The Curse of the Enthorned Tomb of Bermir the Terrible
Summary
The story of the Curse of the Enthorned Tomb of Bermir the Terrible is linked to the origins of the Grey Barrens. It is believed that Bermir the Terrible, one of the worst leaders Mirkhar has ever seen, has been burried in the centre of what are now the Grey Barrens. The story goes as follows:
Bermir was a dwarf who had wanted to rule Mirkhar more than anything else. Legend has it, he had stared too long and deep into the dragon fire of the Dragon Stone and had become obsessed with the power and potential it held within.
When it was time to choose a new leader with the Dragon Stone and Bermir wasn't chosen, he assassinated the new leader and took over, declaring himself King of the Dragon Halls. He had himself made a crown of obsidian with the Dragon Stone set in it. That sparked protests and violent counter measures, but Bermir was being backed by a handful of old, rich families, because he had corrupted them with his enchantment magic and had convinced them that under his sole rule they would have more influence. Thus, the protests and riots were ended, anyone who revolted and could not be swayed by Bermir's cruel charm, was either killed, exiled or put to work in the deepest, most narrow mines.
For years the terror reign of King Bermir the Terrible, as he was named by those who opposed him, went unchallenged. Most of the population had been made docile, sedated with Bermir's magic, and anyone who could resist and did dare oppose him had either died or left.
But then, one Dragon's Day, the earth started shaking violently and magma was flooding through the underground rivers. King Bermir stopped the festivities as the earth shook and shook and magma started spewing from the vents into the Dragon Hall and out of the inferno stepped the Three Sisters. Half women half draconian fire spirits, they throned over King Bermir and spoke of all the ill he had done to the realm under the Fiery Mountains and how he was bearing the Dragon Jewel unjustly, and they cursed him.
"Magic shall die at thy touch, no use shallt thou ever make of thy cruel craft again", the first sister spoke, her voice thundering through the halls.
"Fire shall consume all thy power and chase thee from the lands", the second sister spoke and the walls shook with the echo of it.
"Thorns shall be thy death, and never shall they vanquish their grip on thee. Thy torture shall last forever", the third sister spoke, causing the ground to rumble.
Everyone present was cowering in fear, no one dared speak a word, even King Bermir had lost his cruel smile. The Three Sisters disappeared as the earth shook one last time and then was completely still.
King Bermir started laughing then.
Another few years passed after that incident, and King Bermir had already forgotten about the curse of the Three Sisters, but his power had started slipping.
Bit by bit, his magic had weakened and thus his grip on the people was loosening and resistance started to build.
A resistance had organised in secret and they had started planning to overthrow King Bermir once and for all. They started an operation to steal the Dragon Stone to use the fire within it to burn King Bermir and to get rid of him for good.
The theft was a success, but no one knew how to operate the Dragon Stone and make it unleash the flame it held within. When King Bermir noticed the theft, he was furious and tried to use his magic against the rebells, but magic wouldn't obey him, so he started running away. His spell had lifted from the people, his magic, that had been amplyfied by the Dragon Stone, was nothing anymore without it, and so King Bermir had a furious mob of dwarves, all come to their senses, chasing after him.
He fled overground and ran and ran, but his persuers kept up with him. When he reached the lowlands north of the mountains, a marsh, in which shrubs and small gnarly trees grew, his opulent robe got caught in the thorns of some plant, but the more he tried to free himself, the more entrapped in the thorns he became. They were boring into his skin and releasing their poison into his blood, rendering him unable to move.
At last the mob caught up with him and in a sudden blast, the dragon fire was released from its confinement and burned King Bermir to a crisp. His remains were buried without a ceremony and without a marker right there among the thorns.
As the dwarves returned to the mountains and a more peaceful and benevolent period began, Bermir's curse started spreading, poisoning the environment. First, thorns overgrew the entire area, but gradually they started shrivelling up and magic got thinner and thinner, the marsh dried out, the land turned grey like ash and rocks were all that was left. The magic had started vanishing from that area and soon no living thing was to be found in the entire area, except for a single thorn plant, clutching onto Bermir's soul, never to release him again.
Bermir was a dwarf who had wanted to rule Mirkhar more than anything else. Legend has it, he had stared too long and deep into the dragon fire of the Dragon Stone and had become obsessed with the power and potential it held within.
When it was time to choose a new leader with the Dragon Stone and Bermir wasn't chosen, he assassinated the new leader and took over, declaring himself King of the Dragon Halls. He had himself made a crown of obsidian with the Dragon Stone set in it. That sparked protests and violent counter measures, but Bermir was being backed by a handful of old, rich families, because he had corrupted them with his enchantment magic and had convinced them that under his sole rule they would have more influence. Thus, the protests and riots were ended, anyone who revolted and could not be swayed by Bermir's cruel charm, was either killed, exiled or put to work in the deepest, most narrow mines.
For years the terror reign of King Bermir the Terrible, as he was named by those who opposed him, went unchallenged. Most of the population had been made docile, sedated with Bermir's magic, and anyone who could resist and did dare oppose him had either died or left.
But then, one Dragon's Day, the earth started shaking violently and magma was flooding through the underground rivers. King Bermir stopped the festivities as the earth shook and shook and magma started spewing from the vents into the Dragon Hall and out of the inferno stepped the Three Sisters. Half women half draconian fire spirits, they throned over King Bermir and spoke of all the ill he had done to the realm under the Fiery Mountains and how he was bearing the Dragon Jewel unjustly, and they cursed him.
"Magic shall die at thy touch, no use shallt thou ever make of thy cruel craft again", the first sister spoke, her voice thundering through the halls.
"Fire shall consume all thy power and chase thee from the lands", the second sister spoke and the walls shook with the echo of it.
"Thorns shall be thy death, and never shall they vanquish their grip on thee. Thy torture shall last forever", the third sister spoke, causing the ground to rumble.
Everyone present was cowering in fear, no one dared speak a word, even King Bermir had lost his cruel smile. The Three Sisters disappeared as the earth shook one last time and then was completely still.
King Bermir started laughing then.
Another few years passed after that incident, and King Bermir had already forgotten about the curse of the Three Sisters, but his power had started slipping.
Bit by bit, his magic had weakened and thus his grip on the people was loosening and resistance started to build.
A resistance had organised in secret and they had started planning to overthrow King Bermir once and for all. They started an operation to steal the Dragon Stone to use the fire within it to burn King Bermir and to get rid of him for good.
The theft was a success, but no one knew how to operate the Dragon Stone and make it unleash the flame it held within. When King Bermir noticed the theft, he was furious and tried to use his magic against the rebells, but magic wouldn't obey him, so he started running away. His spell had lifted from the people, his magic, that had been amplyfied by the Dragon Stone, was nothing anymore without it, and so King Bermir had a furious mob of dwarves, all come to their senses, chasing after him.
He fled overground and ran and ran, but his persuers kept up with him. When he reached the lowlands north of the mountains, a marsh, in which shrubs and small gnarly trees grew, his opulent robe got caught in the thorns of some plant, but the more he tried to free himself, the more entrapped in the thorns he became. They were boring into his skin and releasing their poison into his blood, rendering him unable to move.
At last the mob caught up with him and in a sudden blast, the dragon fire was released from its confinement and burned King Bermir to a crisp. His remains were buried without a ceremony and without a marker right there among the thorns.
As the dwarves returned to the mountains and a more peaceful and benevolent period began, Bermir's curse started spreading, poisoning the environment. First, thorns overgrew the entire area, but gradually they started shrivelling up and magic got thinner and thinner, the marsh dried out, the land turned grey like ash and rocks were all that was left. The magic had started vanishing from that area and soon no living thing was to be found in the entire area, except for a single thorn plant, clutching onto Bermir's soul, never to release him again.
Historical Basis
King Bermir had really lived and he had been a terrible ruler who had declared himself king and oppressed his people into obedience, many even confirm the use of magic in that aspect. The Three Sisters remain a much disputed topic, not only in this story, but their existence in general.
The consensus is also that King Bermir's tomb isn't actually to blame for the Grey Barrens, but there are people who believe it and try to prove it.
The consensus is also that King Bermir's tomb isn't actually to blame for the Grey Barrens, but there are people who believe it and try to prove it.
Spread
The myth is a widely known one but it is most popular in the south. Even though it wasn't secret knowledge or anything like that before, the StA did help spreading the story into other parts of the Continent, especially the west, where it had been quite unknown until then.
Cultural Reception
The story is mainly important in Mirkhar and is the prime reason why it never became a monarchy again, but the tale is a beloved one among unhappy oppositions to various governments all over Arregeas' history and has served as the basis for a few political uprisings and coups.
The story has taken on especially among the human Kingdoms of the south-east and is used to spark further conflict between them.
The story has taken on especially among the human Kingdoms of the south-east and is used to spark further conflict between them.
In Literature
There are quite a few recordings of the myth in Mirkhar, but various people have started writing their own versions or doing retellings of it. It's one of the most well-known and controversial stories among storytellers in the south. Controversial mainly because of its often debated status as a cold story, as categorized by the StA. There are people who agree and say that there is only the mythical ending to it and that there is no way Bermir's Tomb had caused the Grey Barrens and thus the tomb should be found and investigated to find out what really happened. Others say all of it is just fiction, nothing more than a myth and that the story shouldn't be given that much credit and should thus not be categorized as a cold story.
In Art
The story is referenced in a few songs, poems about the Three Sisters, and there are a few paintings and tapestries of the events, but most of them depict such horrific scenes that most people don't want to buy them.
Date of First Recording
7285173 UTD, or 5880 AR (not yet with the Grey Barrens), the link was made after some 100 years had passed and the swamp had started drying out.
Date of Setting
7285172 - 7285385 UTD, or 5879 - 6092 AR
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