Berra Jarang’s Daughter

Name

Berra Jarang’s Daughter. Not Jarangsdottir.

Child of Jarang the Redsmith and Heri Horse-herder, both dead.

Tribe, Clan, Class

Blue Tree clanswoman, of the Colymar tribe. A professional warrior and Initiate of Humakt.

History and Context

A displaced youth who was sent away from Sartar to Esrolia, Berra has grown up to be a Humakti warrior. She returned to Sartar at the start of the campaign.

Berra’s people, the Blue Tree Clan, live on a tributary of the Creek, in an area with good horse grazing, and a cliff on which there grows a sacred tree, its trunk blue from some trick of the area, or long years of the application of woad. The area below the cliff is good land, but for the lethal windings of the local river, which can change course several times in Storm season and Sea season, as rains or meltwater come down.

Berra counts her years with a handful of Clacks, putting each one into a line and saying a thing of import that happened. It is possible for the numerate to work backwards. Special years are represented by a Lunar.

1604: “This was the year that your grandfather’s death was told to us. He died after Boldhome.”
1605: “This is the year of the three head fight. The Turtle Clan was friendless.”
1606: “This is the year that you were born. The river made many forks and small islands.”
1607: “This is the year Chief Ganah died. The harvest was good and the river was kind.”
1608: “This is the year of strong colts, and a horse that had a golden mane up on the cliff. Your sister was born.”
1609: “This is the year your father died. Your mother stayed with the clan and your cousins’s cousins. The wine branch of the river flooded the ox hall.”
1610: “This is the year the Trickster made the dunghill disappear. A skeleton walked into the Tula.”
1611: “This is the year that your cousin Ilda was married to a Turtle Carl. It was a year marriage that lasted until his death.”
1612: “This is the year the Lunars tried to tax Coppit twice, and he became an outlaw to them.”
1613: “This is the year that Sartar rose up against the Lunars.”
1614: “This is the year of Cold Sorrow, when wives had greater number than husbands.”
1615: “This is the year the Grazelanders savaged the Lunars.
1616: “This is the year of three raids by Dark Trolls.”
1617: “This is the year that your mother died. It was in Storm Season, on a clear day.”
1618: “This is the year that you are sent away. Now you must begin the telling yourself. This is the year I was sent away from home. I swore to be a warrior. I went to live with kin in the Holy Country.”
1619: “This is the year I first saw Nochet.”
1620: “This is the year I became an adult. It was in Storm Season. I began training with the militia.”
1621: “This is the year of the Great Winter. Orlanth and Ernalda died.”
1622: “This is the year the Great Winter’s ice cracked. There was a battle at the Auroch Hills.”
1623: “This is the year that Nochet was under siege. In Sea Season, I was initiated with Humakt. I fought.”
1624: “This is the year of Pennel Ford. I was marked by Humakt on the shoulder, and rallied my troops. I went to the City of Wonders.”
1625: “I fought for Argrath in Pavis and acclaimed him King. I journeyed to Whitewall and Heroquested.”
1626: “I travelled on a river. I was Humakt. I was tricked and Voria lived. The Truth Sword was made for me.”
1627: “This is my year now. I saw the Feathered Horse Queen. I was Humakt, and lost a curved sword.”

Berra's family tree
Berra’s family tree

Diaries/Personal Logs

1625

The Saga of Berra

Berra’s almost-IC saga, telling her story, along with selected quotes, explanations, and links to minor scenes. The saga is broken down by years.

Fragment 2 – The Winning of Wind Tooth

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 2 1625 Fought with the spirit who called himself masteredBerra was gifted the bright bronze sword Wind ToothBright as her mother’s red hair in the hearthfireBright as the life blood she spilled from the ogres Turned towards Whitewall her steps for the Earth-daysBerra invited the healer to guest…

Fragment 3 – The Death Battle of Whitewall

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 3 1625 Tall as a priestess encrowned by the morningBerra led soldiers and herdsmen in ritualJoining in food all the scattered and nervousBravening bolstering boasting of future Sword-blades were darkened and shields by blows sunderedUndead were rising and downhill were tumblingBerra stood firm in the ranks with D’Val…

Fragment 4 – The Journey to Boldhome

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 4 1625 Time in the heavens stood still in its passingTime in the hill fort was gone in a heartbeatNighttime and daytime had passed while they restedWatching the landscape and tending their sword-blades Back at a distance sat Rajar and BisonForeground was filled by the Durulz and Sword-childOnto…

Fragment 5 – Eril and D’Val

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 5 1625 On the next morning soon after the worshipBerra set off with her magic death-strengthened1Indications of a short worship ceremony here give a hint that Berra was at some point touched by Humakt’s favour. Rather than spending a full day in the process of communion, Berra (and…

Fragment 6 – The Heroquest of Whitewall

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 6 1625 Come the next morning when Berra saw sunriseHot in her heart was a seed sleep had plantedFast then she hied to the Chief Priest Tennebris1It is telling that, with ‘Eril’ in the town of Whitewall, a Humakti chose to go to the then Chief Priest Tennebris.…

Fragment 7 – The Composing of Truth

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 7 1625 Berra rode hard on the road to the WestwardThinking within of the Death-Lord and Truth-RuneSpoke with Ring-Eye of the Humakti Sword-CultSeeking within her for truth and without her2This is the point from which most scholars date the Meditations on Y, supposedly by Berra Jarang’s Daughter. It…

Fragment 8 – The Bandit Attack

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 8 1625, Fire Season As she rode on from the Death-hold to BoldhomeBerra rode swiftly and shared roads with no-oneStaying one night in the high halls of WilmskirkFrom her admirers she had a great feasting3Naturally, yet another attempt to show heroic treatment. At the popular 1625 dating of…

Fragment 9 – The Scorpion Folk (Disputed Fragment)

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 9 1625 4While Fragment 9 is a poor fit for poetic style and vocabulary, it is an appropriate bridging story. It is not generally relied on by serious scholars of the era, and furthermore the dating is unclear. Fragment 9 is discussed by Wiermonken.Taking the call of the…

Fragment 10 – The Temple at Alda Chur

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 10 1625 Into the Far Place the caravan settledAlda Chur held them within walls of safetyBerra made haste to the temple of HumaktThere to debate on the Sword with the Priesthood Gallem of Humakt the High Sword asked questionsSaying he knew of the daughter of JarangAsking for truth…

Fragment 11 – Kero Fin

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 11 1625, Dark Season Cold was the wind as the heroes strode upwardsChill were the rocks of the mountain of OrlanthCool was the hatred of Berra for failureWarm were the hopes of mankind5It is generally considered that ‘mankind’ here covers both Tiwr the unicorn, and Salid the Troll-kin,…

Fragment 12 – The Grazeland Lunars

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 12 1625 Westward to river and Northward to GrazelandsLong lay their path but stout was the bisonForcing his way through the undergrowth westwardFinding the river and splashing in shallows5While there is no indication that this is a slight or insult in any way, the clumsiness of the mighty…

Fragment 13 – The Marketplace Argument

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 13 1625, Earth Season Speaking with shamans and walking with chieftainsBerra talked hotly of Lunars and liarsSeeing deceit in the fletchings of arrowsAll of the Grazelanders joined in her anger Berra showed horse-men the javelin bloodied6This rather unusual compound word is usually used for centaurs in later years,…

Fragment 14 a-b – The Return, Dark Season

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 14 1625, Dark Season Fragment 14a – The Return This fragment and fr.14b are usually studied as a single item, as they appear together in antiquity, on opposite sides of a tablet baked by sudden fire. Wiermonken was observed to smile when first handling the item. On through…

Fragment 15 – Storm Season

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 15 1625, Storm Season 7Often associated with 14b, this fragment has appeared unbacked by 14aTaking refreshment and Breath8Again, dating by emphasis. Garin (Altn 19.7) opines that these fragments are not from the original Berra, but, given their emphasis, are a separate poem, cyclical to the year and demonstrating…

Fragment 16 – Eril Scouts

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 16 1625 Hailing the Heroes of Sacred-Time QuestingBerra stepped into the crowd with proud ErilMarched with the brothers of Humakt in concertSaw Kallyr Starbringer starting the Light Quest There in the man-press was Rajar the MightySlighted by Eurmal in guise as a sneak-thiefRage made him strike with his…

Fragment 17 – The Failed Heroquest

Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 17 1625 All they had slain lay in ruin before themBerra the victory had with her blood-friendsThree of the ten on swift horses escaped themCursed by the victors and harried by arrows Then the accounting of living and death-claimedRajar lay shattered and bleeding his life outSaved by the…

Berra’s Meditations on Truth

1625. After failing to inspire herself with her Truth rune at the rededication of a temple of Humakt, Berra began to meditate on it more.

1626

  • Interlude: Wrong In The Head
    I01 — Wrong In The Head 1626, Dark Season Season, Week, Day A Flashback Session in Dark Season, 1626, to introduce Maalira. Dramatis Personae PC BerraMaaliraVaranisXenofos NPC ErhehtaSome ClothesBaboonsA ghoulSome Clothes, but DifferentA horrific magicianSome skeletonsSo many bison spirits. ...
  • In Your Heart
    Maalira — In Your Heart 1626 Context Season/Week/Day/Time and Notable Context. Events Affada glares at Erhehta, but does not argue, and goes to do as she was told. The tiny man looks up at Maalira. “Not all the spirits will know you are a ...
  • Erhehta Attacked
    Maalira — Erhehta Attacked 1626, Earth Season Context 1626, Earth Season, shortly before the PCs are sent for. Events It is late in Earth Season. The hot temperatures of Fire Season have given way to the cooler days of Earth Season, and it has ...
  • Fragment 2.30 – The Sacred Time Rites
    Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 2 30 1626 Deep in the darkness of Found SeparationEril showed secrets to all of his TempleDancing the acts of the God of the sword-waySinging the deeds for the lay-members gathered When he withdrew for the rites that were secretBerra gave up of her magic to serve himTouched on ...
  • Fragment 2.29 – The Acclaimation in Silence
    Diaries The Saga Of Berra — Fragment 2 29 1626 When she returned to the city of SartarBerra was greeted by silence from ErilTaking his words as advice for her actionBerra said nothing of Heroes in Boldhome Sitting to feast with the great and the mightyBerra was silent until Eril called herBowing her head to the ...
  • Back and There Again
    S02 — Session 29 1626, Storm Season Storm Season 1626. Dramatis Personae PC BerraIrilloNalaRajarSuurakiValseenaVaranisXenofos NPCKallyr and her croniesTennebrisEril Events As before, the log will be accompanied by extracts of poetry from the private collection ...
  • VS 097 After the Reward
    Varanis — 1626 0758 Aftermath2 ???? Context from Varanis’ perspective Berra and Varanis discuss Kallyr’s boons and Dormal’s in particular.
  • VS 246 Confessions
    Varanis — 1626 0996 Confessions ????, Sea Season, Disorder Week Context Sea Season, Disorder Week, Freezeday – well before dawn. . Events Confessions Varanis and Berra re-enter the Grape about an hour after Yelmrise. They part ...
  • VS 245 Reckless
    Varanis — 1626 0994 Reckless ????, Sea Season, Disorder Week Context Sea Season, Disorder Week, Freezeday – well before dawn. At the White Grape in Boldhome and from there up to the Flame of Sartar. This is presented in three parts:Part 1 – the climb/racePart 2 – at the topPart ...
  • VS 095 Aftermath of the Quest
    Varanis — 1626 0756b Aftermath ???? Context from Varanis’ perspective Feeling guilty, Varanis tries to visit Berra at the Temple of Humakt. Berra sends her away.
  • On Guard
    In truth, the procession probably needs little by way of security; the group is on roads in a civilised place. Still, Berra makes sure that people are on watch and for a while as they ride she is one of them. After breakfast has been found and eaten, she rides her beautiful golden-eyed horse alongside ...
  • Confidences and confessions
    1628, Fire Season. On the road back toward Sartar, the day after the Lightbringers Quest. Berra tells Varanis about her new-found wolf ability and Varanis shows Berra her sword.
  • Attempted apology
    1628, Fire Season. They’ve just survived the Lightbringers Quest, again, and are on the road to return to Sartar. Berra has been managing to be a guard, but not much else.
  • HeroQuest 5
    The quest sweeps towards a conclusion. (1628, Fire Season, Stasis Week (ish))
  • Crying Wolf
    Berra and Maalira talk about Maalira’s part in the quest and the potential political fallout.
  • Myth of Eurmal Lightbringer
    Myth: The name’s Eurmal. Eurmal Lightbringer.
  • HeroQuest 4
    The descent into the Underworld continues while Berra keeps rebelling. (1628, Fire Season, Stasis Week (ish))
  • HeroQuest 3
    Valseena is pulled into the quest, as is Dormal. The Lightbringers make the sea journey. (1628, Fire Season, Stasis Week (ish))
  • HeroQuest 2
    The quest proceeds as the Lightbringers begin to come together. Berra continues to resist, even as Jar-eel takes her in hand. (1628, Fire Season, Stasis Week (ish))
  • HeroQuest 1
    Berra was resisting the quest as much as possible, while Varanis embraced it fully. Maalira, as Chalana Arroy, went hard to work with healing. (1628, Fire Season, Stasis Week (ish))