Daggerfall:Daggerfall Preview/REDGUARD.TXT

REDGUARD.TXT is a text file that was included with the Daggerfall Preview demo. Authorship is credited to "Ryders Bloc", and the document contains developer's notes about Redguard heroes and lore. It is broken into sections, which eventually became  ,  ,  , and  . In addition, Divad the Singer is much longer and contains a second story, The Song of Divad.

The document has been formatted for readability and to remove extraneous details, though the text is presented unedited; any typographical errors are present in the original document and should not be corrected.

REDGUARD.TXT
A summary of The Heroes Document.

This document is written like it is a draft of a scholarly book written as a 
historical analysis exploring the myths and tales as history.

Hero Frandar Hunding - Redguard history prior to coming to Hammerfell.  
This sets the  stage for some color and texture of the people.  Creates a 
context and some terminology.  Creates concept of thought sword quasi 
magic "spirit sword".  Explanation of names Hammerfell and Redguards.
 
Hero Makeli Leki - Redguard history about 300 years after coming to 
Hammerfell pure heroic stuff - concept memory stone that can be used to 
record memories of a person.  Also follow up concept of a pure thought 
weapon a spirit sword - used by only special warriors like these two 
heroes.  Sets context for a conflict with a local lord in High Rock who tries 
to invade through Wrothgarian mountain pass - The Bangkorai pass.  

Hero Divad - Hunding's son, takes Hammerfell as the new land of the 
Redguards from  giant goblins.  He combines the spirit sword and a 
conventional magic sword to create  5 great magical swords to defeating 
the giant goblins.  The Arena goblins are short little yellow guys, kind of 
woosy fighters, a foe just a notch above a sewer rat.  Hammerfell was first 
occupied by Dwarves.  They were a sparse population with just a few 
riches filled cities.  Over night (from another dimension) a new breed of 
goblins invades - a huge army of fighters appears in the middle of the 
province, and pillages, raises towns to the ground and drives the surviving 
Dwarves out.   The Dwarves  flee through a lone surviving port city and are 
gone by the time the Redguards cross the ocean.  Hunding and Divad 
arrive thinking the abandoned port city is vacant, and Hunding is cowardly 
killed.  Divad leads the battle to wrest the land from the giant goblins  and 
needs to resort to magic (5 great magical swords) to defeat them.  The 5 
combined cast a mighty spell that literally diminishes the goblins to the 
size and temperament we find in current Arena, and they flee to caves and 
wilderness, leaving Hammerfell. The Redguards to inherit the province.

Hero Derik Hallin - He lives in later years when Redguards have mostly 
forgotten their own heritage.  They face a great peril from the giant goblins 
again, who have managed to open the path from the other dimension.  
Divad after the battle for Hammerfell decided the 5 swords were too 
powerful to leave just lying around so he hid them in succeedingly 
dangerous and tricky caves in the mountains.  Derik quests to find them 
and defeat goblins.  He does so, and the swords are destroyed and lost for 
good (but with just a tickle could maybe come back to be found in modern 
times).  This last hero's story  happened about 1000 years from Daggerfall 
times.  

Each story is cast in a bit different way.  Frandar, as pure clinical history; 
Makela as her own memories being played back, Divad as a scholarly 
assessment followed by a poem translated into prose, and Derik as a 
recorded campfire tale.

Maybe this will give your tech writers something to work with.  I know it 
was fun for me to write.  Hope this is helpful for creating some background 
for Daggerfall.  Derik's stroy can be fleshed out more instead of taking the 
outline for the editros cop out.  If you would like me to detail this out, I will, 
I just went with wherer the overall book theme took me.  

Unless I hear more from youall (a good southern word for an Atlanta boy) 
I will asssume that you have all you need on the Redguards and enough 
heros.

Dave


Notes on the Redguards, their history and their heroes.

This is a publishers proof of the initial draft of my book, 
"REDGUARDS, THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR HEROES".  

The following is a collection of the tales, myths and history of the 
Redguards.  Much of their history is shrouded in mystery and in the 
mists of time.  It is hard to distinguish between myths, and real history.  
I believe, however, that Frandar Hunding, Divad The Singer, Makela 
Leki, and Derik Hallin were real people and their stories are real.  

The memory stone mentioned in the second chapter may not be familiar 
to all readers.  It is a stone who's mineral content makes it only found in 
the far north of High Rock, and there are few of them to begin with.  At 
one time, there was a Mage that lived in the vastness and wastes of that 
region, and he in practicing enchantment spells, imbued several 
hundreds of them with the ability to hold and record one's thoughts.  
They are extremely valuable and can be used to record only once.  Most 
city museums hold a dozen or so of these stones, and if you take one in 
your hand, you can receive the thoughts of the original owner as clear 
and fresh as if they were speaking to you.  Now days un-recorded stones 
are very rare, and worth far more than in Makela's day.  Imagine she 
paid only 25,000 gold crowns for hers!

I have placed Makela's story before Divad's even through 
chronologically she cam many years after his death.  The choice was 
based on my desire to contrast the stories of the principle heroes of the 
Redguard people.  Locating the story titled the Dragon's Toe last was 
because it illustrates the final use that Redguard Sword Singers made of 
the Five Magical Swords that Divad The Singer constructed to drive the 
Goblins from Hammerfell.

>>> Below are the first chapters of the draft.  

We thousands traveled the Great Ocean deep.  We of the high desert, ah 
to be surrounded by so much water!   All saw the new land rise from the 
water in the east.  A land of richness and great beauty it was, and it 
gladdened our hearts.

A great city we saw, and a great port.  We traveled close to see streets 
deserted., buildings pulled down and falling , a city filled with only 
bones and ghosts of the past, and it saddened our hearts.

Great Lord Prince Hunding landed with his generals and we Singers to 
claim the New Land - it was empty of man.  Unknown to us there 
were others there - they were to break our hearts!

Dwarves were those who had been there first, but now no sign save bones 
and dust.  To the High Temple of the city Hunding came to pray, 
no weapon or armor upon his breast -  no helm upon his brow did rest.

In the silence out of the dark, was a heinous act committed, a dagger as 
he 
kneeled in prayer.  The healers too late were summoned.   An all out battle 
from the emptyness came..

Surrounded we were upon the shore, our army still in the ships so far 
away. 
To the boats our men raced and rowed, and soon two great armies 
in battle were met!

From whence appeared this mighty horde, we could not guess, but wave 
upon wave of Yellow Warriors came and dashed themselves upon our
Rock.  Not for Nothing did we send the evil Hira to his early grave.

It seemed the sun rose and descended to its evening home, and the battle 
did continue.  Soon the yellow horde was stacked upon itself body upon 
body, and still they did come.  But not for Nothing did we send the evil Hira
to his grave.

A break! A break within their lines, and then all were gone save those few 
who upon the ground did lay and moan.  The silence was deafening, and 
our battle victory cry did ring out!  The day is ours!  Another valiant victory 
for the people of the blade.

A new land was ours, and Hunding to mourn.  In his honor we did swear. 
His book to hold close.  In his honor the land we did name after his last 
great battle and the Hammer blow we called it Hammerfell.  A new name 
for us, the Singers, Red guards - no Redguards.

The battle over we did seek to rest, and the land so rich to settle and 
dwell.  To peace, to rest, to have a home!   Oh this land of Hammerfell,
and it gladdened our hearts.

We thought we were home at peace, but the battle had just begun.   For 
with the morning sun, did come again the Yellow Horde.  And fight again 
we must, and again and again and again - and it saddened our hearts.

The council was called, for day after day the fight went on, and no end in 
sight.  From whence do these Goblins come?   We can not endure
their endless coming - and our hearts did break.

A new hope, a plan was Divad's role, and he sent out sixty to spy our foe.  
To learn their secret.   To learn from whence they come.

They told of a mighty rent in the sky, a mighty gate-way in the air it did 
hang.  Like a door in the Hall of virtue, and from it they did spring, in an 
endless line.  
And of it, the mages could powerful magic sense.

Oh to close that door and staunch the flow.  Divad to see him self did go.  
In him the warrior blood was pure, but magic was a companion too.  For 
Divad did sense the power, and in him the plan did grow.

Of Singers our army was built, but few there were with Ansei power, and 
fewer yet could wield the Shehai.   But Shehai was all that could close the 
door, but Shehai of power and purity above mortal man.

But Divad did have a plan.  For lifetimes the Singers did make blades of 
power.  All warriors to wield and use the magic within.   Much more magic 
and power was needed.

But Divad did have a plan.  He the Singer swordsmiths did call, and with 
them he joined the Shehai with the forging of the steel and power. Five 
mighty swords alive with power.  The spirit of Divad within each blade he 
did pour.

So weak he was when blades were done - a newborn babe he could 
hardly 
match in strength.  But the blades  they were alive with his power - and we 
had hope - for Divad did have a plan.

Our five Ansei each did hold one of the blades The five of Magic.  With 
them did surround the gate and call upon the Shehai.  Oh unknown gods 
of war, oh beauty beyond our mortal eyes.  The blaze of power did the five 
blind.

The fire down the blades poured, it devoured the ground, the Goblins, the 
gates, the rent in the sky - all it consumed.  Of the Goblin army, non did 
stand as before.   Every living yellow warrior now Stood small.  As small as 
a child they were.

Unable to wield the weapons of gown men, unable to wear armor too 
large, 
they fled,fled to the caves and under the earth to disturb our peace no 
more.  The gate it was gone from sight!

Divad, one more task did have.  The five swords to lay to rest.   Too 
powerful they would be for man.  Tempting to use, yet a great danger to all 
Hammerfell.

Divad and the five Ansei did climb the mountains to the north.  Divad and 
the five blind Ansei.  Only Divad did return,  the swords lost to mortal man.
Our hearts were gladdened 

But Divad's spirit had left him too and upon his bed did lie.  To 
compose this poem for his people to learn and know.  And our hearts were 
saddened.

On the twelfth day Divad did die, his spirit all had gone.  And all was left 
was our beloved land, the land of Hammerfell.  And our hearts were 
broken.

Editors note --- Destri Melarg has translated this song, which began as 
Divad's 
death poem, but notes that he believes that it ends at this point, with the 
following six phrases (not published in this translation) being added by a 
later 
Bard.   Melarg notes that Divad did return from the mountains and his 
daughter 
Cinsel heard him speaking in his sleep of placing the five great magical 
swords 
in the depths of the  mountain caves.  Each Ansei who came with him 
stayed 
with their sword, somehow she believed that they derived immortality of a 
sort 
from the magic in the blades.  Thus the tale has grown about the five 
caves and 
the guardians of the swords.  Although Divad was a living man and helped 
found 
Hammerfell, there is no scholarly evidence for the magical swords, the 
giant 
goblins or the mountain caves.  Most modern scholars believe that this is 
simply 
embellishment of the original death poem.   The wresting of the land from 
the 
Goblins and how they were banished seems farfetched, since any who 
enter a 
cave or dungeon today can attest that goblins are a mere four feet tall.  

IV.  The Tale of the Dragon's Toe

As told to me around the campfires of Dendle Fragar., I faithfully give you 
the 
story titled "The Dragon's Toe".  It may be noted that this is really the story 
of 
Derik Hallin and the quest for the Five swords of Divad.   In fairness to the 
modern history of Hammerfell, the events of this story appear to have 
actually 
happened.  A thousand years have passed since this story took place, so 
it too 
may contain "extras" like the last six phrases in The Song of Divad.   

The evidence  for the destruction of the Great Goblin Lord and the Army of 
Fear 
however, may be found in the huge field of bones on the Plane of Tear.    
To this 
day, campers and visitors will visit the site, and on occasion find a gold 
coin or 
bit of strangely shaped metal .  History recounts a great destruction, but 
has no 
details, so we must turn to a campfire tale to learn of Hallin.

On hearing the title "The Dragon's Toe" one's mind turns to flying 
monsters and 
the romance of rescuing maidens, but alas the story is one of a man.  The 
Dragon's Toe is a terrain feature of the Wrothgarian mountains that 
separate High Rock and Hammerfell.  This apparently was the region of 
the Caves of Divad, where he hid the five swords. 

I located this story last in my anthology of Heroes, since you need to have 
learned of Divad, Makela, and Frandar Hunding to understand Derik 
Hallin's 
quest.    Derek's story takes place two hundred years after the times on 
Makela 
Leki.  In another time of strife and stress in Hammerfell.  

In Hallin's time, sword-singing had fallen from prominence in the families of 
Hammerfell, and only a vigilant few came to The Hall of the Virtues of War.  
Most 
of the Brothers and Maidens in the local Halls saw their learnings of the 
Way as 
a social event or perhaps as a quaint club.  Few indeed, actually read the 
Book 
of Circles, and fewer yet attempted the learnings of the Way.  Derik, was 
one of 
these precious few.

It was fortunate that Derik was raised in the back country, and was able to 
avoid 
the sophisticism of the cities.  His Hall of the Virtues of War had stuck 
closely to 
the old ways, and the Brothers and Maidens could actually teach the forms 
of 
the Way.  The once-a-week sitting at the feat of the master in that Hall 
contained 
real wisdom, and discussion of the Book of Circles.  On festival and feast 
days they sang the old Bard songs of Divad.

Derek was small of stature, but agile of mind and body.   His skills in all 
things 
sat him apart from the would-be Signers of his time.  Had his Hall been 
located 
in one of the large cities, jealousy and envy of him prowess would certainly 
have 
limited his progress - it is uncertain if he could have risen to the Ansei 
level 
there.  

Like Makelia, he too could form the Shehai as a child, and on assention in 
the 
Hall to his manhood, he alone in the entire province of Hammerfell 
possessed 
the virtue and skill to become an Ansei.  It is at this point that we pick up 
his 
story, in the campfire tale, The Dragon's Toe.

Dendle the story teller, chants this story after dinner, to both children and 
adults.  She is a story teller of some renowned, and will stand and act out 
some of the portions of the tale, as well as pitch her voice appropriately for 
the speaking of each character.   I especially like the voice she used for 
the Ansei Master of the Shem Pit, the last cave of the quest.

 

It was a dark and stormy night.  Derik Hallin later to become known as 
Lord 
Hallin, had left the Hall of Virtue beginning his Walk-About when he spied 
the 
campfire and shelter of a grove of trees.

"Welcome to my fire, young man".  Called the hooded stranger in a thin 
and 
cracking voice.  "I would welcome company on a night like this."    

Editors, this is the outline of my final chapter for this book on Hammerfell 
heroes.  I condensed Dendle's story telling.  I have my notes, but the story 
gets long with 
all the quotes. She puts a lot of dialog in her story telling.  I am amazed 
that the old stories about the 5 swords keeps cropping up.  It's been a 
thousand years since Hellion's time, yet people continue to believe in the 
stories.  

The wagon master sat with me after listening to her story and smoked a 
pipe with me.  In discussing the story, he says that his story teller used to 
say that one of the five swords survived the closing of the Goblin gate, and 
is yet hidden here in Hammerfell.  It was the least of the five, but the story 
has it that it exceeds and modern blade magical or ebony  by several 
orders of magnitude.

Of course I take this with a grain of salt, since a ebony weapon is 
unparalleled
in it's keen cutting ability and personally I can't imagine a weapon doing 
more damage than a Claymore of Firestorm or a saber of life steal.  
Dendle even believes that out in the country side in one of the Halls of the 
Virtues of War there are still people who follow the old ways, and can from 
a Shehai or spirit sword.   

In collecting these stories I once through I was seeing a Shehai being 
formed, by an old Hall master, but the thing if it was a spirit sword was so 
faint, that even the sword shape was questionable.  I didn't want to insult 
the old man so I claimed I saw it too, but if that was a Shehai, I can't 
imagine it possible to be used as a real weapon.
   
Here's my outline of this story:

At the time of this story,  Hammerfell is fully occupied by Redguards.  All 
the old cities of the Dwarves (but one - the Ghost City of Dwarfhome) are 
now the cities of today's modern Hammerfell.   A second invasion of the 
giant goblins comes.   Hammerfell is unprepared, except for a few faithful 
followers, all youths in the rural Halls of virtue.  

Hallin being the only Ansei rallies the army of Hammerfell, after a defeat,  
He brings back the old ways by leading each warrior to read the Book of 
Circles that is in each home.   The army fights the Goblins to a standstill, 
but things look bleak, just as in Divad's song.   Somehow the goblins keep 
being re-supplied both with arms and troops.  Eventually  the Army of 
Hammerfell will lose.  

The old master of Hallin's Hall of the Virtues of War has an ancient copy of 
Divad's will and testament, and reads it to Hallin - it tells him that the 5 
swords aren't lost, just hidden and well guarded in 5 caves.  Each cave is 
home to a master guardian, one of the old blind Ansei  - and also a maze.  

According to the will, Derik must, along with a virtuous companion of pure 
heart enter the cave, defeat each Ansei Master and retrieve their sword.  
Dendle goes into great detail here.  It seems that each Master had an 
outstanding trait - one Katrice, possessed feline grace, and had become 
very cat like, another, who had icy calm was something much like an Ice 
Golem.    

On each blade is inscribed part of an intricate message on how to use the 
power of the swords combined.  Derik scours the rural Halls for Brothers of 
the Blade and Maidens of the Spirit Sword to accompany him in the 
quests.  He finally one by one searches out his companions, and wins 
each sword.  

They learn from the blades how to use them and together wield the force 
of the 5 swords in sealing the rent in space time that the Goblins have 
made and from which springs their invasion.  Hallin's companions avoided 
blinding by the magic swords by hurling the swords together into the void, 
and sealing forever the giant Goblins in the void between  their world and 
ours.

The land is saved and Hallin and his companions (3 women and 2 men) 
become Ansei and restore the teachings of Frandar Hunding to 
Hammerfell.

~GOTHIC~

THE END