Herdsman

Legend

“When the dung hit the mill, he showed what heroes are made of and became legend.”

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

History

Fourth Age

Born in Port Anduas at the shores of Andula Lowlands in eastern Thang, as the 3rd child and youngest son of a Consul from Efron. There was little to no call of labour for Bené, as is his birth name, so he merely played merchant and worked on whatever project he thought fun or interesting. His favourite was buying old boats, waggons, or machinery, which he fixed up or outright repaired and sold at a profit.

Not that he needed the cash, as his father worked directly under the Triad Traders. It was merely for the sport of it. All this did, though, bring him many friends, some outright followers, and a few steady customers. And it was this growing ‘flock’ of people he aided that got him his nickname, ‘Herdsman’.

Skjald Vinotis

 

As he matured, his interest in mechanisation brought him all over Mealis, but also to Midgard and other of the smaller islands. It’s said that around 1184 he was seen at the Gleaming Isle, walking around at the piers of The Lair with Setil, Lionel, and Bergon. Seemingly discussing layout, and most likely traps, caltrops, and similar nasty surprises for the uninvited.

The one who told me this thought it was fun to see such a young man with those three notabilities, each more than 50 years older than him. But, as he thought, being a lad of a man in the service of the Triad Traders surely must have helped.

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

After the reported sighting in 1184, Herdsman seemingly did nothing but study and work at whatever he liked. But slowly, his skills and reputation grew to such heights that one day in 1189, some envoys on a purple-sailed ship with a Kraken banner approached him. The next day he climbed on board, and they sailed off, and it was not until he appeared at the furnaces of Mino's Owing in 1194 that we learned he had been at Mt. Vula.

Skjald El Mary

 

Bené was not unaccustomed to sailing, so it was only the length of the trip that worried him. So big was his surprise as the ship, still with harbour in sight, sailed into a mist. As the mist thickened, it seemed as though energies pulsed and flowed amongst the swirling fog, creating coloured swirls when touched by the ship. Just as the ship broke free and sunshine baked hot on faces, he realised they had used Astravel. Emerging from the coloured curtain, they floated out into a small harbour, with a plenitude of ships from various races. Not a sailor or guard in sight on ships nor at piers, not even in the narrow streets and allys going upwards the mountainside, nor in the doors or windows of the elaborate buildings and spires, seemingly of Ljost Alfar origin.

Well aware of where they headed, Bené was though unprepared for the grandness of Mt. Vula, an active volcano it seemed, and the beauty of the well-preserved City of Ljostalia. Docked, they walked upstreet and entered one of the entrances in the mountainside, where hot air streamed towards them as they descended into Mt. Vula’s depth.

Skjald Yell’a’Beard

 

Working on and off at Mino’s Owing, alongside great talents, his Skills grew, but so did his hunger for further knowledge and his urge to improve the work of less gifted crafters. So, he travelled a lot as well, and around 1213–14, Herdsman was gone, and I do not know where. But in 1215 he returned shortly, only to leave for Ye Olde Zephyrs in 1216, where he studied with Lord Nam for 3 years. After that, he left for the town of Cypril, where he visited and studied with the young but skilled Zambuk for 2 years.

In 1221, he returned to the Free City of Muldum, and was there when the extremely skilled F.F. Jaeger joined the Minos crew of skilled Smidhrs.

Skjald El Mary

 

With a hammer so skilled…

And it hits so angled…

There was much to learn…

But, alas, soon all coped…

Only order and tidiness were to be done…

[Skjald Kazumix

 

When Mino left and men like Mayor Tri-M decided to form the Bulls Order and break ties with king Nefius of Fur Oracles and one of the founders of the Triad Traders. Herdsman was the obvious choice as the 1st Quartermaster of the Bulls Order’s weapons and in charge of the town’s storage supplies. A title and job he held with great honours until The Great Invasion, where the Free City of Muldum was sacked and burned.

Herdsman told me when we met after the Battle of Weeping Plains. When the Great Invasion force poured through the gates of the Free City of Muldum, he was visiting Thang. His eldest brother lay sick after an assassination attempt that had killed the rest of the family. He thought the murders were unrelated to the Great Invasion and had a suspicion of who was behind them. But he would not tell me who he considered to be behind the foul act. But I expect it’s the one he’s hunting on the dusty roads of The Scorched Dawn.

Skjald Sejrik