Folklore: Maiden's Leap

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Kilaana
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Folklore: Maiden's Leap

Postby Kilaana » Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:45 pm

At a local tavern in Sarshel, a certain tale is sometimes passed from one to another when sharing a drink. The legend has become so popular that it has been turned into a song, written by a minstrel named Yelias Elyanyr.
“Few are those who have not heard about prince Maragwim of Sarshel, and how after he slew Gnargath the Giant that terrorized the slopes of Earthspurs went, with three loads of giant's treasure, to king Haramound. There they feasted and celebrated the deed for three days straight, for the lands were free of the monster who slew and ate both men and their cattle.

“Now, Haramound had but one child, a daughter Leari. Her beauty was known far and wide and Maragwim's eyes fell upon her in the feast-hall. Fate, it seems, was sealed for the fair damsel. For it was him, three days after that, who, in lust and breaching the hospitality and sanctity of king's home, accosted her on the cliff above Mal Wash, in the shadow of her father's castle.

“Some story tellers say that he took her by force there, as his men did to her maids, some say that she fled. But all tell and sing how the guards on the walls saw her riding, pursued by their former guests, and how a group of assailants cut off her way to the fort, before her father's men could reach her. She led her horse straight for the cliff, and without hesitation, it's said, off into the void and waters below.

“But, it's said, Sune herself reached for Leari and, in the moment of desperation, turned her and her horse into stone. They can still be seen, jutting from the waters of Mal Wash that clash and foam at their base. To this day, locals would point this spot, just off the road to Laviguer, where the broken ruins of a turret and walls can be seen through the foliage, as the one where the king's castle once stood and where the tragedy happened. Caravan drivers do that, too, since the voyage along the road is arduous and dull. And indeed, one can see the stone off which she launched herself in the river, and there are four prints like horse's hooves on it. They can be clearly seen and I saw them, as did countless before me.

“What happened to others in this dreary tale? It is said that king Haramaund died soon after, his heart broken. Maragwim, the hero, slayer of giants and wrath of Earthspurs... It was told that he died at the hands of the brothers of the giant he slew, Tempus' favor deserting him in his most dire moment... I have no doubts, if it had, indeed happened that way, that it was because of the crime he committed, breaking the vows of hospitality and honor. Some say his shadow is still roaming the slopes of Earthspurs, howling in the wind and storm, cursing his destiny. Other say he died fighting a most foul hellspawn, and that his soul is long gone, for such abominations, it's told, devour the souls of their prey.

“There are other versions of the same story. In one of them, Leari was an acolyte of Goddess, hence the help she was given. If such fate could be called help. The other tells us how she was elven witch who bewitched Maragwim, and how he was freed from the spell, only to lash at her and throw her off the cliffs.

“I, as always, urge the storyteller to the caution. The events can not be taken as true in their complete nature, for, though, I'm sure, some kernel of truth remains, it is, indeed, very deep and well hidden. In past three scores of years I have heard more then eighty songs and stories about prince and just this one of king Haramound. No one knows who they were, for Impiltur has always had but one king, or none. And prince Maragwim... Of all his deeds we have just legends, places where he slew monsters or human foes. If half of the songs of him were true, he should have lived at least for hundreds of years.”
Scholars or other interested parties in Sarshel's history may find this mentioned in the city's archives should they have access to this:
Spoiler:
As the records state (incomplete as they are) the reader will not find any of the names mentioned above. He could conclude that the "king" of the tale was some local noble perhaps. Indeed, there is a mention of the family, by the name of Yerwani that held the fort on the north shore of Mal Wash, by the road leading to Mal (Fortress of Mal). They were tasked with guarding the road and, in the case of war, were obliged to send 20 horsemen and 70 foot soldiers or 50 archers to the kind. The account ends here, but it's dated to around 670 DR, predating Fiend Wars. Another account, much later, dated during the Interregnum, mentions a fort that was maintained in that spot. However it seems to have been destroyed, since the only existing fortification at that section of the road, and well known to any local PC, is a small guard tower.
“Violence is the mark of the amateur.” ― Garrett, Thief: The Dark Project

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