The Legend of Carron's Daughter

How the Third Duke's daughter gave herself up to save the Duchy and her brother.

Long ago, during the reign of Duke Carron, a dragon called Jorath descended from the mountains to attack the land. It destroyed many villages and eventually arrived at Morton where it taunted Duke Carron asking why he had not protected his people. Jorath was powerful and so large that he besieged Morton by encircling it with his body.

Jorath challenged the Duke to come out and defeat him if he could or to surrender his daughter and leave the land taking his people with him. Carron's daughter was the apple of his eye and the joy of his heart; the land and the people were his sacred trust so he resolved to fight for he knew that right was on his side. So, he donned his armour, took his battle-axe and went forth to meet Jorath in front of the town.

Jorath said to himself "The man is brave, but one man against my might stands no chance". He lowered his head to the ground so that his eyes were almost level with Caron. Carron approached him and Jorath roared a roar so loud that the walls of Morton shook and those who were watching from them were deafened. Carron raised his axe and struck at Jorath - it was a mighty blow but a dragon as great as Jorath needs a blow to be mighty even to notice it. But he noticed this one for Carron's axe was embedded in his eye. With a lunge he took hold of Carron and bit him in two. Carron's daughter wept for the loss of her father.

"Brave he was, well he struck, but futile his effort. Give me his daughter and I will let you leave the land in peace. By dawn tomorrow or I shall destroy you all."

Now, Carron's daughter was engaged to be married to the Prince of Mor and he was in Morton at that time to make arrangements for the wedding. He saw that Jorath would be half blinded by the loss of an eye and felt that an attack from the blind side at dusk would win the day. So, he rode forth at dusk and charged the resting dragon with his lance, aiming for the other eye. Jorath saw him coming and moved his head enough that the lance missed his eye but entered a nostril and stuck firm in the soft flesh there. With a swipe of his front leg Jorath pinned the prince to the ground and crushed him. Carron's daughter wept for the loss of her lover.

"Brabe he was, well he sdruk, but fudile his efford." said the dragon, for his nose was blocked by the lance though his strength was still mighty. "The daughter at dawn or your deaths."

Now, Carron had a son as well as a daughter and he resolved to ride forth at dawn, when the sun would be low and in Jorath's remaining eye. So that night he prepared his equipment, and Carron's daughter wept for the coming loss of her brother and she resolved that she would not be the cause of another death of one dear to her. As dawn grew close she went to her brother's rooms and finding hime in in prayer she knocked him out. In his armour she would pass well enough for him as the helment covered the face. So clad she rode out at dawn to meet Jorath.

"Another champion seeking glory. I shall despatch him as I did the last and then destroy Morton." sneered Jorath as she approached and lowered his head to roar. Carron's daughter pulled off her brother's helmet, lowered her brothers lance and charged at Jorath's remaining eye. Surprised by his opponent Jorath hesitated; the lance pierced his eye and entered his skull, killing him but not before Carron's daughter's charge had carried her into his jaws, which crushed her as he fell.

Historical Basis

This legend dates back to the founding years of the Duchy of Mor, for Carron was the third Duke. Jorath was the name of one of the tribal groups of the Taru, who the Morivan expansion into Tarusia was displacing and took a green dragon as their emblem; it is thus believed by scholars of Morivan lore that dragon is the Taru war party assembled under this emblem (thus explaining how the dragon's ability to surround the Morton) and the head it's leader.

Spread

The story is one of the foundations of the Moran Duchy and well known in both the Little Kingdoms and the Kingdom of Mor, in whose version the Prince of Mor's deeds are covered in more detail.

Variations & Mutation

On the details as related here there is good agreement. As related in the Kingdom of Mor the prince is Guthvin, son of Morrin and there is more detail of his deeds; in the Little Kingdoms, Morton it is often told localised to their settlements and rulers, suggesting is is more generally reflective of the Morivan colonisation. The most unusual feature of the legend is that Carron's daughter is never named.

Cultural Reception

As noted, this legend is seen as part of the history of the Moran Duchy and the Kingdom of Mor. It forms a key part of their identity with it's emphasis on personal heroics and it's warnings of their risks. The legends of the remaining groups of Taru have little to say of the colonisation period and their struggles with the Morivan, probably reflective of the eventual destruction or assimilation of the Taru of that area.

In Literature

Early Morivan society was largely oral and non-literate and thus it has been told in a variety of prose and poetic styles, though it is always kept short and sparse of detail. An example of a folk song interpretation is provided in the sidebar.

Early history of the Moran Duchy

Founded in year 1, also known as -790 of the Naros Year Count the Duchy has been ruled by several related houses since it's formation. It's boundaries have ebbed and flowed with the Kingdom of Mor and with the Little Kingdoms over the years but the Duchy has retained its discrete identity. Some of it's history is set out here but details are scarce for the first few decades.

Date of First Recording

Earliest written record is in the Annals of the Duchy, written some 200 years after the events.

Date of Setting

-815 in the Naros Year Count; in the 25th year of the Moran Duchy

Related Ethnicities

• Morivian
• Taru

Related Organizations

• Kingdom of Mor
• Moran Duchy

Impact of the Legend

In addition to being one of the formative stories of the Duchy's foundation and the Morivan migration, the story has influenced several aspects of society in the Duchy. Unlike most of the Morivan lands, the women of the Duchy play an active part in military matters and have gained a reputation for implacable cunning when in defence. It is also the basis for the The Ladies' Ride undertaken at dawn on Midsummer's day, though this is almost certainly date of convenience rather than the actual anniversary.
In popular idiom (at least out of earshot of the Ducal family and their more fervent supporters) it is also lives on in the use of the terms "Duke Carron" and "Prince of Mor" to indicate ill advised, testosterone fuelled male behaviour or being seen to be overly protective of daughters.

Why don't we know her name? I'll tell you why! It's a conspiracy by the patriarchy, that's what it is! That the legend doesn't name the prince or the brother just proves it's only the father who matters.

— Carra Mormont

An Alternative Interpretation

One recent suggestion is that Jorath's incursion represents an attempt by the Taruvian groups to establish a buffer zone under a joint Taru/Morivan leadership. This would be similar to what happened further south, where the Torren culture has a clearly Taruvian element to it. This is probably unlikely given Jorath's call for the Mor to depart, but with an extensive period of oral transmission it cannot be ruled out.

Oh, dad, don't be Duke Carron, he's perfectly decent and honourable in his intentions!