= Statement from the Thane =
= Statement from the Thane =
Citizens, allies, comrades, kinsmen, dearest Earthkin. It be with the heaviest o'hearts I write t'ye this day.
On the 15th o'Ches, 189 AR. Our Mountain wos besieged.
From all angles they came, Duergar, Orcs, Wyverns... Korthal the Usurper..
Our Mountain home, bombarded by fire an' rock, spell and blade.. Shoulder t'shoulder we stood, a brave few against thousands.
Th'outer walls were blown asunder, our first deployment o'ballista with them. We held outer th'gates as long as we could, 'fore the enemy bombardment proved too suppresive. Th'walls bought us precious time t'take shelter.
Brave souls fightin' t'secure th'mines from th'invader, an' our stout Tuskian comrades holding flank at the port...
Th'gates did hold.
Yet, honour called.
Despite his wounds, despite his trepidations, our friend, our beloved friend... Darnoth took t'tha sky t'face th'Usurper in single combat.
I wish I could write t'ye tha' th'Great Silver o'Brogendenstein prevailed o'this vile shadow o'a snake, Korthal.
But, alas, Darnoth wos struck down. Korthal severly wounded by th'duel an' hail o'sky-feather bolts from our ground positions... Th'Red-Snake, fled. For now.
This isnae jus' a loss for Brogendenstein. Bu' th'whole Island.
Darnoth, Defender o'tha Surface, Vigilant o'tha Mountain... Without him, perhaps Kragscragger would yet haunt our shores constantly. Perhaps th'countless threats o'Underdarker incursion wouldnae o'been cast aside so easily.
How much wisdom 'as he given t'pilgrims an' friends o'er th'years All o'this... Is gone.
Our friend wit'his final breath said t'persue his killer. Nae wit'vengeance, bu' wit'JUSTICE.
Iffin ye called Darnoth friend, iffin ye call Brogendenstein and the Earthkin, allies.
We call upon your HONOUR.
BRING. DARNOTH. JUSTICE.
WE, THE DEFENDERS O'ARELITH ARE HONOUR-BOUND T'GRANT HIS DYING WISH.
KORTHAL SHALL NAE REST. HE SHALL NAE SLEEP, HE SHALL NAE HOARD A COIN O'COPPER, WE WILL HUNT HIM TILL TH'END O'TIME. 'FORE WE ARE BOUND, BY GRUDGE, BY HONOUR AN' FINALLY, BY OUR LOVE FOR OUR DEAREST FRIEND, DARNOTH, TH'GREAT SILVER DRAGON O'BROGENDENSTEIN.
WE WILL GRIEVE, IN REMEMBERANCE T'ALL FALLEN.
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS, WHEN DOUBT IS CAST UPON US, WE SHALL REMEMBER.
WE SHALL REBUILD. STONE BY STONE.
WE SHALL TAKE THIS GRUDGE UPON OUR BACKS AN' OUR HEARTS. AN' WILLNAE KNOW REST UNTIL IT IS SETTLED.
TH'EARTHKIN, TH'MIGHTY DOMINION O'BROGENDENSTEIN STILL STAND, DEFIANT. TH'BASTION O'THA NORTHERN LANDS.
WE SHALL -NOT- BREAK.
[ A Crimson-Wax seal, the Insignia of the Thane of Brogendenstein. A roaring Dragon encompassing an alpine Mountain Peak ]
Day 15, Month 3 (Ches), 189 AR
Troki Brightbeard