The Ebon Blade

The History of Ansteorra's First Sword of State

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE SWORD OF ANSTEORRA, ITS TRADITIONS UNTIL THE TIME OF ITS LOSS, THE PLEDGE OF THE LIONS AS STEWARDS, AND THE PLEDGE OF THE KINGS REGARDING IT.

- by Viscountess Megan Andoniel of Glengalen and Baron Orm Skjoldbidig, with the help of Hrabia Jan w Orzeldom, Count Finn Kelly O'Donnell, Master Ivar Battleskald, & Lord Xylon Xerxes

Ansteorra, then being a principality of Atenveldt, yielded to its neighbor principality Megan of Namron to be their Princess, and at that time Orm went to the King of Atenveldt, who was Jonathan DeLaufyson, saying that he desired to be wed to a princess of the realm. The king said if you do these deeds for me I shall promise you the hand of this princess: First, go to Al Barran. There is a rock in an abbey there which is the same rock that the kings of Atenveldt stand upon at coronation, and the monks withhold it, for I have made them subject. Bring me the rock. Second, go to the Outlands and guard the princess all the days that she is there. And if I shall go to war, bring to my aid military force. And this Orm swore he would do, giving the king a ring to show his intent. And it came to pass that through great hardship, danger and trial, each of these things were done, and Orm returned from the Outlands three times bringing the rock, aid in war, then the princess, when her reign was accomplished.

HOW THE RAVEN CAME TO SAIL

In the time of their reign in Atenveldt, Willow, Queen, gave to her foster sons, Frea and Ivar of Namron, a ship, worthy of kings sons, and they called it the Raven, and found hardy warriors to man her oars. Later, on returning from the Outlands Orm, being seasoned in battle, was called by the Raven captains to man her steer board. Many months after, Megan was called to pull an oar, being less seasoned, but hardy, quick with spear, and tenacious; and Megan and Cyf were the only women ever to row or fight on the ship Raven.

CREATION OF THE LIONS AND HOW ORM WAS MADE PREMIER

As Megan returned from the Outlands, Ansteorra became a kingdom. Jonathan and Willow, who had been king and queen of Atenveldt ruled first on the throne of Ansteorra. Many deeds they did that strengthened our kingdom, and became part of our oldest traditions, yet deeds were done, too, by royalty and nobility alike, that brought harm. The kingdom was torn by strife. Now sad times befell the new kingdom, and actions were taken by many that all regretted later. Ansteorra learned to her sorrow that strength lay in unity, as outsiders came to impose their will upon the kingdom.

In this time, as Jonathan and Willow made ready to leave the thrones to their heirs, they created an order to embody the Spirit of values cherished, that others in the kingdom might rally and follow their lead, and this order they called the Lions of Ansteorra, Defenders of the Dream. For the first of this order they chose Orm Skjoldbidig, known as the Red. They retired, whereon Lloyd and Jocelyn ascended the throne.

HOW MEGAN FOUND THE SWORD, THE RAVENS BOUGHT IT, AND ORM REFORGED IT

Now, Megan, returned to her lands, sought a gift for Ansteorra where she was born. She found a sword in the keeping of a man of Atenveldt and seeing that it was once well made by the force of hammer she asked its history. This man said he had only just brought it from the desert of Atenveldt, and told of how it had seen battle. Megan thought it would be a good sword if it could be worked, though it had taken grievous harm in service.

At this time the kingdom was young and there was little that was used by the king that was both a weapon and a symbol of state; and Megan thought a symbol of unity would be good. The sword could be had, but at a price in gold, so Megan went to the Ravens and told them what she found, and what she foresaw could be the story of the sword, if it but could be acquired. Megan and Orm pledged half the sword's price, the Raven captains Frea and Ivar just under a fourth each, and each of the remaining Ravens including Richenda, Finn, Cyf, Edward the Proud, Morgan the Grey, Red Malcom, and others, made up the balance.

Orm then took the blade into his hands, and under the starlight of the realm he reforged it and made it straight.

HOW ORM CLAIMED HIS BRIDE AND THE SWORD CAME TO THE KING

Now Orm took thought that he would claim his bride. He gathered to himself the Raven captains Frea and Ivar, and his kin and housecarls, and came before the king who was on royal progress in his barony called the Steppes. Without leave of herald straight from ship he came, and asked the king for the hand of Megan, the king's kin who sat in court beside him. The king demanded by what reason he should deliver up the chieftess. Orm spoke of his tasks and Jonathan, duke, set forth how he had pledged to Orm. The bride price and matter of the bride's weapons were settled, as is told elsewhere, but Lloyd asked what should be given him for his part in this. At this, Ivar stepped forth, and drew a red cloak from his mailed fist in which he held a bare ebon blade, which the king drew.

And Orm said "Take this oh king, as a wedding gift from me, and the crew of the ship Raven, unto the Kingdom of Ansteorra, to stand and be used as the sword of state." And to this Lloyd agreed.

IVAR IS MADE LION

Their reign came to an end, and King Lloyd called Ivar to stand by Orm and wear the badge of the White Lion. Lloyd left the sword of state with his crown upon the throne, and Jan became king, and took up both crown and sword.

MEGAN IS MADE LION

In their time Jan and Kemreth ruled fairly, and there was prosperity and laughter in their reign. When this was nearly at and end, Jan gave Megan a lion made all of silver, and brought her to stand by Orm and by Ivar. In this time Jan gave thought it would be fitting that the sword of State be cared for by the Lions.

THE SWORD PASSES TO THE LIONS

Now at this time the Order of the Lions, Defenders of the Dream was very small, being only Orm, Ivar and Megan, and these three sailed on the ship Raven, and the sword was entrusted to the Raven crew for care. In the time of Sigmund and Sieglinde, the heirs of Jan and Kemreth, the Raven was sailing often abroad, and it became difficult to tend the sword for the king. Megan thinking on Jan's words, sought with the Raven crew that the sword might be given to the care of the Lions of Ansteorra, for all the Lions were also Raven at that time. To this the Ravens agreed, having seen their names and a place of honor made for their role in bringing the sword to the kingdom.

THE PLEDGE

Now Orm, Ivar and Megan went before Sigmund, king, and let it be known that the Ravens tendered stewardship of the sword to the Lions of Ansteorra. They pledged, as Defenders of the Dream, to guard the sword and the principles for which it stood, and received in pledge that the sword of state would remain their especial trust as the symbol of all that the Lions guard, and that when the first sword was retired, it should go to Orm and Megan's care, while the Lions, together, would bring forth a new sword, in stewardship, as before. These pledges, on both sides, were renewed between the Lions and Finn Kelly O'Donnell who followed Sigmund, and thereafter between the Lions and other sovereigns. However, as the order grew and became more widespread, this knowledge was passed on less and less, until there came a time when the pledge was forgotten and the kings knew not where the sword came from. Neither so, did many Lions know.

HOW THE LIONS UPHELD THEIR STEWARDSHIP

Hrabia Jan was called to the company of the Lions, and at the end of Sigmund's reign the Lions came forth together and Jan took the sword from him, for the Lions to hold in that dangerous time when there is no king. And when the heir, Finn Kelly came forth, they challenged him, and were satisfied of his answer. So it was established that the Lions would guard the sword as the chivalry guard the king's crown, and all that the order was created to embody, the sword came to embody also. At times, so precious was the sword for what it symbolized, both the Chivalry and the Royal Family tried to gain its stewardship from the Lions, only to be reminded of the pledges of kings.

Four times did the sword return to the hand of Orm and Megan, for renewal and care. In that time Orm fashioned a scabbard, and twice rewrapped the hilt; Megan etched its pommel and scabbard ornaments; and Orm's apprentice, Xylon, reworked the pommel and quillions. Each time, the ebon finish was restored. The sword was last cared for by all three in the reign of Michael IV, and was passed from him to his heirs.