A special "Thank you" to Brablo, who made this all quite possible. Many of the ideas to come in this chapter, and future chapters, were created, fixed, or polished by Brablo.
Valantris the Great, forefather of House Valantris, came from modest backgrounds. The majority of sources state that Valantris was born during the year 1863 of the Third Age (while some later sources state that he was born in the year 1873 of the Third Age), though his parentage is not known; for as much, we do not fully understand which Dwarven clan he had his heritage in, although the two most likely – due to the region – would be that of the Broadbeams, or the Firebeards.
All sources state that he was born in the West, in the Blue Mountains, which is where he would come to spend the great majority – near entirety – of his life.
In his early life, it was quickly discovered that Valantris was a Dwarf of greater stature than most – a trait that still exists today, in some. This was to his advantage, as it allowed him to adopt a career as a guard – one of high standing – to a Dwarven lord, by the name of Dos. Valantris was skillful in his field (his field consisting mostly of the prevention of fights and the suppression of revolts) and he quickly rose to become a captain, having his own company of Dwarves.
By now, some sources – namely those of Bralthris I’s (Valantris’ only recorded son) own scribe – state that Valantris was aged 154, while others – like the chronicle written by Hoji the Old, one hundred years after Valantris’ death – claim he was aged 144. Either age would be appropriate, as this would be the common ‘middle age’ of a Dwarf.
After, a common scholar-understanding of, three years in his new position, the lord Dos died. Valantris found great disagreements, and troubles, to come, and so he left the household, and resigned as a captain. In the coming years, he would live a humble life in a Dwarven holding – the specific holding, a controversial topic – with his wife, whom he married in the year 1990 of the Third Age, and his son, Bralthris, who was born in 1993 of the Third Age.
A great shadow, from the lack of accurate sources, lies over the years between 2017 of the Third Age, and 2059 of the Third Age – though I believe many of the sources were probably lost, as this period of time would be key to Bralthris’ life.
From what little there is, we understand that Valantris had no occupation during this time, and the money he spent on the upkeep of his home and family was that of gifts, and otherwise. We also understand that, according to most sources, Bralthris, while not yet showing signs of his future greatness, was growing to be a Dwarf as wise as he was strong.
It was in the year 2059 of the Third Age that, by explicit appearance in all sources, a dragon – a drake, worm-like and with black scales – came to the West. From where it came, is unknown – and while some scholars argue that it was a fire-drake from the East, and North, I would personally disagree: fire drakes are much larger in size – and the observable remains of the controversial drake are not as big – and are red of scale, not black.
Yet a drake it was, and one that caused a great deal of terror in the hearts of all western-Dwarves.
Named simply, ‘The Drake in the Dark’ killed many Dwarves, and burnt many homes; some scholars believe that Frithdal, the great hall of House Valantris, was once a thriving Dwarven settlement, before it was occupied by the drake – others believe that it had been lost, long ago, due to infighting, and other reasons.
In response, little was done: no Dwarven king came to deal with the monster, for fear of their own kin being lost, and due to the logistical issues – those that were best to aid the Dwarves in the west, were also those whom lived in the furthest regions of the east.
For two years, the drake plagued the lands and lives of the Dwarves, before occupying the cave, and the hall within, that would later be named Frithdal.
There, it stayed for another two years and, though not forgotten, it was believed to have died of starvation, for there were no recorded sightings of it. However, it was in that year, 2063 of the Third Age, that Valantris the Great – for reasons unknown, causing a great deal of controversy – ventured to the mountain containing the beast, with his son Bralthris, whom was now 70 years of age.
Some scholars – mainly Hoji the Old and his contemporary equivalents – argue that Valantris had also gathered a company of seventeen, named, Dwarves in the years between 2059 of the Third Age and 2063 of the Third Age. Other scholars, such as Borgu, have instead argued that Valantris was alone, with his son, and had no external help.
Whatever the case may be, it is indeed a great hallmark in history: Valantris’ journey to the mountain would mean the rebirth of the hall within, the death of a terror, and the remembrance of his name.
It is of a common scholarly understanding that Valantris fought the beast within alone – something that even Hoji the Old, and his contemporaries, agree with: behind the argument that, while he brought a company of seventeen Dwarves with him, he wished to face the monster within alone.
While the period of time taken for Valantris to slay the drake is not known – the two extremes being poetry sources, those that claim the battle lasted five days, and five nights, and those that claim it lasted only a few seconds – it is known that he was wounded in the fight, and upon his leaving of the mountain, he granted his son all that was within. Valantris died at the age of 200, or 190.
This is perhaps evidence for Hoji the Old’s understanding, as he argues that the seventeen Dwarves became the first to enter the mountain with Bralthris – although, those against Hoji the Old’s understanding often say that Bralthris entered the mountain alone, only leaving it after what is described as ‘three days, two nights’ to collect his mother, and others to live in the mountain.
It is likely that Hoji the Old is correct, as one source – a chronicle, of sorts, written during Bralthris’ life – states, ‘Valantris was wounded, but upon seeing those whom had come with him, he announced his son as his heir: the lord of the mountain, and keeper of its wealth’, which explicitly states those and not his son alone.
During the later period of 2063 of the Third Age, Frithdal housed twenty-four Dwarves, including Bralthris, and the cave would soon become home to many more.
Hoji the Old argues that there was already a hall within, which was damaged, and repaired over many years. Others – namely Kogin VI – instead say that anything that may have once existed inside the mountain had been destroyed: all had to be built.
Even now, according to common-legend, the skeleton of the drake remains in the mountain – above it lying the very burial-place of Valantris the Great, which is kept safe by a score of guards. His name, indeed, lived on for many years, and will continue to do so.
