Gerallt Brackensong
Virtue
Gerallt Brackensong was recognised as an exemplar of Pride by the Synod in the Winter 382.
Biography
Like many Navarr, Gerallt Brackensong spent his childhood and early adult life walking the trods with various different stridings. Initially he trained to become an artisan but his love of Navarri tradition rapidly developed into a fascination with the near-lost songs and stories of the Navarr which he collated, adapted, and shared. His dedication to collecting and sharing Navarri traditions across the empire led to many musical exchanges with other nations where he learnt how pride in one’s own culture builds pride in other cultures and the Empire as a whole.
He first came to Anvil in the interregnum after the death of Empress Britta and quickly took on a prominent role. He first joined Foxden Steading to study Navarri histories and it was here that he took the guide oath. When Foxden Steading formed Splitroot Striding to investigate the missing Whispering Dray steading, Gerallt joined the striding, and when Brackensong Steading was formed in the ruins of Whispering Dray steading, Gerallt stayed and became Gerallt Brackensong.
He guided the nation for years celebrating the major festival of Welcoming – adding many new facets to the festival and founding the Navarri camp procession where Navarr share games, music, food and drink with their fellow nations. He was an eager supporter of the academy and led musical activities with pupils. When a great hurricane struck Anvil in Winter 379YE Gerallt and his dance mate Aildhe sang with the children to bolster their courage and pride until the storm blew over.
As a bar he composed many original works, including "On the Wall" which remains popular long after his death. He also rediscovered old songs and worked tirelessly to promote Navarri musical and cultural traditions. He is best known for founding Songs and Stories, a nightly tradition at Anvil, where all citizens are encouraged to take pride in their cultures and share their own songs and stories. The event was a source of inspiration for new and established bards across the Empire, inspiring a renaissance of performing arts that continues to flourish in the Empire today.
As Gerallt took leadership of the cultural celebrations and activities of the Navarr, he took the brand oath to reinforce his service to Navarri traditions. He received the testimony “Pride of Navarr” in front of the assembled Navarri at Anvil in recognition of the work he had done to bring the nation and the wider Empire together through the proliferation of culture. In recognition of his achievements he led the Navarr performance at the coronation of Empress Lisabetta in 380YE for which he wrote the original work "Blood of the Empire".
His presence was keenly felt on the battlefield, crafting and supplying Navarri with hallowed weaponry, leading them in singing the Thorn Battle Cadence on the way to battle.
Death and Legacy
Gerallt passing cemented his status as an exemplar, exemplifying the Navarri understanding of Pride through sacrifice. In Winter 380YE, he travelled with a warband of Imperial citizens to the Steading of Return, where a growing vallorn threat had taken hold. Through days of investigation and conflict, the group uncovered the source: a great corrupted maw, a vallornheart empowered by the influence of Yaw'nagrah. Gerallt was among those who led the final assault. Armed with a barbed spear of his own making, hallowed in virtue and dripping in poisons, he entered the creature’s lair and struck the heart directly, delivering the blow that would destroy it.
In doing so, he and those beside him were marked by the creature’s ichor, made visible in the darkness and hunted by the surrounding husks and dryads. As the warband withdrew, it became clear that not all would escape.
Gerallt chose to remain. Sending his companions towards the safety of the tunnels, he drew the Vallorn creatures away from them. Witnesses recall his voice carrying across the clearing, calling the enemy to him and continuing the Thorn Battle Cadence even as he was surrounded. He died drawing the vallornspawn away, buying the time needed for others to flee. His actions ensured the destruction of the nascent vallornheart preventing a far greater threat from taking root. The spear he carried in that moment, having struck the heart, was forever changed by the act and remains a symbol of his sacrifice. The bard of Navarr died as he had lived; in service to his people, in defence of the Empire, and in pride for the traditions he carried.
After his body was recovered from the vallorn, this remains were buried in the newly created First Voice Glade, in the burial tradition of the Navarr corpse glade. The barbed spear he had used to strike down the vallorn was miraculosly touched with a unique hallowing. It was subsequently reforged with ilium to preserve its unique aura and history as an artifact of the nation.
Signs
- Legacy: Gerallt founded Songs and Stories. This Proud celebration of music and storytelling held in the Navarr camp each night of the summits. It continues to draw growing crowds, years after his death,
- Inspiration: The open welcome to take part at Songs and Stories serves to inspire people to perform. Following his death, Idwyn Splitroot took up his guitar and continued his work, taking apprentices of her own.
- Pilgrimage: Like Kethry, Gerallt’s Pilgrimage was to the heart of Pride. He spent years travelling the Empire, seeking songs and stories of all nations and finding the near-lost songs of Navarri history.
- Benevolence: Gerallt shared the songs he discovered and created with all. He encouraged all Navar to take Pride in their culture and traditions, and invited the rest of the Empire to share in that Pride.
Works
Gerallt’s travelling on the trods led him to archive and rediscover Navarri songs – often recrafting fragments of traditional navarri tunes and lyrics from across the travelling nation and popularising them as complete pieces. Well over twenty songs are known to have been wholly written or rediscovered by him.
When the world was young our home,
Was an empire called Terunael.
Through youthful folly it did fall,
That then set us on this road so long.
On and on the road we strode.
Like blood without the heart.
Like blood without a heart.
The heart of all Navarr's the throne.
Since the Empress came and made us whole.
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.
From the sacrifice of Thorn and Navarr
To the sacrifice of Merryn and Carr
In life we move through the great dance.
In death we walk the labyrinth,
(In death alive in virtue)
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne
Three notable songs written or rediscovered by Gerallt Brackensong and their impact:
- Thorn Battle Cadence – sung on the way to battle
- On the Wall – sung at the end of the day
- Blood of the Empire – performed at The coronation of Empress Lisabetta
Others songs written or rediscovered by Gerallt:
- A Sudden Farewell
- Blood of the Empire
- Brocéliande Be Stronger Now
- Caution for the Dawnish Youth
- Down in the Rugged Glen
- Empress Brannan
- Flank attack from the Forest
- Heart of the Song
- Hercynian Cry
- Miaren
- Navarr
- Navarr Running Song
- Ode to Shadowglyn Distillery
- Redhound
- The Faculty Song
- The Oak
- When The Corsairs Come