covaithe
Explorer
Umraecyl follows William to the sword's case. Up close, the sword is clearly as much a work of art as a weapon, though none the less lethal looking for all its beauty.
"Ah, Ludkjeta's sword. As tragic as it is beautiful. Tell me, do you know the tale of Mount Yurgind? No? Well, there was a great dwarven hall there under the mountain, where for many centuries the dwarves warred with neighboring goblin tribes. The dwarves were strong, and their hold on the mountain sure, but something changed. Exactly what depends on who you listen to. Some say the dwarves grew soft, turning their tools to art instead of the implements of war. Some say the goblins grew strong breeding larger, stronger, smarter warriors. Some even say that dark powers intervened. What is certain is that perhaps a hundred years ago, the goblins suddenly swarmed over the dwarves of Mount Yurgind, stronger than ever before. The dwarves were hard pressed, and sent for aid. They negotiated an alliance with another dwarven tribe, though which tribe is not known to me. It was to be a marriage alliance, in the oldest tradition; Ludkjeta, called the Diamond of Yurgind, was said to be the pinnacle of dwarven womanhood, and this sword was made by her father, one of the finest smiths under the mountain. It was to be her dowry, and, I think, a kind of statement as well, that though they made things of great beauty, the dwarves of Yurgind had not forgotten war."
Umraecyl sighs a moment, lost in his tale, then gathers himself. "Well, at any rate, things went wrong somehow. The marriage was cancelled, the alliance dissolved, and eventually Yurgind was broken. Only goblins live there now. As far as I can tell, the sword has no magical properties; it is simply a weapon and a work of art. And a conversation piece for dwarves. Its discovery has caused quite a stir among the dwarven population in these parts. Gribble, the weapon merchant whose stall you no doubt saw in the main square, has been here several times to view it."
"Ah, Ludkjeta's sword. As tragic as it is beautiful. Tell me, do you know the tale of Mount Yurgind? No? Well, there was a great dwarven hall there under the mountain, where for many centuries the dwarves warred with neighboring goblin tribes. The dwarves were strong, and their hold on the mountain sure, but something changed. Exactly what depends on who you listen to. Some say the dwarves grew soft, turning their tools to art instead of the implements of war. Some say the goblins grew strong breeding larger, stronger, smarter warriors. Some even say that dark powers intervened. What is certain is that perhaps a hundred years ago, the goblins suddenly swarmed over the dwarves of Mount Yurgind, stronger than ever before. The dwarves were hard pressed, and sent for aid. They negotiated an alliance with another dwarven tribe, though which tribe is not known to me. It was to be a marriage alliance, in the oldest tradition; Ludkjeta, called the Diamond of Yurgind, was said to be the pinnacle of dwarven womanhood, and this sword was made by her father, one of the finest smiths under the mountain. It was to be her dowry, and, I think, a kind of statement as well, that though they made things of great beauty, the dwarves of Yurgind had not forgotten war."
Umraecyl sighs a moment, lost in his tale, then gathers himself. "Well, at any rate, things went wrong somehow. The marriage was cancelled, the alliance dissolved, and eventually Yurgind was broken. Only goblins live there now. As far as I can tell, the sword has no magical properties; it is simply a weapon and a work of art. And a conversation piece for dwarves. Its discovery has caused quite a stir among the dwarven population in these parts. Gribble, the weapon merchant whose stall you no doubt saw in the main square, has been here several times to view it."