Lay of Latrell

The Lay of Latrell: Eyesbane and Chainbreaker

Author and History

"The Lay of Latrell" or as it is formally titled, "The Lay of Latrell; Eyesbane and Chainbreaker, son of Tetus and all Gods, Champion of all. His life, death and ascension." Is an epic ballad that tells the story of Latrell. While it is far from the most accurate work ever done on him, certainly nothing compared to the great Latrellan, "Latrell: A Life" the six volume work compiled by master scribe Raldark Sagebrooke, it nevertheless, remains the most popular work about the legendary hero turned God. What makes The Lay unique is in no small part due to its authorship and date of composition. While General Ramus, Ulysses Gloryeye and Umgar all wrote accounts of what they did and saw, the Lay stands apart for being the only finalized written work of one of Latrell's five companions, the storm giantess Angraboda Star-Eye. Angraboda was, in addition to her many talents, a poetess of great renown, having perfected the art over many long years. She was also an ancient prophetess, more obsessed with symbolism and appearances than facts, which makes the Lay readable and easily memorized but not the most accurate. Making maters worse is the matter of translation. Angraboda wrote the Lay in the language of her people, the storm giants, stating to Clacker, another of the companions, that "The grief she felt was hers alone." However, she did leave a copy of the Lay behind after she left the known world to travel, most likely hoping it would be translated. While there were several attempts at translating the Lay, it was ultimately the stone giant shaman Maclog who accurately translated the popular common tongue version, while providing commentary and translator notes. While other translations have been made since (including several controversial ones that give Latrell a racial identity, a practice not supported by contextual evidence), Maclog's remains the gold standard and most popular version. Today, almost every school child in Latrellus knows the Lay and the men of Delorgan sing it heartily while they row their longships to war. The barbarians of Umgar chant it for strength and the hobgoblin legionaries of the Dominion are known to belt out verses as a warcry. It is unlikely that another version of Latrell's life will grip the populous more than Angraboda's heartfelt tribute to a dear, departed friend.

Notes on Structure

Angraboda's Lay uses an ancient storm giant style that works as follows...

Each stanza consists of 9 lines. Two rhymes, giving the form aabaabaab. Rhyme scheme (where a lower-case letter indicates a rhyme with each line designated by the same lower-case letter): Example: a a - Rhymes with 1st line. b a - Rhymes with 1st line. a - Rhymes with 1st line. b - Rhymes with 3rd line. a - Rhymes with 1st line. a - Rhymes with 1st line. b - Rhymes with 3rd line.

What makes Maclog's translation so remarkable, is that he managed to maintain the rhyming pattern even as he translated the work into the common tongue. While he fully admits the common tongue lacks the depths of Angraboda's true feeling, it remains a remarkable achievement.

The Lay

Below is presented the Lay of Latrell by Angraboda Star-Eye, unabridged. The translation is performed by Maclog, shaman of the village of Helminheim. Translator's notes are provided...

"The Lay of Latrell; Eyesbane and Chainbreaker, son of Tetus and all Gods, Champion of all. His life, death and ascension.

This is the tale of mighty Latell

Who drove the beholders into the hells

Great and mighty\* was he

His was a name ravens did foretell

With his sword many beholders he fell

A bold champion was he

Though afflicted by treacherous spell

Resisted, did he, death's final knell

A God among men was he

\*The word original word used for "mighty" here comes from the same root as the Jotun word "Maat," meaning right in the eyes of the All-Father. Angraboda is showing that the strength of Latrell was far beyond that of a typical mortal, indeed, it was comparable to upright giants. Wthere this is literal or figurative strength is a matter of interpretation.

Beholders! Invaders from a distant star

Brought ruin and death to the world of ours

The people\* cried out in pain

Beholder kingdoms were seen near and far

With their magics they left many a scar

The people were not to blame

Wickedly they put men behind bars

Used them as targets when they did spar

The people wept again and again

\*The word "people" literally translates "Non-giants." Angraboda wants her reader to know that this was global enslavement of all races.

Mighty Teteus heard the people's cries

He wept flaming tears from the sun's eyes

The king of the Gods would not sit by

He looked over hills and the tides

He reached out his hand to the lows and highs

He wanted a man who would try

Teteus' fellow gods were not surprised

They too sought out one cunning and wise

They needed one willing to die

Signs were given in cloud and moon

Angraboda\* knew that very soon

The chosen champion would rise

Rather than sit, weeping as a loon

Or hide herself away in the dune

The giantess went seeking the prize

She knew he would require a boon

A scholar etching his tale in rune

Wanting to see him with her own eyes

\*Angraboda never uses first person to refer to herself in the Lay. Whether as an artistic choice or to distance herself emotionally from the work is unknown.

Vimliciksh, eye-tyrant like so many of his vile kin

Put to work in his fields, families, women and men

He wanted to make himself king

The lust for treasure his greatest sin

Forcing a multitude to toil for him

Vimliciksh treated them worse than his things

One of these, a man named Galen\*

Would be blessed father to him entering in

Galen's Son should be king

\*Like Latrell himself, Galen's racial identity is not known. As for Latrell's mother she is never named, neither in the Lay nor any other work. Latrell does not speak of her. The reason for this is unknown but wildly speculated upon.

Beneath scorching sun, Latrell grew fit

Ten years had passed before he knew it

Growing mighty and strong was Latrell

Blessed Galen gave him a powerful gift

Something he'd cleaned with his tears and his spit

Soon to be blessed was Latrell

A fire of joy in his young heart was lit

Like the wheat, soon beholder's he'd split

The first companion of Latrell

Many years passed in struggled and din

Far away younger Clapper escaped master Zarakazin

He flew to his destiny and friend

Latrell now a man and stoutest of his kin

Learned of Alfik, the nobles of Djinn

Alfik would fight until the end

Latrell and the Djinn, their freedom to win

A desperate dream grew within

Soon they would fly though the fenns\*

\*The word fenns meaning typical swamp or marshy land, accompanied by rolling hills and peat bog. Possibly the modern day Ocho Swamp.

Mighty were two, stronger than one

But escaping Vimliciksh was not easily done

Latrell was not yet ready to flee

Seeing his heart, Teteus Lord of the Sun

Knew that this man was at last the one

He commanded Latrell "Take a knee."

"Carry the will of all, old and young

Break all their chains that free they may run

The Gods will fight alongside thee"

Latrell toiled another year, learning to pray

He spoke with Teteus, prepared to make all eyes pay

The day of wrath would come soon

He swung his axe, growing stronger each day

Vimliciksh could not know his slave would not stay

The Gods had granted him a boon

Latrell's destiny, beholders to slay

At long last, the year turned over one day

He would flee before 2nd Noon

When Vimliciksh by a rival attacked

The beholder ordered his slaves to fight back

Latrell took up his mighty axe

Alfik by his side, beholder bodies were stacked

Upon Vimliciksh's home, the doors down they whacked

Latrell was done carrying packs

Upon Vimliciksh, Latrell did hack

Killing him there; all eyes rolling slack

But sorrow was to be their tax

It was noble Galen, the holy father, was dead

Upon this sight Latrell hung his mighty head

He beat his breast and wept

He looked at his father, eyes with tears red

Alfik and the Gods alone know what was said

Latrell's grief alone he kept

"Without my father, I loath the taste of bread

Down in the earth I shall make my dead

Alas that we cannot fashion a crypt."\*

\*While these two statements may seem at odds with one another, Angraboda is suggesting that Latrell's deepest grief was beyond the description of his words, not that none were said. It also suggests that the famously recorded "Latrell's Dirge for Galen" may not be accurate, as that elaborate prayer flies in the face of this simple lament. While it is still possible that Latrell did sing the dirge for his father, Angraboda makes no mention of it.

Seeing his grief, noble Alfik did act

Using great magics and subtle tact

His love for his friend was shown

Around Galen's body, Alfik the earth packed

Hiding him away from those who'd it attack

His nobility in this was shown

With this deed down, the two turned their backs

Upon their old home, as the earth cracked

Alfik's kindness was shown

Through the fields and fens did the men go

Where they were headed did neither one know

Guided they were by fate

They heard of a great raider, of the beholders a foe

To seek this one, many miles did they go

They were powered on by their hate

As they drew north, hearing songs of the crow

Forging through valleys, heavy with snow

They did not arrive to late\*

\*This is a non-descript amount of time. Likely years. Again, Angraboda isn't interested in these unimportant events.

Her name was Shimira, a raider, a bandit\*

With her hammer, many a skull did she split\*\*

Latrell saw her tusks gleaming and was conquered

The paired declared with Shimira they'd fit

But Latrell's heart now held more than rage in it

Shimira's great beauty he desired

While a half-orc, Shimira was sharp of wit

She knew of Latrell's desire, his eyes displayed it

She would not allow her lusts to be stirred\*\*\*

\*The word "Bandit" in the original Jotun language can also mean "Harlot." While this is not commonly an accepted translation, a few scholars do insist that it is the original intent.

\*\* A clever reference to Shimiria's legendary warhammer Skullsplitter. The current symbol of the high chief of Umgar.

\*\*\* Angraboda's entire introduction to Shimiria is unusually cold, presenting her as almost predatory. These scholars who believe that Angraboda loved Latrell and thus despised Shimira for stealing him away, point to this particular stanza as evidence due to its rather confrontational tone.