May 273
Aina had been temporarily settled in Newhope territory, collecting ballads and folklore from various colonists, when she caught word of the calamitous Moot. Separated from her ancestral land, as well as from the supporting Shattered Spear and Goldenfield clans, she chose to join the most pressing efforts – requiring a perilous trip into Stormjarl territory. Aina found herself nearly frozen in terror as her travel group was pursued; memories of her ineffectiveness at Riverhead flooded her body and mind. She arrived in the camp wide-eyed and disoriented. She gathered herself quickly enough and set to work with her music. Over the years, she had heard tales of some of Stormjarl’s most renowned members. She endeavored to bring comfort and vigor to their efforts in this new war.
Below are some relevant snippets from her Bard book.
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“Ballad of the Unyielding”
I sing a tale of Ulven betrayed,
Of terror and if our steelèd resolves,
We began war after losses that day,
But this lament, it is for Toralf.
It started at a gathering of clans,
Called in the season of clouds and chill,
To discuss concerns across all our lands,
As we kept our cups and our bowls filled.
[Chorus:]
Toralf of the Stormjarl Clan,
Last seen as he was shielding,
Rages better than any man,
O where is Toralf the Unyielding?
Rival clans, they were swiftly hard pressed
In tensions over a false Grimward’s spear,
Then with mostly one weapon per guest,
All there gathered to lend an ear.
The jarls spoke about strife and of aid,
Of holding fast against Mordok hoards,
When came up the matter of recent raids,
With flying banners of clan Grimward.
[Chorus]
As the leaders engaged in their talks,
Our hero tended the communal flames,
Suddenly the Grimwards pulled out a box,
And began to stake a new claim.
They revealed that their hearts had rotten to black,
As they ordered parting of the fabric red,
The crowd led out hushèd growls and gasps,
As out came Hagreth’s severed head.
[Chorus]
The Traitors dragged forth a hooded man,
“Branthur Nightriver,” they proudly teased.
He was forced to state his name and his clan,
Then harshly dispatched on his knees.
They commanded all to hold back their steel,
To make their choice to surrender or flee,
Our hero, he stood back despite his zeal,
And braced to keep his people free.
[Chorus]
Toralf is renowned for many bold feats,
Twice he’s been badly maimèd before,
For he would never accept defeat,
Even in the face of death bolts.
So, at the hour of the moot’s ill fate,
Among the strongest was he fielded,
Assigned to protect his people’s escape,
With handforgèd arms that he wielded.
[Chorus]
He endured all that he could of their blows,
His heart swelling with valiant rage,
The damage put him down into final throes,
Then he leapt to his feet in a rampage.
He bled as he blindly swung through his surge,
Berserking as the man who never yields,
But in his weakened state, he was captured,
And his fate remains yet unsealed.
[Chorus]
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Ylva’s Hymn
Ylva, Lifemender, of Stormjarl,
O Master of salves,
Keeper of burdens and life threads,
Healer of Mardrun,
cleanser of corruption & ills,
May Gaia
ease your path.
Ylva, Lifemender, cutter away,
O Redeemer of the war-pained,
You of gentle touch and strong will,
Healer of Mardrun,
cleanser of corruption & ills,
May the Great Wolf
sing your name.
Ylva, Lifemender, skill-teacher,
O Weaver of spirit,
Hands of blood-red and ink-stain,
Healer of Mardrun,
cleanser of corruption & ills,
May we wash
your hands in turn.
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Bryech the Untouchable
In the Ulven’s war-frought story,
Our hero he survives,
Bathed in the hard-won glory,
On battlefields he thrives.
Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
In the lands to the North,
There the woods called to be cleared,
So the peoples chose their heroes,
Among the most revered.
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
On these newly hallowed grounds,
Lay the stronghold of the wolves,
Manned with bands of clanless warriors,
Led by the fierce and bold:
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
With his allies in war,
He leapt from warships beaching,
Saved Stormjarls’ twenty four
And held lines against all breaching.
Shield of the Viknar,
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
When packs began to splinter,
The Aettinjav was planned,
That day he fought unhindered,
And remained the last to stand.
Victor of the Maw,
Shield of the Viknar,
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
At cursèd Silfurfal,
The Mordok burned and pillaged,
til Bryech maimed and mauled
The largest one in that mad village.
O Alpha Slayer,
Victor of the Maw,
Shield of the Viknar,
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
“Should this man not be dead?”
Ask the foes who fear his blade,
Yet with piercing eyes of red
He still fights wholely unscathed.
The Untouchable
O Alpha Slayer,
Victor of the Maw,
Shield of the Viknar,
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
Bryech of Word Fame*,
May the Great Wolf know your names
The Untouchable
O Alpha Slayer,
Victor of the Maw,
Shield of the Viknar,
Former Longfang Weaponmaster
Honored Few of the Great Wolf’s hunt
And Survivor of the Battle of Blackwolf Creek
*Note: An alternate lyric here could be “Bryech the Treebane.” This captures an eighth frequently referenced honorific, after a battle incident involving the felling of several minor trees. While I have heard this title numerous times in my travels, it remains unclear to me whether this is an “official” honorific taken by Bryech himself.”
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Out-of-game Footnotes
1: Lyrics fully original. Melody is a lightly altered version of “Blome Swete Lilie Flour” by Daniel Hart for the movie The Green Knight.
2: Lyrics fully original. Melody is “St Birgitta Hymn” by Trio Mediæval.
3: Lyrics & melody fully original. Musically based on the (morbid) French nursery song “Alouette.”