Fyrninga Stær

Of old there dwelt along the Great Bight a race of men fair and high, known as the Folk of Ing. In snow-white horses they rejoiced, celebrating Hwíting and Blanca, the twin steeds of their oldest lays, whose likeness was borne by their banners of war. The wild sea with skill they sailed undaunted, ever defying its perilous waves and the furtive tide along its shores. Theirs was a green country of great plains and vast woodlands and rolling hills, made safe from spears abroad by courage and wisdom. For the men of Ing’s Folk were bold in battle and caring for kin.

Yet ever some sought lordship over frith, power over good, threatening to bring ruin to their race. And so once a great kinstrife came to pass, in which the sons of Stréona, that treacherous brood, slew their own with help of foreign hands as they lusted for might and murder, worshipping the spirits that would grant them such. But they were stayed by Fréawine the Golden, who was true to his kinsmen and true to Allfather, the Heavenly Lord of Justice, who was also named Fyrna, the Ancient One. Beloved Fréawine banished his people’s foes and restored peace in the lands. His was henceforth called the House of Fyrna, which ruled for many lives of men, lending its name, so that all of Ing’s Folk became known as the Fyrningas, the Folk of Fyrna. This was a long time of great fortune, in spite of hours of need, when many great deeds were done.

Strife came again nonetheless. And the folk sundered into many: in the North dwelt the Éote on their great peninsula, in the West lived the Fríse and the Héage, and between them the Engle, the people of that land called Angel, and the Seaxe, the people of the blade. Grim were those days. Above all the Seaxe became warlike and desiring of other lands, and they took unto themselves the Héage and lesser kindreds. And outside the old realm a great stirring began. From the North the Danes came forth, usurping lands, from the East savage men came, warring with lustful eyes, and in the South and West the Romans sought to vanquish all, those dragon-like men.

The Romans diminished and forsook the Western isle called Britain, leaving its people. And a great many of the old folk, of which the greater part were Engle and Seaxe, crossed the sea to dwell there. Battles they fought, kingdoms they founded, while they sundered in speech and customs from their kin across the sea. It was there that most of the House of Fyrna came, for they had been led by Éadwine the Old himself.