Bull to follow him. When Orendal arrived to fight Aroka, he saw many Chaos creatures swarming towards him. The Storm Bull told him to go fight Aroka, leaving the Chaos creatures to him. And that is what Orendal did. At last Orendal found the lair of Aroka, and fought the dragon. Aroka tried to destroy Orlanth. The storm god released the Four Winds, blinding the dragon’s eyes. He released the Upper Wind, which dried out the enemy’s tongues. He captured Aroka’s breath inside the magical Sack of Winds and threw it away. Then Orlanth seized its jaws and tore the dragon asunder. Orendal successfully completed the heroquest, and was cheered by all. He brought back the magical Klanth of Orlanth from the place of the gods.

We sent Angorri with gifts to the Anzarni. They were pleased with our generosity.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives. Orlkensor Bronzebones distinguished himself in the fighting.

1334

According to the omens, the forces of Chaos were weaker this year.

Hengall of the Vanstali came seeking our help in a raid against the Karandoli. "The Karandoli storehouses are like a tantalizing fruit, ripe for the picking," said Hengall. We sent a full complement of warriors to aid them. Thanks to our aid, the Vanstali drove the Karandoli from the field. We were pleased with the loot we gained.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. Although we pressed them sorely, the Badgers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

The Blue Spruces raided us for 14 cows while we were raiding.

Angorri led a caravan to trade with the Vanstali.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. Although we pressed them sorely, the Badgers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

The Blue Spruces raided us for 23 cows.

Women from the Vanstali clan came to urge us to help them prosecute a feud against the Karandoli. We offered to make peace between the feuding clans. The women were skeptical, but said we could try to make peace between the two clans. After many meetings with both clan rings, we abandoned the idea of making peace between them. They were too wedded to their hatred of one another.

Orlkensor was found slain. We performed a divination. The god-talkers told us that the killer would be found among the Blue Spruces. We sought the killer among the Blue Spruces. Vingulf, the Uroxi warrior who once challenged Orlkensor to a duel, boldly admitted to the deed, and contemptuously tossed the wergild at our feet. We insisted that Vingulf apologize for his harsh words. But he merely insulted Orlkensor further. Tarkalor challenged him to a duel. They circled one another like wary alynxes. Tarkalor plunged his sword into Vingulf’s side. Vingulf fell to his knees and gave the sign of surrender; a Blue Spruce healer tended to Vingulf’s wound. We departed with the wergild, our honor satisfied.

Hendrick, a trader of the Badger clan, warned us to be wary of another trader, Enent of the Gorind clan. We avoided becoming entangled in this dispute.

The harvest was poor.

Outlaws attacked our exploration party in the tula. Angorri blustered and shouted at the outlaws, but they just laughed. Angorri and his forces killed and scattered them.

We found an old series of sacred stones in a forest clearing on our tula. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that the slumbering stone spirits were malign, and had once served the dragon empire. They said we should leave them alone. We went to other clans and bragged about this find. Our neighbors were much impressed.

Spirit-talkers showed up and asked if we needed anything from them. We asked them to sell us Spirit Fetches. We added the Spirit Fetch to our treasures.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Tarkalor led a flanking maneuver against the riders, throwing them into disarray. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Someone killed some of our horses. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that this crime was committed by the Badgers. The people were not surprised to hear this, for they were feuding with us. We attacked the Badgers.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. Orendal had the chance to avenge himself against Kulbrast. We were driven off and had no opportunity to obtain booty. The Badgers were expecting our attack, so we knew they had slain our horses. The warriors regretted their failure to strike hard against these treacherous foes.

We sent Angorri to the Vostang tula to try to exchange treasures with them. Angorri was hard-pressed to sell the Spirit Fetch, and had to accept a poor price for it.

1335

According to the omens, our wheat crop will wither before it can be harvested.

Uralda cultists offered to perform a ritual to benefit our herds. We let them share in our clan magic. They accepted our gift. They gathered up our cows and then walked around them seven times, whisking them with the Holy Tail. After performing a lowing dance, they pronounced the ritual complete. They departed, to the cheers and good wishes of the carls.

We were able to attract 40 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 61 children.

Humakti warriors said we should give them permission to enter our tula and fight the undead. We granted it. They found spectres and ghouls everywhere, and put them to the sword. We knew that our lands were haunted, but had no idea just how much danger our people were in. We were overjoyed.

We raided the Badgers. Ernaldesta ended up unseen among the enemy’s warriors. She killed and wounded many of the enemy. Although they resisted this bitterly, we were able to hold part of the Badger tula. We took 6 Badger auxiliaries captive.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

Priestesses of Chalana Arroy said they would heal our sick and wounded in exchange for a future favor. We declined their offer, and offered them gifts in return. They declined our gifts, saying that it was not yet the time. The priestesses said little else, but the people saw that they were displeased, and so were displeased in turn.

Angorri led a caravan to trade with the Arnorings.

The harvest was plentiful.

Acting as our emissary, Janerra asked the Antorlings to grant us a boon, and provide us with cattle. Janerra asked for no more and no less than the usual amount. The Antorlings gave us the cattle without complaint.

The forces of cold and darkness attacked our land with snow and wind. Our herds were threatened. We called on Orlanth to help us against his ancient enemies. Soon after the sacrifices were made, the enemy storm lifted.

Loricon of the Greydog clan offered us gifts. We threw a feast for thanes of Loricon’s clan. They toasted our generosity, and said they would speak of it to others. Our people made merry, and also toasted the clan ring.

Explorers found the warrior Astella, who fled from the injustice of the Pharaoh, and said we should give her asylum. We adopted her as a weaponthane. She took her place in the chief’s household. The weaponthanes were glad to welcome a foe of the Pharaoh to their ranks, but complained that Astella was given preference over those who had served for a long time. The carls grumbled that there were too many weaponthanes already.

The Turtles raided us for 24 cows.

1336

According to the omens, the forces of Chaos were weaker this year.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives. Astella distinguished herself in the fighting.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. Although they resisted this bitterly, we were able to hold part of the Badger tula.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. The Blue Spruce clan burned 4 steads. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We were raided by the Badgers. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. We could do no more than fight on the land we wished to claim, and eventually had to withdraw.

Enothea took ill, because someone had woven Chaos runes into her skirt. We tried to find out if another clan was responsible for the Chaos hex. The women of the Blue Spruces all denied having made the skirt. Dorasor was certain that they were telling the truth.

We were able to attract 23 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 45 children.

Glendara, a carl of our clan, said that her prize stallion, Tempest, had been stolen by Rangarda Dark-Eyes of the Vostang clan. Members of the clan ring tried to persuade her to forget the matter. She would not hear of it. "No argument can sway me, while that mangy, dug-dragging she-dog has my Tempest." We launched a legal claim against Rangarda Dark-Eyes. We took our claim to her clan ring. Rangarda denied that she had anything to do with the disappearance of Glendara’s horse. Her clan leaders seemed to make an honest effort to determine the truth, but ultimately ruled that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on Rangarda’s part. Glendara was most displeased by this result.

After many weeks at death’s door, Enothea recovered from the illness caused by the hexed skirt.

The sons and daughter of Glendara recovered the stallion called Tempest, which they found secreted away on the tula of the Vostang clan. They slew one of Rangarda Dark-Eye’s sons, and wounded another. We sent gifts to the Vostangi, to smooth relations with them. They praised us for our generous gesture, and gave us a reciprocal gift equal in value to our own. They said that we should consider the fighting between the families of Glendara and Rangarda as a personal matter, and one which would not interfere with the strong relations between our two clans.

Rangoron, a weaponthane of our clan, wished to marry Ostlana of the Varmandi clan. Ostlana’s clan demanded that Rangoron steal the famous magical plow of the Karandoli for them. We asked the girl’s ring to reconsider the terms of marriage. Over the objections of Ostlana’s mother, who was a member of the Varmandi ring, it was decided that a normal bride price and dowry would suffice. The marriage would go ahead, with no thefts or feuds.

We hosted the wedding banquet of Ostlana and Rangoron. We composed a poem in honor of Orlanthi warriors. It was not one of our best poems.

1337

The god-talkers predicted many piglets would be born this year.

Emissaries of the Elkenval clan sought our support in the Orlanth and Aroka heroquest. Many weeks later, news reached us of the disaster at Orlanth’s holy place. At the ritual, the dragon Aroka appeared, gobbling up several ranks of worshippers.

Acting as our emissary, Janerra asked the Greydogs to make good on the obligation they owed us, and provide us with cattle. Janerra asked for no more and no less than the usual amount. The Greydogs gave us the cattle without complaint.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

A milk-white calf was born into Orendal’s herd. Colymar took the blessed beast into his herds, gaining prestige. Our neighbors soon spoke of Colymar as the White Cow Chief.

We were able to attract 62 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 87 children.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

We were raided by the Badgers. Ernaldesta had the chance to fight like a hero. We drove the Badgers off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

We caught Garrath of the Vanstali clan sneaking into one of our steads. We told the Vanstali that they would have to pay to get him back. We convinced them to pay more than the customary ransom.

The harvest was plentiful.

Orlkarnth accused his wife, Instarya, and Elmalandti, his young nephew, of adultery. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said the shame of Instarya and Elmalandti was great, and that spirits of reprisal were sure to smite them. The ring interrogated them. They steadfastly proclaimed their innocence. But there was something about the way they did so that aroused Dorasor’s suspicions. We outlawed them. Orlkarnth and his kin congratulated us for stamping out this nest of vipers. Elmalandti and Instarya were hounded from our tula.

Foul weather turned back our diplomatic mission to the Greydogs.

We were raided by the Trolls. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

A bandit shaman named Harsaltar captured the carl Jonrik and demanded an outrageous ransom for his return. We decided to recruit warriors from other clans to join a war party against him. 5 of our neighbors were willing to send five warriors each. We sought the blessings of our ancestral spirits before fighting the shaman. The god-talkers could not contact our ancestral spirits. We sent a war party to liberate Jonrik. Our war party fell upon Harsaltar and his bandits and scattered them. We rescued Jonrik. Tarkalor seized Harsaltar and threw him on the ground, then jumped on him until he was dead.

Three young men all sought the hand of Yanioth, a young woman of our clan renowned for her cleverness and beauty. We married her to Jostharl of the Anzarni clan. He told us the story called "Orlanth and Aroka," but it was one we already knew. Yanioth wept and wailed, protesting that we should have married her to Vandarl of the Arnoring clan.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. As the battle began, Ernaldesta felt bursting with magical power. She charged a dozen of the toughest enemy thanes. They jeered and stepped forward to strike her down, but instead she cut two of them in half. Their other thanes routed and the Tree Brother warriors followed them. We drove the Tree Brothers off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

1338

The god-talkers identified no omens, and this troubled them.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

A duck claiming to be a Humakti Deathlord stalked into the tula, challenging our finest warrior to a duel. We agreed to the challenge. Deathegg proved to be a true Deathlord of Humakt. He killed Tarkalor in a fair fight, and then left without boasting or swaggering.

Janerra could not persuade the Orlevings to create a new trading route.

We were raided by the Turtles. Orendal had a chance to turn the battle in our favor. Orendal gathered several warriors and put many Turtles to flight. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. Although we pressed them sorely, the Badgers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

Randella, daughter of Varmand and Inganna, went missing. Her parents thought she was at Clan Tree Brother, in the company of a former suitor, Hengall. We demanded compensation from the Tree Brothers. They agreed to our demand.

We sent Angorri to the Karandoli tula to try to buy a treasure from them. He bought the Silver Tongue.

Eonislara, betrothed to Jorator of the Vanstali clan, was seduced by Korol, the notorious troublemaking poet of the Gorind clan. We let the marriage proceed, as if nothing has happened.

Janerra convinced the Arnorings to create a new trading route.

The delegation from the Holy Country returned to reclaim the Iron Spike, bearing the gifts they had promised. We attacked them and took the gifts. These Lead Breakers offered us little resistance, for they were talkers, not fighters. One of them wounded Colymar with magic, but our people were otherwise unhurt. We took the gifts and drove them off.

Brodasart, son of Glendara, was slain by relatives of Rangarda Dark-Eyes of the Vostang clan. The people sympathized with Glendara’s loss, and some wished we had taken up arms for the sake of Brodasart’s memory.

We were raided by the Badgers. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Jorator came to complain that his bride Eonislara had broken a promise to stay faithful to him before they were married. He wanted her bride price back. We told him that his claim was without legal foundation. Jorator was forced to admit that there was no shame in pregnancy outside the marriage bond, and that any promise-breaking between him and Eonislara was a private matter, now that they were kin.

We were raided by the Bachadi. Ernaldesta led our warriors against a berserker who’d broken through our lines. We drove the Bachadi off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

1339

The god-talkers saw many ravens, and suspected there would be battle later in the year.

The Issaries priestess Sora Goodseller came to our clan and asked if we wished to buy a treasure known as the Whirlwind Jar. Sadly, our price was not good enough for her, and she went on her way.

We were able to attract 43 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 40 children.

Bandits attacked our exploration party in the tula. Angorri blustered and shouted at the bandits, but they just laughed. Angorri attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. We were losing the battle. Ernaldesta rushed to the side of our demoralized warriors, but they fell back and would not face the enemy. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Dragonewts came and said that they wanted to take Dorasor away with them. We allowed Dorasor to go with them. He left happily, promising to return with an epic of grand adventure among the dragon-kin.

Odayla cultists offered to perform a ritual to make the hunting better in our area. We accepted their offer, and gave them gifts. They thanked us for the gifts and departed, telling us that we would know when the ritual had been completed when the forest filled with elk.

Angorri convinced the Anzarni to create a new trading route.

Foul weather turned back our trading caravan bound for the Elkenval clan.

Hendrick, a trader of the Badger clan, offered us ten cows to perform trickster magic on a rival trader, Enent of the Gorind clan. We refused him, and then warned Enent of his plan. Enent thanked us for our warning, and said she had a trick in store for Hendrick. She gifted us with some sparkling buttons. Not long afterwards, word reached us that Hendrick had been maneuvered into a bad trade with Enent, and blamed us for alerting her to his plans.

We raided the Badgers. Although we pressed them sorely, the Badgers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

Strangers who said they were from the east requested hospitality. We attacked them. They fought back, using weird implements to cast shrieking spells that hurt our ears and made us bleed. Their magic killed many, and gave a strange shaking disease to others. When we were overwhelmed, and could no longer fight, they admitted they were not from the east, but from the south. They had come at the behest of the Pharaoh, to punish us for depriving him of the Iron Spike. "Let all of Dragon Pass know that the Pharaoh’s reach is long, and his just fury unquenchable," they said. Then they departed.

Orendal began the Storm Tribe heroquest. Orendal was told by Ernalda to make a tribe, so that he could challenge the Emperor. But the Doubting Wheel rolled up and told Orendal not to make a tribe. He tried to catch the Doubting Wheel in a net. When he threw a net over it, the Doubting Wheel shrank down and became a tiny thing, small enough for Orendal to put in his purse. Orendal found Yinkin, who said he would join the tribe if Orendal could defeat the champions of the Plant Tribe. Orendal fought both of them. He tore off the many feet of Rustling Veins, which gave it sustenance. He blunted the many swords of Sharp Green, which gave it power. The Plant Tribe was defeated, and Yinkin said that his Cat Clan would join the Storm Tribe, provided it finds a way to remember its good laws. Orendal found the Knowing God trapped inside a great cube. He recited a poem about storm people beating stone people. The poem caused the cube to crumble, and the Knowing God was freed. The Knowing God agreed to make the Marks On Bark Clan part of the Storm Tribe, so long as this new tribe had fierce warriors. Orendal found Vadrus, who had decided to fight Yinkin and his Cat Clan. Orendal said, "If we had a tribe, you could punish him without hurting him." "This is a very strange thing you say," Vadrus mused, "but perhaps it has a ring of truth to it. I will seek a new foe, and may even attend this confederation moot of yours — so long as my right to punish upstart Yinkin is made clear to all." Orendal found more chieftains to bring their clans to the confederation moot, but when they got there, they fell to fighting, and blamed him for making contradictory promises. Ernalda brought him implements of tribal regalia. She brought the Chest of Torcs, with which he could gift the clan leaders. She brought the Hall of Understanding, where people would settle their differences by talking them out. She brought the Crown of Authority, which made people respect his sacral powers and pledge allegiance to him. Most of the clans agreed to make the tribe, but there were still some who were stubborn. Then warriors of the Night Tribe came and attacked the quarrelling clans. Orendal led the fight against the Night People. Everyone banded together to fight these hungry enemies. After they defeated the night warriors, they acclaimed Orendal as their king. Orendal returned to the land of mortals, his quest successful. The god-talkers said that our next attempt to make a tribe would benefit from the favor of Orlanth.

1340

Issaries said that if we acquired more treasures in the next two years, he would reward us richly in years to come.

We approached the Blue Spruce clan with an offer of peace. We offered them payment. They said that neither silver nor gold, nor even cows, could redeem the blood we had spilled.

We suffered a curse, and our children, both boys and girls, began to grow beards. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that the curse was laid by tricky shamans, who hoped we would then pay them to remove it. We told shamans to come to break the curse. When they arrived, we said that we knew they had laid the curse, and we beat them.They fled, and the people laughed. Once we did this, the childrens’ beards fell out of their own accord.

We were raided by the Bachadi. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We were raided by the Badgers. The Badger clan burned 4 steads. Ernaldesta had the chance to avenge herself against Endal. We were driven from the battlefield and looted. They burned 4 more steads.

We approached the Tedanling clan with an offer of peace. We offered them payment. They were pleased by our generosity, and we ended the feud.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. Ernaldesta had a chance to turn the battle in our favor. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

While clearing a patch of forest, Rostalos was injured by an unseen archer. To find who had done this, we performed an augury. We saw patterns in the entrails. First, a seed. Then, a stalk. Then, a man. Then, a man with an arrow. This meant the attacker was one of the plant people called Aldryami, or elves. We stepped up our patrols.

We sent Angorri to the Hiord tula to try to buy a treasure from them. He bought the Kero Fin Kite.

Ernaldinni’s uncle found out that she was sneaking off into the forest to speak with a spirit. We sacrificed to the spirit. Our god-talkers saw many good omens after the sacrifice was made.

Janerra convinced the Orlevings to create a new trading route.

We were raided by the Trolls. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Humakti warriors sought our help in a war party against walking corpses. We tried to offer the Humakti magic to aid them against the undead, but they said they only wanted warriors. We sent warriors to fight alongside them. They said we were honorable, and then departed with our warriors in tow.

We were able to attract 59 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 84 children.

We spotted a cattle raid by the Badgers. We drove the Badgers off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

1341

According to the omens, the forces of Chaos were weaker this year.

A new clan came to Dragon Pass; they were called the Hillhavens. They sought permission to travel through our lands on their trek northwards. We demanded tribute from them. They gave us what we demanded, so we let them pass.

Explorers met a bark-clad shaman, who made dire predictions, and said we should sacrifice to Kolat, the spirit-herding god. We sacrificed ten cows to Kolat. The god-talkers could not say whether Kolat had received our sacrifice, because Orlanth’s brother is not one of the gods we usually worship, and they did not know which signs to look for.

We raided the Badgers and eluded their patrols. We pressed them so sorely that the Badgers gathered up everything they could and left their tula.

We sent Janerra to the Elkenval tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She was unable to buy the First Arrow.

We were raided by the Blue Spruces. Orendal struck down a Blue Spruce god-talker before the enemy was ready to fight, then collected his powers for the battle to come. His spells failed, he was weak that day. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

A wounded Uroxi stumbled into our clan hall, claiming to have been ambushed by chaos worshippers. We tended to him, and escorted him to the boundaries of our tula. He spit on the leader of the escort party and said that our ignorance gave comfort to Chaos. We scolded him for his poor manners.

We raided the Beaker Ducks and eluded their patrols. We could do no more than fight on the land we wished to claim, and eventually had to withdraw.

Ordag and his family came from distant Esrolia, to ask for membership in our clan. We accepted them, and on that day they became Moisan.

Brandig came to ask us for a gift of luck and divine favor, reminding us that we owed his clan, the Rangdani, a favor. We gave more than the customary amount. Brandig said that the Moisans were good friends, and that his people would not forget this.

We were raided by the Trolls. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We saw a rainbow; the people were cheered by this good omen. Because we were lucky, we decided to pursue trade opportunities.

We were raided by the Beastfolk. We drove the Beastfolk from the battlefield, striking them down as they fled.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

1342

The god-talkers said we should explore distant parts of Dragon Pass this year.

A delegation from the Blue Spruce came to our tula to suggest a peace settlement. We said to them, "We are always ready to talk." The leaders of the two clans resolved the long-standing disputes that divided us, and made peace. Our feud with the Blue Spruces was over.

We sent Janerra to the Orleving tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She bought Vinga’s Comb.

Our explorers found a Horse-Spawn encampment and a great horse they said was magical. Some people wanted to send a party to capture the steed. We sought the blessings of the gods. Our god-talkers said the signs were good; Orlanth favored our quest. We sent a war party to capture the steed, led by Ernaldesta. Ernaldesta found the camp of the cursed Horse-Spawn, and motioned the warriors to creep up upon it. She leapt upon the horse before the Horse-Spawn could react. Although the horse leaped and bucked at first, Ernaldesta managed to control it, and we escaped from the Horse-Spawn encampment with their arrows and curses falling all around us. One of our warriors was killed, and two more were wounded. But we gained this great magical horse.

Warrior women of the Vostang clan attacked us, damaging the clan hall and wounding many. Many assumed that they were hired by the Badgers, who were feuding with us. We retaliated against the Badger clan.

We raided the Badgers. Argrand had a chance to rally our warriors, who were about to flee. Our warriors were shamed by Argrand’s cries. They turned and faced the Badgers and fought harder to make up for their failure of nerve. We were driven off and had no opportunity to obtain booty. The Badgers took 24 of our women auxiliaries captive. Our enemies defeated us, and the people were demoralized.

We ransomed our prisoners from the Badgers.

The Vostangi raided us for 18 cows while we were raiding.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Greydogs.

We were able to attract 27 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 46 children.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Ernaldesta drove off a group of Horse-Spawn who were attempting to circle behind us. We took one captive from the Horse-Spawn.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

A thane of the Vostang clan sought to hire our Humakti warriors as mercenaries; they wanted us to hurt the elders of the Mule Deer clan. We told them that their offer of five cows for each Mule Deer leader wounded was insufficient. They increased their offer, and we agreed to strike at their Mule Deer foes. Orendal and his warriors were intercepted by a Mule Deer patrol, and set to rout. Some of them were wounded.

The harvest was plentiful.

Einarth Milk-Eyes came to us with a prophecy. It seemed to mean that we should start a tribe. We took his words to heart, and decided it was time to assemble a tribe.

Traders from the Hiord offered outrageous sums of wealth and swore eternal friendship with us if we would sell the magical steed we captured from the Horse-Spawn. We refused them, in spite of their anger at us for doing so.

We were able to attract 52 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 75 children.

Natalina did nothing but speak out against the ring. The chieftain outlawed her. Her few supporters complained vociferously about this harsh measure, until even those who had disliked her felt sorry for her and angry at the ring.

We conducted a divination to pick a name for our tribe, which suggested we call ourselves the Kultain. We met to decide which clans should get invitations to join our tribe.

The carls warned the clan ring that there were too many people, and they could not produce enough food for everyone. We chose to seize land from the neighboring Tree Brother clan.

We raided the Tree Brothers and eluded their patrols. Although we pressed them sorely, the Tree Brothers weren’t willing to flee from their land. We beat them, but they were determined foes and refused to leave their land.

We learned of the Karandoli demands for joining the new tribe. We demanded favorable trade terms for other clans of the tribe seeking Karandoli grain. We agreed that the other clans of the tribe should not trade with outsiders when they could trade with the Karandoli instead. We gifted them. We agreed that the other clans should lend them fertility magic. To make the deal more attractive, we promised to give them a treasure. The Karandoli ring saw opportunities in our proposal.

Led by Hindala, the women of the clan reproached the ring for losing so many of their husbands and sons in battle. The ring suggested a Marriage Contest. The women agreed, and we held a merry contest for bachelors from all over Dragon Pass. We welcomed the most worthy contestants into our clan and even gained a strong weaponthane, Hiord, who married Hindala.

1343

The omens said our crafters would be plagued with misfortune this year.

The Blue Spruce clan had its tribe-making demands all written out before our emissaries even got there. We made them agree to make a large map, incorporating the exploration of all the clans of the tribe. We agreed that they should sit in the Lhankor Mhy seat of the tribal council. They said they would take our offer under advisement. The Blue Spruces said that they would come to a confederation moot.

A herd of cattle was infested by broos, and had to be destroyed. We sent a small force to hunt for broos. We found the broos, and a terrible fight ensued. We lost several doughty weaponthanes, but the broos were exterminated.

Outlaws attacked our exploration party in the tula. Dorasor blustered and shouted at the outlaws, driving them off.

We talked to Hiord leaders to see if they wanted to join our new tribe. We agreed that the other clans would sacrifice to Elmal. We demanded that they teach their sun magic to warriors of the other clans. We agreed to a pledge of respect for Elmal in the rites of kingship. We gifted them. They grudgingly accepted the one seat we offered them. We abandoned negotiations with the Hiordlings.

Angorri led a caravan to trade with the Blue Spruces.

Kentvent spoke for the warriors when he said that they were stretched too thin, and that more fighters were needed. We sought new warriors wherever we could find them. We even approached bandits and outlaws. Dorasor questioned them closely, and accepted the most honest of the candidates.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Argrand led a flanking maneuver against the riders, Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

The carls warned the clan ring again that there were too many people, and they still could not produce enough food for everyone. We chose to seize land from the neighboring Tree Brother clan. The carls muttered darkly that this had not worked before.

We raided the Tree Brothers. Although they resisted this bitterly, we were able to hold part of the Tree Brother tula. The people were glad, and spread out to occupy this land, ours by right of conquest.

We negotiated with Clan Vostang, the first clan to settle in our immediate area, to see if we could bring them into our clan. We told them we would make war on the Beastfolk. We also made certain that they understood just how high a price the tribe would be paying by prosecuting their war for them. The Vostangi said that they would come to a confederation moot.

We learned that the Tree Brothers had started a feud with us.

We were raided by the Bachadi. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

A two-headed calf was born; the people saw it as an ill omen. We sacrificed to Uralda for protection from deformed cattle. The god-talkers said that Uralda had heard our pleas.

We spoke to Markalor, chief of Clan Vanstali, to see if he wanted to join our tribe. He asked us what we had to offer him. We told them that our clan fought for their inclusion, over the objections of the other clans. "It is good that someone in this Orlanth-cursed land is smart enough to pay us the honor we are due," Markalor said. The Vanstali said that they would come to a confederation moot.

Clan Turtle, on whose tula is found the War Rock, negotiated the terms under which they might join the new tribe. We argued over the sacrifices that each clan should give to the spirit of the War Rock. They bargained shrewdly, and we agreed to greater sacrifices than we at first suggested. The Turtles said that they would come to a confederation moot.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Orlevings.

The Greydog chieftain thought that our offer of membership in the tribe was a trick. We told him that a tribe can support heroquests more easily than a clan. Mad-Blood Derik said that he might go on a heroquest himself one day. The Greydogs said that they would come to a confederation moot.

Outlaws blocked our emissary to the Blue Spruce clan. Dorasor tried to bargain with them, but got nowhere. Dorasor attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

When asked to join our new tribe, the aggressive traders of Clan Varmandi had many demands. We demanded that the king get a share of the proceeds from Varmandi trade. They agreed to our terms. We agreed to make an oath against bandits part of the rites of kingship. We agreed that each clan should send guards for Varmandi trade missions. The number of guards we suggested appeared to be acceptable to them. We agreed that they should always occupy the Issaries seat on the tribal council. We gifted them. We abandoned negotiations with the Varmandi.

We asked the Chaos fighters of Clan Bachad to join our new tribe. We told them that more warriors were always good in the fight against Chaos. We told them that a tribe could better explore in search of Chaos. We told them that a tribe would help them with the herd and crops. We told them that the combined magic of a tribe would be strong against Chaos. We gifted them. We abandoned negotiations with the Bachadi.

The confederation moot started badly. Many of the clans were offended by the concessions granted to others. We distributed treasures among the dissatisfied clans. The unhappy clans took the gifts, but continued to harp on their concerns. We bargained to get the satisfied clans to please the dissatisfied ones. We made progress. Soon there were only minor objections to the terms we negotiated. The confederation moot was a success. We became a tribe, the Kultain.

The clans of the new tribe gathered to choose a king. We nominated Colymar to take the throne. Colymar spoke well, and was chosen to rule the Kultain tribe.

The time came for Colymar to undergo the rites of kingship. We realized that our tribal regalia was not good enough. Colymar completed the rites of kingship. The celebration lasted for days.

We found a cave full of dangerous, armored rodents on our tula. We blocked up the cave entrance. Many of the carls were bitten as they piled rocks inside it. They said the warriors should have been ordered to exterminate the creatures.

We were raided by the Badgers. We were losing the battle. Several of our warriors ran away, but Ernaldesta leapt towards the enemy before they could pursue. Afterwards, those of us who saw what Ernaldesta had done knew that we had seen the beginning of a legend: Ernaldesta cut through shields, armor, swords and warriors in a spray of blood and metal. By the time the Badgers retreated, their corpses and severed limbs were piled around Ernaldesta’s feet. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Bolik and Yerestia got divorced. Yerestia made unreasonable claims on him for a settlement. We chided her for making preposterous demands. Yerestia was affronted, and left for clan Mule Deer, promising that they would take vengeance against us.

Acting as our emissary, Janerra asked the Hiordlings to make good on the obligation they owed us, and provide us with cattle. Janerra asked for a few more cows than custom demanded. Harran, chief of the Hiord clan, agreed to give us a few extra cows. Some of his carls seemed unhappy with our request.

The Tree Brothers raided us for 26 cows.

1344

The god-talkers forecast that our market would be unprofitable this year.

We approached the Tree Brother clan with an offer of peace. We proposed a reciprocal marriage between clans to seal our peace. They said that they would sooner intermarry with beastmen than with us. And beastmen were their ancient enemies.

Priestesses of Chalana Arroy said they would heal our sick and wounded in exchange for a future favor. We asked them to heal half of our sick and wounded. They did so, and the people were pleased. The priestesses departed, reminding us that they would one day return to ask for a favor in return.

The dangerous rodents came back and bit children and horses. We ordered our weaponthanes to exterminate them. Many of them were wounded, but they said that they killed them all.

The prophet Einarth Milk-Eyes came to us with a great golden armband, which he said would be our ten-year ring. He told us to perform heroquests, stay in command, and prosper. Dorasor composed a poem about the ten-year ring. The poem was a grand one, and the people were heartened. Soon the poem was spoken by others, and all of Dragon Pass knew of our greatness.

We were raided by the Hiordlings. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Orngerin, a young warrior of our clan and Vininna, a young warrior of the Tree Brother clan said that they had made themselves blood sisters, and that we should follow their example and end our feud with the Tree Brothers. We said, "This ritual of sisterhood has no legal merit." Orngerin admitted that they had just made the ritual up, based on what they had heard in legends. She and Vininna seemed sad, but no more was said of this.

Arene of the Karandoli clan accused Enderos of the Vostang of unfair trade; both asked King Colymar to adjudicate the case. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that Enderos had in fact used a Listening Wind against Arene. Colymar ruled in favor of Enderos. Enderos thanked us for our wisdom. Arene said nothing, but was clearly angry.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Orlevings.

Foul weather turned back our diplomatic mission to the Tedanlings.

Uralda cultists offered to perform a ritual to benefit our herds. We accepted their offer, and gave them gifts. They thanked us for the gifts. They gathered up our cows and then walked around them seven times, whisking them with the Holy Tail. After performing a lowing dance, they pronounced the ritual complete. They departed, to the cheers and good wishes of the carls.

We were raided by the Badgers. We drove the Badgers from the field with a withering hail of stones and arrows.

1345

The clan would see endless legal squabbles in the coming year, according to the god-talkers.

Ortossi of the Tree Brother clan offered us gifts. We threw a feast for thanes of Ortossi’s clan. They toasted our generosity, and said they would speak of it to others. Our people made merry, and also toasted the clan ring.

We raided the Tree Brothers. Farad fought well, at first, and attracted the attacks of several enemy warriors. He had not told us of his illness a few days earlier, so were all surprised when he collapsed during the fight. He was seriously wounded. We drove the Tree Brothers from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. Ernaldesta had the chance to fight like a hero. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Explorers from our clan found the body of a dragonewt warrior lying in a stream bed. We decided to trade it away. We sold it for a goodly sum.

Ernaldness began the Uralda’s Blessing heroquest. Ernaldness went back to an ancient time, a time before Umath, before Yelm, and long before Orlanth, a time where everything was good for her four-legged people. But things were bad for the two-legged people, who were hungry, and asked Ernaldness’s bulls for help. She promised the two-legs that she would help them later. They said she made empty promises. The bulls chased the two-legs away. The biting things came, and Ernaldness could not protect her children from them. So she embarked on a journey to the home of the two-legs. First, she was attacked by large biting things. Ernaldness withstood the first attack of the biting things, but was wounded. Second, she was attacked by biting things with flat teeth that crush muscles. Ernaldness withstood the second attack of the biting things, but suffered further, grievous injuries. Third, she was attacked by biting things that lie in the water. Ernaldness withstood the third attack of the biting things, but again her flesh was torn, and the world swam before her eyes. Although it took every last bit of her strength, Ernaldness made it to the tula of the two-legged people. Ernaldness attempted to enter the two-leg camp, but the two-legged bulls tried to capture her and pen her up. She made the secret sign to Ernalda. Ernalda noticed the sign, and from the greeting Ernalda gave her, Uralda recognized Ernalda as her mother. "Life is almost good," Ernalda said. "But my children have found this new thing called hunger, and I do not know what to do…" Ernaldness said she had a plan. Ernaldness headed back to her people, this time with some of Ernalda’s two-legged bulls to protect her. She told her bulls to tell the herd to get ready for a journey to the land of the two-legs. The bulls did not want to understand why. She said to them, "See my wounds? This is what the two-legs will protect us from." They said they feared the things that could cause such wounds. So they followed her all the way to the two-leg encampment, where they lived for some time. The bulls saw the two-legs cutting up and eating other cows, and were afraid. Ernaldness said to them, "A little lost blood is nothing, when there is life to be given." The bulls accepted what Ernaldness said, and troubled her no more. Later, the cows complained that the two-legs were taking their milk, and Uralda explained that by treating the two-leg children as their own, there would always be two-legs. And, wherever there were two-legs, there would be fat and happy cows. This comforted them. Ernaldness returned to the land of mortals, her quest successful despite her wounds. Our cows became sleeker and more appealing in appearance. Everyone said they were fine cows, and for many days all we could do was look at them. Our Issaries people said others would feel the same, and would go out of their way to trade for our cattle.

We found Lysang hunters poaching deep within our territory. We offered their clan the chance to buy hunting rights on our land. They agreed to our terms.

Sora Goodseller arrived to tell us of three new tribes that had arisen in the wake of our new tribe. They were the Torkani tribe, the Aranwyth tribe, and the Culbrea tribe. We sought an alliance with the Colymar.

The young farmer Gustand reported that his stead was haunted. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that this ghost was sent by the Tree Brothers to vex us, as part of their feud against us. We launched a legal claim against the ghost. The ghost claimed that it could not oblige us by leaving the stead, for it had promised the Tree Brothers that it would vex us. "They sacrificed a sheep to me, and so I cannot answer your suit without opening myself up to a countersuit by the Tree Brothers." We attacked the Tree Brother.

We raided the Tree Brothers and eluded their patrols. As the battle began, Farad felt bursting with magical power. He acquitted himself bravely. Although they resisted this bitterly, we were able to hold part of the Tree Brother tula. The people were glad that we had struck against our ghost-loving foes. After the attack, the hauntings stopped, and we assumed that the Tree Brothers had released the ghost from its obligation to vex us.

We made peace overtures to Queen Yanioth of the Colymar. We said: "With peace, we can spread the laws of Orlanth." Yanioth said that the laws were important, and by agreeing to follow them together, we would win the favor of Orlanth.

We were raided by the Hiordlings. Hiord warriors running ahead of their companions tried to break into our stead to plunder. They were trying to cross our ditch when Argrand had a chance to cut them off. Argrand leapt in among the enemy, slashing and slaying. They died or ran. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

1346

Orlanth said we would have good luck on raids this year.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Turtles.

Members of the Beaker Ducks stopped our mission to the Karandoli clan. Dorasor tried to bargain with them, but got nowhere. Dorasor attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

Women found a talking fox in our woods. It wanted us to make an agreement not to hunt foxes or clear any more forest. We decided to capture the fox and trade it to another clan. The fox was too clever for our hunters, and eluded us.

We raided the Tree Brothers and eluded their patrols. Although we pressed them sorely, the Tree Brothers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

An ill-omen vexed us when a young, unmarried woman of our clan saw the shadow of a bird pass over her. We sacrificed to the gods for luck. The god-talkers said the signs were just as bad as the bird shadow that passed over Leika.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. We exchanged missile fire with them, but never closed.

Jarolor, a thane of the Vostang clan, asked us for the details of the "The Making of the Storm Tribe" story in exchange for owing us a favor. We told him what he wanted to know. He thanked us and departed.

We sent Janerra to the Orleving tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She bought Orlanth’s Rattle.

Foul weather turned back our diplomatic mission to the Tedanlings.

Enent, a trader of the Gorind clan, warned us to be wary of another trader, Hendrick of the Badger clan. We promised to be wary of Hendrick.

Orendal attempted the heroquest of Orlanth and Aroka. He was unable to enter the place of the gods.

Our explorers went to the Orlanthi land of Tarsh. There they met an odd fellow who called himself the Prince of Masks, and said he would visit a magical catastrophe upon any clan in Dragon Pass we chose, in exchange for a gift of silver. We told the Blue Spruces about him. They thanked us for helping them. They said they would encourage this magician to strike against the Bachadi, who had recently offended them. Once the curse had taken effect, they would tell their foes that they had ordered it.

1347

According to the omens, the forces of Chaos were weaker this year.

Ducks from a place they call the Upland Marsh, accompanied by warriors of the Tree Brother clan, petitioned our Humakti devotees for ritual aid in the fight against the undead creatures of the marsh. We told them that their offer of twenty-five cows was insufficient. They increased their offer, and we agreed to perform the ritual they sought. Our devotees of Humakt performed the necessary ritual at the appointed time. They said that the signs were good, and expected the ducks and Tree Brothers to do well against the undead armies of the marsh. And indeed, word came back that they had triumphed against their unliving foes.

We raided the Beaker Ducks. We pressed them so sorely that the Beaker Ducks gathered up everything they could and left their tula.

Korstardos, of the Vostang clan, asked us to give him cattle, and promised that his clan would owe us a favor. We gave him more than he wanted.

We raided the Tree Brothers. Argrand had a chance to rally our warriors, who were about to flee. Argrand charged the Tree Brothers and our warriors followed his example. Although we pressed them sorely, the Tree Brothers weren’t willing to flee from their land.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. We were driven from the battlefield and looted. And they took 6 of our women auxiliaries captive.

We ransomed our prisoners from the Tree Brothers.

We were raided by the Badgers. Venharl, a Wind Lord of the Badgers threatened to turn the battle against us single-handedly. Venharl rudely refused Orendal’s challenge and cast a flaming javelin, but Orendal dodged. But we Moisans are not weak like the Badgers. A flying Orlanthi was not enough to scare us, and we beat the rest of the Badgers, even if we could not beat their runelord. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Karendra Sweetsword of the Tree Brothers came to plead for peace and to offer us 27 cows as one-time tribute. We demanded 15 cows, paid to us every year, and the Tree Brothers thought we asked for too much. A few days later we heard that they had hired Tree Brothers warriors as mercenaries, preferring to pay for a chance to cause us harm than let us raid them freely.

Led by Aransanda, the women of the clan reproached the ring for losing so many of their husbands and sons in battle. The ring suggested a Marriage Contest. The women said they weren’t interested in games, they wanted men. The ring attempted to arrange suitable marriages with the clan’s surviving bachelors. Aransanda scoffed at the suggestion. The ring suggested that the women form joint households until the clan could attract more men. The women said they wanted men, not to live with other women. It was agreed that Janerra would travel to the clan’s old home and inquire whether any bachelors from our old clan wished to join us.

All of the other clans in our tribe suffered bad harvests.

Dorasor could not persuade the Lysangs to create a new trading route.

Hofstaring accused his wife, Doranda, and Darndrev, his young nephew, of adultery. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said the shame of Doranda and Darndrev was great, and that spirits of reprisal were sure to smite them. The ring interrogated them. They steadfastly proclaimed their innocence. But there was something about the way they did so that aroused Farad’s suspicions. The ring asked their kinfolk if they could have done it. No one could believe what Hofstaring accused them of. He has been drinking too much, driven by baseless and unthinking jealousy. They were exonerated. They thanked us for being wise enough to see the truth.

Dorasor led a caravan to trade with the Turtles.

Janerra succeeded in finding former clansmen willing to join our clan, and the people were happy.

Emissaries of the Jenestni clan sought our support in the Orlanth and Aroka heroquest. Many weeks later, news reached us of the disaster at Orlanth’s holy place. At the ritual, the dragon Aroka appeared, gobbling up several ranks of worshippers.

Broyan attempted the heroquest of Orlanth and Aroka. Broyan became as one with Orlanth. Ernalda told him that his nephew, Daga, was causing a drought and harming the people. Orlanth said that he would drive off or imprison Daga. Broyan fought against Daga. Broyan parried Daga’s blows, and withdrew when it was safe. Broyan gathered weapons, then other enemies attacked him. Broyan slew trolls with his klanth, and took their weapon, the Darkwind. Gagarth buffeted Broyan with the awesome Wind From Above. He returned a punch that stunned Gagarth, and Broyan took the Wind From Above. Broyan blinded the Dark Woman by spitting Widebrew at her. Broyan found another heroquester, who proposed to take the role of Orlanth’s brother Urox, saying it was his right. He told the Storm Bull to follow him. When Broyan arrived to fight Aroka, he saw many Chaos creatures swarming towards him. The Storm Bull told him to go fight Aroka, leaving the Chaos creatures to him. And that is what Broyan did. At last Broyan found the lair of Aroka, and fought the dragon. Aroka tried to destroy Orlanth. The storm god released the Four Winds, blinding the dragon’s eyes. He released the Upper Wind, which dried out the enemy’s tongues. He captured Aroka’s breath inside the magical Sack of Winds and threw it away. Then Orlanth seized its jaws and tore the dragon asunder. Broyan successfully completed the heroquest, and was cheered by all. Our finest warriors became finer still.

1348

All of the omens were unlucky.

An exploratory mission came home early to report that one of them had been taken by Tusk Riders, and could now be presumed dead. We sacrificed in Thadart’s honor.

The carls warned the clan ring that there were too many people, and they could not produce enough food for everyone. We chose to seize land from the neighboring Tree Brother clan.

We raided the Tree Brothers and eluded their patrols. As the battle began, Farad felt bursting with magical power. He charged a dozen of the toughest enemy thanes. They jeered and stepped forward to strike him down, but instead he cut two of them in half. Their other thanes routed and the Tree Brother warriors followed them. We pressed them so sorely that the Tree Brothers gathered up everything they could and left their tula. The people were glad, and spread out to occupy this land, ours by right of conquest.

Janerra convinced the Jenestni to create a new trading route.

Elusu, a thane of the Rangdani clan, asked us for the details of the "Issaries the Conciliator" story. We told him we did not have the knowledge he sought. He said he was sorry to have bothered us, and left. The people were sad that he made a journey for nought, for we did not know the secrets he wanted.

A man with the face of a Tusk Rider came to our tula and claimed to be Thadart. He said his disfigurement was a grim joke of the Tusk Riders’ god. Our clan leaders sought to convince the people that he should be allowed to return. Dorasor’s eloquent words persuaded them that this was indeed Thadart returned, and not some terrible monster. The people welcomed him back, and there was much rejoicing.

We raided the Hiordlings. We drove the Hiordlings from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula. We took 10 Hiord auxiliaries captive.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

Our expedition to the southwest returned. We learned that this place was called Beast Valley, for it was teeming with Beastfolk: minotaurs, centaurs, duck-men, fox people — even wasp people. Argrand came across a small community of fox people. They insulted our explorers, and then recited a prophecy of their great king and hero, Ironhoof the Centaur. They said that Ironhoof would come back from the hidden cave in which he slept, and slaughter the Orlanthi newcomers. Many of those with Argrand were so terrified by these words that their nightmares are still haunted by images of a snarling, blood-maddened Ironhoof.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

We were raided by the Badgers. Jarstakos, a Badger thane, challenged Argrand to a javelin duel. Argrand threw first but missed. Jarstakos’s javelin did not miss, but Argrand was not badly wounded, so the Badger warrior charged to finish the fight. In hand-to-hand combat, the Badger warrior was no match for Argrand, who cut him down with ease. We took 22 captives from the Badgers.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

Argrand was attacked by a weird Chaos monster. We killed the creature, but there was no way to heal Argrand, and he died. We sacrificed to Orlanth in Argrand’s honor.

Acting as our emissary, Janerra demanded tribute from the Hiordlings. She said, "Give us tribute, or we will raid you." "There is no need to speak so bluntly," Harran complained. Having gotten their agreement to pay tribute, we told them that this would now be an annual payment. Harran agreed to this. We swore to Humakt and to Ernalda to refrain from raiding the Hiordlings for as long as they continued to pay tribute. Of course these oaths were binding on them as well.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Calling on Orlanth, Orendal drove off a group of Horse-Spawn who were trying to circle behind us. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Priests and thanes from the Blue Spruce clan come to request the right to adopt a baby, one they said would grow up to become a great hero of the Knowing God. We granted their request. They were grateful, and said that all of Dragon Pass would one day be grateful to us, too.

The harvest was plentiful. The other clans in the tribe enjoyed harvests as good as ours, or better.

Drought struck our lands. The spectre of starvation hovered over us. We sacrificed to Heler, who broke the clouds and showered our lands with blessed rain.

We were raided by the Beastfolk. We drove the Beastfolk from the battlefield, striking them down as they fled.

Tedanling warriors severely beat one of our carls, and hurt his wife. The clan ring encouraged Baranthos to sponsor poetic revenge. Baranthos gave fine gifts to a poet, so he would compose a satire ridiculing his attackers for their stupidity and viciousness. Soon, the poem was on everyone’s lips, hardening the attitude of the vengeance-takers’ clan towards us.

A dragonewt came and asked for its old body back. We offered it compensation instead of the body. "No!" the dragonewt roared. "Not come for trade entanglement. Come for body back!" "We don’t have your body," we told it. We said that the Hiordlings had it. It departed, heading in the direction of the Hiord tula.

1349

The god-talkers feared for our barley crop.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Anzarni.

A dragonewt came and asked for its old body back. We attacked him. It fought viciously, with weird and powerful magic. Our warriors fought back valiantly, with good Orlanth-granted magic. One of them was slain, but he managed to knock the dragonewt over as he fell, so that the others could pierce it with their swords. We decided to make magical armor from its hide. It was difficult to skin the dragonewt corpse without destroying the hide, but our magicians managed the task. We attuned the armor to Farad.

Three great Orlanthi wind lords came to bring us the joy of Orlanth. They asked for help in a task they would not speak of. We gave them warriors.

We were able to attract 25 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 43 children.

Priests of the Vostang clan accused tricksters of the Turtle of using trickster magic to direct a plague towards them. King Colymar was called upon to adjudicate the case. We closely questioned the priests and tricksters. Mosdorl said that the priests were clearly mistaken, and had wrongly identified the tricksters as the cause of their misfortune. We conducted a divination. The spirits of our ancestors said that the Turtle tricksters were blameless. Colymar ruled in favor of the Turtle tricksters. The tricksters thanked us for our mercy, and gifted us with a broken flagon, which they said would bring us good luck.

Jarang and his family came from distant Esrolia, to ask for membership in our clan. We accepted them, and on that day they became Moisan.

We were able to attract 53 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 60 children.

We were raided by the Badgers. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Three young men all sought the hand of Hindala, a young woman of our clan renowned for her cleverness and beauty. We said that the winner of a series of contests could have her hand. The people were excited, and others came from miles around to witness the contests. We conducted favorable trade deals, and were given gifts by our neighbors. The contests were won by Farnan of the Vostang clan. He said we had earned the eternal gratitude of his clan. Hindala seemed satisfied that she had the best man of the three.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Foul weather turned back our trading caravan bound for the Blue Spruce clan.

Spirit-talkers showed up and asked if we needed anything from them. We asked them to sell us Spirit Fetches. We added the Spirit Fetches to our treasures.

Furthering a long-festering feud, young boys of the Vostang clan came here to attack a boy of our clan. We took them back to their clan. Vostang leaders said that we had acted honorably, and said that they hoped this would be the end of the fight between the families of Glendara and Rangarda.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Vostangi.

Iskalli, of the Gorind clan, asked us to give him grain, because we owed him a favor. We offered him cattle instead. "I would prefer food," Iskalli said. "But I suppose that I can trade 20 cattle for the food required."

Acting as our emissary, Dorasor asked the Tedanlings to make good on the obligation they owed us, and provide us with food. Dorasor asked for no more and no less than the usual amount. The Tedanlings provided us with the food without complaint.

Outlaws attacked our exploration party in the southeast. Ernaldesta blustered and shouted at the outlaws, driving them off.

Explorers encountered a bark-clad shaman who predicted the arrival of a virtuous outlaw and warned against a rain of fire. We decided to find the shaman and offer to adopt him. They looked high and low for the shaman, but did not find him.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

1350

We predicted a bitterly cold Dark season.

Bandits attacked our exploration party in the tula. Ernaldesta blustered and shouted at the bandits, driving them off.

Our explorers discovered rocks that shine in the dark, which could be used to make valuable amulets.

A plague of snakes came upon us, upsetting the cattle and frightening the children. We sacrificed to Orlanth. The snakes went away.

We were raided by the Badgers. Ernaldesta was wounded while facing the Badger charge. She rallied our warriors and attacked. Ernaldesta swung her sword like a whip to drive off dogs. The Badgers broke and ran from her charge. Everyone said that Ernaldesta had done a great thing. We took 12 captives from the Badgers.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

We raided the Bachadi and eluded their patrols. We drove the Bachadi from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Turtles.

The warriors warned the clan ring that many of the great and ancient families of the clan were not getting their due representation in the clan hall. Our clan leaders decided to delay action by giving gifts to the complainants. The people who were not complaining suddenly felt slighted, and loudly voiced their discontent.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

While clearing a patch of forest, Temertain was injured by an unseen archer. To find who had done this, we performed an augury. We could not identify the attacker. We stepped up our patrols.

Grivton spoke for the warriors when he said that they were stretched too thin, and that more fighters were needed. We kept our eyes open for qualified warriors. We took on a number of them.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Karandoli.

Many of our sheep became sick. We sent for Nevala priestesses from other clans. No priestesses came. The sick sheep soon died, and the disease seemed to spread to the other sheep.

Dorasor led a caravan to trade with the Lysangs.

Foul weather turned back our trading caravan bound for the Arnoring clan.

The warrior Dastandros, outlawed from his clan, came to us for refuge. We gave him an honored place in the chief’s hall.

Many of our sheep became sick again. We sacrificed to Nevala, the sheep mother. Most of the sick sheep were healed by Nevala’s grace. The rest died mercifully quickly.

We were raided by the Trolls. A troll priestess blinded Orendal before he could work his storm magic. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives. Dastandros distinguished himself in the fighting.

Our expedition to Mount Kero Fin returned. Dorasor had a wondrous tale to tell. He and the others were exploring the snowy reaches of Orlanth’s mother, when they found themselves swept away to participate in an ancient battle, fighting against the forces of Lokamayadon, the traitorous priest who sought to eclipse Orlanth. Dorasor and the others fought against dragonewts riding monstrous lizards. Despite the confusing circumstances and difficult odds, our explorers fought well. Another great gust blew them back to Kero Fin, where wind spirits rewarded us. They pledged to come to our aid and fight on our behalf against any other clan of Dragon Pass. They would fight one battle only, but would come whenever we called.

1351

The god-talkers expected that our esteem among the other clans would increase.

Argrand came to ask us for a gift of luck and divine favor, saying that his clan, the Vostangi, would owe us a favor. He said that as king, we should be willing to help the clans in our tribe so that they did not grow weak. We gave more than the customary amount. Argrand said that Colymar made a good tribal king, and pledged his people’s political support for our clan.

We gave gifts to the Orlevings so that we could cross their tula.

We raided the Tree Brothers. We drove the Tree Brothers from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

We sent Janerra to the Kardarvi tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She was unable to buy Voriof’s Flute.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Farad led a flanking maneuver against the riders, but they were too fast for him to press his advantage. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Offir came to ask us for a gift of luck and divine favor, reminding us that we owed his clan, the Vanstali, a favor. We gave more than the customary amount. Offir said that the Moisans were good friends, and that his people would not forget this.

The warriors again warned the clan ring that many of the great and ancient families of the clan were not getting their due representation in the clan hall. Our clan leaders picked those families who made the most trouble for them, and told them to leave. They were angry and complained a lot, but those who were staying were glad to be rid of them. They prepared to leave, assembling their share of food, livestock and goods for the journey. As they were the laziest of us, their share was not as great as it might otherwise have been. People said that they would have a hard time of it, now that they had to shift for themselves. We would not split off our tula, so they had to find a new place to live. They said that we were wanting in generosity. They left for the north, where they would seek out a home. We heard later that they were calling themselves the Undaroli clan.

We gave gifts to the Rangdani so that we could cross their tula.

We raided the Beaker Ducks and eluded their patrols. We drove the Beaker Ducks from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

We saw a rainbow; the people were cheered by this good omen. Because we were lucky, we decided to pursue trade opportunities.

Argrand of the Undaroli clan came before us, bearing gifts and seeking sponsorship for joining the tribe. We asked them to agree to give 5 cows per year to each clan in the tribe, since they were not in a position to influence the initial tribal agreements. They agreed to this condition without any argument. We told them: "It is traditional to also offer a treasure to a possible sponsor." They said they had offered us enough already. We offered to speak for them at the moot. The other clans were captivated by our praise of the Undaroli, and could see the advantages of letting them in the tribe. They were pleased that the Undaroli clan had agreed to make a contribution to the tribe’s welfare.

We were raided by the Trolls. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

The Hiordlings didn’t send the annual tribute they had promised.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. As the battle began, Orendal felt bursting with magical power. With courage and cunning, he led our warriors against the enemy. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Many of our cows became sick. We sacrificed to Uralda, the cow mother. Half of the sick cows were healed by Uralda’s grace. The rest died mercifully quickly.

We raided the Hiordlings. Orendal had a chance to rally our warriors, who were about to flee. Our warriors were shamed by Orendal’s cries. They turned and faced the Hiordlings but only for a moment. Their courage failed them again as another of our warriors caught a spear in the throat. We were driven off and had no opportunity to obtain booty.

Orlev led a delegation of carls to complain that we were too war-like, and that the crops were suffering as a result. Colymar made many salient points, and Orlev departed.

1352

The god-talkers said we needed to sacrifice to Vinga before we went exploring.

Bolik, of the Undaroli clan, asked us to give him grain, because we were tribe-mates. They promised to owe us a favor. We offered him cattle instead. "I would prefer food," Bolik said. "But I suppose that I can trade 30 cattle for the food required." Our carls were pleased that we were able to help the Undaroli without losing our grain.

We were raided by the Anzarni. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

We sent Janerra with gifts to the Tedanlings. They were pleased with our generosity.

Our weaponthanes said that the raid by the Anzarni violated our peace with their tribe. We said that the Colymar should join us in making war on the Torkani. The Colymar said that this would be a good thing, for their weaponthanes were restive and anxious to test themselves against a foe. When Fire season next came, they would join us in battle against the Torkani.

We raided the Bachadi. Dorasor, our war leader, took a serious wound and fell near Rana. She courageously healed Dorasor in the heat of battle. We drove the Bachadi from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

We were raided by the Hiordlings. Before the battle, Orendal was touched by Orlanth’s blessing. He had so much bad luck that it was lucky he survived. We were driven from the battlefield and looted.

Ragged outlaws demand hospitality, and threatened us with a rain of hail sent by Gagarth, the outlaw god. We said we would give them gifts if they would bother another clan instead. They accepted the proposal even before we were finished making it. They attempted to thank us generously for the gift, but the effect was ruined by their uncontrolled drooling. They departed, and the people

Led by Ernaldinni, the women of the clan reproached the ring for losing so many of their husbands and sons in battle. The clan ring arranged marriages between widows and the clan’s surviving bachelors. Ernaldinni herself married a fine carl named Hiord, and helped the other women of the clan adjust to their new husbands.

Janerra led a caravan to trade with the Blue Spruces.

We were raided by the Horse-Spawn. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Our warriors were stricken by a strange palsy. We conducted a divination. The god-talkers said that the malady was caused by the Tree Brothers, who had hired shamans to send bad spirits after us. We sacrificed to Chalana Arroy. The god-talkers said that the Healing Goddess had banished the bad spirits.

A dragonewt came and asked for its old body back. We returned the fabulous suit of magical armor to its original owner. Whether it was pleased or displeased, we could not tell. It departed without a further word.

We sent Janerra to the Blue Spruce tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She was unable to buy Heort’s Stone.

Elmalandti, Korol, and Argrand caused trouble at the Arnoring market. The clan ring scolded them. They laughed and said that they had perhaps behaved badly. "We will try to act better in the future," Elmalandti said.

We sent Dorasor to the Arnoring tula to try to buy a treasure from them. He bought the Flesh Man.

We sent Janerra to the Hiord tula to try to buy a treasure from them. She bought the Scarf of Seven Runes.

1353

The omens for exploring were good.

Olende approached us, seeking our support for his heroquest. We refused him, because our magic was weak. Olende flew into a rage, claiming we were liars. He picked up Mosdorl and threw him through the clan hall wall. Swearing gore-spattered vengeance on the cowards of Dragon Pass who did not understand the need for unity between Orlanthi, he departed.

We were able to attract 57 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 109 children.

We gave gifts to the Orlevings so that we could cross their tula.

We raided the Tree Brothers. Dorasor, our war leader, took a serious wound and fell near Ernaldness. She tried to heal Dorasor in the heat of battle, but was herself wounded. We drove the Tree Brothers from the battlefield, and were able to plunder their tula.

The carls warned the clan ring that there were too many people, and they could not produce enough food for everyone. We chose to seize land from the neighboring Bachad clan.

We raided the Bachadi. As the battle began, Orendal felt bursting with magical power. Orendal saw an enemy hero preparing to perform the Hero’s Fury Feat and charged the man alone. The enemy thane fought bravely but was no match for our champion. Although we pressed them sorely, the Bachadi weren’t willing to flee from their land. We beat them, but they were determined foes and refused to leave their land.

The Lysangs raided us for 13 cows while we were raiding.

Priestesses of Chalana Arroy said they would heal our sick and wounded in exchange for a future favor. We asked them to heal all of our sick and wounded. They did so, and the people rejoiced. The priestesses departed, reminding us that they would one day return to ask for a favor in return.

Orngerin Hearthholder of the Bachadi came to plead for peace and to offer us 27 cows as one-time tribute. We demanded 16 cows, paid to us every year, and the Bachadi thought we asked for too much. A few days later we heard that they had hired magicians and mercenaries from Tarsh who promised that they could beat us off if we raided again.

Together with the Colymar, we declared war on the Torkani. We argued that they should be given a chance to pay tribute before we made war on them. The others agreed that this was a good plan. Because we had suggested it, we were chosen to negotiate with the Torkani king. He agreed that his tribe would pay tribute to our tribes. We distributed the tribute, and our tribe-mates cheered.

We raided the Hiordlings. Orendal realized that Iskalli, the Hiord defender who was holding us off, must be performing an Elmal quest. Orendal tried to convince Iskalli of his humanity, but Iskalli proved his divine powers, burning Orendal. We could do no more than fight on the land we wished to claim, and eventually had to withdraw.

The Vanstali raided us for 11 cows while we were raiding.

We were raided by the Tree Brothers. We took 5 captives from the Tree Brothers.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

We were raided by the Bachadi. We drove the Bachadi off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula.

Nobles from the Bachad clan warned us that they were starting a feud against us. We composed a poem portraying them as cruel villains. Dorasor’s stirring condemnation of their vileness was soon recited in other tulas in Dragon Pass. They knew that we were justified in our actions against the Bachadi.

Dragonewts eluded our patrols, and did strange things on our land. The ritual continued for two hours. Then, as abruptly as they came, they left.

The harvest was poor.

The carls warned the clan ring again that there were too many people, and they still could not produce enough food for everyone. We chose to seize land from the neighboring Bachad clan. The carls muttered darkly that this had not worked before.

We raided the Bachadi and eluded their patrols. Orendal had the chance to avenge himself against Kenstrel. Orendal challenged him to single combat, but it turned out he had actually spotted Urenstand, his son. Urenstand accepted the challenge. But Urenstand knocked Orendal down and killed him on the ground. We pressed them so sorely that the Bachadi gathered up everything they could and left their tula. The people were glad, and spread out to occupy this land, ours by right of conquest.

Voskandora Earthkin of the Bachadi came to plead for peace and to offer us 27 cows as one-time tribute. We demanded 15 cows, paid to us every year, and the Bachadi thought we asked for too much.

We were raided by the Bachadi. The Bachad clan burned 4 steads. We were driven from the battlefield and looted. They burned 9 more steads.

Orlkarnth, a thane of the Jenestni clan, asked us for information about Salinarg, chief of the Kardarvi clan. He reminded us that we owed his people a favor. "If you do not stand behind your words," said Orlkarnth, "They are worth little, and will not erase your obligation to us. Nonetheless, I will listen to what you have to say." Some of the people were offended by his words to us, but we entertained his question anyway. Orlkarnth asked us if Salinarg was cautious or daring. We said, "Salinarg is sometimes cautious, sometimes not." Orlkarnth departed, and thanked us for the information. Not long afterwards, he returned to our tula to withdraw his thanks. "The information you gave us was mistaken at best and deceitful at worst. Our relations with the Kardarvi have been sorely tested, and it is your careless words which are to blame."

The Bachadi fled their tula. They settled near the Tedanlings.

We were raided by the Trolls. Although we held the field, we weren’t able to take any captives.

Thadart, the warrior whose visage was made monstrous by the alien god of the Tusk Riders, said that other members of the clan had dishonored him, and demanded that the clan ring reproach them. Colymar sought to persuade the people to treat him with greater respect. Colymar sought to persuade the people to treat him with greater respect. They protested that Thadart had not proven himself; he could still be a monster, waiting for the time to strike. Thadart was angered by their response and departed, never to return.

We were able to attract 30 new carls to the clan. They brought with them 37 children.

1354

The spirits of our ancestors were peevish because we were stuck in our ways and not learning anything new.

Janerra could not persuade the Blue Spruces to create a new trading route.

Outlaws attacked our exploration party in the tula. Broyan blustered and shouted at the outlaws, but they just laughed. Broyan attacked, but was wounded and had to return home.

Uralda cultists offered to perform a ritual to benefit our herds. We accepted their offer, and gave them gifts. They thanked us for the gifts. They gathered up our cows and then walked around them seven times, whisking them with the Holy Tail. After performing a lowing dance, they pronounced the ritual complete. They departed, to the cheers and good wishes of the carls.

We were raided by the Hiordlings. The Hiord clan burned 2 steads. Before the battle, Farad was touched by Orlanth’s blessing. He heeded Orlanth’s call and fought gloriously. We drove the Hiordlings off, and their survivors left without plundering our tula. We took 11 Hiord auxiliaries captive.

We were able to ransom the prisoners.

Starvation hit our clan.

Einarth Milk-Eyes returned to congratulate us on successfully living up to the promise of the ten-year ring. He said that the great deeds of our clan would be celebrated in verse, and that our descendants would gain strong magic from us after we have gone to the Halls of the Dead. He praised the fine state of our herds. Einarth said that the might of our warriors would be remembered. Einarth said that our success in trade was fit cause for boasting. In conclusion, Einarth praised us for maintaining the esteem of our neighbors.

The game King of Dragon Pass is a copyright of A Sharp LLC while Glorantha is a trademark of Issaries Inc.   This page © Oliver D. Bernuetz (for what it's worth).  Last modified January 7, 2000.