King Finbhar Lasirian

Prince of Durandell and King of the Tirdôla Finbhar (a.k.a. Lasirian (From the Flame)

The first king of the Tirdôla and the ancestor of the Kings of Ellandun. Finbhar was the last son of Grian, of the line of Guisgarn and the High Kings of the Géadine. Finbhar would escape into the wilderness after the destruction of his home of Durandell and the scattering of his people by the dragon Basdūh, the dragon of the Jotun dawn kings.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

In the days since the passing and falling of the High Kings of old, of the dooms of the Géadine and the Huldra beside them came forth Finbhar, last son of Grian of Meginil's keep. At the feet of Durandell's old walls, he was set, and destiny took shape in him as the unity of Men was shaken. On the east eves, the Dorenil battled with the giants and waged their long war there against Jonsmur, the Roar of the Mountains and heir of Nidgram king his father. Yet so many other lands of Men had now fallen to fighting and despair. Yet high Durandell stood amid the smoke as it had done since the days of the Goldhorn.  
Finbhar's life would be forever disturbed when Basdūh, the great draig of Krónaðr, Nidgram, and King Jonsmur arrived with a great host of fire draigs, intent on the destruction of the great citadel of the Géadine. King Grian, outnumbered and with little hope of victory, rode out with a host of all the warriors of Durandell, to meet the draigs of the Jotnar in the field. A great battle between men and dragon came about that day, and despite the ironclad skin of the dragons, the warriors of Durandell fought and killed many winged draigs. Not yet a man, Finbhar was sent away with the women and children of Durandell. But the rebellious princeling did not heed the word of his father and king instead, he raised a sword and followed the men of Durandell into the flaming field of battle against the draigs of the giants. Airgaiel, princeling of Durandell and elder brother of Finbhar, seeing his young brother amidst the flames and fire of the field, took him away and placed him on the saddle of a swift horse. Speaking softly to the distraught Finbhar, Airgaiel sent the equine away and returned to battle, dying with the men of Durandell that day. It is said that Finbhar, at this time said to be not older than ten, lamented the fall of his home, his family, and his people saying.

Where are the princes of the land?
Where now but beneath flame and ruin.
Where now are the revels in the long hall?
What once was golden and glimmering in splendor?
Where is the Golden Horn and the Golden Dream?
laid low now, perhaps eternal
what has become now of the family
that I held so close and loved so dear?
What glory was ours,
if all was meaningless waste
and but a summer's mirage?

So became Finbhar, a fugitive in the lands of his forefathers, brought to the lowest sorrow amidst the burning of the Géadine of Durandell. The prince, in the chaos of the fire, became separated from his dear brother Uairdel who also managed to escape the flames of Durandell. Uairdel and his younger brother would never meet again as the elder of them ventured into the wild Old North and came to be the father of the clans of the Teaghaisí.
From the fire of Durandell, Finbhar would be reborn, but that time would come later for now he remained, a fugitive in a land that his people no longer roamed in. Yet Finbhar was not alone, for the faithful followers and old friends of his father Grian had followed the boy and swore him a sacred oath of servitude. So as Durandell fell, new powers among the race of men were rising, each from the line of Ceradairn through the last king of the city of men. It was with Finbhar's loyal retinue, the Fiénne, that he would roam the wide plains of the Raonrin, the wide plains west of the river Adwine. Roaming the wide plains, Finbhar and his Fiénne came upon a deep, dark forest. While many urged Finbhar to turn back, the princeling did not and ventured into the dark forest. Unafraid, Finbhar steadied his blade before coming upon a clearing where sat a hobble home of three witch sisters. Now the way back was shut, all before Finbhar was darkness cut through by the light of a raging bonfire and the sound of maddening flute and fife. Mad words echoed throughout the glen and were all that was seen and heard as Finbhar steadied himself once more and held his blade tighter. Three women, unseen but heard spoke in unison, speaking of the arrival of the fireborn prince and the dulled blade of the eastern lands.
Coming before Finbhar dressed in white, the ladies each spoke to Finbhar and put him to sleep with their magic. When he awoke, Finbhar was laid down amidst a grove of white flowers, being carried to a small shrine where a rustic tune of power was hummed by an old man from whom pores of puss, infection, and rot festered. Finbhar approached and the man spoke in a trance, for he was lidless, forever gazing, spying all who tread in the deep grove, from his cracked lips, he uttered a poem of prophecy.

From the fire, a son awoken,
Reborn shall be the line that was broken
From east to west shall ye tread
and fate lay upon that which ye dread
Sword bestowed and oath bound
to meet once, the Jotun's hound
From the fire a man reborn
crowned then and oath sworn

Upon the last breath leaving him, the elder man, from a sack no larger than one would fit a bundle of fruit, pulled a bright, glimmering sword from point to pommel. And like a performance, the man raised the sword aloft, in hands worn and dry, presenting it to Finbhar as he breathed his last, remaining in the position he was. Finbhar, struck by duty and pity, took the sword and when his fingers merely grazed the sharpened end of the blade, it cut him and blood came from his finger.
When Finbhar returned, the sisters had come before him, in lesser form than before for they now appeared human. Finbhar came to feel a solemness, an aching sadness in the eyes of the sisters before him. He then came to realize these women were the daughters of the sword elder, the last of their line, and guardians of the sword now belonging to him. Finbhar exalted them and asked if they would join him and his Fiénne, to which they agreed. The eldest stepped forth and introduced herself as Teiun, the second came and said she was Lesuir, and the youngest and final meekly raised her head and spoke her name, Teias. These sisters then joined with Finbhar and enjoyed the company of the proud Fiénne who welcomed them.
Now given a mission by what seemed to be fate, Finbhar set out east, roving in search of his enemy, his great fear and the destroyer of the house from which he could no longer call home. Finbhar, with fire-heart, ventured into the den of the giants, the dark lands of the east where monsters did dwell, in search of the winged terror of men, Basdūh. Coming upon the fortress of Ostbled, the great keep of the Dorenil and where Finbhar met the captain and Alderman of the Ostbled and the Dorenil, Dynciel Delearning, the son of Doren Deorel. The second captain of the east hailed the exiled prince of Durandell as friend, for the Dorenil were esteemed friends of the kin of Meginil and Ceradairn. The princeling and his Fiénne remained at Ostbled for a time, speaking of the quest Finbhar had been given. Dynciel spoke of their enemy, of Basdūh the black draig, winged hammer of the giants, breather of flame, whose wings brought the gale and whose teeth and claws pierced stone and tore flesh. Dynciel tried in vain to avert Finbhar from this quest, but the heart of the valorous youth could not be swayed and in the morning, he pressed on to the draig of his nightmares, alone.
Finbhar traveled alone to the east for a time, before he came upon a hamlet, secluded in the deep forest. There, a blind seer told Finbhar that to find the draig of the Jotnar, Finbhar should follow the cow Beita as it roamed out in search of food. On the next day, Finbhar did likewise and roamed with the cow for many days until soon, the roar of the draig was heard and it swooped down and clasped Beita between its talons and carried her off. Now had the fates of Finbhar and Basdūh been intertwined, for the birds in the sky and the whipping wind sang tales of the clash to come, for all to hear. Basdūh took the cow high atop a peak nearby, that of Cadmun, whereafter, Finbhar chased and climbed rock and stone, sword gripped tightly. Atop Cadmun, Finbhar now faced the black draig, who spoke aloud in the sheering voice of torment. The draig spoke of the burning citadel, the fallen tower, and the scorched blood of kings. Long had the way been for their meeting, and while Finbhar, fire hearted and ready for the melee did pace and become anxious, Basdūh remained unflinching in calm. For the dragon was exhausted and weary of the glimmering blade held in the princeling's hand and spoke with a measure of regret for the destruction wrought the day Durandell was brought low. Yet fire-hearted Finbhar did not heed the forked words of the dragon and instead spoke the words

"All coming from thy mouth is but lies, for from thy mouth did my family burn and my home fall to ruin. Weregild shall be mine for my lost kin, I will take thy scales and sow them across fields, bringing life to the dead. From thy mouth I shall sow the dragon's teeth, and bring fortune to mine and my heirs, come the end of days."

It is at the end of his words that Finbhar lept forth with Eorre, brazen toward the dragon who, in old age, could not leap to the air with his wings. Finbhar struck fair and true with stinging Eorre, and the black blood of Basdūh poured forth from the wound like a geyser. With a great cry, the draig roared in pain but did not die so easily and swiped at the princeling of Durandell. For a clash was destined and a clash would come, as the fiery breath of Basdūh poured forth like molten fire from Buranden in the east. All was scorched beside Finbhar, who fell behind his shield and braced the fire that had seared his kin and destroyed his home. And there from behind the safety of his shield, Finbhar sprang then like a grasshopper at the dragon who was taken aback by the brazen youth of Durandell charging before him. Finbhar fought like mad, and the eye of Basdūh saw in him the fury of the Géadine of Durandell, for here was their brave-hearted avenger. Another slash at the throat of the beast poured blood once more, spraying out thick and dark. Weakened now, Basdūh slumped down, and further now, did Finbhar hack at the beast, cutting from him, the talons which once gripped Beita. Mortally wounded, Basdūh fell, and no longer did its long head rise above its body, but slumped low now, touching the earth. Finbhar's fury was abated, he pulled Eorre from the dragon and stepped back, ready to bring down the killing blow. Yet Basdūh spoke once more, wearily and in a quiet shrill.

"For your heirs shall come upon a time when the valor of men will fail, and the world shall doom itself to blood and war and ruin. By blood shed, the nations of men will crack and die, their gold shall ornate their tombs, and by their iron shall their destiny be sealed. Yet you, oh princeling, shall become one of many fathers, gardner of the tree that shall topple over the proud crowns of the east. Mine own tale is finished, yours shall follow behind, and from deeds here now done, doom shall come to us all."

At the last words leaving the dragon's mouth, Finbhar climbed atop the dragon and plunged Eorre into the heart of the black draig. With one last roar, Basdūh fell eternally still and lost was the dragon of Krónaðr, Nidgram, and Jonsmur. The draig which had burned and plundered Tirmagall and Durandell came to an eternal sleep. As he said he would, Finbhar took the scales and teeth of Basdūh and from them, he would return west, sowing them in a field where from them, orchards and fields of wheat and barley sprang forth from the earth. With his victory hailed all across the land, Finbhar would order that a special relic be made, from the scales of the great dragon, Finbhar would come to possess the great Dragon Helm, for himself and his ancestors. The Dragon Helm would one day pass to Finbhar's descendant, Gydwïyr the hero of men and who would also wield Finbhar's sword Eorre, which would come to be known as Llafnor, the Blade of the Bogs.
With word of Finbhar's great triumph reaching the remnants of those who escaped the fires of Durandell, Finbar soon rallied the remainder of the Géadine of the high city to him. These remnants, alongside those of the west came to be the Tirdôla, and Finbhar, crowned by golden circlet, came to be called their first king. To the west did the Tirdôla go, far from the watchful gaze of the giant kings east of the Adwine. During this trek, Finbhar sheathed Eorre and led his people to their new home. Long was the way, many dangers lay on the road and in the mist and fog. King Finbhar led them thusly, for nearly ten years they made their way to fruitful lands where peace would come upon them. A land promised to them by their king, a land unscorched and unmolested by giant hands, nor taken by the Faen kingdoms of the Galerainil. This was to be their land, their home, their dream now realized and upon gazing from the highland of Hailen, Finbhar finally came to see the valley of their new homeland. The valley of the Tirdôla came to be called the Vale of Finbhar, and shouts of acclaim and love echoed throughout its mountain walls, for the long journey had ended and a new life was to be made in this blessed land. Going back once more to Hailen, Finbhar, in view of his Fiénne

From the fires we are reborn, Our oaths are true and to this place we have come, The line that was broken has been renewed and from now until the day when the sun and moon fall and the earth knows naught but smoke and flame, may the grace of the high ones come upon this place, for myself and my heirs eternal.

Such was the oath of Finbhar sworn upon the high sight of Hailen, and the noble Fiénne of Finbhar swore likewise, their own oaths of fealty and honor. Atop the highest part of the ridge, a small pillar of rock was cut and the names of all those who swore their oaths were carved into the rock, preserved then until the oath of Finbhar fizzled away on the last day.
King Finbhar Lasirian reigned as king of his people for nigh a hundred years, for the strong blood of the High Kings of the Géadine ran through him. He ruled in kindness and gentleness and rare was the day when Eorre was unsheathed. As from the flame, Finbhar did not die on his back, for in his elder days he often walked high to Hailen, to see the majesty of his kingdom, peaceful and beautiful. He wrote often, of little things, the gaze of a boy on the road drawn to him, and the smile he returned. The warmth of life brought comfort to the old king, he had many sons and daughters to care for and to love, and the House of Finbhar grew larger with every passing year. In his final day, Finbhar rewrote a small poem he had created in his youth, for it once said,

for the earth shakes and rumbles
not to ease suffering,
but to remind.
For we are without power to move,
but have power to ease pain,
or end it

the old king, now wise in years and nearing the final chapter of his life instead wrote a final note before breathing his last and joining his ancestors in the great hall of the gods.

for the earth shakes
to remind yes,
to remind us to love.
for I killed an ant walking
and realized,
my children had watched me

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Seek revenge for the destruction of his people and family
To find a new homeland for his people

Relationships

King Finbhar Lasirian

spouse

Towards Teias

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Teias

spouse

Towards King Finbhar Lasirian

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Species

Human

Ethnicity

Géadine

Life

7861 B.E 7801 B.E 60 years old

Circumstances of Birth

Last son of King Grian of Durandell

Birthplace

Durandell, city of the High Kings of the Géadine

Family

House of Finbhar

Parents

King Grian the Last

Spouses

Teias (spouse)

Siblings

Eyes

Blue

Hair

Fine, Reddish

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fair

Aligned Organization

Ellandun

Founded Settlements

• Canura

(Finbhar's ancestor, Meginil Gieachoir, Founder and first High King of the Géadine)

(Another of Finbhar's ancestors, High King Ceradairn, who reunited the Kingship of the Géadine)

(Finbhar's father, King Grian the Last of Durandell)

(Finbhar's elder brother Uairdel, founder and first High King of the Teaghaisí)

(Durandell, citadel of the High Kings of the Géadine, and destroyed by the draigs of the Jotnar)

(Finbhar pulls his sword Eorre from the draig Basdūh)

(Finbhar's descendant, King of the Tirdôla Ceredin Gréine, who built the great citadel of Ellandun)

(Gydwïyr, descendant and fulfiller of Finbhar's oath and the leader of men during the last war against the giants)