Life Stories from Helsgaard Keep

Helsgaard Keep overlooking the Helsgaard Frontier.

The Legend of Hel

The wind howled across Hel's black volcanic gravel plains, carrying with it the choking stench of sulfur and the distant roar of draconic fury. This desolate land was named for and ruled by Hel, the daughter of Loki, and her reign was a symphony of fire and shadow. Her dragons, those winged terrors born of volcanic ash and frozen screams, patrolled the skies, their eyes burned like molten gold, while the underground was filled with those who died from illness or old age, doomed to be Hel-walkers for eternity.

Humanity, ever bold and adventurous, dared to settle near Hel's domain, their villages and farms a stark contrast to the blackened earth. For a time, an uneasy truce prevailed. But Hel grew restless, consumed by a lust for power and dominion. She craved the human lands, their fertile fields, and vibrant life, a tempting prize.

One fateful night, beneath the blood-red glow of a crimson moon, Hel unleashed her fury. Dragons descended upon the human settlements, their fiery breath incinerating homes and crops. The human warriors fought bravely, their iron swords clashing against the dragons' scales, but they were hopelessly outnumbered.

Amidst the chaos and despair, a young warrior named Ragnar Valdissen, the second son of King Valdissen, emerged as a beacon of hope. With courage and cunning, he rallied his people, leading them in a desperate defense. He sought a place to stand where they could resist the tide of fire and death.

His eyes fell upon a towering cliff overlooking the plains of Hel, its face red stone. "Here," he declared. "We will build a fortress, a bulwark against the darkness!"

And so, with sweat and blood, they carved Ragnar Keep out of the rock, a bastion of defiance against Hel's wrath. Its walls were thick and robust, its towers reaching the heavens like defiant fists. From this stronghold, Ragnar and his warriors repelled wave after wave of draconic attacks, their arrows finding chinks in the dragons' armor, their swords tasting dragon blood.

The siege lasted for weeks, the air thick with smoke and the stench of death. But Ragnar Keep held. Finally, with a roar of frustration, Hel withdrew her forces, her hunger for conquest momentarily sated.

After successfully repelling Hel, Ragnar renamed the Keep to Helsgaard Keep - the Keep that guarded Hel. It symbolized human resilience and a testament to their courage in the face of overwhelming odds. The Keep served as a reminder that even in the darkest times, hope can thrive, and even the most fearsome foes can be confronted. Although Hel's dragons still roamed the skies, they dared not approach the Keep, for the memory of their defeat burned deeply within their reptilian hearts.

The dragons haven't been seen for a century, and the story has since been relegated to the realm of myths and legends.

Today, Helsgaard Keep is staffed mainly by people hiding from something or someone. The Keep welcomes all volunteers with the skills to trade in exchange for hospitality. Those who aren't running likely ended up here because of poor choices or incompetence. The current King Valdissen declared the Helsgaard Frontier open for settlement and homesteading without regard for his great uncle's battle with Hel's dragons a century earlier. This brought more people, and a new town called Helsgaardborg was built outside the Keep.

Overall map of the region. Ranvsríki is the yellow region.
Click to zoom in to larger version.

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