HeroQuest
Glorantha
  Myth
Issaries, Inc.
GTA
Market Place
Tribes
Library
News
Utilities

Myth of the Month

November 2005

Three Documents, one event

Second part.

King Oranvil

Oranvil was noted for his cleverness, his courage and battle, and also his care for the people of the land, whether Heortling or foreigners.

In the reign of Oranvil the land was invaded three times by armies from the west. In the first the Esvulari and Slontons marched up from the south. The king evaded them entirely, and they destroyed the foreigner's towns along the river, but Oranvil had even evacuated those so the people went back afterwards. A young changer set a chaos army on them, and then King Oranvil defeated the Golden Knight and took his armor.

The next time a great army burnt a third of the land between the Bullflood and the Syphon. King Oranvil's house singer, Stevalis, carried magic from the tribe into the house of the enemy, undetected by their own protection. Stevalis, Deresa and Enaesrola led the enemy general on a long tour, avoiding everything important. The army sailed away.

The long-term efforts of the invaders were generally positive. First, they had actually destroyed some of the major traditional threats to the Hendriki that had resisted them for centuries, especially the "behemoth." And although the burnt area was unforested for decades, the wide area was afterwards a favorite area for grazing ponies until it was largely covered again by first growth forests.

The evil dogs came third, especially Narangros who had hunted the Hendrikings before. The king fought them sword to fang, and many men and more horses were killed. The king was himself mauled, but the dog killers prevailed. Only ghosts got away, and they attacked the sorcerers who had sent them to such defeat.

These defeats convinced the Slonton pirates that the region was too wild and dangerous. They called it the Savage Forest, and for generations only adventurers went up the fjords to the Savage Plateau.

This is where the Golden Champion comes from. The armor captured by King Oranvil was given to his champion, who never lost a battle against the invaders. It is the focus of power against the invaders, the God Learners. But the pirates became more rare, and the suit was retired to the guardian tomb. At various times a champion is called to the tomb of the last wearer, and enters the tomb and gets the armor without a fight.

The story of Stevalis

One of them, the Golden Knight, led an army north and into wild Heortland. When the warriors were shadowing the enemy Stevalis was nowhere to be seen and the king criticized this, though Ela defended him. "I am sure he has a plan," she said.

Indeed, Stevalis was in the Stone Forest loading the Ice and Stone Band, upon boats that sailed upstream, against the Syphon. They couldn't resist the opportunity to escape, of course, even though Stevalis told them what they would face. So one night as the Golden Knight's army camped upon the shore of the Syphon the little fleet sailed up and its demented cargo fell upon the army. Carnage was great, and when the Golden Knight led other survivors away King Oranvil met them in fair combat, and prevailed.

The king agreed that Stevalis had met one third of the requirements. In secret, undiscovered, Stevalis and Ela made love one third of the way, with pleasure.

Another time the Slontos army invaded, and they were swift. They came up the Bullflood and landed an army at Stoneshore, the first wide landing area after the and simply burned up 600 squire miles of terrain, destroying every living thing in it. However, the king listened to the right voices and brought or sent nearly all his people to safety.

Stevalis planned with the priests and godar, and the Larnsti chief prepared him and two women. They went to the enemy commander, Donshavalas, and Stevalis said he was King Beserid of the Heortlings and agreed to do whatever they wished. He led the army on a prepared tour, avoiding many important places but being truthful in many others. He convinced the invaders to destroy two shrines that his king wanted destroyed. Then they departed, leaving another garrison at the White Shore Fort.

The king agreed that Stevalis had met two thirds of the requirements. In secret, undiscovered, Stevalis and Ela made love two thirds of the way, with great pleasure.

Third came the dogs. They were spirit dogs, the long-hated Narangros, but in the service of this enemy now. The men with the dogs rode upon ponies that were as swift as the Heortlings in the forests. Further, the dogs were both fierce and also great trackers, and many clans were caught even though they were as swift and clever as always. The king took his warband and attacked each pack in turn, killing the hunters one by one. He killed even Kang Rowl, who was guarding the son of the enemy king. He killed the boy too.

Stevalis fought alongside the king, and wherever there was a fight, he was there. He hated dogs and knew their ways. After the year-long hunt was over he had bite scars on every limb, his front, back and head.

The king agreed that Stevalis had met all of the requirements. In public, witnessed by all, Stevalis and Ela swore marriage and lived many years, with many children and descendants who were either famous or good people.