Bruhyl GaHara

Bruhyl Gahara, after Fylga Dorumirgom, is the most famous Tylnor, both within the culture and across Kryslan. Her name is in Umod: Bruhyl literally means "Because of a Wish" and GaHara is a title given to her after her first few successful campaigns and means "Little Guardian."

Early Life: The Saga of Fynlaf & Brulyn

Bruhyl's adopted parents, Fynlaf and Brulyn, were a childless couple living on an island in the far west of Tylnorak. They had attempted to conceive a child for years but were now older and Brulyn was soon to be past child-bearing years. As a last desparate attempt, Fynlaf vowed to travel to the great temple of Mognokum in Kavok and sacrifice his hand in the wish for a child. The actual severing of his hand notwithstanding, the journey itself from the west of Tylnorak to Kavok was long and hazardous involving travel over the sea and mountains.

After traveling for several days, Fynlaf found himself in one of the mountain passes. He was sitting, warming him hands over a small fire he had built from scraps of wood he had gathered and eating dried fish brought with him. A stranger dressed in a blue cloak, his head hooded, came walking toward Fynlaf down a rocky trail which led to the summit of the nearest peak. The hooded figure was carrying a bundle. Fynlaf invited the stranger to warm himself at the fire as was a common courtesy. The stranger pulled his cloak around himself and shifted the bundle in his arms.

"You are traveling to Kavok," a voice from deep within the stranger's hood said.

Fynlaf looked confused for Kavok was many day's journey still to the east.

"You seek a child for you and your wife."

Again, Fynlaf remained silent and somewhat anxious at the stranger's knowledge of his life.

"May I ask why you so desire a screaming, wailing infant to care for? A dirty, crying, demanding bundle of..."

"Wait," interrupted Fynlaf. "You're describing only half of a child's care. I grant you that infants do cry and wail from time to time, and, yes, they are dirty and demand constant attention. But, my wife and I, wish to share our lives with a child. To hold them, to teach them, to bring them up in the knowledge that they can be helpful to others and to experience the joy of life."

"Bah," the stranger said, "life is nothing but suffering. Cold, wet, miserable, beset by all manner of ills. Look at you and me, here on this mountain, shivering against the icy wind, and you chewing on nothing but dry fish."

"Ah, yes," Fylaf grinned. "But my heart is warm back home with my wife."

The stranger chuckled. "You are quite the optimist, Fynlaf Takhbor."

"How did you know the name my wife calls me?" Fynlaf was both beginning to be angered as well as afraid.

"Calm yourself," the stranger answered, raising his right hand. "That is of no concern. I believe I have something that belongs to you." And with that the stranger stood and handed the bundle to Fynlaf. "Take care of her."

And with those words, a violent wind picked up, throwing snow into the air. Fynlaf raised his cloak over his face, shielding his eyes from the frosty blast until the the wind died down. Oddly enough, his fire was still lit and seemed to give off even more warmth than before.

Fynlaf then turned his gaze to examine the loosely-wrapped bundle in his arms. He unfolded a corner of the heavy cloth and a small hand reached out and grabbed his finger. Fynlaf almost dropped the package, but steadied himself. Pulling back the cloth a little further, he found himself staring into the deep blue eyes of a small female baby Tylnor, her horn-buds just beginning to form on either side of her head.

Tears began to fall down Fynlaf's cheeks as he wrapped the baby up snugly in the cloth and his cloak. He chewed some fish and put the mushy food into the baby's mouth. She instantly lapped it up and looked expectantly for more.

"We must get home, child." The baby grinned a toothless grin up at Fynlaf, melting his heart. "But what will we name you?"

Fynlaf hurried home and posed the question to his wife. They both agreed that Bruhyl, "Because of a Wish," would be the most appropriate name they could devise.

The Seven Deeds of GaHara