------------- Famous Blades - Hergov's Bane

In ancient times, when humans were still barbarians living by plunder and blood, the northlands were ruled by bands of wandering tribes. These people were bronzed despite the lack of sun, muscled from their hard lives and constant warring, and filled with a lust for life. Their Gods lived in the Halls of Valhalla and in the glades and mountains of Gladsheim. And as with all disjoint peoples that share a common lifestyle, they eventually came together as one kingdom. The warlord who forged that kingdom gave it his name, and the people were thereafter known as Hergovites, the land as Hergovine.

But King Hergov's life was no pleasant fairy tale. As with all men of power, others craved what he had and wished nothing more than to take it from him. None more-so than his own sons, for they were vane, spoiled and cruel. So as the years went by and he grew sodded and weak, he feared what they would soon do to him and his beloved land. He had a mighty weapon forged, and in it he poured his frustration and contempt, creating a curse that would kill all who possessed it. Then he claimed it to be his greatest possession, the very symbol of the kingdom. He proclaimed to all that only the wielder of the Sword of Hergov would ever be crowned king. His sons immediately went to fighting amongst each other for control of the sword. But it was not until after he died that they learned of its curse, as first one then another was found frozen to death. The sword passed from one owner to another, each trying in vain to claim the thrown, only to die by the sword's malice.

At length, the mighty warrior Breannmor arose in the northlands, and it was he would reclaim the throne. He saw through the curse and proclaimed that he would find a weapon even mightier and it would be the symbol of the king. The jarls of the northern tribes laughed. In his adventures, Breannmor found Hergov's Bane, but would not take it for his own. Instead, he sacrificed it to the Gods. Odin sent a Valkyrie to take the sword, but she knew that even she would not be protected from its curse, so she had one of the Shabrundi elves fashion for her a glove made of winter's snow and white dragon breath. With the glove, she could wield Hergov's Bane without suffering its curse. The glove she called Winter's Chill.

But when the Valkyrie, Jornghild, laid eyes on Breannmor, she fell madly in love and forsake her immortal life to fight by his side. Together, they uncovered a Krell artifact, a simple axe, but to one with Breannmor's blood, a deadly device. It had no name, so became known as the Axe of Breannmor. With it, he cleared an entire forest in one day, and carved the totems and lodge poles that would form the framework of the new capitol city of Hergovine.

But what happened to Hergov's Bane and the Axe of Breannmor after that is the stuff of legends. Who knows where they are today?

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