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.

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

In the days when Mya ruled Dynkyr alone, she raised to herself nine hundred and ninety spears, born behind the wall and trained to war. These she placed upon the ramparts, and they kept the safety of that place, overseeing all that came within its sight.

The weapons and armor that the Dwenir made were without peer and greatly desired. But most prized of all were their coigns. So sought were they that all the Besnir traded to obtain the gold, silver, and copper minted in Dun Dynkyr. Far and wide it became known as the center of trade, and a great market grew in the shadow of the wall, bringing grain, goods, and livestock from across Westrun and the Four Lands beyond.

Far from the wall, the wars with the giants continued, and those who sought respite from them came to Dun Dynkyr for peace and safety. Day and night they came and rested in its fastness. Then, on a morning at first light, a vagabond company appeared and stood unmoving within sight of the wall. They bore no banner and displayed no insignia that was known. Neither was their raiment recognized by any who held the watch.

The captain of that company stepped forward and fell upon his knees before the wall, and he wept openly for the relief he felt. When he was helped again to his feet, he called out in a loud voice to those who warded the wall.

They answered him, demanding to know his name and purpose, for they thought him a brigand from the North, or a deserter from Ur or Festog to the West.

Then the captain declared that he was the sharp silver blade that had slain giants beyond number. He named himself Clan, husband of Mya, who had survived the cataclysm of the Valley of Summer and fought across distant lands to be reunited with his bride. When his name was given, Mya was sent for, and she ordered the gates thrown wide. She herself went out from the wall to receive him. She who held the reign of Dun Dynkyr was once again the mother of sons, and a wife of her youth. She ran forth and embraced Clan as one long lost.

Great was the celebration of that day. The vagabond Dwenir were received into their own, and much was learned of each other and of the years that had passed. Thus Clan learned of his brother Duma, who had founded Dun Ur, and of Bathor, who had founded Dun Festog. And Mya learned of Dun Usega, Dun Balnolmar, and Dun Oromir, which had been founded by her sons Mith, Fesig, and Mireh.

The Annals of Dun Oromir - Table I

These are the Annals of the House of Mireh son of Clan, which was founded and prospered in the cleft of Oromir, when the wandering Dwenir journeyed toward the southern realms.

Clan, called the Silver Axe, was a mighty warrior and vanquisher of foes beyond numbering. He was born among the first of the Dwenir, and his face yet shone with the light of the old world. Great was the love many bore him, and great also the fear he inspired in his enemies.

When the old world was filled with floodwaters, Clan came with his sons and the warriors of his House to the high lands of the north. There he labored long in war against the giants — he and his seven sons together. They drove the giants from their holds and brought peace to the clearings first won by the Treants. Few survived those campaigns, yet among those who did, Clan was esteemed above all, and he earned for himself the name Geddin.

In time he set aside his axe and turned his mind toward the building of a great hall, and of a tomb to share with his sons.

Now from of old, the spouse of Clan had been Mya, but he believed her lost in the flood of the first world. Clangeddin put her from his thoughts lest sorrow consume him. Yet a traveler from afar came bearing coigns from a place called Dynkyr, and Clan marveled at their making. When he was told that they had been minted by a Regna of the Dwenir, hope stirred again within him.

He dared to believe that Mya might be among those exiles who had survived the deluge.

So he left unfinished his hall and tomb, and took up his axe once more. At the head of his seven sons and what banners yet remained to him, he journeyed westward. The road was long and not without peril. Long they traveled, and in their passing made enmity with more than a few.

Along that road, Mith and Fesig founded Dun Usega and Dun Balnolmor. Mireh, third son of Clan, remained beside his father until the journey southward grew long and grievous. Mireh longed to dwell among his own children and to follow his father’s relentless quest no further. When he beheld the plateau of Oromir and saw that it stood high against the giants and was rich with game and water, he entreated his father to abandon the road that consumed him.

But Clangeddin kissed his brow and blessed him. Taking the sons who yet remained steadfast in the quest, he turned again toward the south.

Thus the House of Mireh built its Dun.

Mireh was Regn of Oromir and ruled his House with strength and prudence. He beat back the giants who pursued in the wake of his father’s wars, for the enmity of the giants is not quickly forgotten, nor is their devotion to their god lightly set aside.

In the eighth year of Oromir, word came that Clangeddin’s wandering was ended, and that the realm he long sought had been found. Great was the rejoicing in Oromir at that news, and trade and kinship were renewed among the Houses of our people.

The Betrayals of the Stone Born: First Betrayal

by Dulagdur, House Paleore, Dun Oromir

The First Betrayal

In the beginning of time all the races lived on the floor of the Valley of Summer. Though there was goodness and plenty for all, there was only chaos and disorganization among the many races. 

Some argued that the growing things ruled the Valley of Summer under Berronar their Mistress, who is a handmaiden of the Ere of All, and the sister to Moradin the Lord. But the growing things cannot reason so that is folly. Others argue that the Urok ruled under the Nameless One, an apostate of the Ere of All. But as the Urok knew only destruction, and had no craft save to take that which is not theirs -- this also is folly. Still others maintain that the Little Ones ruled under their wee Lords, who were the minor servants of the Ere of All. But these Little Ones have laws without reason and know nothing of scheduling or of great works; so this also is folly. The unmistakable conclusion is that Chaos itself was Regn, for Law had not yet come.

There were many wars in those days and battles without ceasing. The Stoneborn could not feel the bite of the death and inevitably many of their number made names for themselves among the other peoples. The greatness of these heroes has never been forgotten and though they strived to toil humbly, they lived instead with great acclaim from those who were not worthy to comb their beards.

Eventually, all the world trembled for the Chaos that then was, and for the strife that everywhere was the foundation of all things. So it was that great powers sent floodwaters across the land and all the races were forced to leave the Valley of Summer. When the Stoneborn saw the Crown of Creation was claimed by none, they took it upon themselves to assume leadership for the good of all. So rose Clangeddin, Greatest of the Regns, to lead all people to the Law and into the greatness that followed.

This undertaking was blessed by Moradin the Lord, who is the greatest among the servants of the Ere of All. But Moradin is also capricious and unreliable. He does not speak plainly to his people. Ever they serve him well, but he hides his face and is mute as stone. So, despite their devotion to Law, and despite all that his Stoneborn had made and all of the excellent things that they had fashioned, he was still discontent. To this day he is sometimes called Molgolnahr or “Lord of Poor Faith” and the betrayer of his own. Because of his silence, the Stoneborn right to rule was eventually handed to the Fairies, who constantly imagine themselves greater than they ought and whose subsequent failure could not have been more stark.

The Benediction

The last age of Erenth looms, and the Stoneborn await the restoration of all things. Justice will prevail for the Children of Moradin and the rightful heirs of Erenth. For we are the Stoneborn!