Dunland's history 3027-3030

3027

Spring: rebuilding in Kierkgard

The year started quietly, with no sign of hostilities between Stag and Wulf. As the weather warmed up, Wulf resumed rebuilding of the quarter within Kierkgard that they considered theirs. The former master mason of Iolair, Barseg, was quietly released from Wulf custody in mid-February. At the end of March the Guardians, a religious sect headed by the ex-Stag Cortheon Jarrett, declared themselves 'the law' in Kierkgard - this statement met with no protest. The early months of 3027 also saw an unusual number of foreigners in Dunland, the most notable being the Gondorian woman Aearwen who eventually joined the Hawk as a healer.

Wulf's Ring

Rumour had it that during the rebuilding of Kierkgard Wulf's ring, a silver ring said to bring its owner luck, had been found. Was this the ring that the young thief Cecilia tried and failed to sell in the market? The one that the Bear Chieftain's wife Corona lost in Creatrach? The one that by a set of mysterious and rather convoluted circumstances found its way for a second time into the hands of the Wulf bard Aylean, and was returned by her to the Wulf advisor Rhyessa for safekeeping? Perhaps.

The Hawk change their allegiance

A chance meeting in Forthunn between the Hawk leader I'racil and the Stag Chieftain Broc yielded some surprising results - the Hawk clan, heretofore a subclan of Bear, would now join the Stag, and I'racil was gifted with the title of 'Noble of Stag', while Broc in turn became a 'Noble of Hawk'. This news was ill-received by the Bear, who began mustering their army despite rumours of unrest within Caerdh.

Death of a Chieftain

Early on a mid-June morning, the Stag Chieftain Broc Ironcrow was found dead in a pool of his own blood - his throat had apparently been slit while he slept. There was no indication of the perpetrator, for many folk had been in Forthunn at the time: the Hawk caravan that included I'racil, Aearwen, the Wulf bard Aylean and until recently the clanless mason Barseg; the Bear Chieftain and his wife, who had made a precipitous departure on the very night of the murder; some even whisper that the Wulf Chieftain had been seen moving north ...

Summer: Battle of the Pass

The bloodshed that seemed inevitable after Hawk's switch of allegiance finally occurred - the Hawk caravan returning to Mathain Keep found their way blocked by Stag and Bear armies at a standoff. The impasse was broken when a single arrow flew from the darkness to embed itself in a Hawk warrior's throat, and a bloody battle ensued. The carnage came to an end when one man, the Stag bard Elrabin, dared to step between the blades of I'racil and Banedil and push them aside, and begged his old friends to cease their hostilities. Eventually it was agreed that the two sides would meet on neutral ground to discuss terms of peace.

The Path of Blood

High summer saw the arrival of a band of strangers in Dunland, led by the exiled preacher Terren. His message, to turn blades and faces southward on a Path of Blood, a long-promised war of revenge against the forgoil to reclaim the Stolen Lands from the Riders, captured the hearts of many including the Bear Chieftain Banedil and acting Stag leader Cortheon. They, together with the Hawk leader I'racil and many common Dunlending men and women, marched south under Terren's banner, after arranging for a mixed force of Bear, Stag and Hawk to fortify Mathain against any possible attacks. The army halted briefly at Iolair Keep, and obtained the consent of the Wulf Chieftain Praxis to march through his lands - after this many Wulf also joined the cause.

At the end of August the followers of the Path had their first confrontation on Forgoil soil, when a band of Forgoil archers harried the Dunlendings as they marched. Many Forgoil arrows found their mark, yet in the end the stubborn determination of Terren, who marched on despite an arrow in his leg, and the perseverance of the Wulf hunter Devlan, whom Terren christened 'True-Eye' after he had struck the Forgoil leader with three successive shots, foiled alas by the man's mailcoat, won through. The Dunlendings pushed on into Rohan following the Path that Terren had now watered with his own blood. Several weeks of raiding ensued - farms burned, men and women killed or injured on both sides - but after Terren and his companions obtained horses and rode east alone, leaving no word for the rest of the army, the Dunlendings' impetus failed. The Chieftains and their followers withdrew, taking with them livestock, goods and even a few Forgoil captives, whose fate must surely have been a harsh one.

Autumn: Foreigners!

A group of Beorning travellers passed through Dunland, and discovered that their welcome was less than warm - for many of them were blonde. Indeed the Stag hunter Karsten kidnapped one of the Beorning women, claiming he'd traded for her. Fortunately the difficulties were smoothed out, the captive returned to her people, Beorning honey traded and the Beornings hurried southwards beyond Dunland's borders.

3028

Winter 3027/3028: Bree trip

Despite the onset of winter, a number of Dunlendings (among them the Chieftain of Wulf!) chose to head up to Bree to trade. For some the trade was more successful than others - cloth and furs were sold easily enough, but those trying to persuade the Breefolk to buy weapons had rather more difficulty. The Dunlendings spent a couple of months in Bree, precipitating several minor incidents but no major ones, before returning to their homeland.

Spring: Stag leadership claims

With the Stag clan still leaderless, two from opposing factions chose to make bids: the Guardian's Herald Cortheon Jarrett and the noble Corriana Greggor. The two engaged in a public debate that ended in deadlock, the end result being that neither claimant took the position of Chieftain.

Spring/summer: Rebuilding in Kierkgard

This year saw the onset of two further building projects overseen by the mason Barseg - a monument commissioned by Wulf to replace the temple, and a lodging-house built by the Bear clan. The site of the latter at the Gate of the old Temple raised a few eyebrows, but the building was completed without any opposition. Work on the Wulf project halted briefly when discovery of some old bones and several unlucky incidents prompted fears of a curse, but over time these fears calmed and work restarted ... perhaps Kiern did indeed answer the workers' prayers?

Summer: Crebain hosts unwelcome visitors

Early summer saw folk from all clans gathering in Crebain Keep, with the hope of assailing the Forgoil. Alas that was not to be ... the Crebain leader Korrina was reluctant to start war, and the lack of action caused the more hot-headed to seek other targets. Some injudicious name-calling saw the Bear smith Stilicon banned from the Keep; the rest of his clan withdrew soon after.

In high summer, Crebain saw its first stranger - a tall, dark-haired man or seeming man, radiant of features and uncannily fair. Some believed the stranger to be Kiern incarnate; others feared that he was a demon and favoured welcoming him with the sword; however in the end wisdom prevailed and he was allowed to pass. Was this the same stranger seen later with a companion and attacked by Stilicon and his sister Thelia? The same stranger that caused the Stag hunter Karsten to collapse with a mere glance? Perhaps.

In September a new threat assailed Crebain lands - Orcs. The creatures first made their presence known when they attacked a scouting party: the newly-promoted Crebain Marshall Devlan was taken captive and none of the rest of the party escaped uninjured. Devlan was later rescued by a group led by the Wulf bard Aylean and the Guardian Cortheon, and weeks of skirmishing followed before the Orcs eventually left, a couple of minor defeats perhaps prompting them to seek easier prey elsewhere. In the Forgoil lands, those of Dunland sincerely hope ...

Autumn: Rising clan tensions

While the Wulf were engaged in fighting Orcs in the south, a raid on Redvyrne farms took place. The raiders were never named, but it was no secret in Creatrach that just after the raids the Bear smith Stilicon was temporarily keeping sheep in his smithy, while the mercenary Marja had a quantity of grain to sell.

Perhaps this may have contributed to the tension at the Council of Clans. The meeting started well, but things began to deteriorate when the Bear refused to acknowledge Wulf's ownership of Iolair, and the Council ended with Stag and Wulf forming a new alliance, leaving Bear both isolated and angered. By year's end Bear had closed its borders and recalled all clan members to Caerdh - fears of conflict were high.

Autumn: a new Stag Chieftain

A new Stag Chieftain was chosen by the clan at the Autumn festival - the merchant Phelan Usheen. He was backed by Cortheon Jarrett and was unanimously elected to the post, for the other contender Corriana Greggor was mysteriously absent. Phelan's first act as Chieftain was to leave Kierkgard to search for Corriana; clearly the absence of his rival concerned him.

3029

Winter/spring: Murder and raids

The reason for the disappearance of Corriana Greggor, the unsuccessful candidate for the Stag Chieftainship, was discovered - both the woman and her guards had been brutally murdered. The only evidence, rumour said, was a dagger hilted with red leather and stamped with the Bear mark. Not long after, Wulf horse-herders were also found murdered and their beasts stolen, and later there was a raid on a farm near the Old Village. Bear's leaders were informed, but denied any involvement in the killings, a claim seemingly accepted as truth by the other clans. Although all three clans sent parties to investigate the source of the raids and murders, no perpetrator was ever found.

Winter/spring: Clan tensions continue

After the controversial Council of Clans in 3028, Bear shut its borders to all outsiders, save for official messengers under escort. The Bear militia was raised, and the winter spent in training men and patrolling the borders. Wulf too increased its patrols at the Caerdh border in response to the recent raids - some whisper that although Bear's border was officially closed, there was unofficial exchange of information between the two groups. Eventually Wulf-held Iolair was reopened to Bear travellers; soon afterwards the leaders of both clans came to an agreement regarding ownership of the Keep that satisfied both parties.

Relations between Wulf and Stag, meanwhile, were far more pleasant, and representatives of the two clans negotiated various trade deals and agreements regarding manpower.

Spring: Orcs invade the northlands!

Politics were set aside when news leaked that an Orcish army was marching on Mathain, the Hawk Keep. Stag mustered their army and the Chieftain Phelan himself fought alongside the renowned Watch commander Cortheon, Wulf sent troops under the leadership of the Marshall Devlan and the healer and Lady Crebain Korrina, and even Bear were represented - a contingent of militia led by the stonemason Barseg lent their aid to hold the borders. Several battles ensued, with Dunlendings winning some skirmishes, but losing others; eventually the Orc horde, foiled so they say by the smooth walls of Mathain, turned tail and fled. A few speculated that the filthy beasts might have started fighting amongst themselves - for most, it was enough that they were gone and life could return to normal.

Spring: Clan agreements made

In a shock move the Stag Chieftain Phelan, fresh from his victory over the Orcs, made peace with his adversary Banedil in what was thought to be a very lucrative agreement for Bear. Mathain would be returned to Bear ownership, and with it the Hawk subclan, who would hold the Keep in trust for Bear as they had done in the past. Those Hawk who would prefer to continue as a subclan of Stag would be given lands of their own on the Caerdh-Laeg border and unimpeded access to Mathain at all times. Stag would continue to maintain their own garrison at Mathain to assist in repelling Orcs.

Summer: A disappearance

Some wondered if Phelan's generous dealings with Banedil showed the man to be a little unhinged. Alas their fears were to be confirmed, for in high summer the Stag Chieftain disappeared - on a quest, so they say, for an Eagle, for several reliable witnesses had seen those mighty birds swooping down on Dunland's flocks. He was never seen again.

The Stag Watch Commander Cortheon organized a group to go in search of their missing Chieftain, and spent some time scouring Dunland's northlands for clues. Eventually the searchers returned with news that they had found Phelan's body, a grievous blow to many in the clan. Phelan left behind his woman, Ajia, who was already heavy with child, and his brother Bryan, a quiet man best known for his smithwork. Summer/autumn: A final journey

A trio of Hawk led by the long-absent Shaneon arrived at Mathain, bearing a body identified as that of I'racil, the former leader of the proud and primitive Hawk clan. While his own people mourned their loss, some among the Bear perhaps rejoiced in the death of a so-called `traitor'. However, the Hawk were given permission to bury the body of their fallen leader in their ancestral home if they so wished.

Summer/autumn: Northern Patrol

Banedil lost no time in securing Bear's claim on Mathain, sending first the smith Stilicon and his sister Thelia as envoys, then later the mason Barseg, who led a contingent of militia north and claimed the post of Bear's garrison commander. In an exercise reputedly designed to foster cooperation between the clans Barseg led a mixed group that included not only Bear, Stag and Hawk but also the Wulf Marshall Devlan northwards on a long-range patrol. The party returned with two members Orc-scathed, but brought back the news that they had found ruins, ruins that might have long-term potential ...

Autumn/winter: Midwinter Festival

Harvest-time came and went, and with so many Dunlendings north on various errands, Kierkgard was unwontedly quiet. However, when the absentees returned and a Clan Council was announced, local traders seized the opportunity for a full Festival - in honour of Midwinter. The festival was opened beneath Freca's proud effigy with the kindling of flame to be carried back to every hearth, and a fortnight of song and story, eating and drinking, contests and times of quiet reflection followed.

3030

Not yet written ...