Some tales have come from the land of Noland, the island which is upon the western coast of Elsaar. These tales have run like gunpowder on the wind, but have reached the ears of the drinking folk of many other lands around the great blue seas. One of such is the stories of Gryn Galdson. He was a mighty King in the south of that island, and had the virtue of being the lord of one of the only unified kingdoms in that land.
Ever since Gryn’s childhood, he had been friends with a man named Selkar. They were second cousins. The genealogies go as such, where Gryn’s great-grandfather had two sons, the first named Heldorf, who gave life to his son Gerleif. The second son was named Hithaelir, who gave life to Mod, and he to Selkar. That was a kingly name, for many annals before him mentioned that name in only holy conventions and mannerisms.
Selkar and Gryn were the best friends in life, and in death. They once took the quest to cross the Great River towards the midlands and to find themselves in the fjords of that place. That task did not go well for them, but they came out alive and sane. Selkar’s curiosity gave him a great personality, and Gryn was a major factor in that.
But sadly, after a few years, their friendship started to fall apart. They still were friends, but they decided that their ways must now become separate, and to move to different kingdoms. Gryn stayed as King of Noland. Selkar began to reign a small kingdom of his own, called the Kingdom of Gyomont, where among many other things, he held the island’s biggest library. Magic was there too, yet on a smaller scope.
Yet the knowledge of all magic in the face of the Earth was not Selkar’s greatest and mightiest possession, for that title would go to the Aexelas stone. With it, he could go to the Hidden Realm of Aexelas, where no greatness lives. Where hot lakes of Sulphur reign everywhere, and where the dark Lord reigns supreme.
One day, Gryn met with Selkar near the gates of the Kingdom of Gyomont, where they decided that the southern King would purchase from his friend the Passage of the Hellish Realm for an extended price. Both were glad with this deal, for the stone indeed holds a magical power that is not given to anyone in the world.
Yet now it was not children business, this was a truthful problem to the people of the southern kingdom. They weren’t fond of their esteemed King to be trading with the unfaithful northerners, for the Battle of Ilsidor had wrought upon the people of Noland a feeling of hatred and remorse against the bandits, and everyone from the north in general. So when news arrived to the Nolandians that Gryn had traded with a northerner, outrage sprang out among his halls, and everything was hidden from them. Fights became into protests, protests into riots, and riots into revolution. The fight hit the hall of the Galdsons with a strength unexpected, and it was all against all. The then exiled Hendo had returned to his most unwanted enemy”s land, and rigged the doors of the castle of Gryn’s property. That did not kill the king, yet a bystander, which was not on the intention of the northern Bandit.
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So Gryn was forced into exiled by the people of his own kingdom, and all the fortresses and the towers fell into ruin. Nobody was safe in the once-great kingdom of Noland, so all left those lands for good. The lost king became a wolf tamer, and in the process, he gathered a pack of sixteen wolves that were always on his side.
In his time of exile, Gryn travelled alongside a man named Malneris, he too from the Burglands, and a veteran of the revolution. The latter had been trying to find his lost lord for the last three months, to no avail. It was his quest to find the king again, to find the Aexelas Stone.
“At last, I have found thee, my lord” said Malneris “After three months of search, from day and night, through stone and sand, I have found you.”
“It is a pity that we find ourselves in horrible times of war.” said Gryn “The kingdoms of the north have done no good to us, and I’m always threatened of assassination.”
“That is no good, my Lord,” said Malneris “but everything aside, come with me, my lord. I have found refuge in a northern fortress owned by Lady Saelyera.”
“Excellent, but have you spoken with her?” asked Gryn “They might be a foe to us.”
“Sir Saeler knew us well, my lord. That knowledge and confidence he passed on to his daughter, Lady Saelyera. She will most warmly welcome us into her halls.”
So, the two travelled far and wide to search the fortress of Lady Saelyera. They went over hilltops and rills, and upon midday, they arrived at the castle.
“Who goes by here, lurking around my fort?” said Saelyera.
“It is I, Malneris, and I come with Gryn, Lord of the Kingdom of the South. We have come here for refuge, and to heal the wounds of Gryn from his exile.”
“Fabolous, however, you may enter with care, as I have set up a trap upon the door to battle against the kingdom of Nelgador.” said Saelyera
“What is this trap you talk about? Is there anything should I avoid?”
“There is a thin tripwire upon the door, and went set, an explosion shall set out, stronger than any other explosion ever set. Be careful”
Both Gryn and Malneris entered with care, and made their way over the door, and entered the castle with ease.
“I also bring a hound of mine” said Gryn “his name is Cesar, and he shall keep us safe from invaders.”
“Sterling” said Saelyera.
But as time passed, Cesar the Hound started smelling something, and he got near it. He walked upon a giant tree which was upon a corner of the courtyard of the castle and barked at whatever was in there.
“What do you smell, boy?” said Gryn
And Cesar looked back at Gryn and insisted that there was something inside the tree. He had enough, and went up to the tree, and he found there, behind the tree, a man, full clad in leather armor, holding a bomb. The man went from behind the tree to the outside and yelled “Long live Vethundu!” and the bomb detonated and made him explode into a thousand pieces.
The esteemed Cesar the Hound fell on the explosion too, for the explosion had reached him. Gryn, Malneris and Saelyera were safe, yet the first one was not on the same emotional scope as the other two. With a soulful scream he cried for the death of his dog, his pleads for help resounded across the halls of Saelyera. With a heart, heavy with remorse, he held his sword to the sky and swore his oath: “I will not die before I slay everyone from the north and they crumble into nothingness!” Gryn held up his sword, and so did Malneris and Saelyera. Gryn calmed, and cried, and mourned for the death of his dog, who had served him well in his lifetime. Three months might seem like a short time, but it is the lifetime of a hound.