[Jybalbyle]

Hi guys,

Well... I can't remember how I managed to get the Ulm prologue on the DomWiki page, so I'm gonna do a Darkwind and post below. Enjoy...


When Adwulf returned to his village, there was a great commotion. A hunter on the fringes of the village had quickly spotted and sent word to the chieftain that his son had returned. Einric had merely nodded, downed his mead horn and strapped on his sword. He called the master Smith of the village to his side, cradling the brutal hammer of justice in his hands. If Adwulf had returned empty-handed, or worse, with an unworthy trophy, the hammer would strike out justice upon his skull. There was no mercy for the weak, not even the son of a chieftain.
They waited for him at the old and twisted oak at the centre of the village which represented the great Irminsul at the heart of the Lethyr forest. Alone, Adwulf strode forward. Some of Einric’s warriors were taken aback by the gleaming black armour he wore, but Einric faced him impassively. “You have returned to me, my son.” He said. “But have you returned a man?”
Adwulf looked his grizzled father in the eye. “I have.”
“And what trophy do you bring your chieftain?” The old Smith spoke, hefting his giant hammer.
Adwulf drew his sword in one swift motion. The warriors at Einric’s side flinched as the blade was drawn. “This is but the first of many gifts.” Adwulf said. “A sword of the Forge Lord himself!”
The old Smith cursed. “What nonsense! A fine blade it is, no doubt, but you’ll face the hammer’s judgement if you jest again before me.”
“Call me a liar, Smith, if you dare!” Adwulf growled, pointing Gelberic’s sword at him.
The hammer’s judgement fell not on Adwulf that day. The old Smith, trusting in his own steel, was no match for the craft of Gelberic. The hammer swung downward and Adwulf’s sword sliced upward to meet it. The blade cut through steel as easily as flesh and bone. The old Smith dropped to the earth among the old oak’s roots, the stump that had been his right arm spurting blood. He did not live much longer after that.
“Hear me!” Adwulf turned on his father’s warriors. “I have seen the Forge Lord and he has given me his blessing. Who else doubts my word?!” There were no voices raised against him. “Father, I have not returned a mere man. I am more that that! I will lead our tribe to conquer this land and with the aid of the Forge Lord our warriors will be invincible.”
“You lead?” Einric said. “You forget yourself, Adwulf. You are still my son and you will obey me! Give me this sword and the armour and I will judge your passage to manhood complete.”
Adwulf could see it in his eyes… That glimmer of greed when his father asked for his armaments. Next he would demand that Adwulf show him the cave and the giant within. Then he would be nothing again. Nothing but a warrior among his father’s household. Well Adwulf would not give up his prize so easily. It was more than mere chance that brought him to Gelberic. It was his destiny. And as Einric stretched out his greedy hand to take all that Adwulf had achieved, something inside him made him act.
The sword plunged through Einric’s chest, snapping through the links in his chainmail and bursting from his spine. Then Einric’s warriors fell upon Adwulf, their swords ringing on his armour. But this jet black steel, moulded by the very hands of a god, would not be broken so easily. Three of Einric’s best were dead before the rest backed off. Then there was a shout of “Adwulf! Adwulf!” and the warriors began fighting amongst themselves as the young men saw an opportunity to side with Einric’s son. The elder warriors who had fought beside Einric since boyhood were loyal to the end, but faced by treachery from the young bucks and the deadly sword of Adwulf, they did not stand a chance. They fought bravely and died with their weapons in hand. What more could a warrior ask for.
When the red mist faded from Adwulf’s eyes, he could hear the young warriors chanting his name. His father and his supporters were dead. Nothing now stood in his way as chieftain of the village. But for Adwulf, that was not enough…