Introduction | The Stead | Significant People At Lagerwater
Other Important People
| Locales & Story Seeds
The Palisade By Night | Harmony Lodge
Lagerwater Stead
Lagerwater stead is both my Far Point campaign base and a storytelling nexus for Far Place fiction and exploration. The stead is the setting for A Rope of Cedarbark and other Far Place tales. It is planned that a detailed description of Lagerwater's history and locale will be published by the Unspoken Word in a future Far Place Special.
The Tresdarnii clan ring, which comprises a number of people from Lagerwater, is detailed here.
The Stead
Young Lagerwater stead is located "on Snakepipe's Edge", in the wild and rain-soaked uplands of the Far Place between Jaskor's Hold and Ginijji. It is essentially a fortified valley, a large stead that is home to a substantial minority of the Tresdarnii clan of the Tovtaros tribe.
Lagerwater holds a central place in the mythology of the Far Walkers. Taroskarla tells how Taros the Ridgeleaper first cut Lagerwater's stead tree by the banks of the Lagertarn, and how it became home to the Animal Twins, heroquesters of the Three Element Dance. The original Lagerwater is now flooded beneath the Lagertarn, and Taros the Ridgeleaper is trapped undying below, awaiting his release and the heavy wyrd of vengeance he will bring upon all. Young Lagerwater sits by the shores of the tarn, isolated and defiant, soaked by the daily torrents that stream from Skyfall Lake.
Lagerwater suffered horribly during the Righteous Wind Revolt, and lost many of its finest warriors at Gamla's Leap. Kinstrife threatens to erupt again within the stead, which has families both of Yelmalian and Elmali worshippers. In distant Piddledown, the Yelmalian tribal king plots openly to bring the wayward Tresdarnii clan to heel.
More recently a trollkin 'hero' and his followers who saved Lagerwater from Uz attack have imposed themselves on the stead's hospitality, and shadows of Darkness grow. A foreign vingan is spreading strange notions amongst the young warriors. More and more strangers are in the gors, exploring the ancient, forbidden ruins of the Youf. All the while ancient enemies, Uz and broo and crawling chaos, look down from the storm-lashed heights and plot the stead's destruction. Lagerwater wants nothing but isolation, but the Hero Wars are upon us all. Come the Hurricane.
Significant People at Lagerwater Stead
| Position | Name | Age | Cult | Bloodline* |
| Chieftain | Orlstein Blue Cloud | M | Dar | Sacred River |
| Lawspeaker | Kierston Twoworlds | F | Andrin | Twin Birch |
| Ploughmaster | Ranli Stranglebear | M | Barntar | Twin Birch |
| Second Plough | Vantar the Straight | M | Yelmalio | Sacred River |
| Herdmistress | Kiersa Windcloak | F | Uralda | Wind Spears |
| Boundary Thane | Garlon Blinks Twice | M | Barntar | Sacred River |
| Herd Mother | Varla Web In Hail | F | Uralda | Twin Birch |
| Clan Champion | Karim Wildspear | M | Daylanus | Twin Birch |
| Twin Speaker | Gamla the Antler | F | Animal Twins | Twin Birch |
| Sacred River Ancestor ** | Ran Bloodfield | M | Barntar | Sacred River |
| Sacred River Hearthmistress | Yrsa the Flame | F | Mahome | Sacred River |
| Twin Birch Ancestor | Huma Saved-by-Bears | M | Ormalaya | Twin Birch |
| Twin Birch Hearthmistress | Forelda Copperkey | F | Kev/Orane | Twin Birch |
| First Yelmalian*** | Gaumata Lynx Eye | M | Yelmalio | Twin Birch |
| "Loyal Wife" | Meleranda Cityborn | F | Yernalda | Twin Birch |
| Wind Spear Ancestor | Haldar Heavyhead | M | Minlister | Wind Spears |
| Wind Spear Hearthmistress | Sora Redcalf | F | Nevala | Wind Spears |
| Storm Godi | Tovar Thunderson | M | Daylanus | Sacred River |
| Storm Godar | Karim Gorsfire# | M | Helamakt | Twin Birch |
| Great Hunter | Erryn Jumping Salmon# | F | Oramayla | Wind Spears |
| Weaponthane | Broddi Clapsaddle | M | Humakt | None |
| Weaponthane | Conlan Umath-Arm | M | Humakt | None |
| Weaponthane | Braggi Hail-Blast# | M | Ereltharol | Twin Birch |
| Weaponthane | Braggi SunBlade | M | Helamakt | Sacred River |
| Weaponthane | Yestus Golden Throat | M | Yelmalio | Twin Birch |
| Healer | Gamla Unafraid | F | Jera | Twin Birch |
| Sun Carl | Maldon Fire-of-Waters | M | Elmal | Wind Spears |
| WoodWright | Dangar the Red | M | Orstan | Wind Spears |
| Gateman | Bhorghil One-Eye | M | Elmal | Wind Spears |
| Bonesmith | Merklan Thundergong | M | Gustbran | Twin Birch |
| Skald | Larthan Visionsinger | M | Drogarsi | Twin Birch |
| Reeve (Grain Keeper) | Rane ‘Maldonson’ | M | Elmal | Wind Spears |
| Grain-Godi | Taros Oxback | M | Barnatar | Twin Birch |
| Midwife/Gyrda | Ula Willow Grouse | F | Eninta | Twin Birch |
| Sun Watcher | Yelmalhara Redgrain | M | Yelmalio | Sacred River |
| Sun Wife (Gyrda) | Harvina Altar Friend | F | Yernalda | Twin Birch |
| Gyrda**** | Kari Loving Cup | F | Roitina | Twin Birch |
| Gyrda | Keslii Glowingcoal | F | Orane | Sacred River |
| Ancestral Shaman | Entarla Manyvoice | F | Animal Twins | Sacred River |
| Tower Thane | Keranas the Cold | F | Rigsdal | Twin Birch |
| Dishthane | Skarg the Paunch | M | Vanganth | Sacred River |
| Speaker to Uz | Nalda Laughing Tree | F | Odayla | Wind Spears |
| Trader | Skalgrim Deer Velvet | M | Issaries | Twin Birch |
| Trickster | No One Neverthere | F | Eurmal | None |
* The bloodlines of Lagerwater are the Kinlini (Sacred River), Validor (Twin Birch) and Heldarnii (Wind Spears).
** Spakeman, or bloodline elder, lit. ‘Ancestor’.
*** The Yelmalians at the stead are led by Gaumata Lynx Eye. Though of different bloodlines, most of the Yelmalians share a common hearth at the Golden Lodge, in their own quarter of the stead. They have food, clothing and behavioral taboos that set them apart from their storm kin.
Gaumata's wife Meleranda Cityborn guides the Yelmalian wives. They join in communal Ernaldan ceremonies with the rest of the women, and are completely accepted therein, but Meleranda also leads Ernalda Yelmalio-Wife ceremonies at her hearth. Orlanthi call that aspect of the goddess ‘Yernalda’.
**** The Womens’ Circle does not make great use of formal titles.
# secret members of the Righteous Wind.
Other Important People
Conla Brightshield, king of the Tovtaros. A Yelmalian worshipper, usually called ‘the sun-swallowed’.
Cloudstrider, a crazed and seemingly immortal ancestral shaman who dwells in the gors and gallt. he knows much of the Youf and their ruins, and of the dragonewts.
Cradledaughter the Vingan, a controversial Kheldon stead guest with suspect alliances.
Octavian Redwheel, Etyries priest, trader, and year-husband to Kierston Two Worlds. Well-received by most, despite being a Lunar sorcerer.
Harlii Virginland, salt-lick gyrda of the hunting camps, a simple soul who walks with a goddess none can name.
Balin Godgift, young son of Kierston the Lawspeaker. Said to have the memories and powers of his deceased grandfather, the heroquester Balin Godwind.
Climbtree Zorakbane, a trollkin ‘hero’ who has saved the stead and so commands its hospitality. He and his enlo followers are a growing problem.
Jungra Manystep, A Praxian zebra rider, friend to Kierston and Cradledaughter. A frequent visitor to the stead.
Janerra Brightbronze, the chief’s daughter, soon to wed. The ongoing courtship contests have provoked much scandal and turmoil.
Silverquill, a wandering durulz grey sage, dedicated to explication of the Youf ruins that dot the gors.
And of course...
Quackbeth the Hueymakt, a hazia cigaro chewing, uni-ambular, durulz freebooter (though only the left boot) who haunts the trails between Ironspike and Lagerwater.
Locales & Story Seeds
These sample Lagerwater locales are presented by way of example for the Heortling Stead Project. Each locale has a number of characters associated with it, and supplies a number of story seeds, sometimes with relevant game statistics. Each description sheds some small light on clan history. And it is my hope that they function as short stories in their own right.
7. The Palisade by Night
A stout wooden palisade protects the main lodges and byrnes of Lagerwater. Towering three times the height of a warrior, rough-hewn of elm and oak and sacred yew, its stalwart beams are deep etched with protective wards and runes, and the jagged knife carvings of many a bored watcher. By Elmal's light the palisades are overseen by the Gatekeeper; and under Rigsdal's gaze by the stalwart men and women of the star watch.
The men and women of the star watch are a patient, hardy breed. Through each five season span they tramp the palisade by night, and in close darkness patrol the boundary stones of the meadow fields. Through the creeping mists of Dark and beneath the diamond gaze of the star captains of the Fire sky, huddled about their braziers or trampsing the lonely circuits of their sentry walk, they watch, they wait, they listen.
For the darkness is pregnant with menace, and many enemies course the gors by night. Elmali are first to stand guard in darkness, but they cannot be too long without their beloved sun, and so stand guard week and week about with the Yelmalians, whose god also stands defiant as a light against darkness. The stead's Rigsdali are more constant, happy to keep duty beneath the unblinking and watchful eye of their god. And now, as in times before, they are sometimes joined by a solitary Vingan. She stands alone: her spear-sisters of the Tresdarnii now feast in other halls.
Some nights these steadfast watchers are joined by Animal Twins initiates enacting their own star-rite, or restless Yinkini, or godar tracing the path of some wayward star javelin as it courses above the gors.
Few others of the clan are prepared to sleep by day and keep watch by night: each man and woman of the star walk is here for a reason. Some follow the ways of their cult; others are driven to this solitude by some secret or lonely burden. Perhaps the silence and darkness brings healing, or at least forgetfulness. They come and they go, their reasons and their wyrd are their own.
Night makes us all kin, and fast be the friendships forged by the burning brazier coals. Here in the chill silence is founded the true friendship of Vinga and Elmal, for all their rivalry and tongue-thunder in the moot. And here too, the Yelmalians and Elmali stand true together, and wonder in the enemy darkness if their gods are really so different after all.
Sometimes Climbtree the trollkin braves the palisade in company of the Vingan, though the Yelmalians and Elmali despise him, and will chase him from the sacred walls. His enlo range the tula by night, unseen and unheard, watching and listening, wreaking mischief, and stealing what they will. Yet more than once it has been they who have first roused the stead as raiders crept upon the cattle or the lodges. For this reason the Vingan has set them walks and duties, and taught them to fight with sticks and knotted clubs. Yet the Elmali and the Yelmalians know a higher truth, and they too watch the enlo, and wait.
Bhorghil One-Eye, Gatekeeper and Second Reeve
(Heldarnii, Male, 23 years, Devotee of Elmal the Reeve)
Unfaltering Defence 8w, Eye for Detail 3w, Make Demand 1w, Fiery Temper 19, Rile Vingan 16.
Cold Keranas, Star Watcher and Tower Thane
(Validor, Female, 21, Devotee of Rigsdal)
Never Sleep 7w, Vigilant 8w, Summon Star Javelin 1w, Night-Long Story 17.
Brokal the Silent
(Validor, Male, 34, Initiate of Barntar)
Terrifying Nightmare 3w, Visions of Past Horror 19, See Spirits of Dead 18, Sense Touch of Humakt 15.
Calfbane, a typical Enlo of the Watch
(Stead Enlo, Female, 9, follower of Climbtree 'Raksbane)
Squeal 16, Darksense 12, Hunger 3w, Fear Alynx 14, Knotted Club 8.
12. Harmony Lodge
'Her soul is darkly sad. She pours her words on wind.'
Surrounded on three sides by herb gardens and flowering vines, Harmony Lodge sulks behind the loom hut, within easy watch of the women by day. Its lowfires are banked and welcoming, its straw and floor rush always fresh, but no windeyes open to the sun, and its single great oaken door can barred from the outside. In a clan where the freedom wind blows strong, shackles of bronze are bolted to posts by each sleeping platform within.
For Harmony lodge is the mishap house, home to those broken by sickness or the raw power of the rites, wounded in ritual or revenge, by paw of broo or harsh pathmaking of heroquest or initiation. The heroes of this house will fight no more forever, save midst the mockery of nightmare or torture of false vision.
A tiny hut sits beyond the lodge 'mongst garden rows of soothing herb and healing loam. Gamla the Healer oft keeps vigil here by night, offering succour or strong potions to the sore afraid. Her tiny hearth is sanctified by a cedar statue of Jera, rough-hewn as though by hand of child. The goddess smiles on Gamla's labours across a flickering hearth; myriad clay jars of earth and animal organs crowd the floor about the sleeping platform, and rich-scented herbs hang drying from the rafters above.
By day the lost ones of Harmony lodge share the warmth and love of kin, they sit by warm fires in the lodges of their blood, they watch children, and lovers, and women at their looms. By night they are returned to their lodge; the great door is bolted and they are abandoned to their terror.
There are wounds beyond the touch of any healer, wounds of the flesh, wounds of the breath, of the soul. The Other Side is a realm of grim and deadly power, it can tear asunder the unprepared, the ill-wyrded, or those who must stray from well-worn paths. And Unlife stalks the gors, inflicting hideous wounds upon us all; wounds whose blisters sear and weep, and deeper, less obvious wounds that never heal.
Tresna, Askul and Desrad are brothers three, once Elmali weaponthanes whose feats of spears brought terror to our foes. Coaxed by Yelmalian enemies of the plain, they entered the Yelmal paths on the Other Side, and there faced a light that did not heal, a light that blinded and burned their bodies and their breaths. They sit silent now, bathed in the warming light of the true sun, the god they will never abandon. Age's stained cloak is wrapped about them, and hoar-white hair grows from their skin like rot on an ancient tree.
Nevarna Amadborn was a fletcher and huntress; raided by goatkin, she watched her husband and children raped and mutilated, and herself endured more than I dare say. A white woman healed her body, cut out the twisting unlife from within, but could not heal her soul. Hers was a small lodge, a forest stead far from the blade-strength of kin. And small steads die. (This is the wisdom of the gors, easily forgotten, yet carved anew in suffering with each generation. It is better we gather in might, behind strong palisades, with weaponthanes and fyrd and strength of kin.)
Nevarna still carries the breath of broo thick about her; she sits apart, and cannot be comforted. She bleeds silence and want. There is none still living to whom she can open the heavy doors of her heart.
Minar the Gatherer has been building his funeral pyre for nine seasons now. You can see it on Hero's Height above the urn field, piled high to the height of a man and a half. Minar fell on his first journey, his making way of initiation, braving the eternal battle of IFoughtWeWon. On return, his grieving bloodline carved warrior tattoos with pride into unknowing flesh. Now he gathers wood for his pyre by day, and the children are told to steal from it by night.
Reydalda Manycalves was the Laughing Daughter of our clan, as well-loved as her goddess, a ring-voice and a storm godi who braved many a hero path in the Greater Darkness. In the hour when Harvar Ironfist burned our steads and smashed the altars of the Storm, Reydalda joined many warriors of our tribe and tribes-true at Gamla's Leap.
The heroes gathered to summon the Righteous Wind as of old, to drive the sun-men of Ironfist back to the plains below. Yet two days into the rite, an enemy wind, a Bigger Wind, fell upon them all, and it broke and twisted altar and warrior both. Then screaming Gagarthi fell upon the survivors from the mists, and with them strange golden warriors who spat red balls of madness.
Reydalda was one of the few to survive the slaughter, plucked from the gors by a wandering Odaylan. Her body is now whole, but her breath is tainted forever: when the demon moon rides full Reydalda screams loud in aching, empty anguish.
The outstead vingan sits with her often now by day. Cradledaughter holds her kayling sister's hand and sings the songs of the goddess they love, she gently dyes with henna her sister's close-cropped hair, she wipes the tears that spill silent down the aged face. And she whispers words that none beyond may hear.
Remember brave warrior, the price that others pay, and pledge vengeance for the fallen ones of mishap house. May the song of your deeds lessen their screams, and may the justice-bringers grant them final peace.
No stats are given for the kinsfolk of Harmony Lodge.
