The Tables of the Histories of the Stoneborn of Dynkyr - Table VII

In the days when Clangeddin ruled Dynkyr alone, he sent scouts into every land to espy his enemy. And when the storjarl was at last found, Clangeddin rose up and went forth to meet Yrsog Firemane and all his throng, as they lay encamped near the Oxbow of Sakar.

There were three hundred giants in that throng, and within their camp were the hounds of hell, a gift from the fell powers they worshipped, and from the god who dwelt in their midst, Karon. Clangeddin commanded four companies of spear and hammerhand, and he was joined by two companies from Festog and Oromir, led by his own sons. To these were added three companies of Terani archers and a company of Vyrum cavalry.

By such might the throng was destroyed.

Yrsog was not spared. His head was taken and cast into the hot springs where he had sought shelter, so that the flesh was stripped from bone. His body was burned upon the field of his defeat, and the ashes were scattered upon the waters of the Oxbow, never again to trouble the worlds of Dwenir or Besnir. The hounds of hell were likewise slain, though many fled into the mountains, and their baying was heard in the valleys for long years thereafter.

No sign was found of their evil god. Karon had no form that could be seen, though he was known to inhabit the bodies of others, as he had once inhabited Caros, the foul prophet. Against him Clangeddin swore his vengeance, though that oath went unfulfilled, even upon his deathbed.

Then all the Besnir rejoiced, but the Dwenir were heavy of heart. For though Baere had made her promise concerning their wives and daughters, the manner of its fulfillment was yet unknown to them. For this reason the Besnir called the Dwenir dour and taciturn, given to hard labor and caring little for mirth—though their fondness for strong drink was both misunderstood and, in time, appreciated.

With the enemies of all Besnir slain, the Dwenir ruled fairly and prosperously, once again sharing their tools with all people, and trading in the coigns which they minted. Clangeddin was Regn of Dynkyr for eight score years, and he died as he had lived, axe in hand. Thus Dugmar became the second Regn of the Stoneborn.

The Lament of Clangeddin

O stone that stood when flesh was taken,

O wall that watched and did not break,

You held the sky from falling waters

Yet did not shield my hearth from death.

Where are the voices of the morning,

The feet that ran along the hall?

The hearth is cold, the Deepward silent,

And still you stand—you stand at all.

Let fire undo what hands have fashioned,

Let frost take hold of measured stone,

For walls that outlive wives and daughters

Are monuments to grief alone.

Yet if the dead yet hear the living,

If love is stronger than the grave,

Then give them back not to my seeing,

But to a world no foe may brave.

I ask no joy, I ask no glory,

I ask no crown nor final rest—

Only that stone remember flesh,

And loss be forged to guard the blessed

The Tables of the Histories of the Stoneborn of Dynkyr - Table VI

When Clangeddin had sallied forth from Dun Dynkyr he sought the storjarl of the giants in vain, for Yrsog Firemane was not where the prophet Caros had foretold. But rather than returning home, he marched next at Oromir and then to Balnolmar to defeat the enemies of his sons. And when their battles were ended, he returned home at the head of a great host and found Dun Dynkyr in ruin and the Deepward of Mir Vath a tomb of women and children. Only the curtain wall remained intact for it was knit of finest craftsmanship and blessed by Baere herself.

And it seemed to Clangeddin that the wall was a silent witness of grief, a testament enduring long after the lives it protected were expired. So he cried out in the pain and wrath of his loss and cursed the wall and cursed Baere whose blessing had kept it.

Then she who was imprecated appeared and beheld all that was lost and saw the sorrow that lay upon the Dwenir, for none of their women remained and their race imperiled. And so she did not come with wrath for the words which Clangeddin spoke, but with pity.

Then Clangeddin sank before her and lifted his eyes saying, "If the grace of this wall had been with our wives and daughters, they would yet live. Fire and frost take this wall and cast it asunder, for it now has no purpose beneath heaven."

So moved with pity was she, that Baere removed her blessing upon the wall, and spread it instead upon the spirits of those which imbibed the poison of Caros, saying, "No more shall the Dwenir fear the depredations of their enemy. Their wives and daughters shall return to them, but from this day forth, no eye shall behold them, nor shall any hand be raised against them. Within their Deepwards they shall remain and at their head shall be Mya the Everlasting."

Then were raised the Valkauna of our people, and the spirit-wives of our worthy folk. And this is a great mystery which the Besnir understand not, neither do we speak of it. It is the blessing of Baere and the salvation of our race.

And the spirit-wives shall ever give themselves to those Dwenir who prove worthy, and they shall rear their children in the realm beyond sight. Sons shall appear among the Dwenir full-formed when they come of age, and they shall seem as though they are born of stone itself. Thus we call ourselves the Stoneborn, and the secrets of our people are held close.

Neither shall the Stoneborn who are made worthy taste final death. For when their bodies are extinguished, their spirits shall endure as Enheri—champions and guardians in realms unseen.

The Tables of the Histories of the Stoneborn of Dynkyr - Table V

In the years that followed the reunion of Mya and Clan, and the defeat of the Frost Giants, it came to pass that many of the Dwenir left their homes and made long journeys to Dynkyr, there to take wives and to raise children in the land of plenty which Mya had found. So the distant Duns became like outposts for their warriors. 

Then one day certain traders reported giants within a day’s walk of the wall. It became clear to the Dwenir that sons of the Yotinir had pursued Clangeddin to his last refuge from distant battles.

There was also an emissary in Dun Dynkyr at that time. His name was Caros, and he had recently come from Dun Ur, the redoubt of Duma the Regn. He was a prophet full of wisdom, able to see things afar off, and an interpreter of dreams. He arrived bearing the ear and confidence of Duma, and thus enjoyed the same from Mya and Clangeddin. He was one of few from that Dun for it had fallen silent in recent years.

At his counsel they sent forth their remaining sons from the hearth as captains of hosts of spear and hammer. These went to the Duns of their people, to relieve those sorely pressed and to bring back news of their holdings. Thard, Dugma, and Martham went out to relieve their brothers, and Verga went first to Duma and then to Bathor, to aid his distant kin.

Thus Dun Dynkyr learned that Dun Ur had fallen into shadow and would allow none, neither friend nor foe, to enter. Those within had delved deep into the ground to escape the predation of the giants and were seen no more upon the surface.

Then Caros beheld a vision: the stor-yarl of the giant throng was encamped in the Salt Marsh. Clangeddin led three companies to surprise him, perchance to strike down their ancient foe. But while the sons and spouse of Mya were gone, along with the spears and hammers that had defended the wall, Dun Dynkyr was attacked by the very throng that Clangeddin sought.

And there was treachery behind the wall, for Caros was not what he seemed. In the eye of deep night the gate was unbarred, and the giants were let in. Two companies of spear and hammer remained within Dynkyr, and these were forced to face the giants without benefit of the wall, while sleep still lay upon them.

Before his treachery was discovered, Caros counseled Mya that all was lost. She gathered the women and children into the Deepward of Mir Vath while the sounds of battle raged above. Caros gathered with them and spoke words of deep malice into her ear, urging that they take their own lives and thus deprive the giants of victory.

So Mya relented. All those who sheltered in the Deepward drank the draught that Caros prepared. One by one they succumbed to sleep, and then to death itself.