Danay's Domain - McKyren's Folly

McKyren's Folly

This is a log of Miriweather telling the tale of McKyren's Folly in the Golden Helm on Teras Isle in June 1999. The log is from Haelra.

Miriweather appears tired as she leans upon her gnarled walking staff for support.

You say, "Evening Miriweather"

Miriweather says, "Evenin' Haelra"

Miriweather joins your group.

You see Lady Miriweather Ellisai the Halfling Empath.
She appears to be in her 120's, has long, braided black hair, green eyes, and tanned skin.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a snifter of 75 year old cognac in her right hand and a gnarled walking staff in her left hand.
She is wearing a suede satchel, a tattered old dress, some silly-looking feathered wings, a silver sunburst pendant, a crystal amulet, and a sprig of jasmine.

Miriweather says, "Ifs we gets a few more folks here -- to buy tha drinks mind ye -- I'll tells a story."

Miriweather smiles.

You exclaim, "Ooo!"

You say, "You're jsut full of surprises tonight"

You hear your own faint thoughts echoing in your head: "If you would all like to take a break from hunting, Lady Miriweather has graciously offered to tell a tale in the Bar"

Miriweather asks, "Well.. have ye all heard tha tale of McKyren?"

Miriweather says, "Well.. long ago.. this isle was the home of a burgeoning colony of dwarves."

Miriweather says, "As I'm sure ye all can tell by the remnants that are lefts here taday."

Miriweather says, "This town offered much in the way of dwarven culture.. the stone masons were the best to be found in tha lands."

Miriweather says, "I was sayin'.. long ago, this sleepy town was the home of a burgeoning colony of dwarves."

Miriweather asks, "Hmm.. now what's was I sayin?"

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "Oh yes! Tha story.."

Miriweather says, "Now then"

Miriweather says, "Now then.. there was in town a family of dwarves."

Miriweather says, "they was known for their mastery of rock formin' over all tha lands."

Miriweather says, "they could make sheer poetry from stone.."

Miriweather says, "Twas as if they could work the stone like a sculptor works clay."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "They's family name was McKyren."

Miriweather says, "Ye knows those dwarves.. who knows where they gets their names."

Miriweather stares off into space.

Miriweather exclaims, "Anyway!"

Miriweather says, "Master McKyren had a grand family of which he was verra proud."

Miriweather nods.

Miriweather says, "He had 8 sons and 5 bonny daughters."

Miriweather says, "He and his lady wife were proud of their chillens."

Miriweather put a gnarled walking staff in her suede satchel.

Miriweather says, "Old Master McKyren had his eldest two sons help him in his forge.. and found apprenticeships for the others with notable craftsmen."

Miriweather says, "His daughters were as fair as they were smart. They quickly found both husbands and/or professions to keep their interests. I hears tell one became a notable wizard."

Miriweather says, "Things were happy in the McKyren family."

Miriweather says, "Then.. one day, Lady McKyren found she was again with child."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "She happily told her Lord, ole Master McKyren."

Miriweather exclaims, "He was confoozled!"

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather exclaims, "He had used up all his favors placing all tha rest!"

Miriweather says, "He didnae knows what he'd do with the newcomer.. and he and his Lady were late in life by then."

Miriweather says, "Anyway.. time marched on."

Miriweather says, "It drew near the time when Lady McKyren would deliver the new arrival."

Miriweather says, "She came to labor on a stormy night.. the sea blew in on screaming wind. The trees were bent to the ground."

Miriweather says, "Well.. tha lady labored all through the stormy night."

Miriweather says, "When dawn at last drew the sun to shine on the debris-cluttered beaches of this isle.."

Miriweather says, "..it found McKyren the new father of a baby boy.. and his Lady dead of the birthing."

Miriweather sighs.

Miriweather says, "Twas a sad and bleak day."

Miriweather says, "Tha leetle boy was sickly from the start.. and grew slowly. Always smaller tha' he should be.. but cheerful in the face of all."

Miriweather says, "Anyway.. tha lad's father could never look on his face without tha sadness of missin' his wife preying on his mind."

Miriweather sighs.

Miriweather says, "While, tha lad's brothers and sisters adored him above all elese."

Miriweather says, "Well.. tha lad grew, although not much. He was always smaller than all tha other dwarves."

Miriweather says, "finally tha day came for him to choose a profession."

Miriweather says, "He had longed to join his brothers and dad at the forge alla his life."

Miriweather says, "However, his dad didna share his conviction that he should."

Miriweather says, "So.. he began to spend more and more time roamin' tha cliffs and valleys of this island.. and practicing tha craft he saw his family performin' in secret out there."

Miriweather says, "His da' was a true master.. however, tha older brothers could never seem to quite 'get' the knack of the art."

[Golden Helm, Bar]
Two soft horsehide couches are set before a cozy stone hearth. From behind the rosewood bar, a bald giantman grins perpetually. Great hooded candles are set on low tables along the walls, providing a soft, reddish light. On the wood-paneled walls, two paintings are hung next to a great vultite claidhmore. You also see a brown mouse who is sitting, a basket of sticks and a curved arch. Also in the room: Lord Nakkem, Lord Buronson, Paragonimus who is seated, Lady Aries who is seated, Badd who is seated, Lady Jadall who is seated, Lord Loxik who is seated, Lady Rayyne who is seated, Starrli who is seated, Tsalaroth who is seated, Lady Nephrenia who is seated, Lord Vivecar who is seated, Lady Miriweather who is seated Obvious exits: none.

Miriweather says, "Leetle McKyren watched his da' form works of pure poetry from stone... "

Miriweather says, "..and he would go to the hills and caves and try to echo what he had seen his da' do."

Miriweather says, "One day.. he found a cave."

Miriweather smiles.

Miriweather says, "In tha cave.. he began to work in earnest. At last finding a place to work the marvels he found within his imagination.. fueled by what he'd seen his da' before him do."

Miriweather says, "And there.. he began to feel the pressence of something else."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "A strange... old..... conciousness."

Miriweather says, "He began with something simple.. something pedestrian."

Miriweather says, "he began to build.. a road."

Miriweather says, "He formed the rocks.. he called the sparkle of the heavens down into his road."

Miriweather says, "As he worked with the stone.. the strange pressence began to talk to him."

Miriweather says, "At first he ignored it. He thought it was merely his own imagination."

Miriweather says, "His own longing to become so in-tune with the rock that he could form it to his designs."

Miriweather says, "But gradually.. he realized, that it was indeed.. something else."

Miriweather says, "finally... "

Miriweather says, "He acknowledged the pressence.. and asked..."

Miriweather says, "'Who are you?'"

Miriweather says, "Softly.. he heard an answer."

Miriweather says, "Fangthryn."

Miriweather says, "An old voice.. a voice so low, it's utterance was like the shifting of the earth."

Miriweather says, "As he heard the name, at once he felt as if he'd known it all his life. And at the same time, it was as foreign as a demon is to a dwarve."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "He was afraid."

Miriweather says, "So he tried to ignore the voice, working all the harder on his road."

Miriweather says, "It began to wind its way through the tunnels, like a snake."

Miriweather says, "It began dark in color.. but as it grew, it became the color of salmon.. vivid pink.. and full of the sparkle of mica, like stars in the heavens."

Miriweather says, "He soon realized that the strange ore he was using was tinting the road."

Miriweather says, "He found it littered about the caverns.. and he used it."

Miriweather says, "he was proud of his road.. it was beautiful and smooth and seemed to grow from his hands like a living thing."

Miriweather smiles.

Miriweather says, "Then one day.. as he was working.. he looked up."

Miriweather says, "The road had come to the entrance of a great cavern."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "He'd never explored the caverns that far."

Miriweather says, "The place was big.. the ceilings high above and invisible."

Miriweather says, "And in the center was a well."

Miriweather says, "It was a hole and he could nae see the bottom."

Miriweather says, "but he heard voices from it."

Miriweather says, "Well.. one voice really." Miriweather says, "The voice that had become a constant companion."

Miriweather says, "by this time, his family hardly saw him."

Miriweather says, "When he would return, his siblings would ask him where he spent all his time.. but he felt a strange reluctance to disclose his endeavors."

Miriweather says, "'I'll wait till I'm finished,' he told himself."

Miriweather says, "Then.. he thought, "I'll show them that I'm good enough to work with my da'!""

Miriweather says, "Upon reaching the cavern, he became astounded at the beauty he found there."

Miriweather says, "And there, he saw the truth of the reddish colored ore he'd been using."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "Shards were there.. only in that cavern.. they were a bright ruby red."

Miriweather says, "The pieces looked like.. well, like pieces of a large orb.. or maybe.. egg-shells."

Miriweather says, "Finding such an amount of it.. his road continued."

Miriweather says, "finally, it covered the entire floor of the cavern, in its pristine smoothness and finish."

Miriweather says, "The last section he finally finished.. in the southwest corner of the cavern."

Miriweather says, "And here.. it ended at a wall. Upon the wall were incised strange symbols which he could not read."

Miriweather says, "he sat upon the perfect surface of his incredible road and gazed at the symbols."

Miriweather says, "They were beautiful.. their forms were graceful, looping across the wall in an endless dance."

Miriweather says, "As he gazed upon them, he began to hear his companion.. the voice.. and it began to translate the meaning of the glyphs."

Miriweather furrows her brow.

Miriweather says, "Finally.. hearing that voice.. he gave into it."

Miriweather says, "As he tumbled into its depths.. he was overcome by the sheer beauty and agelessness of it."

Miriweather says, "He was drawn into it, as a lover is drawn into the embrace of his partner."

Miriweather says, "And as he gave himself up to it, he began to understand what he'd made his road from.."

Miriweather says, "What it was."

Miriweather says, "Well.."

Miriweather says, "At the point of his understanding.."

Miriweather says, "Suddenly, the little dwarf felt a shift.. as if a shift in the very 'being' of reality."

Miriweather says, "And in that moment.. he felt a second pressence.. like the one who'd become part of himself.. but different."

Miriweather says, "And this one was definately not friendly."

Miriweather says, "The dwarf's kindly pressence coiled into the center of his being, as if biding there to protect him."

Miriweather says, "While, the... 'other'.. seemed to lift itself up from the well like a huge viper."

Miriweather says, "The dwarf was terrified."

Miriweather says, "Suddenly, he felt the being within him rise from his chest.. and confront the malevoelent being approaching from the well at the center of the cavern."

Miriweather says, "The conflict began. The dwarf wasn't sure if it was within his mind.. or actually taking place. All he could do was cower at the base of the carved wall and watch the conflict."

Miriweather says, "The being he knew as Fangthryn battled relentlessly."

Miriweather says, "However, his adversary was both immense and tireless."

Miriweather says, "Finally, he felt the sweet essence of his companion begin to weaken."

Miriweather says, "Slowly he drew himself up, until he was standing."

Miriweather says, "He watched as clouds of vapor and static light circled the cavern as the imortals battled."

Miriweather says, "He walked a few paces toward the center of the chamber."

Miriweather says, "Suddenly, behind him, he felt a throb of air.. and turning, he beheld the wall at which he had marveled explode."

Miriweather says, "It was as if the explosion was in slow motion.. he watched huge pieces of rock slowly glide past him."

Miriweather says, "And in that moment, he had an idea."

Miriweather says, "In that moment.. he knew that his love for the being Fangthrym was what was dooming it."

Miriweather says, "As the immortals battled.. he slowly walked forward."

Miriweather says, "Each step seemed to take every effort he could summon."

Miriweather says, "He walked forward.. toward the center of the cavern."

Miriweather says, "And finally.. reaching its center.. he stopped."

Miriweather says, "He turned and conected his conciousness with that of the being he knew as "

Miriweather says, "Fangthryn.. he sensed the mystery and the beauty of his friend."

Miriweather says, "then.. he confronted the other."

Miriweather says, "He laughed in its face."

Miriweather says, "He jumped about.. he made rude gestures to it."

Miriweather says, "It was terrifying and horrible in its power."

Miriweather says, "It was everything he could have feared in every nightmare imaginable."

Miriweather says, "And it was slowly coming toward him."

Miriweather says, "All of a sudden, it leaped, clutching him in its endless and timeless abyss."

Miriweather says, "And at that moment.."

Miriweather says, "He leapt into the bottomless pit he knew as the well at the heart of Fangthryn's Cavern."

Miriweather sighs.

You try to pull Miriweather towards you.

Miriweather smiles.

You ask, "Then what!?"

Miriweather shrugs.

You flail your arms about.

Miriweather says, "They say.. somewhere.. McKyren's Folly will be found."

Miriweather says, "His brothers and sisters mourned him."

Miriweather says, "His father said he was never meant to be."

Miriweather says, "Time will tell.. if he came to his end by falling into the ocean after too much grog."

Miriweather says, "No one's ever been able to find what his brothers and sisters said he spoke of."

Miriweather says, "No.. twas never found."

Miriweather sighs.

Miriweather chuckles.

Miriweather says, "However.."

Miriweather says, "Tis said.."

Miriweather says, "later.. occasionally.."

Miriweather says, "his siblings were said to mention visitations.."

Miriweather says, "Something would come to them.. saying that their brother was special.."

Miriweather says, "and tis said that every sibling that dwarf had was blessed with such good luck as to make them wealthy and fat all their days."

Miriweather grins.

Miriweather says, "So.. thas an old story."

Miriweather smiles.

Miriweather says, "McKyren's Folly"

Miriweather says, "Well.. I hopes someday.. that dwarf's labors will be found.. and he'll be finally given tha honor he deserves... tis said that he was ridiculed in tha town afterwards."

Miriweather says, "Well me friends. I also haves a good story about a dwarven smithy.. I'll tells tha' another night soon."

Miriweather says, "Me friends.. I will return. I haves yet another story."

You hug Miriweather.

Miriweather wanders off, her liquor held firmly in her hands.