Dyrnwyn
Description
Dyrnwyn, or White-Hilt, is a powerful sword once belonging to Rhydderch Hael, one of the Three Generous Men of Britain and considered one of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain. When this sword is drawn, its surface erupts in heat and flames. If the wielder is of a righteous, good heart, then the sword will slay its foes and the flames will not harm the wielder. However, those people with evil in their hearts are burned by the very flames of Dyrnwyn, and thus, are unable to wield the sword without harming themselves.
The magical sword had been interred with Rhydderch Hael in his burial mount around 615 A.D. and there it sat for several centuries. It was tracked down and taken by a sect of Christian Knights known as the Templar. The Knights Templar followed their own traditions and understandings of the Bible and in less than three-hundred years had invoked the anger of the Church and several kings. They spent countless years before this scouring Europe for magical artifacts of every type, and as the order was being captured and tortured, branded heretics by the Church, some escaped, and fled to the sea.
These Knights Templar arrived on the northeast coast of America in the early 1300’s and befriended the natives. However, dark forces in the Americas sent their own agents after the knights hoping to loot their magical relics. Some of the artifacts did fall into dark hands, and all seemed lost. However, the Native Americans rallied many tribes and a vast battle ensued to try and save the remaining knights and their artifacts, and these efforts were victorious over the forces of evil.
The knights had no females among them, and were vowed to chastity, so as the years went by they slowly died out. Over time the artifacts were scattered across North America by the original inhabitants. Dyrnwyn, the sword had made its way across the entire world and ended up in Oregon. The chieftain of the Multnomah Tribe and some of his shamans had gone upon the mountain, Wy'east, which is now called Mount Hood, during a brutally cold winter to talk to the spirits of ice and winter. On the summit, they entered a sacred cave. There, an earth spirit, Adrasteia, a dark elf, heard their calls and came up from the depths. The elf saw the sword and marveled that mere humans could have such a thing, but more so, she feared the evils such power could wrought on the world of nature. So, the chieftain gave his greatest treasure to the dark elf and a pact was made. She would forever guard the sword and in turn, she would ensure that the Multnomah would always be given sanctuary so long as they came to the mountain. As history progressed, the settlers pushed west and took over the area. Adrasteia fumed at the mistreatment of those that revered nature, the natives, but it takes decades for immortal beings to go through some emotions because their scale of time so greatly differs from humankind’s.
Slowly, she has come to disdain the humans that took over and have taken the nearby lands. Pollution further exacerbated her, and now, of late, she would let no mortals on the mountain at all- including the monster hunter, Jacques Lombar. Without someone to clear Mount Hood of monsters, the place became overran. Varying creatures were claiming humans and found the inhospitable climate perfect for their own constitutions. The peaceful barbegazi soon found their own lives in danger. They pled with Jacques for help. He tried many times, but the weather would grow so cold and bitter than even he had to descend. Finally, unable to bear the plight of these poor barbegazi, he scaled the mountain, determined to end the source of the magic.
When he entered Adrasteia’s chamber, she mocked the human and scolded him for the behaviors of mortals. Jacques demanded that she let nature balance out on the mountain, but she had gone far past reason already, and she saw his demands as threats. She goaded him several times, until he finally lashed out in anger, and then froze him in enchanted ice. He would have remained forever frozen, but, Absinthe Van Gothen managed to clear the mountain of the monsters with the protection of the Babr-e Bayan. This artifact protected her from the magical storms and chill. And, once she cleared Mount Hood of monsters, the berbegazi helped her reach the cavern at the summit. She faced off against Adrasteia and won. For the first time in centuries, a human held the sword, Dyrnwyn.
When she drew the sword, its flames erupted and with Vlad a part of her, the fire would have burned both to ashes for dark hearts cannot wield it. But again, thanks to the effects of the Babr-e Bayan, the fire did not kill her, and Absinthe used the flames to free Jacques from the ice spell. She now wields this sword that can scorch and burn yet is light and easy to carry and swing.
