The Shadow-Dwellers were a great people who dwelt in the shadow of a great mountain. Many great chieftains ruled over these people and brought them glory in battle. The first of these was Bleys Ganeson, a great warrior renowned for his prowess in battle. Bleys successfully defended his people from men and monsters alike.

It came upon a time that Bleys had a son and named him Galvin. When his time to return to the gods came, Bleys passed his rule over to Galvin. Throughout the years of his reign, Galvin won many battles against the Shore-Dwellers, those who preferred to live along the land’s shore. The Shadow-Dwellers and the Shore-Dwellers were great enemies and Galvin Bleyson led his people to many decisive victories against their foes. When Galvin passed on, he left his people in the capable hands of his son, Ganelon.

Ganelon had ruled for a few years when tragedy struck. His people began disappearing without a sign. The Shadow-Dwellers were fearful and turned to their chieftain for an answer. In response, Ganelon set a watch on the place where his people kept disappearing. A few days later, one of the watch-guards came running into Ganelon’s hall with the news that a monster had been seen. This monster was described as having a man’s shape but was purple in hue and twice the height of man. It was also reported that the monster had followed the ancient foot-road up the mountainside, carrying his prey with him.

Upon hearing this news, Ganelon recalled old stories of a monster named Balkalin who was as the guard described. He then knew that this monster dwelt in its hell-grotto deep within the mountain. To defeat this monstrous foe, Ganelon would have to venture into the granite-iceberg and search out Balkalin’s lair. Taking ten of his finest shield-bearers, Ganelon started up the mountain path.

Encumbered as they were by their chain-mail, it took Ganelon and his men the whole day and half of the night to reach the tunnel to Balkalin’s lair. The tunnel stretched on into the darkness of the heart of the mountain. Ganelon ordered his men to light torches and they moved cautiously into the tunnel.

Two hours of walking and the brave warriors spied a light coming from ahead. Heartened that they were nearing their goal, Ganelon urged his men to go faster toward the light. The sight that greeted them was horrific and bloody. Strewn throughout the hell-grotto were bloody bones and half-eaten carcasses. Those with light stomachs quailed at the gruesome sight.

In the midst of the carnage was the hell-fiend they sought. Ganelon stepped forward to challenge this mighty foe. He shouted to the beast: “No more shall you trouble my people. I am here to end your reign of terror.”

At these words, Balkalin turned to the warriors and snarled: “No man can defeat me. I am Balkalin, lord of monsters. Come, fight me if you dare.”

Spurred on by the beast’s challenge, Ganelon advanced on his nemesis. As he drew closer, he unsheathed his great sword, Aethling. This sword had not known defeat since it was forged three hundred years ago. Brandishing the death-maker, Ganelon sought to bring down his foe.

Balkalin snatched up a wooden club and grinned maliciously as he met the onslaught of Ganelon. Easily parrying a blow, Balkalin struck at Ganelon sending him into the wall of the cave. The hardiest of the warriors, Caeloin, ran forward to protect his king with his shield. Catching an attack from the mighty club, Caeloin’s shield broke asunder.

Ganelon had used the borrowed time to gather his wits before rejoining the attack on Balkalin. With a mighty blow, he managed to hamstring his enemy, bringing him low. Balkalin shrieked with fury and pain as his leg collapsed. Seeing him wounded, Ganelon hurried forward and with an almighty swing, cut deep into the juncture between head and neck. As the blood gushed from his wounds, Balkalin thrashed on the ground, spraying blood on the watching warriors. With one final swing of his mighty war-blade, Ganelon severed Balkalin’s head from his body, sending it rolling across the floor. The monstrous hell-fiend was defeated.

Victorious, Ganelon and his men descended from the mountain cave. Upon arriving at his feast-hall, Ganelon proclaimed his victory to all. All of the people cheered and called for a great feast to celebrate their king’s victory. As they sat to the feast, the warriors who had gone to the battle recounted their tale for all to hear. The king, being exhausted from his fight, sat back and enjoyed the storytelling, content in the thought that his people were once more safe.