Kings and Queens of the Culbrea


These be the Kings and Queens of the Culbrea Tribe, their years of reigning, their greatest deed, and their deaths. May Orlanth Rex bless them and feast them in his hall forever.

aka "History of the Culbrea tribe"

(Phase 1)

At first, the tribe was only a small triarchy of clans. Grandfather Culbri the Old was the leader when the triarchy entered Dragon Pass in the early 1350's. Grandfather Culbri battled with the Balmyr and haggled with the Torkani. He took Lorthing Vale to be his home. There his hall should be built. With two good sons - Ogg and Kortyl - he drove the Aranwyth tribe out of the vale. Alas, young Kortyl got his bane, dealt by the evil Aranwyth warrior Rindebarg.

Grandfather Culbri the Old was wise and well-versed. He feasted men from the Varmandi clan and the Colymar tribe. He sent warriors and good carls to battle the mad king Mad-Blood Malan. Grandfather Culbri only had one weakness: a fluttering heart for women. The woman-with-twelve-toes whispered something to him before she left, and nine days later he was dead. The year was 1356.

Ogg Culbrisson became the second king. During his reign Old Man Martehiord left Lorthing Vale. He wandered with followers and folk to the Owlflight Crest. Those highlands had always been good hunting and herding grounds. He spoke to Orlanth at the top of the Hill of Orlanth Victorious and Orlanth gave him Owlflight Crest and the lands eastward to the Weeping Oak as his gift. Again they were beset by the Aranwyth. Ogg Culbrisson killed their king in single combat. Ogg was killed by Svorjan Bluetounge of the Barlamani clan in 1357.

Svorjan became the third king. He began the "Within-blood-feud" when he killed Ogg Culbrisson. It is said that Svorjan Bluetounge was a madness-touched Uroxi; and much killing among the clans filled his reign. After tow years of blood-shed it came to peace at last. Svorjan was sent into exile in 1359.

Manstan the Wise was the forth king. He was of the Culbri clan. He settled many feuds. The Barlamani and Martehiording clans agreed to the Red Cauldron Treaty. All chieftains swore the Black Blood Oath under his guidance. He could speak with the winds. His brother was Dronlan the Bald who started the Elk clan. Royal seven years he ruled. He died mysteriously in 1366.

Harkenorlanth was fifth. He was of the Culbri clan. He had been the tribal warlord during Manstans reign. He was a grizzled warrior who bested Byrkar Diesthrice of the Torkani in a challenge. He welcomed the Kortyrling clan to the tribe. He disappeared in a Quivin Dark Season hunt in 1370.

Ruldal Harkensson was sixth. He was of the Culbri clan. He killed five challenging chieftains early in his reign and the tribe were unmolested after that. He ruled thirteen long years. He welcomed both the Stonewater and Blueberry clans. He died of old age in 1387.

Brandig Asmolsson was seventh. He was of the Elk clan. He permitted the newly-formed Lonadani clan to take lands from the Martehiordings. He was the son of Asmol Meathead, who was brother to Dronlan the Bald, founder of the Elk clan. Brandig was king between 1387 and 1401. He and all his household was visited by Malia and died in 1401.

Arteg Longleg was eighth. He was of the Kortyrling clan and married to Rildhug Whitewoman of the Elk clan. Rildhugg healed the tribe after the visitation of Malia in 1401. She was as strong as her husband, who was a reading man. He died declaring a poem in 1416.

Killer-Orldag was ninth. He was of the Culbri clan. Only four glorious years he was king. He met with Derik Poljoni and went with him against the Praxians in No Mans March and died in battle in 1420.

Torgal Grunarsson was next. He was of the Martehiording clan. He once played kaaz with a dragonewt. He waged a war with the Cinsina and Maboder clans of the north between 1426 and 1428. The strange Ystrad household of Dwarf Ridge lent arcane assistance and well-crafted swords. The knew deep secrets of Boneman the Smith. Hunched individuals could be seen coming to their stead. Smoke rose from the ridge in those days. Grateful King Torgal feasted the Ystrad's after the war was won. Headman Drusting Ironhammer lived at the King's Hall after that. King Torgal died peacefully 1430.

Rangor Molkesson was eleventh. He was of the Barlamani clan. He was king when   there were violent disputes between the Elk clan and the Black Oak clan of the Kheldon tribe (that was in 1435 and 1438). Twice royal seven years did Rangor rule and he was already an old man when the Stirlgon clan joined the tribe. He was killed by the Kheldon king in 1444.

Ostyr Rangorsson was twelfth. He was of the Barlamani clan. He often went raiding in Tarsh and became very rich. During his reign the Lonadani clan disappeared during the Rat Summer and the Thunder Wars raged between the Martehiording and the Rindebarg clan (also known as the Toena clan) of the Aranwyth. Ostyr died, a rich man, in bed in 1455.

Holta Barrelbelly was thirteenth. He was of the Kortyrling clan. During his reign the Telmori crossed the Stream and began harassing all neighbouring tribes. Holta was killed in the Lorthing Vale by raiding Telmori in 1461. During his reign the Goodhaven clan married into the Ystrad household and shortly after joined their clan to the tribe.

Onund on the Hill was fourteenth. He was of the Martehiording clan. Wolfmen plagued his realm. He often spoke with Orlanth at the Talking Woodmen. He retired in 1468.

Cotyr Onundsson (also called Wolfslayer) was fifteenth. He was of the Martehiording clan. His reign are the Troubled Wolf Years during which warring and raiding with the Telmori were constant. King Cotyr once went on a long hunting trip to "the land of the Firespears." He was killed in battle with Telmori in 1474.

Harken the Tracker was sixteenth. He was of the Culbri clan. He failed the Stonewater's and the Kortyrling's, who were all but exterminated, lost their tulas, and wandered among the other clans - all due to the Telmori. King Harken was cursed by a bushman and became a wandering vegetable in 1479.

(Phase 2)

Intaront Oathman was seventeenth. He was of the Blueberry clan. He had swore a blood-brother oath with Gwandor Giantblade in his youth. The Death Ring were influential during his reign. He and Gwandor Giantblade oversaw the founding of the Gwandor clan from the survivors of the Stonewater and Kortyrling clans. Intaront joined the tribe to the Jonstown City Confederation at the behest of Hauberk Jon of the Malani and the man Sartar. King Intaront erected a new Hall in Jonstown in 1485. The Goodhaven clan did not partake in the creation of the city and choose to build their own independent clan centre. This grieved good king Intaront so much he died after the final feasting in Jonstown in 1485.

Bornharl Treecracker was eighteenth. He was of the Stirlgon clan. He was a mad Uroxi and died a berserks death in 1487, after only ruling two years. Bornharl was never around when the Culbrea tribe took part in building the Strong House of Jonstown.

Asborn Harkensson was nineteenth. He was of the Culbri clan. His father was Harken the Tracker. Asborn was a well-read king. He often visited the Lhankor Mhy temple of Boldhome. He led the tribe to join the confederation with the man named Sartar and was present at the founding of Boldhome. During his reign there were growing trouble between the Martehiording clan and the Rindebarg of the Aranwyth. Three times they tried to set fire to Toena, and three times they failed. Many craftsmen left their clans to live in Jonstown during these years. Asborn died in 1494.

Ferena Jonrikssdaughter was twentieth. She was of the Barlamani clan. She was the first Queen elected by the tribe. Three times she feasted King Sartar in her halls. She died in childbirth 1501.

Ulanmar Madraksson was twenty-first. He was of the Barlamani clan. He was present when Sartar went to the winds through sacred fire. Ulanmar was king when Dworoen Trollsplitter on the Death Ring in the Gwandor clan founded a temple to Humakt in Jonstown 1502. Ulanmar also gave his blessing weavers and other good folk of the Blueberry moved to Jonstown. King Ulanmar decorated the whole of King's Hall with splendid blue tapestries - they are still there. He died peacefully in 1528.

(Phase 3)

Fisitvos Grimwalsson was twenty-second. He was of the Martehiording clan. He had many disputes with the Cinsina tribe. The Jonstown moot quavered when sharp words were traded between King Fistivos and King Sokial. Fisitvos welcomed the Varnding clan to the tribe. They brought the Wind Horn. Fistivos was a great warrior king. All the clans marched under his sacred windsocks against the Dinacoli when King Saronil made war against that tribe. Drondyr Quickblade was chieftain of the Gwandor those days. He was hero when he saved King Sokial of Cinsina during the bloody battle. Many other heroic deeds were done. After the battle there came to peace between the Culbrea and the Cinsina. This was to last for more than three generations. Fistivos was killed fighting Lunar troopers in 1548.

Bark Fistivosson, also called Bark Bloodsword, was twenty-third. He was of the Martehiording clan. He avenged his father and gained three Scarlet Scimitars as trophies. He was a great fighter and Wind Lord. He allied the Martehiordings and the Stirlgons against their common enemy the Rindebarg clan. With the Song of the Otter-Rattle and many Sylphs he chased the Rindebargs to the south-east of the Weeping Oak. Bark Bloodsword died a hero's death at the Battle of Dwarf Ford in 1565.

Rungar the Singer was twenty-fourth. He was of the Goodhaven clan and of the Ystrad bloodline. He consolidated the tribe. He was a great Master Smith who made many wondrous items. He was a friend of Intorl Standstone at Boldhome. He died in sleep 1575.

Theodorus Crystalheart was twenty-fifth. He was of the Culbri clan. He once fought the Sazdorf trolls. He was killed by the Lunars at the disastrous Battle of Grizzly Peak in 1582.

Hofstaring Treeleaper was the twenty-sixth king of the Culbrea Tribe. He was from the Culbri clan. He was the son of Partol Blacknose, who was the son of Asborn Harkensson, who was king. Hofstaring was the greatest king since Grandfather Culbri the Old. He was age-less and a great heroquester. He was famous for his Heroquest-gained leaping ability and for his incredible magic spear which fought of itself if commanded. He was almost killed when the Empire sacked Boldhome, but escaped with his leap. He died in 1613.

Recent history (Phase 4) (by Ingo Tshinke)

In 1604 the Culbrea were listed as a "Rebel Tribe" by the Lunars and subjected to severe pressure from the occupying forces.

In 1611 Gaudyr Longsword became chieftain of the Gwandor clan. The Culbrea tribe, together with the Kheldon and Colymar tribes and the Urox cult lead the call for rebellion under the leadership of Kallyr Starbrow. Supported by the Pol-Joni, the Culbrea tribe forced the Lunars out of Jonstown, and Hofstaring was victorious at the following battle. The Lunars declared the Culbrea tribe outlaws and after the meeting before Larnste's table which ended the rebellion Fazzur magically banished Hofstaring Treeleaper to a Lunar Hell.

In 1614 the Cinsina and Aranwyth moved to exploit the weakness of the Culbrea when, with Lunar encouragement, they took over large parts of the Culbrea lands. The population of the Culbrea tribe declined from 10,000 tribespeople in 1610 to 6,000 in 1620 and the Lunars sought to humiliate the bribe by confiscating the tribal House in Jonstown. (The Culbrea would again be permitted to use the house after 1618.)

Gaudyr Longsword maintained a relentless campaign of attacks on the Lunar supply lines and was declared outlaw in 1614. Kulbrast Offirsson was elected new chieftain of the Gwandor clan.

The Culbrea tribe, under new king Ranulf Grimblade, reproached the Malani for remaining inactive during their difficulties and for not offering help against the Cinsina and Aranwyth.

After a series of bitter fights Gaudyr Longsword was eventually betrayed to the Lunars and captured, but soon escaped with magical assistance from Tyngyr and slipped into the hills around Jonstown. In 1620 he was again captured and sent to the Empire under heavy guard. He slipped his captors when interrogated by a young Lunar official. He is rumoured to be hiding somewhere in or around Jonstown.

piece.jpg (7512 bytes)
This playing piece from a Swords-and shields game is one of the few personal belongings of Grandfather Culbri the Old that have been saved down to the present day.

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