The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Chapter 12 The Sereghran
The Sereghran were adept at the healing arts, most especially their ship’s Surgeons. So the Seven were made whole soon after their rescue. And during the voyage to Ergon’s port, with Wingaron in tow, the Seven discovered that they did indeed know some of the words of the Sereghran; mostly certain Elven names, such as those for the four directions of the winds, and various foods, and water, and the most common weapons and tools, and many of the parts of a ship. And Captain Ergon spent much time with Brandar, teaching him to scribe the Sereghran’s tongue. By this, therefore, was Ergon better able to conduct the Northrons ashore whence Pavanar had arrived; taking them by coach to a very great house where they were given spacious quarters, and clothed in fine raiment, sumptuously fed, and treated like royalty.
And due to the size and grandeur of that house, ere the Seven had seen rightly the city ‘round about, they assumed that here was the palace of a local ruler, only to learn later that it was merely Ergon’s home, and was considered modest among the dwellings of high-ranking Sereghran. Then, when they were given a tour of the port, the Seven were so dumbfounded by the splendor of the city that they could not think, and became speechless; surprised to discover the truth of it.
In the harbor were vessels uncounted, not a few larger and more impressive than Pavanar herself; tied by thick ropes to marvelously wide quays, and the highest of piers made of expertly shaped stone, and extending from the city far into the Ocean East. And so wondrous were many of those ships that the Northrons agreed that they had never seen the like. Neither would they have believed that such enormous vessels could be built, or would even stay afloat, if they had not seen them with their own eyes.
And when the Seven were taken into the city they were awed by its beauty; recalling from their youth the age-old legends of the great cities of the Elden Days, of which the proofs were the ancient ruins strewn across the whole of Andaria. Thus, if the Seven were enamored of the ships in the bay, they were simply astounded by the city, whose name is Baerakis, which is one of the two largest ports of the Sereghran, and thus one of the greatest cities in all the wide world.
Goods came through Baerakis north to south, and south to north, by well traveled routes upon land and sea. And thus was this a prosperous city. And its ruler, Aetas, is one of the two kings of the Sereghran. But while his liege was the High King, Strabos, who dwells in the other great port, Sunthakis, he is no less rich and powerful.
Naturally, Ergon soon brought the Northrons before King Aetas, who welcomed them heartily. But because of their differences in speech, Aetas suggested that the Seven remain in Ergon’s house until they could more easily speak on their own. And so were the Seven taken back to Ergon’s house, where they remained for some time.
And that is how our Seven Northron Emissaries came to dwell upon Arzultaur.
It seems that the longest tales are always of woe and trouble, and the harshness of men’s lives, and their tragedies, while the briefest are those of light and ease, and joy and merriment, and the kindly deeds of men. And so it is with this tale; for the days in which the Emissaries found peace and healing are few when compared to all of the days of toil, and hardship, and warfare they endured. Yet, in Captain Ergon’s house, the Northrons found comfort, where were they brought the very best food, and the finest drink, and amazingly elegant garments. And not one pleasure of the flesh was denied to them, by which they assumed that Ergon had hired women-of-the-night to tend to their needs, as Sereghran maidens were throwing themselves at the Northrons with the utmost abandon, which the Northrons fully appreciated, to be sure.
So, there they stayed until they were all well-healed, and made sexually sated, and had become very comfortable with their new lot in life. But Ergon was not with the Seven the whole time, as he was a Lord-Captain in the Navy and had duties, and never ending demands upon his time. And he was most often away sailing in the Pavanar. Yet, soon after the arrival of the Seven, Ergon had called a Loremaster of the city to come and speak with the Northrons. And this one’s name was Brakhus, who was master of a great many tongues of Men. Therefore, it was from Brakhus that the Seven learned fully the speech of the People of Baerakis, while he was familiar with an early form of Common Andarian, though he would at times look for words in a scroll that he carried. And he explained that some of the ancient Sereghran Forefathers had come from Andaria. Then did Brakhus explain to the Northrons how the kingdoms of Arzultaur had come to be, and by a number of maps how those kingdoms were placed upon the continent.
As his work was the study of current and ancient tongues, Brakhus was ever eager to converse with the Northrons. Thus, it was Brakhus who first heard their tale, up to then, and who first wrote it down; his being quite astonished at the story. And he accompanied the Seven when at length Ergon took them to Aetas once again, some months after their first visit. But by then the Emissaries had become adept at the Sereghran’s tongue, and Brandar spoke for the Seven; voicing their tale before Aetas in the full hearing of his Court of Nobles within the Grand Hall of the Palace of the King; which palace was more magnificent than any the Northrons could ever have imagined. And this was also the first that Ergon had actually heard all of the Northron’s tale, where Brandar gave as his principle purpose only that he desired to explore the world by ship. But the Sereghran there were impressed with the adventures of the Emissaries. Yet, when asked by the King to state now his heart’s desire, Brandar spoke only of his wish to defeat MorLome and afterward return his people to their ancient homes upon far Rillguman. Thus, of his desire to seek out the Gods of Old, owing that the inhabitants of this land were not Gods, Brandar did not mention it, for he kenned that such a desire must be kept secret in his heart, as it seemed now no longer possible.
Aetas was right moved by Brandar’s story, and gave to the Northrons great honor; decreeing that each of the Volunteers were to be treated as Princes, with Brandar their King, the rightful King of the Northrons of Andaria. But as the Seven were leaving the Hall to prepare for a feast to be held in their honor, Brandar noted a wry smile upon the lips of that Lord of Baerakis, as though the man pondered a secret of his own about the Northrons, but which he was not yet disposed to reveal to them.
Ergon then stayed seven days at home, often conversing with one or another of the Seven. Yet, once that time had passed, he kissed his lovely wife and fine children, and bidding the Northrons farewell sailed the Pavanar away, as duty called. Meanwhile, the Seven continued to learn the speech of the Sereghran, and were always making new friends. And they began to find their way around the city, where it became apparent that the People were most especially nice to them; more so than they would have expected, even with being treated as royals. Often were they invited to feasts and parties and other events and were applauded where-ever they went. But all the while maidens, even of high station, were flinging themselves with abandon at the Seven.
Word of the Seven and their adventures spread like wildfire throughout the lands. And ere long, they found themselves quite the center of attention. Then all but Brandar positively reveled in the fame they had gained. But Brandar eased his dalliances with the ladies; preferring to read and study, and engage in deep conversations with Brakhus. And he left off drinking to excess, and attending the many gatherings which seemed ever to be held solely in honor of the Northrons, now called “Heroes of the Mists”.
Then the People took to naming the Volunteers the “Newcomer Princes”, and the Seven as the “The Mighty Emissaries”, and other such titles. And anywhere even one of the Seven appeared they were applauded long and loudly. But at length, it came to their ears that the People believed that the Seven were sent by the Gods to aid the Sereghran in their wars against Durwolc upon the far Borderlands. And nothing the Northrons would say served to waylay that rumor. Thus, the Seven came then to take it in stride that they may someday be asked to do battle with the enemies of these folk, and they would do so, if for no other reason than to repay their kindness. Yet, they must admit to themselves that they were Warriors, by nature and training, and by the long-held traditions of their own people. But neither could they think of any more fit means of making their way in this incredible and amazing land.
“But surely,” said Brandar to his countrymen, “this goodly charity cannot go on forever. We must, sooner or later, find means of making a proper livelihood for ourselves.” However, there was more to this than the Northrons could have guessed.
The Sereghran inhabited mostly the eastern portions of the Hidden Continent, which region encompassed a wide area named the Jungle Lands, and also some of the Northern Grasslands, while the rest of the continent remained wild and untamed; inhabited by monsters ruled by great Demons and evil Dragons. And the noble ancestors of the Sereghran had first settled those places which became the cities of Baerakis and Sunthakis merely because the lands in those places offered the most food in the way of game, and vegetation, and also much water from the many rivers and streams flowing to the sea. Fish there were, as well, in both river and sea. But also the Sereghran had since grown greatly in numbers, and continued to prosper. And the Sereghran were of many races of Men and Elves, with some Dwarves, and all manner of folk blended between two or more of those folk, so much so that it was sometimes difficult to tell the difference.
Four times in the past had the Sereghran extended their borders west, building fortresses and castles and towers at need, until they now ran from the northern coast to lowlands in the south. But the border lands the Sereghran call “Frontiers”, as they are ever fraught with trouble.
Long ago had the present borders been set, though the People intend forever to expand them, not merely defend them. For their vision is to free all of Arzultaur from the Durwolc and other monsters, and of all things foul; of Devils and Demons, and evil Dragons, and the most dangerous of beasts. And in the end, after their enemies are defeated, the Sereghran deign to build the greatest kingdom the world will ever know.
Of course, the Northrons were interested in learning such things, and spent many hours studying the lore and practicing the tongue of the Sereghran. And many times did they gaze intently upon maps, and discuss strategy, so that they had some idea of the problems the Kings and Generals were encountering upon the far Frontiers.
Then the Emissaries learned that they had come at a time when the People longed to go into the Wild Lands west; to settle the Forest there, and all the Grasslands, to raise horses and cattle, and sheep and goats in the distant Highlands, and to go hunting in the Great Southern Wood. But their Kings deemed themselves too weak to defeat all their enemies, and were therefore bound to remain safely in the Jungle Lands; for the Wood was packed with all manner of terrible creatures, and the Highlands thickly infested by Durwolc. And the Forest was ruled by a mighty Horned Dragon, while the north was held by a powerful Demon Lord, the Sereghran’s chief foe, whom they had named Modeus the Cruel, but whose true name they knew not. And the Demon’s castle was that which Brandar and Alak had seen from the hill they had climbed in the north.
But the Northrons learned something which disturbed them more than any dark tale of Demons or Dragons, or of all the monsters of Arzultaur, for they heard the full truth of the Enchanted Mists, which they had known somewhat, that time was changed for those who enter in. But they had not understood how much of their time was shifted while they rowed within them. Indeed, many a year had come and gone for each apparent day and night they experienced in the Mists, so entirely three generations of Men had passed outside ere they emerged to sail upon the mystical blue waters about the Hidden Continent. Then did Brandar learn that his Great Quest was utterly in vain, as Brakhus informed him that the Gods of Old, the Ghieveh, who once verily walked upon land in fleshly forms, had removed themselves to realms unseen; never to return in their former shapes. And while the Sereghran believe that the Gods, at times, come among people in secret, those Powers shall never again, by their own pronouncements, reveal themselves openly as before in the most ancient of days, when the world was new.
Naturally, the Seven grew heavy of heart, upon kenning the seriousness of their great loss of time. And it was a sad group that obeyed the summons to appear before High King Stabos in Sunthakis, after the Seven had been one season in Ergon’s house.
Leaving Wingaron in the keeping of Ergon’s family, the Emissaries then boarded a vessel sent for them and were conducted down the coast to the city of Sunthakis, which was more wonderful than Baerakis, though they noticed not its magnificence. Nor did they see that the High King’s Palace was the most splendid structure in all of Esaereh. They merely took to their rooms and waited there solemnly for the King to call for them.
Thus did the Northrons begin to pine for their homes in Andaria, with Brandar the most bereaved of them all; deeming now his secret desire to address the Gods as an impossibly foolish dream. And once briefly he wept in the privacy of his chambers, as he dwelt upon the kin he had left behind, but who must all have long ago fallen of old age.
After a few days of leisure, including two tours of the city, the Northrons were asked to appear before the King and there give him their tale. And while none were eager, they responded respectfully to the summons, being given raiment proper for the event, which had been widely proclaimed, so there were great crowds around and within the King’s Palace. And all of the Lords of the Lands were in attendance and anxious to hear the Northrons speak, though they had each heard the tale by now.
Brandar, as the King of the Northrons of Andaria, took it upon himself to stand for the Seven and voice their tale in the presence of King Strabos. And, though the King had heard the tale several times, he was impressed with Brandar and his men, and like Aetas gave to them great praise, and held yet another feast in their honor.