Slein 'Ahh Dirmain

Introduction

During the reign of King Douhhsúl the Duiniken faced threats of Mdûlûn city states on the southern as well as the western front. The king himself often rode into battle, but he could not face the Mdûlûn on every battlefield. One of his most trusted generals at that time was Slein 'Ahh Dirmain, a man of humble origins, who devoted himself to fighting against the dreaded Mdûlûn after losing his home and family during the invasion from the southern state of Haramtorn, during which many farmsteads, thorps and hamlets where raided and plundered.

Private life and positions

Not much is known about the early life of Slein 'Ahh Dirmain, except the fact that he was driven north by the Mdûlûn forces, which swept as far north as to what is today known as the ruins of 'Ainmedahh. In the battle there King Fhíthhum fell, only to be succeeded by Douhhsúl the year after. At an unknown point in time the new king made Slein's acquaintance and was impressed by his charisma and determination to get revenge on those who took his former life. During his first campaigns he served as a team leader, but was then soon promoted to leader of a squadron. Within two years spent mostly of the western border, the king ordered him south and promoted him to the rank of major in the year 89 of the Era of the Earth and gave him a troop of 500 soldiers at his disposal.

Historical impact

The year given marked the greatest success of Douhsúl's campaign against the Mdûlûn. Although he himself lead the expedition south and commanded the majority of the army, it was thanks to Slein, that he was as successful as he was. Slein's grave is known to Tarrabaenian scholars and two inscriptions, one on his tombstone, one on a memorial mention him as 'saviour of the king', with the tombstone naming two years in conjunction with that description and the memorial naming one year that coincides with one of the years mentioned on the tombstone. This means that he was not only vital in retaking the Duiniken controlled areas in the south, but also that he was widely recognised and respected for his services to the king and the people.

Slein 'Ahh Dirmain's role in Mdûlûn culture

Slein - and by extension all his offspring - is one of the six so-called 'eternal enemies of the Haramtorn-Lûn'. He earned his title not for the bravery he showed in his fights against them alone, but also for the cowardice he showed before, allowing him to escape their invasion in the first place. As the lore goes, the Haramtorn army was marching north, when they met Slein hunting in the meadows. Though they managed to get close to him, he got to his horse just in time and rode away. Shortly after the army reached his homestead and plundered and burnt it. Slein was nowhere to be seen, so their story goes, that after having escaped from them earlier, he was so afraid, that he did not even try to save his family and rode north right away.

This may be or not be true, still it is conspicuous that he managed to escape the Mdûlûns' grasp in the first place. Their invasion of the year 86 of the Era of the Earth is known to have been one of the fastest and, in regard of cleansing an area, most effective military actions known. The few Duiniken that did survive mostly hailed from the northern edges of the area invaded, while Slein's origins lie in the very south. So the Mdûlûns' accusations of leaving his family behind might be true, though they have probably stayed a secret for the Duiniken.