Chapter One
In the ancient times, when the tribes of men were scattered abroad on the face of the land, a tribe of men traveled to the mountains belonging to the Steelhammer Thane. The hill dwarves taught the men, known as the Imeni tribe, how to farm and the Imeni abandoned their former trade of sheep herding. This was the first human tribe to take up the plow, since all men either hunted or tended to sheep and cattle. The Imeni brought their ales with them, since drinking water was a risk. (They did not yet know that water could be boiled, something the Elves have been doing for thousands of years)
"We have no ale left and the hill dwarves will not give us a good price for their stocks." said the village elders to the thane of the village of Westmoor. Westmoor was a tiny village, built of stone and thatched roofs, in the valley of Tharsling. The thane, Fordling Westmoor looked alarmed. "We will be reduced to drinking the river water? What on earth are our allies thinking? I shall take my sword and seek out the rumored Blue Spring Stone." said the thane as he picked up his cloak. The thane took seven retainers and rode up to Mt. Gisel. "Up on this mountain is a whole face of Blue stone, it is rumored to clean anything it touches." said the thane. "And if only you could get up there." said a shadowed dwarf. "Stand aside, we seek the Blue Stone for our people." said the thane. "Only if you answer a riddle." said the shadowed dwarf. "Say on." said the thane. "Eight venture forth to seek a stone, only seven return. What happens to the eight?" asked the shadowed dwarf. "I suppose the eight dies?" asks the thane, not realizing the foolishness of his answer. "You have answered correctly." said the shadowed dwarf. who lunged at the thane with his dagger. The thane drew his sword and slew the hidden dwarf. "Nay, you did not kill me, nor do I die today." said the thane as he put the broadsword back in it's scabbard. The party began to climb the mountain and left their horses at a steep point. The thane had filled his wine skin with river water as a test for the fabled Blue Stone. After hours of climbing, they came on a large, flat spot with a large Blue Stone standing near a small pond. The stone seemed to sing. "This must be the fabled Blue Stone. Chip off a part and let us test it." said the thane. One retainer chipped off a portion and dipped it in the river water and drank it. "This water is pure." said the man. The thane gave the order and the men chipped off portions of the Blue Stone and they placed the fragments in their bags. They slowly went back down the mountain and returned to the village and showed the Bluestone to the people. The people cheered when they learned that the Bluestone was good for purification of the water. The whole tribe soon heard of this feat and the thanes met and declared Fordling Westmoor the King of the tribe. The House of Westmoor ruled that nation for many years to come.
In the ancient times, when the tribes of men were scattered abroad on the face of the land, a tribe of men traveled to the mountains belonging to the Steelhammer Thane. The hill dwarves taught the men, known as the Imeni tribe, how to farm and the Imeni abandoned their former trade of sheep herding. This was the first human tribe to take up the plow, since all men either hunted or tended to sheep and cattle. The Imeni brought their ales with them, since drinking water was a risk. (They did not yet know that water could be boiled, something the Elves have been doing for thousands of years)
"We have no ale left and the hill dwarves will not give us a good price for their stocks." said the village elders to the thane of the village of Westmoor. Westmoor was a tiny village, built of stone and thatched roofs, in the valley of Tharsling. The thane, Fordling Westmoor looked alarmed. "We will be reduced to drinking the river water? What on earth are our allies thinking? I shall take my sword and seek out the rumored Blue Spring Stone." said the thane as he picked up his cloak. The thane took seven retainers and rode up to Mt. Gisel. "Up on this mountain is a whole face of Blue stone, it is rumored to clean anything it touches." said the thane. "And if only you could get up there." said a shadowed dwarf. "Stand aside, we seek the Blue Stone for our people." said the thane. "Only if you answer a riddle." said the shadowed dwarf. "Say on." said the thane. "Eight venture forth to seek a stone, only seven return. What happens to the eight?" asked the shadowed dwarf. "I suppose the eight dies?" asks the thane, not realizing the foolishness of his answer. "You have answered correctly." said the shadowed dwarf. who lunged at the thane with his dagger. The thane drew his sword and slew the hidden dwarf. "Nay, you did not kill me, nor do I die today." said the thane as he put the broadsword back in it's scabbard. The party began to climb the mountain and left their horses at a steep point. The thane had filled his wine skin with river water as a test for the fabled Blue Stone. After hours of climbing, they came on a large, flat spot with a large Blue Stone standing near a small pond. The stone seemed to sing. "This must be the fabled Blue Stone. Chip off a part and let us test it." said the thane. One retainer chipped off a portion and dipped it in the river water and drank it. "This water is pure." said the man. The thane gave the order and the men chipped off portions of the Blue Stone and they placed the fragments in their bags. They slowly went back down the mountain and returned to the village and showed the Bluestone to the people. The people cheered when they learned that the Bluestone was good for purification of the water. The whole tribe soon heard of this feat and the thanes met and declared Fordling Westmoor the King of the tribe. The House of Westmoor ruled that nation for many years to come.
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