The Chelon Rose

 

Act 2: the Invasion

 

The Chelon
Rose's
Apple Tree Inn

Our Keep
Our Land
Our People
Our Culture

Our Wilds
Our Tomes

Us, and
Our Stories.

The Tales of Martin of Brune: Doz Vardon

Part I of II | Part II

Hi all tis Martin. I have scribed one of my tales for your enjoyment. As you would appreciate from reading this, i have kept this written version extremely short and succint, shying away from any wordy description. Rather than messing about trying to build up theatre and expectation i have got precisely and straight to the point. As you will see, it is more a documenting of events then a story. Well maybe not.

Doz Vardon Points North

“You see that over there” he begins. “Poking its head in and out of those clouds. The strangely formed peak they call Bentleg, and it looks like a boot and all”. Martin recounts the tale as the party moves through the Gate Passage on their way from Palace to the Gate Village. The day is cold and high in the sky the wind streams, sending clouds tumbling over the peaks of the Elbow Mountains. “You see, the name Gate Passage has more significance then you might think. Imagine. At the top of Bentleg you can see far. You can see over the Elbow Mountains to fresh, new lands to the north. This is what Attracted Doz Vardon to Bentleg, and he is still there, in more than one respect.”

“Up on top, the wind presses against you like a lover, it kisses your face with needle lips and steals your words like a surprise. And when it sleets, the rain shoots horizontal just like tiny arrows, circling the world twice over before settling their frosted feet (as mentioned in earlier games, Martin is one of the few people who subscribe to the unpopular and sacrilegious spherical world theory). The Woes of thousands of people float from the distant lands below and fall on the shoulders of this man who stands upon this peak, pointing north……”

“Long ago, in a time lost to legend and sages, the Central Kingdoms where under great threat. For there lived an emperor in Indigo like the world had never seen. There was none as mighty as this Emperor Mion, not since the days of Valkor himself. He led a great army to conquer the lands of the Central Kingdoms. Mion was no ordinary man, he was able to lead thousands upon thousands of men, almost magically they would loyally follow him and die for him.”

“At the time men of Indigo considered the people of the Central Kingdoms barbarians. And perhaps we were my friends, for we lived in great dark forests and raided the borders of the Indigo Empire when food was short. Mion thought to put a stop to this, and when he marched north with his army the men of the Central Kingdoms did fear him.”

“What Mion did not expect was a man of equal stature. Doz Vardon stood before Mion, challenging him and unifying the people of the Central Kingdoms. Sure the Indigo empire won in the end, we all know this, and the fact that we are now almost as civilised as the Indis people is testimony to the gradual change of ways the Indigo empire brought with it. However, Mion found himself not in a quick military campaign. No easy sweeping clean of the jungle was this. No! Mion was forced in to a war or attrition that lasted decades and emptied the gold of Indis into bladed weapons and men’s blood. More widows did this war make then even the famous Tallisivian War. Nevertheless, and nevermind again how bravely did the barbarian men fight, the game was lost for them and Doz Vardon. But Doz Vardon was a great man and justifiably well loved by history. For he had a brilliant idea. A world changing idea. For he brought his generals to this windy place utop of Bentleg Mountain and in a scene as famous as the parting of the spear sea, he steadied himself against the wind, lifted up his mighty arm and pointed north…..”

Martin will continue the next episode of this story at a later date, you have been listening to Martin de Brune (aka Wayne Kington) at the Apple Tree Inn.

Author: Martin de Brune (aka Wayne Kington)

created: 14 February 1998 | Last Updated: January 18, 2002

 


© Skabo