The Duel of Fiannor and Rurik
The Duel of Fiannor and Rurik is one of the greater known myths of The Mortal Interregnum period, describing a duel between the Elven warrior Fiannor, and the Human tribal Chieftan Rurik.
The wind howled through the icy peaks of Giant’s Rest, a land still untamed, its mountains towering over the world like the bones of ancient gods. Here, beneath the gaze of the endless sky, the greatest duel in mortal history was to be fought.
Fiannor, the Stormlance, champion of the Val'Thaloris stood tall upon the snow-dusted rock clad in enchanted armour of bronze his spear Glithrandil gleaming with a light that pulsed like the heartbeat of the stars. Among the Elves he was unmatched in speed and skill his spear striking like the wind, swift and merciless.
Opposite him, on the windswept battlefield stood Rurik, Warlord of the Red Wolf Clan, clad in fur and steel his great axe Rimefang resting upon his shoulder. Where Fiannor was a storm of speed, Rurik was a mountain of power his body honed by a lifetime of conquest his strength whispered in fear and awe among the scattered human clans.
Between them a circle of warriors, Elves of Val'Thaloris and Humans of the Wolf Clan stood in tense silence watching, waiting. The fate of a war hung upon this duel, for it was decreed that whoever fell would conceed a great relic, coveted by both humans and elves to the victor.
With a nod of grim respect, the warriors raised their weapons to the sky, then struck them against shields, against stone, against the frozen ground. A booming drum of war.
The duel had begun.
Rurik charged like an avalanche, his axe singing through the air a blow mighty enough to split the mountain beneath them. But Fiannor was faster twisting like a shadow his spear darting like a viper slicing across Rurik’s side, drawing first blood.
Yet the human did not falter. Instead, he laughed a booming, wild laugh, the sound of a warrior who had lived through a thousand battles. His fury only grew his axe carving wide arcs forcing Fiannor to dance away his speed the only thing keeping him from being cleaved in two.
For hours the warriors clashed Fiannor’s blade flashing like lightning, Rurik’s axe crashing like thunder. The Elf struck a hundred times but the Human endured a hundred wounds. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, scarred forever by their battle their blood staining the ice.
But neither fell.
The duel reached its crescendo, the warriors locked in a battle of pure will. Fiannor's precision met Rurik's unstoppable might, their weapons colliding in a final clash that shook the peaks of Giant’s Rest.
The force of their final strike split the ground itself, a massive crevasse opening beneath them. Snow and stone rained from the heights as the two warriors were swallowed into the abyss vanishing into the darkness below.
For a long moment, the battlefield was silent. The gathered warriors Elven and Human alike stood frozen, waiting for a victor to emerge.
Then, from the shadows of the chasm, two figures rose.
Rurik dragged himself up first bloodied but unbroken his axe shattered in his grip yet his spirit unyielding. The humans roared in triumph for their chieftain still stood defiant and alive.
Yet, moments later, Fiannor emerged from the other side his spear still gleaming his steps steady despite the wounds that marked his bronze armour. The Elves too cheered for their champion had not fallen his skill undiminished.
The two warriors locked eyes across the ruined battlefield, their bodies weary, their weapons ruined, yet their wills still unbroken. Neither spoke. There was no need for they had tested each other beyond mortal limits and in that moment, there was no hatred, no conquest, only respect.
Without a word, Fiannor turned and walked away into the night disappearing into the elven lands from whence he came. Rurik did the same, returning to his people never speaking of the duel again.
But the question lingered for generations, who had won?
The elves claim that Fiannor proved his superiority, for he walked away first his blade still in hand. The humans say that Rurik triumphed, for he had risen chasm first.
And then there are those who whisper that the duel had no victor, that two warriors each the greatest of their age had tested the limits of mortal strength and found no answer but honor and silence.
Yet the story did not end there.
Among those who had witnessed the battle was a woman unlike any other, a being of Titanic blood, a daughter of the Giants of Old, watching from the peaks where only the gods dared tread. She had seen warriors before but none like Rurik. A mortal who had fought as fiercely as the Titans themselves, who had shattered the earth with his strength and defied death with his sheer will.
And in that moment, she loved him.
It is said that she came to him in the night drawn by the fire of his spirit. That she took him as her mate and from their union was born a child a half-blood of Giant and Man, whose descendants would one day be known as the Goliaths.
Though the truth is lost to time the goliaths of Giant’s Rest still tell the tale claiming that they are the children of Rurik and his giantess bride. That their strength is his legacy and that their unyielding spirit comes from the blood of the greatest warrior who ever lived.
And so, even as Elves sing of Fiannor's triumph and Humans boast of Rurik’s victory, the Goliaths tell a different story.
That the greatest duel of all time did not end with a winner, but with the birth of a people.
-Oral Histories of the Goliaths
Historical Basis
The earliest known Elven reference to the duel comes from the "Annals of the House of Vaelion," written in 557 EA. This record depicts Fiannor the Swift as a heroic figure sent by the Elven Council to retrieve a stolen artifact—a sacred relic believed to have been taken by Human raiders from the ruins of Thalashar. The "Annals" emphasize Fiannor's valor and skill, claiming he fought to restore the honor of the Elves and was eventually victorious, although gravely wounded. Another Elven text, the "Songs of Althandel," dated to around 610 EA, embellishes the tale further, portraying Fiannor as nearly divine in his abilities, blessed by the stars themselves. This source also suggests that the duel ended in mutual respect, with Rurik yielding to Fiannor’s superior prowess.
Conversely, Human accounts of the duel, primarily derived from fragmented oral traditions, provide a starkly different perspective. Oral tradition passed down by the ancient human tribes of Northern Novaya, recount Rurik as a stalwart defender of his people, standing against the Elven demand to relinquish what was claimed to be a long-lost Human artifact. In these accounts, the duel is said to have been provoked by an Elven incursion into Human territory, and Rurik's actions are portrayed as an assertion of Human independence and resistance against perceived Elven overreach. Another source, the "Saga of the Plains," transcribed by Elven scholars in 650EA, emphasis Rurik's immense strength and endurance, claiming that he fought Fiannor to a standstill and only relented when both warriors mutually agreed to retire from the field of battle.
In Literature
"The Songs of Althandel" (610 EA): One of the most famous Elven works, this collection of songs and poems paints Fiannor as not only a warrior but as a hero destined by the stars to face Rurik. His skill and elegance in battle are described in almost divine terms, with the narrative presenting the duel as a battle between celestial order and earthly might. The mutual respect and honor between the two combatants are emphasized, portraying the duel’s outcome as a testament to both warriors’ virtues, though Fiannor is always shown as the more accomplished, victorious figure.
"The Ballad of Fiannor's Valor": A popular Elven ballad, it describes the duel in dramatic, lyrical form. The verses focus on Fiannor’s swift movements and invincible defense, making him appear as an almost otherworldly being whose agility and speed leave Rurik no chance to win. The ballad often concludes with a description of the aftermath of the duel—Fiannor, having spared Rurik’s life, stands as the eternal symbol of Elven grace, while Rurik is left with the mark of the battle, both physically and spiritually.
"Saga of the Plains" (650 EA): This key historical text from Human sources was transcribed by Elven scholars and includes the most detailed version of Rurik’s account. It focuses on Rurik’s immense physical strength and his resistance against Elven forces. Here, the duel is depicted as a test of endurance, with Rurik fighting to protect his people’s independence from the Elves. The saga often describes how Rurik used the environment to his advantage, such as using the rocky terrain of Giant’s Rest to tire out Fiannor, showing his tactical intelligence in addition to his brute strength. The battle's conclusion in this version is left more ambiguous, with many accounts suggesting that Rurik and Fiannor part as equals, their strength and endurance admired by both sides.
"The Chronicles of Novaya": A somewhat fragmented historical account detailing the politics and conflicts between the Elves and Humans during the Interregnum, this text situates the duel within a broader political context. Rurik is portrayed as the defender of his people, opposing the Elven incursion into Human lands. The duel is depicted as a symbol of resistance to Elven dominance, with some versions of the chronicles suggesting that Rurik’s final act of defiance, throwing his broken axe at Fiannor, is a metaphor for his refusal to submit to Elven rule.
by Shadowfire using Midjourney
Date of First Recording
557 EA
Date of Setting
124 EA
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