Alwin Fights the Nhang
Lefsuet, daughter of the great southern chief Wilheard, was married to Beornstan when she was sent as envoy to his tribe. Though Beornstan was promised to Hildegyth, he began courting her from their first meeting. Lefsuet was an anomaly of the Bothelm, born with blazing green eyes and pitch red hair. As soon as Hildegyth was exiled for her pregnancy Beornstan sent word to Wilheard, he promised to never attack the southern tribes if he were allowed to claim Lefsuet for his wife. Wilheard was angered by this request, for Lefsuet was his favorite child. With the unending plague of the Nhang, shape-shifting crocodiles, upon his border however he relented.
Lefsuet was not altogether unhappy with this arrangement but was unimpressed with Beornstan's character. In the beginning Beornstan showered his young wife with wonderous jewelry, fine clothing, and expensive gifts most of which were taken during his raids. As time passed however Beornstan's greed and ambition took precedent and he turned his attention to raiding, drinking, and training leaving no time for his wife. Lefsuet felt abandoned, having no kin or friends among Beornstan's tribe, and though she tried was unable to conceive. Lefsuet took to wandering among the tribal lands with her handmaids and personal guards. On one occasion she met a weary traveler being pursued by bandits, she commanded her guards to give aid, saving them. The traveler, a elderly female shaman thanked Lefsuet for her aid, Lefsuet however offered to accompany the woman and inquired if she needed food or healing. The woman responded kindly that she did not need further assistance and begged Lefsuet be on her way but before allowing her to leave the shaman gave Lefsuet a simple wooden charm meant to aid with pregnancy.
Lefsuet found the simple bracelet to be hideous for it did not match with her golden jewelry but upon reflection decided to wear it to remember and honor the shaman. A few weeks later Lefsuet felt ill and visited Regenhere, Beornstan's favored shaman. Regenhere performed a healing ritual but quickly realized that Lefsuet was not ill but pregnant. Lefsuet exclaimed with joy upon hearing the news but Regenhere bade her to keep the pregnancy secret from her husband for a few weeks, counseling her to wait in case of miscarriage. In truth, Regenhere had recently learned that Beornstan was planning on sacrificing all the children of the tribe to recruit an army of devils. Regenhere feared that if Beornstan learned of Lefsuet's pregnancy he would include her and the child in his sacrificial plans.
Lefsuet waited a few weeks even though the shaman Regenhere led a revolt against her husband. A day later Beornstan led an impromptu raid on the neighboring tribe but instead of gathering valuable kidnapped every child of the tribe. Upon returning he decreed the tribe would relocate to the mountains taking the captive children along. Lefsuet afraid to travel due to the pregnancy but unsure what to tell her husband, she sought Regenhere. The old shaman now blinded by her husband, shared Beornstan's plan and begged Lefsuet remain behind. Regenhere disguised Lefsuet as an old crone to feeble to take part in the arduous journey. A few days after the tribe departed Lefsuet gave birth to a son she named Alwin. The birth was traumatic and Lefsuet succumbed to the pain the next day before her death however she had Regenhere swear an oath to protect the infant Alwin.
Regenhere took the child with him to the "School of Shamans" were he was cared for by the handmaids of Elfswitha tribe. The child grew to be muscular like his father but retained the bright red hair of his mother. Regenhere feared that Alwin would not be safe in the northern lands if it was discovered his father was the despised Beornstan. During Alwin's eleventh summer Regenhere took the boy south to the tribe of his grandfather Wilheard. Wilheard had died and a new chief proclaimed but his grandmother agreed to raise Alwin alongside his cousins.
Alwin was a proud and able young man, well muscled and strong but soon caused problems for his grandmother. She decides that he should learn a trade and sends him to the river captains. He is made a deckhand and taught to fight against the Nhang. Over the next year Alwin slays 40 Nhang becoming a celebrated warrior among the river captains but also drawing the ire of their chieftain Melik. Melik gathers a massive force of Nhang intent to destroy the tribe of Wilheard, in fear Alwin flees to his grandmother. His grandmother and cousins counsel the tribe to pay a great ransom in slaves and gold to the Nhang in order to supplicate them. Along the way to his village Alwin encounters an elderly shaman, she chides Alwin telling him that he is the son of the powerful chief Beornstan and the son of Wilheard's favored daughter. The shaman commands Alwin to gather his grandfather's sword Waelfyr and saddle Efestung from his grandmother's house and return to fight.
Alwin does as the shaman commands slipping into his grandmother's house and fleeing with the sword and saddle. He finds a horse in the stabble but as he saddles the animal his cousins surround him berating him. Alwin ignores them and gathers himself in the saddle yelling for them to give way. When Alwin's cousins resist he instead brandishes Waelfyr, as soon as the sword is raised over head it becomes wreathed in flame, along with Alwin's hair and eyes and the horses hooves. Awestruck Alwin's cousins allow him to gallop out of the stable traveling for the river.
Charging along the river's bank Alwin attacks the Nhang, killing a dozen before they can react. Alwin quickly routes the forces of the Nhang, said to be almost 100 strong. A second group of Nhang trick their way into the nearby village setting it ablaze and plundering the town. Alwin is told by the boat men about the attack and promptly cuts them off before they can reach the river. Alwin and a few soldiers then hold against the 500 Nhang, eventually Alwin challenges Melik in combat, besting the war-chief. The remaining Nhang surrender to Alwin but he shows mercy allowing them to return home in peace. However he makes the Nhang swear an oath that they will move their villages south and agree not to harass the river captains again, in return they will not be attacked and are allowed to trade in peace. Thusly Alwin ends the threat of the Nhang to the southern tribes granting them an uneasy but lasting peace.
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