Know that the gates of Throal did open. And know also that in their opening we were finally free return to the Endless Land and the Immortal Sky.
Know that after the first year of the opening, a son of the Monkhiir-Tenger did travel with the Bloodless People to guard them on their journey that they may discharge their ancient debt.
Know that this son's name was Temur Tengerkhan. And this is his story.
The Bloodless People were sworn to bear no steel and shed no blood. But they were not weak. Their village was destroyed and yet they survived the Scourge. In this, they were helped by the Irondelve Clan, who were once fierce warriors but are now fearful.
"Who will help us repay our debt?" So said Gvrigeth Emmkin. "Who will keep us safe, we who cannot defend ourselves?" So said Lettret Emmkin.
"We will help you." So said Rama the Obsidiman, Nez and Zivilyn the Windlings, Rose the T'skrang, and also Temur Tengerkhan, who is an Ork and the Stormrider of his clan.
First among their challenges were bandits, who were at once both proud and venal. They wanted what the Bloodless People had grown and crafted and gathered. They wanted the Bloodless People as slaves. This, of all sins, is the greatest sin. And so the Adepts who had answered "We will help you" in such grand and ringing tones did give battle. And they did punish these thieves for their pride and their dreams of mastery. Know that it was good, and right.
That night, they made many fires, the Bloodless People and their guardians. They told stories of their ancestors and of their lives. They whooped and danced over the fires and in the night they made sex. In the morning, they did the rituals to refill their souls and continued their journey.
Second among their challenges were beasts, who bore neither fault nor blame, but who still brought danger across the path of the Bloodless People. Again, the band of Adepts, who had answered "We will help you" stepped forward. Through sorcery and witchcraft, they prevailed. Through strength of arms and speed of steed, they prevailed. Though the Dyres they fought were heavy with True Earth and fortified with True Iron, they prevailed.
As the beasts had committed no crime and bore no sin, the Adepts did not slay them but instead rendered them unconscious. This was done for respect of the Bloodless People. This was done for respect of great and powerful friends. For that is what Dyres are.
Only after these trials did the Bloodless People and the Irondelve Tribe meet. The Irondelve Tribe had done a great good, but had forgotten it. The Bloodless People had received a great gift, and remembered it. In thanks for the protection of the Irondelve Tribe, so many years ago, the Bloodless People said: "We bring you gifts. We bring you the food we have harvested and the materials we have gathered and the things we have made. We bring you our wisdom and our secrets, which we have gained by forswearing the steel and the blood. And also we bring you ourselves, that we may join you and be among you and together we may build a new home."
This was good, and witnessed by the Adepts who had shepherded them. And of the Adepts, each in their own quiet way did resolve to find the place that had once been home to the Bloodless People. This place called Mannigoth. And make it ready for rebuilding.
Know that this story has ended. Know that this story continues.Statistics:Posted by bronzemountain — Sat Apr 11, 2020 4:13 am
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