In days long past, the city of Delnast was the capital of the Hrogrin kingdom, and it was ruled by a horrific and despotic king. He waged war on the countries surrounding him, and delighted in capturing innocents from foreign nations for slaves, treating them cruelly and mercilessly.
Delphese was a young woman from the ancient northern lands, a place with no king and no government, a farmer’s daughter whose beauty was a sight to behold. The mad king invaded the defenseless lands, taking many captives, eventually arriving at the farm where Delphese lived. He killed the farmer and most of his family, having captured enough slaves already, but stopped when he saw the face of Delphese. Although he was struck by her incredible beauty his cruelty was greater than his lust, and he took her to his castle where he imprisoned her in a tower at the north wall. It delighted him to show her the view out the window, her homelands barely visible in the morning sun.
She wept every day she looked out, calling out to the passing birds in hopes that they would take her away, and her tears falling from the tower sparkled in the sun like jewels. The king would visit her every day to cruelly mock her with news of her homeland, sometimes bringing slaves up that she recognized, causing her to weep even more bitterly.
After many years her beauty only increased, and the mad king grew more obsessed with her. One evening as she sat at the window he burst in, determined to make her his. She shrank away from him, backing against the last bit of freedom she had, the open window. As he lunged at her Delphese pushed back, but his strength instead caused her to fall out of the tower.
As legend has it, the land itself saved her- the tears that had fallen over the years formed a pool, deep enough to save her from the fall, the ground keeping the precious water from seeping down. This pool is what is now known as Delphese’s Tears. When the king saw that Delphese was alive, he immediately ran to his horse, screaming for his army to follow. A few soldiers mounted with him and gave chase.
The land favored her though, as she ran through a small wooded area massive thorns sprung up behind her, stopping the horses of the king and his men. A few of them set to run around the forest, but the king, maddened by the sight of her, leaped off his horse and led the rest of his men through the briars. They tried to cut down the plants as they went, but the springy thorns sent their swords back at them. These thorns are there today, known as Delphese’s Shield.
Covered with cuts, the king and his men pursued young Delphese. She emerged from the forest just before the soldiers who had flanked the wood. As she looked for a place to hide, the land opened up before her, providing her with a small cave. As she hid the soldiers rode past, and she emerged to continue her journey north. This cave is what is now known as Delphese’s Darkness, and it is said that the silhouette of a young girl can be seen there at the right time of night.
She was spotted by the mad king however, and he ran after her with his bloodied men. She came to a swift river, the last barrier to her homeland. Pausing at the riverbank she looked back at her pursuers and decided that death in the water was preferable to death at the hands of the mad king. As she stepped into the water, however, the land aided her once again- providing her with a ford and slowing down the speed of the river. She crossed safely, but when the soldiers and king attempted to follow the river roared to life, carrying them away. This ford is what is now known as Delphese’s Footsteps, and it is said that those with evil in their hearts cannot pass without the water rising against them.
The king struggled madly through the water, and he and one of his men managed to make it through, though they were carried far downstream. It was nearing dawn when he found her sleeping next to a rock in a field, and in a rage he attacked her. She cried out in terror before he took her life, and her shout echoed through the field.
Wolves howled in response, and as the legend goes a large pack of them arrived and tore the king to shreds – joined by crows, mice, and all manner of scavengers, they left nothing of him behind save his armor. The soldier that remained fled when he saw this, but the animals left as soon as the king was devoured.
Some farmers nearby came to see what the commotion was, and looked with sadness on the fallen girl. One of them held her up, and it seemed that as the light of the sun hit her face she smiled- finally having reached her home. The farmer lay her back down reverently and the ground opened up underneath her as a mound formed over her body. A young sapling that stood at hand grew up instantly becoming a massive tree, which is now known as Delphese’s Rest, and it is said that when viewed from afar, the leaves of this tree will take the shape of a beautiful woman’s face in the morning sun.
Delphese was a young woman from the ancient northern lands, a place with no king and no government, a farmer’s daughter whose beauty was a sight to behold. The mad king invaded the defenseless lands, taking many captives, eventually arriving at the farm where Delphese lived. He killed the farmer and most of his family, having captured enough slaves already, but stopped when he saw the face of Delphese. Although he was struck by her incredible beauty his cruelty was greater than his lust, and he took her to his castle where he imprisoned her in a tower at the north wall. It delighted him to show her the view out the window, her homelands barely visible in the morning sun.
She wept every day she looked out, calling out to the passing birds in hopes that they would take her away, and her tears falling from the tower sparkled in the sun like jewels. The king would visit her every day to cruelly mock her with news of her homeland, sometimes bringing slaves up that she recognized, causing her to weep even more bitterly.
After many years her beauty only increased, and the mad king grew more obsessed with her. One evening as she sat at the window he burst in, determined to make her his. She shrank away from him, backing against the last bit of freedom she had, the open window. As he lunged at her Delphese pushed back, but his strength instead caused her to fall out of the tower.
As legend has it, the land itself saved her- the tears that had fallen over the years formed a pool, deep enough to save her from the fall, the ground keeping the precious water from seeping down. This pool is what is now known as Delphese’s Tears. When the king saw that Delphese was alive, he immediately ran to his horse, screaming for his army to follow. A few soldiers mounted with him and gave chase.
The land favored her though, as she ran through a small wooded area massive thorns sprung up behind her, stopping the horses of the king and his men. A few of them set to run around the forest, but the king, maddened by the sight of her, leaped off his horse and led the rest of his men through the briars. They tried to cut down the plants as they went, but the springy thorns sent their swords back at them. These thorns are there today, known as Delphese’s Shield.
Covered with cuts, the king and his men pursued young Delphese. She emerged from the forest just before the soldiers who had flanked the wood. As she looked for a place to hide, the land opened up before her, providing her with a small cave. As she hid the soldiers rode past, and she emerged to continue her journey north. This cave is what is now known as Delphese’s Darkness, and it is said that the silhouette of a young girl can be seen there at the right time of night.
She was spotted by the mad king however, and he ran after her with his bloodied men. She came to a swift river, the last barrier to her homeland. Pausing at the riverbank she looked back at her pursuers and decided that death in the water was preferable to death at the hands of the mad king. As she stepped into the water, however, the land aided her once again- providing her with a ford and slowing down the speed of the river. She crossed safely, but when the soldiers and king attempted to follow the river roared to life, carrying them away. This ford is what is now known as Delphese’s Footsteps, and it is said that those with evil in their hearts cannot pass without the water rising against them.
The king struggled madly through the water, and he and one of his men managed to make it through, though they were carried far downstream. It was nearing dawn when he found her sleeping next to a rock in a field, and in a rage he attacked her. She cried out in terror before he took her life, and her shout echoed through the field.
Wolves howled in response, and as the legend goes a large pack of them arrived and tore the king to shreds – joined by crows, mice, and all manner of scavengers, they left nothing of him behind save his armor. The soldier that remained fled when he saw this, but the animals left as soon as the king was devoured.
Some farmers nearby came to see what the commotion was, and looked with sadness on the fallen girl. One of them held her up, and it seemed that as the light of the sun hit her face she smiled- finally having reached her home. The farmer lay her back down reverently and the ground opened up underneath her as a mound formed over her body. A young sapling that stood at hand grew up instantly becoming a massive tree, which is now known as Delphese’s Rest, and it is said that when viewed from afar, the leaves of this tree will take the shape of a beautiful woman’s face in the morning sun.