Barimmar Vengrynrummos | The Guild of Reckoners

[SimplySeo 5350]

“Fellow Khazadmar- A Great Wrong has befallen our kin. Demons plight our lands, and the Dammaz Kron is filled with their vile atrocities… And the debt stands with them! So, my kin- Take up your axes, and show these Neverborn the Might of Kal’Evraal! And if our gods are willing, tonight we will strike a hundred grudges from the Great Book.” - Grand King Jorvin Kazrinsson ‘Aenguldreng’ of Clan Starbreaker, prior to the Battle of the Korvassa

 

The Reckoner’s Guild
ᛒᚨᚱᛁᛗᛗᚨᚱ-ᚹᛖᚾᚷᚱᛃᚾᚱᚢᛗᛗᛟᛋ

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Few records remain from the first three ages of Dwarfen history, of Stone, Gold, and Iron, for much knowledge was lost in the Age of Blood that followed them, and the tumultuous rise and fall of the Ironborn Empire, beyond that which is preserved in the inner chambers of the Temple of the Brathmordakin, there is a single record in the possession of the Grand Kingdom dating back to the time of Urguan Silverbeard, in the Dwarfen tongue it is called the Dammaz Kron, the Book of Grudges. This archaic tome is a single book, bound in heavy iron chains, with runes etched upon its binding dating back to the time of the First King, indestructible and ever expanding to the amount of pages necessary, the Dammaz Kron has survived four Grand Kingdoms, two Empires, two centuries-long civil wars, and fifty kings. Within this ancient ledger is a record of every wrong committed against the Dwarfen people from the first, written by Urguan Silverbeard against Iblees himself for the mutation and cursing of his brothers. Beyond the details of the mighty tallies themselves, it provides some minimal, but invaluable insight into the Dwarfs of ages passed, of their priorities, and their feuds.

 

The status of the modern Book has been a matter of some contention, for in the fall of the Third Grand Kingdom, several copies were made and distributed around the various Dwarfen holds, all claiming to be the original Dammaz Kron, what sets these copies apart from the original however, is that even now, long after the dissipation of all but the strongest Runic Magics from the world, the Dammaz Kron remains indestructible, and ever-expanding. Custodianship of the Dammaz Kron has, over the last three centuries, been disputed between the Grand King, the High Prophet, and the (now defunct) High Remembrancer, a long-standing dispute which itself has become a point of grudges in the past. Because of the fluctuation of power and authority between the Grand Kingdom and the Dwarfen Clergy over the years, and the disbanding of the Remembrancer guild a half-century ago, it has been deemed necessary for a semi-independent organization to be formed with the purpose of recording, cataloging, and at times fulfilling the grudges within the Dammaz Kron. This organization, formed by former Grand King, Jorvin Starbreaker, with support of the (as of writing) current Grand King, Garedyn Mossborn, is to be called Barimmar Vengrynrummos, the Guild of Reckoners, or translated literally, the Guild of Justice-Doers.

 

Grudgelore, however, is not the only responsibility of the Reckoner’s Guild, as the Reckoners are to serve as the spiritual successors of two organizations that came before them, the Urguanite Courts, over which Reckoners of seniority are charged with presiding over, and ensuring that justice and, more importantly honor is upheld therein, but also the Remembrancer Order, which was once comprised of Urguan’s wisest scholars, for it is reasoned, rightfully so, that the office of Justicar has become politicized, and that only those wisedwarfs whose primary concern is the preservation of Dwarfen history and honor, should be trusted with with the responsibility of upholding the rule of law.

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[!] A portrait of High Remembrancer Kazrin Gardathsson of Clan Starbreaker, issuing a Grudge.

Duties
ᚨᚾᚨᚱᚨᚨᚾᛗᚨᚱ

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LAW | Reckoners are, to grossly simplify, a combination of judge, diplomat, historian, and, when necessary, manhunter. A Reckoner is nominally under the authority of the Grand King, but in all actuality, a Reckoner’s first and foremost duty is to the Dammaz Kron, and to see justice done. The law is upheld and followed, save for those instances in which it is more honorable in the breaking than not. To judge these matters is the task of a Reckoner, and to deliver suitable punishments if dishonor is done to clan, kith, or king. In the most grievous of situations, a Reckoner can compel (but never force) a guilty Dwarf to assume a Slayer’s Oath- To forsake their honors and offices, and pursue a death in battle so their honor might be redeemed in death. If the law was broken honorably in such cases as a Legionnaire defying dishonorable orders, or the theft of a previously-stolen relic, a Reckoner may choose to err on the side of partial- Though not total leniency.
 

ARBITRATION AND DIPLOMACY | Reckoners may also, during times of kinstrife, serve as diplomats between feuding clans or Dwarfen realms, acting as a neutral party as to prevent conflict between Urguan’s children, and negotiate the settlement of grudges if grudges have been leveled against each other. In noting this, Reckoners are discouraged, though not outright forbidden from ruling in situations regarding their own clans, due to the inherent biases. Because of this duty, a Reckoner is expected to be level-headed (at least when dealing with their fellow Khazadmar) and sympathetic.

 

LAWKEEPING AND SECURITY | Despite this, a Reckoner is not a peaceful profession, no Dwarf, it is said, might deliver a sentence they are unwilling to carry out, because of this, Reckoners are their own executioners, and when one flees a court of justice, it is expected of the Reckoners, along with the Legion, to be the ones to drag them back, kicking, screaming, and bloody if need be. Reckoners are expected to be as proficient with axe and sword as they are with word and quill, and because of this, Reckoners who have not previously served in the Legion of Urguan are put through vigorous martial training. Finally, when a grudge is issued that can only be settled through blood, the wronged party may call upon the assistance of the Reckoners to carry out the task, though this is not done freely, unless no-one else is capable of settling the grudge.

 

GRUDGELORE AND GRUDGEKEEPING | Reckoners are the guards and scribes of the Great Book of Grudges, and it is the duty of a Reckoner to record the slights within the Great Book, and to ensure their veracity before issuing them. It is also the duty of a Reckoner to learn and teach proper etiquette and procedure regarding the issuance of Grudges and the practice of Grudging.

 

SCHOLARSHIP AND LORE | Reckoners are, in some sense, the spiritual successors to the Guild of Remembrance, albeit having taken on a harsher role. Reckoners are tasked with ensuring the culture and history of the Grand Kingdom is preserved so, in the event of another cataclysm in the vein of the War of the Beards, or the reign of the Ironborn, not all culture will remain lost. History must be taught as well as cataloged, so that the plague of ignorance so common among Greenbeards may be at last healed. The Old Ways are to be preserved and cherished, and contradiction of them harshly reprimanded. A Reckoner must be a harsh teacher and a studious learner, elsewise their lessons will be forgotten.

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[!] A portrait of Grand King Zahrer Roarksson ‘the Merciful’ of Clan Irongrinder, issuing a Grudge.
Organization
ᛒᚨᚱᛁᛗᛗᚨᚱᚱ

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Like any other Dwarfen guild or organization, the Guild of Reckoners has a clear hierarchy with increasing responsibilities, and few rewards for carrying them out. It is known that in the eyes of Yemekar, hard work and dedication- And eventually, mastery of any given task is its own reward. Reckoners procure their own equipment, and do not possess a uniform, though Reckoners are given amulets fashioned after the Dammaz Kron as symbols of office, and will occasionally enscroll grudges meaningful to them upon their weapons and armor, or otherwise tattoo the grudge somewhere upon their body in Dwarfen script. Despite being tied closely to the government of Urguan via the courts, an individual does not necessarily need to be a citizen of Urguan to be a Reckoner, only a full-blooded Dwarf that has not been declared an outlaw. Conviction of the crimes of Tagum, slavery, fraud, subversion of justice, or perjury shall result in an immediate and permanent expulsion from the Guild, while any other crime committed also results in expulsion, re-entry may be discussed at a later date.

The High Reckoner | The Guildmaster, who directs and organizes the goings-on of the Guild, and acts as the Custodian of the Great Book of Grudges, as well as the battlefield-commander of the guild. The High Reckoner is chosen by the previous High Reckoner, or, if the previous High Reckoner failed to appoint one, general consensus among the Guild, as well as writ from the Grand King. The High Reckoner may be removed by a vote among the guild, or among the leaders of the Clans of Urguan, with the Grand King serving as the vote-counter. The High Reckoner may, if deemed necessary, declare a ‘Reckoning’ against any target.

Reckoner Agent | The bulk of the guild. Agents of the Reckoners guild are the frontline, and are expected to be seasoned warriors, and to possess a keen understanding of Grudgelore and Dwarven History. A Reckoner-Agent may serve as a judge during trials, or, if requested, serve as prosecution or defense, should it be necessary. Reckoner agents are encouraged to take apprentices among the Scribes, and train them so that they too may become Agents of the Reckoners Guild.

 

Reckoner Scribe | The entry-level of the Guild, Reckoner scribes are, as the name implies, scribes and clerks, updating the guild’s records at the behest of the High Reckoner, and during times of conflict, maintaining the arms and armor of Reckoner Agents. To become a scribe, one must pass an interview with the High Reckoner, or, if he is unavailable, request to be interviewed by an Agent. Scribes who apprentice underneath individual agents are referred to as Apprentices, rather than Scribes, and are promoted to Agent after passing an exam or quest at the behest of the High Reckoner.

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[!] A portrait of Utak Grorsson of Clan Ireheart, immediately after issuing a grudge.

Reckoning
ᛒᚨᚲᚨᛉᚨᚲ-ᚹᛖᚾᚷᚱᛃᚾ

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When the Dwarfish people have been so grievously dishonored, and such a monumental wrong has been done onto them, Great-Grudges have been issued by either the Grand King or the High Prophet, and all honorable Dwarfs are called upon to see the grudge settled. A Reckoning is when all peaceable means of settling a grudge fail, it is, essentially, a declaration of war issued by the Guild of Reckoners on behalf of the wronged party, with the only objective being the settlement of the Grudge which has so driven the Dwarfen people to anger. One does not need to be a Reckoner to participate in a Reckoning, for any and all who join in such a righteous conflict are temporarily deputized by the High Reckoner for as long as their ire remains upon the target of the Grudge. A Reckoning is comparable to the human practice of Crusade, albeit with the emphasis placed on honor, rather than religion.

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How to join?

If you are interested in becoming a Reckoner, send a letter to the High Reckoner, Jorvin Kazrinsson of Clan Starbreaker (ign, SimplySeo) to request an interview, during which you will either be permitted entry into the guild, or requested to fulfill a certain task before you may do so, or refused.

 

IMPORTANT LINKS

[Uguan Codex of Laws]

 

[The Great Book of Grudges: WIP, updated post pending]