Gydwïyr the Last Hero of Mankind
Gydwïyr (a.k.a. The Last Hero of Mankind)
Son of the heroic queen Gadael of the Coedwids and foster son of the god Onerion, Gydwïyr led humanity in the last war against the Jotnar, and the Kunkal, wielding Llafnor the greatest sword in the world. Gydwïyr slew the last Jotun king of the line of the Dawn, Thared Eldingar, and was buried in the wasteland of Hautkrig, the site of the final battle between humanity and the giants.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
A notable warrior and acclaimed many times for his valor and courage, Gydwïyr typified heroic virtue in his quest to reunite the fragmented alliance of men and gods. Numerous times, Gydwïyr perseveres through obstacles that would have thrown back lesser men yet he succeeds due not just from his skill and strength, but also due to his personal character.
Specialized Equipment
Gydwïyr was given the dragon helm of his mother while in the cradle. The Dragon Helm was once an heirloom of the Kings of Ellandun and was crafted with the scales of the great draig Basdūh after he was slain by Finbhar Lasirian, the first King of the Tirdôla and Gydwïyr's ancestor. Often called "The Dragon Helmed" Gydwïyr's helmet was what signified him in battle and was often what his men rallied around in the heat of battle.
Gydwïyr also famously wielded the sword Llafnor, a blade with a legendary history dating back to mankind' enslavement under the Dawn Kingdom of the Jotnar. King Finbhar was gifted the sword and Gydwïyr gained it rallying the gods to fight alongside him. Llafnor has numerous attributes and binding charms made during its forging.
Also attested to is Gydwïyr's shield, while not given a specific name, it was often spoken of for its golden trim that would reflect all light that hit it and for the sparks and fire that would spark when hit with sword, spear or ax.
Gydwïyr also famously wielded the sword Llafnor, a blade with a legendary history dating back to mankind' enslavement under the Dawn Kingdom of the Jotnar. King Finbhar was gifted the sword and Gydwïyr gained it rallying the gods to fight alongside him. Llafnor has numerous attributes and binding charms made during its forging.
Also attested to is Gydwïyr's shield, while not given a specific name, it was often spoken of for its golden trim that would reflect all light that hit it and for the sparks and fire that would spark when hit with sword, spear or ax.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
The figure Gydwïyr is a mysterious one to many, they remain a prototypical figure of heroic deeds but outside the typical knowledge of most. Gydwïyr found himself born amidst the final age of the war with the giants. In this age, the clans of men found themselves divided but prosperous as the giants were defeated in the last war led by Queen Gadfael. Gadael was the gracious queen of the Coedwids, a people known for their forest dwellings and elaborate mound burials. Gadfael herself was the daughter of Saracel and Finalva, the fae king and queen, who had reunited the line of Nivalis. Queen Gadfael herself had led wars against the giants and was a figure of high respect among the clans of mankind. Gadfael had fallen during a siege of the stronghold of Balengar but had spirited her only child away to the grove throne of his father Leuthero, with the aid of his kinsman Mabinog. There, Gydwïyr learned of his mother's fate, and many poems and songs are told of the fiery rage and sorrow felt by the boy upon learning of his mother's death. Gydwïyr set upon a great journey to personally reforge the alliance of mankind's clans to continue the fight with the giants.
Gydwïyr rode north, to Tailtecasúir, to the land of the Teaghaisí High King Casúr who had once been a champion of his people but now sat idle and content. At the court of Casúr, the fiery passion of Gydwïyr rose the court of the High King to once more raise arms but the lazing king remained seated. Only the cries of Casúr's many sons and daughters compelled the king to once more grasp his Warhammer and acclaim the beginning of the new alliance of mankind's clans. With the rallied bands of the Teaghaisí behind him, the hero rode west to the lands of Ellandun. Ellandun was the greatest city of men during this age and had been untouched by war for a century. The host of Gydwïyr paled in comparison to the splendid walls of this stronghold, atop the walls gazed King Raedwil with his hosts of iron warriors. Anticipating a fight, Gydwïyr and his men raised their arms and prepared for battle but instead, Raedwil rode outside his high walls atop a white horse and blew a horn of parlay. Raedwil admonished the young hero for attempting to once again war on the giants while also extending his sympathies for the loss of Queen Gadfael. Raedwil did not believe another war would bring victory, Raedwil was another veteran of the wars and seemed content behind his strong walls and great hosts of warriors. It was then that Gydwïyr spoke, he spoke of the danger posed by the scattered giants, how in their desperation they were at their most dangerous and only another combined alliance of mankind's great clans could scatter them once and for all. Gydwïyr spoke on the honor of his mother and the honor of the son seeking to avenge a parent's death. King Raedwil was convinced, however, he considered himself too old to lead his people. The old king then lowered himself before Gydwïyr, displaying a sword shrouded by a cloth. Once unveiled, it became apparent that Raedwil had now offered the great sword of the Tirdôla, the sword of Finbhar, wielded in splendor by Ellan, Ceredin, and passed now to him. Gydwïyr took the sword into his hand, it shone yet upon his hand, Gydwïyr felt a great sadness in the blade, passed on so many times. Llafnor now, called Eorre once, and Fresli in an age long ago, the sword of men, the dragon's bane, the sword of many colors, all those who once felt the pommel of the blade in their hands watched on far away as Gydwïyr, their mighty and last descendant, rested the sword of his forefathers at his side.
With the Teaghaisí, the Tirdôla of Ellandun, and the numerous scattered tribes of the Sureno, who had once been the residents of the Southlands before being scattered when their citadel of Rielar was destroyed by the Kunkal Táramaðurinn. With his new allies, Gydwïyr now rode to the high seat of the land, Tirordol, the Throne lands, the earthly home of the gods. There, clad in shining armor, stood the Gwledd y Duw, the God's Wolves, a host of men in impenetrable armor and known for their unmatched skill and ferocity in melee. To even be granted an audience with the gods, Gydwïyr would need to be granted passage into the inner keep of the Gwledd y Duw's fortress of Gŵrblaidd. Gydwïyr however, of great valor and undaunted from his task, challenged the giant Wolven Captain Penda the Many Armed. The Wolven captain roared and boasted, he clapped his shields together, and with each strike, thunder was heard and the earth trembled. Gydwïyr was unfazed and with steel determination and swift feet, he dodged each strike by the great warrior, landing blow after blow against the tough armor of the Wolven captain who tired as the dragon helmed one ran him in circles. After so many swings, Pendr fell to his knees and surrendered to swift Gydwïyr who beckoned the captain to fetch his masters, for the mortal had need of their friendship.
In meeting with the gods, Gydwïyr bowed his head low and showed the sons and daughters of the world the proper reverence. Behind the shimmering glow of their thrones, the gods praised the warrior of the dragon helm, they beckoned him closer and asked why war with the giants was necessary as they had been scattered by his own mother many years ago. Gydwïyr spoke in a low voice, he spoke of the grief in his heart and the revenge that burned away with every breath, Gydwïyr knew man would never be safe if the giants were allowed to dwell in peace beside them and he boldly reprimanded the gods for their hubris if they could not see the dangers. Some were taken aback by the harsh words of the mortal before them, but soon mighty Taranais spoke and threw his support behind what Gydwïyr had said. Taranais' words tore at the honor of the gods and soon they solemnly agreed with the words of the mortal as Taranais raised his mighty hammer to the blaring of horn and drum.
Now formed was the last alliance between gods and men, at the head lay Gydwïyr. However, as Gydwïyr rallied mankind to raise their banners, the giants did as well and they once more called upon the dreaded Kunkal, the vile monsters that brought terror to man in older times and who now threatened to return humanity to its former existence as frightened prey. The giants rallied around their war forged King, this was Thared Eldingar, son of the previous giant king Helstrir, and grandson of Hrunir who was the last giant king of the Dawn Kingdom. Thared wielded a mighty ax of his own called Hefnd, he was crowned by the other giants with an oaken crown supposedly crafted from a branch of the world tree. Thared was known in his time as Eldingar, the Lightning Bringer as he fashioned his great ax to command lightning. Thared supposedly awoke and commanded the great war machines Táramaðurinn, Hyrbautr, and Skelfinginr. Táramaðurinn in particular is said to have been the largest and most destructive of the Kunkal and it was said to scrape the heavens while walking. With his great mechanical warbeast, Thared commanded the once meager droves of Jotun exiles to war once again and united them in defiance of the newly forged alliance between man and the gods.
The two immense sides met on the battlefield, a place once called Adda but now known to us as Hautkrig. The fighting at Hautkrig was apocalyptic, all the clans, tribes, and nations of man were present, and with the gods at their side, they fought against the giants and their Kunkal machines that brought untold death to the land. Of Gydwïyr we say, his sword was long and gleamed with the brightness of a newborn moon, and his shield sparkled and sparked with every glancing blow. Gydwïyr's shining dragon helm was seen afar and brought strength to the arms of his companions as all the stars of heaven's tapestry shone with never-before radiance as all the universe seemed to stand still in anticipating the victor that day on the field. The towering lord of the giants, the master of Táramaðurinn, and the king crowned of the world's oak opposed Gydwïyr and the fate of the world stood at stake on the field of Hautkrig. The forces of man and god fought tirelessly but no victory could be had if the vile black titan Táramaðurinn still stood. No man could defeat such a foe and so with bellows from a myriad of horns, the god Taranais was called upon to fight Táramaðurinn. The clash between the mightiest of the Kunkal and the mightiest of the gods truly shook the universe, Táramaðurinn's fury contrasted with Taranais' own relentless battering and soon, with time, the billowed armor of the warbeast caved in and the Doom fell upon the battlefield, taking scores of man and giant with it.
With the fall of Táramaðurinn, King Thared proved vulnerable and faced the hero Gydwïyr on equal footing. The two titans of their age clashed all manner of weapons together and the sparks of their great weapons ignited the surrounding land into a blackened wasteland. All ceased their fighting as they dove for safety amidst the towering walls of fire that now engulfed the land. Blow after blow passed between them and once more, the world shook and bent as creation seemed to be torn in two with the force of their attacks. The sky was lit with fire before turning black as the sun did not cast light and the stars were blocked out by smoke and fog. With both ailing, Gydwïyr charged the giant king and managed to run him through with Llafnor but was struck in the side with a dagger, and both fell as the destruction of the battle settled and those still alive drove off the remaining giants. With the battle won, the hosts of humanity honored their dead, building vast pyres which burned for years after the battle ended. Thus ends the tale of Gydwïyr, the last hero and savior of humanity.
Gydwïyr rode north, to Tailtecasúir, to the land of the Teaghaisí High King Casúr who had once been a champion of his people but now sat idle and content. At the court of Casúr, the fiery passion of Gydwïyr rose the court of the High King to once more raise arms but the lazing king remained seated. Only the cries of Casúr's many sons and daughters compelled the king to once more grasp his Warhammer and acclaim the beginning of the new alliance of mankind's clans. With the rallied bands of the Teaghaisí behind him, the hero rode west to the lands of Ellandun. Ellandun was the greatest city of men during this age and had been untouched by war for a century. The host of Gydwïyr paled in comparison to the splendid walls of this stronghold, atop the walls gazed King Raedwil with his hosts of iron warriors. Anticipating a fight, Gydwïyr and his men raised their arms and prepared for battle but instead, Raedwil rode outside his high walls atop a white horse and blew a horn of parlay. Raedwil admonished the young hero for attempting to once again war on the giants while also extending his sympathies for the loss of Queen Gadfael. Raedwil did not believe another war would bring victory, Raedwil was another veteran of the wars and seemed content behind his strong walls and great hosts of warriors. It was then that Gydwïyr spoke, he spoke of the danger posed by the scattered giants, how in their desperation they were at their most dangerous and only another combined alliance of mankind's great clans could scatter them once and for all. Gydwïyr spoke on the honor of his mother and the honor of the son seeking to avenge a parent's death. King Raedwil was convinced, however, he considered himself too old to lead his people. The old king then lowered himself before Gydwïyr, displaying a sword shrouded by a cloth. Once unveiled, it became apparent that Raedwil had now offered the great sword of the Tirdôla, the sword of Finbhar, wielded in splendor by Ellan, Ceredin, and passed now to him. Gydwïyr took the sword into his hand, it shone yet upon his hand, Gydwïyr felt a great sadness in the blade, passed on so many times. Llafnor now, called Eorre once, and Fresli in an age long ago, the sword of men, the dragon's bane, the sword of many colors, all those who once felt the pommel of the blade in their hands watched on far away as Gydwïyr, their mighty and last descendant, rested the sword of his forefathers at his side.
With the Teaghaisí, the Tirdôla of Ellandun, and the numerous scattered tribes of the Sureno, who had once been the residents of the Southlands before being scattered when their citadel of Rielar was destroyed by the Kunkal Táramaðurinn. With his new allies, Gydwïyr now rode to the high seat of the land, Tirordol, the Throne lands, the earthly home of the gods. There, clad in shining armor, stood the Gwledd y Duw, the God's Wolves, a host of men in impenetrable armor and known for their unmatched skill and ferocity in melee. To even be granted an audience with the gods, Gydwïyr would need to be granted passage into the inner keep of the Gwledd y Duw's fortress of Gŵrblaidd. Gydwïyr however, of great valor and undaunted from his task, challenged the giant Wolven Captain Penda the Many Armed. The Wolven captain roared and boasted, he clapped his shields together, and with each strike, thunder was heard and the earth trembled. Gydwïyr was unfazed and with steel determination and swift feet, he dodged each strike by the great warrior, landing blow after blow against the tough armor of the Wolven captain who tired as the dragon helmed one ran him in circles. After so many swings, Pendr fell to his knees and surrendered to swift Gydwïyr who beckoned the captain to fetch his masters, for the mortal had need of their friendship.
In meeting with the gods, Gydwïyr bowed his head low and showed the sons and daughters of the world the proper reverence. Behind the shimmering glow of their thrones, the gods praised the warrior of the dragon helm, they beckoned him closer and asked why war with the giants was necessary as they had been scattered by his own mother many years ago. Gydwïyr spoke in a low voice, he spoke of the grief in his heart and the revenge that burned away with every breath, Gydwïyr knew man would never be safe if the giants were allowed to dwell in peace beside them and he boldly reprimanded the gods for their hubris if they could not see the dangers. Some were taken aback by the harsh words of the mortal before them, but soon mighty Taranais spoke and threw his support behind what Gydwïyr had said. Taranais' words tore at the honor of the gods and soon they solemnly agreed with the words of the mortal as Taranais raised his mighty hammer to the blaring of horn and drum.
Now formed was the last alliance between gods and men, at the head lay Gydwïyr. However, as Gydwïyr rallied mankind to raise their banners, the giants did as well and they once more called upon the dreaded Kunkal, the vile monsters that brought terror to man in older times and who now threatened to return humanity to its former existence as frightened prey. The giants rallied around their war forged King, this was Thared Eldingar, son of the previous giant king Helstrir, and grandson of Hrunir who was the last giant king of the Dawn Kingdom. Thared wielded a mighty ax of his own called Hefnd, he was crowned by the other giants with an oaken crown supposedly crafted from a branch of the world tree. Thared was known in his time as Eldingar, the Lightning Bringer as he fashioned his great ax to command lightning. Thared supposedly awoke and commanded the great war machines Táramaðurinn, Hyrbautr, and Skelfinginr. Táramaðurinn in particular is said to have been the largest and most destructive of the Kunkal and it was said to scrape the heavens while walking. With his great mechanical warbeast, Thared commanded the once meager droves of Jotun exiles to war once again and united them in defiance of the newly forged alliance between man and the gods.
The two immense sides met on the battlefield, a place once called Adda but now known to us as Hautkrig. The fighting at Hautkrig was apocalyptic, all the clans, tribes, and nations of man were present, and with the gods at their side, they fought against the giants and their Kunkal machines that brought untold death to the land. Of Gydwïyr we say, his sword was long and gleamed with the brightness of a newborn moon, and his shield sparkled and sparked with every glancing blow. Gydwïyr's shining dragon helm was seen afar and brought strength to the arms of his companions as all the stars of heaven's tapestry shone with never-before radiance as all the universe seemed to stand still in anticipating the victor that day on the field. The towering lord of the giants, the master of Táramaðurinn, and the king crowned of the world's oak opposed Gydwïyr and the fate of the world stood at stake on the field of Hautkrig. The forces of man and god fought tirelessly but no victory could be had if the vile black titan Táramaðurinn still stood. No man could defeat such a foe and so with bellows from a myriad of horns, the god Taranais was called upon to fight Táramaðurinn. The clash between the mightiest of the Kunkal and the mightiest of the gods truly shook the universe, Táramaðurinn's fury contrasted with Taranais' own relentless battering and soon, with time, the billowed armor of the warbeast caved in and the Doom fell upon the battlefield, taking scores of man and giant with it.
With the fall of Táramaðurinn, King Thared proved vulnerable and faced the hero Gydwïyr on equal footing. The two titans of their age clashed all manner of weapons together and the sparks of their great weapons ignited the surrounding land into a blackened wasteland. All ceased their fighting as they dove for safety amidst the towering walls of fire that now engulfed the land. Blow after blow passed between them and once more, the world shook and bent as creation seemed to be torn in two with the force of their attacks. The sky was lit with fire before turning black as the sun did not cast light and the stars were blocked out by smoke and fog. With both ailing, Gydwïyr charged the giant king and managed to run him through with Llafnor but was struck in the side with a dagger, and both fell as the destruction of the battle settled and those still alive drove off the remaining giants. With the battle won, the hosts of humanity honored their dead, building vast pyres which burned for years after the battle ended. Thus ends the tale of Gydwïyr, the last hero and savior of humanity.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Unite the clans of mankind and scatter the giants
Virtues & Personality perks
Courageous
Honest
Fair
Honorable
Courteous
Driven
Faithful
Wise
Honest
Fair
Honorable
Courteous
Driven
Faithful
Wise
Social
Family Ties
Son of Leuthero and Queen Gadfael
Grandson of Finalva and Saracel, Estara and Carnavun
Great Grandson of Taranais and Tuwurun, Taliesin and Ereia
Grandson of Finalva and Saracel, Estara and Carnavun
Great Grandson of Taranais and Tuwurun, Taliesin and Ereia
Social Aptitude
A unifier, Gydwïyr was adept at uniting opposing forces and combining their strengths as he gathered together the clans of mankind as well as the often apathetic gods in opposing the growing giant threat. Gydwïyr used his own reason for waging war on the giants, his mother's death, as a rallying cry for those who remembered Queen Gadfael's own wars against them.
Speech
In speech, Gydwïyr was said to have been marvelous and swayed the otherwise apathetic High Kings Casúr, Raedwil, and the council of the gods. Gydwïyr spoke with passion and spoke very commonly of a united cause against the hated giants.
Species
Ethnicity
Circumstances of Birth
Son of the god Leuthero and Queen Gadael
Circumstances of Death
Died in battle at Hautkrig against the giants
Birthplace
Coedwig, Southeastern Areul
Place of Death
Hautkrig, Wasteland at the Rhor's edge
Family
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark Brown
Hair
Long, Black Hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
Quotes & Catchphrases
Of all deeds done
we have stood tall and proud,
we men of Ellandun
commit to a promise vowed
To you, our prince we sing
to you we grieve and cry,
to you, acclaim we bring
to your deeds we will glorify
-Funerary oration by the survivors of Ellandun to the body of Gydwïyr
(King Thared, the last great King of the giants and who commanded the dreaded Táramaðurinn)
(King Raedwil, King of Ellandun and father of Eadric and Hreswil)
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