THE MYSTERY OF INDRIN : A COLLECTION OF SCROLLS

[ Librarian's note: This collection of scrolls was discovered
at Indrin's beacon by Gerdon when he and Hain went to interview
the current Indrin for a text in progress. It appears to be
some kind of journal, found and then re-found through the
centuries. We store documents like this so that perhaps some
scholarly adventurer can study and make sense of them. ~ K.D.E ]

None are sure exactly what Indrin looked like..

Seems that he or she (again there is little certainty)... really
didn't like publicity, and was always working and doing magic
in the shadows. It is generally assumed that Indrin was indeed
a male, perhaps a human or half-elf... none think it could have
been a dwarf (Although to the historians on Golhyrr it has long
been assumned so.)

So with the general uncertainty around Indrin, the sketchiness

of "his" legends and histories are understandable.

Here is the tale of Indrin (consolidated) as was told to me in
the late summer around 30 years ago by a strange and deluded old
man who lived along the eastern coast of the Isle of Belaern.
(I am sure he is gone now... storms and time would have long ago
erased any sign of him. But I believe his name was Gelion.)

Indrin came from the West... from across the great sea. He
was found adrift on a sailess boat, near dead, by a vessel from
the now nearly forgotten Kingdom of Gwaithir. At his request, he
was brought before the King, who at that time was Dhorin
Stoneweaver, greatest of his clan. The court was alive with
rumour and speculation, and it was generally assumed that the
stranger Indrin would perish, for even during those marvelous
times he was severly ill. It was nearly a year before he spoke.

For a time Indrin lived with the people, seeming to relish in
observing them. A great friendship was formed between Indrin
and Dhorin, so much so that Indrin was highest among the advisors

to the king and was trusted implicitly. Indrin taught the
children of Dhorin of the wide world, and of the beauty, both
magic and corporal, that lay within it. Many years of happiness
ensued, and great were the wonders the Stoneweaver clan wrought.
Great mechanical creations, magical gates into other worlds,
sleek powerful sea vessels, and yet not all were pleased. Ever
has it been among those that have so much, they can never get
enough to satisfy them, and so wild were their explorations into
all things that much was done that would be considered wrong.

It was nearly 60 years after the arrival of Indrin from the west
that the Chamber was found. A small dark hole in the earth, that
many said didn't even exist in our time or dimension. (I believe
Gelion speaks of a pocket dimension, quite large from his
gestures.) IT was in this chamber that IT was found... a sliver
of the chaos that spawned the world. Against the wishes of
Indrin, Dhorin took it forth and fastened it upon a scepter, this
was the beginning of the time of darkness, that still continues
today. By slighting Indrin, Dhorin had driven a wedge between
them, and only upon the death of Dhorin many years later would

it be bridged.

A foretelling was given to Indrin and he told those that would
listen... among then were many of the sons and daughters of
Dhorin. Many struck out the the West, seeking the land that gave
Indrin to them, others went East, some went through the world
gates to adventure in other dimensions. Soon Gwaithir, which was
once mighty and great, grew neglected and empty. Those that dwelt
within it, humans and dwarves, quarreled amoung themselves, and
great was the discord and sadness in the heart of Dhorin.

It was during this time that Dhorin became very sick, and he
knew death was upon him. He summoned his remaining people
and bade them seek out Indrin, so that they might be reconciled.
Even as he spoke Indrin appeared and came forward to comfort Dhorin
in his death. Upon his death, Dhorin was entombed in an glorious
crypt. Not long after his death a great silver dragon flew
from the south, which unlike most dragons did not attack the
city, instead it spoke in the ragged, sad language of a creature
that has lost all will to live, saying that it had failed to

protect Dhorin, and would therefore would guard him in death.
(I surmise here, for the elderly chap began to babble terribly,
that the dragon was indeed Stoneweaver's wife. She was long thought
dead, but never had her tomb been found. A few things the old chap
said during his tirade seem to suport this idea.)

Indrin was overcome with sadness, as were the remaining people of
Gwaithir. But this was short lived. Indrin and the remaining
sages of the Clan, sought to entomb the Rod of Chaos, as it was
now called, for they attribute its arrival with the decline of their
civilization. A great and elaborate holding place was constructed.
And so to seal it off the Sages built the Arch.

Indrin wanted to guard it more heavily... by removing it from
existence, but the sages grew weary, and longed to depart from
this place of sadness. (here the old man began to chant...
it was indeed odd.. and frightening... but this is basically
what he said) "Light and dark are the keys to the keys, and
they that unlock the door and complete the gateway, doth
welcome death to the quickly." (His tone of voice was most
disturbing, and he began to babble terribly after that.)

Once it was finished the city of Gwaithir was abandoned, those
that chose to remain traveled south, while the rest traveled West
from whence came Indrin.

Indrin remained on the Isle of Belaern for another 100 years after
the fall of Gwaithir, staying only long enough to erect the Beacon,
to "guide those that will come to this place to see and maybe
right that which we leave wrong." During this leaderless time many
petty kingdoms arose from the dust of the Stoneweaver kindgom.
Soon Indrin could bear them no longer and he too traveled West,
to rejoin the children of Dhorin, and so Indrin was gone.

Here ends the story the old man told me... what follows
are my notes on the subject of my namesake Indrin.

Indrin was obviously a great wizard, and had a slight
gift of prophecy. The lighthouse I keep was built to light
the way through the deadly reefs. I can only assume that
the Gwaithir was a city somewhere near the southeastern base

of the sleeping volcano.

Although I have only found a few mentions of anything
similar in current records. I can only assume this story to
be either a delusion, or a verbal historical account, and
as such I have transcribed it as closly as possible. This
Indrin chap I feel was real. For I am the 12th of my title,
and even though I was given a different name this is the
one I wear as Beacon keeper.

~~Indrin 12 [Year 20 of the reign of King Merkis]~~

[Librarian's note: The following handwritten note was tucked
into the orginal manuscript. ~ K.D.E.]

Upon cleaning the lighhouse library, which was quite dirty,
and much cluttered with books, I came upon this scroll. I feel
it is of some historical value, and I will send it to the
Town Library as soon as possible.... but I feel the need to
add a few notes myself.

A Book on Indrin's Beacon [ Q to quit ]

I am the 6th Beacon keeper since the Destruction. I too wear
the title of Indrin, althought it seems to be more of a name
than a title... Gwaithir was I think a small ruined town
far to the north, that was overcome by the volcano and the
great desert. This couldn't be the Gwaithir of the story for
so ruined was this place that not even the evil beasts
of the desert would live near it...

I will send this to the village as soon as possible.


A Book on Indrin's Beacon [ Q to quit ]

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