The Melderyn article says the following about Vara (p. 22):
Vara is one of the most extensive sites that the Henge Culture left behind. Several stone circles, numerous standing stones and eight-chambered tombs are scattered over a two square mile area. Some scholars believe that Vara was the chief settlement of the Henge Culture. Pymel the Meticulous noted that there are no less than three "floating" Barasi points at Vara; an observation that has been confirmed by others. Like that at Agadar, the Vara gates seem to open and shut of their own accord and their destination is highly variable. It is believed that Vara is connected with the bizarre events surrounding Kasp of Haus that are recounted on Gelimo page 6. Vara is located in Poria hundred.
Vara is one of the most extensive sites that the Henge Culture has left behind. Scattered over a two square mile area are at least seven stone circles and numerous standing stones and eight-chambered tombs. Most of the structures are set in or around the moist, thickly forested valley of Derna creek. The oldest circles here seem to date from the early Henge Culture period but most of the circles were probably built sometime around 3000-2700 BT, when the Henge Culture was at its height. The remaining ancient structures appear to have been built later, in particular the tombs appear to have been raised no earlier than 1000 BT.
There is evidence that, when deciding where to locate their chantry, the group of Fyvrians that settled at Gelimo first considered Vara. Unfortunately, no known records remain as to the reason why they chose Gelimo over Vara.
The Diaries of Pymel the Meticulous contain the following entry about Vara:
On the west coast, betwix Telegar and Gelimo lies Vara; where, in among a group of Hills stand several Circles and sundry Tombs and Standing Stones. A scrupulous Survey will reveal, amidst the two hill-top Circles, two floating Barasi Points. A third lies betwixt the others, in a Circle hid within the Woods.
The only man currently living in the immediate vicinity of The Stones is Ferenk of Logaren, a respected scholar of the Henge Culture. He tends to spend his springs and summers here, staying for most of the rest of the year at his older brother's manor, Tenir, in Tonallan hundred.
The map shown was drawn by him and shows only those structures considered by Ferenk to be the most significant. There are dozens of others scattered around the area. Likewise, there are many smaller animal trails that he has not marked down as their paths undergo constant change due to erosion, falling trees and the changing distribution of food.
Apart from Ferenk there are few who come to Vara - the local shepherds, in particular, avoid the place. Vara has a reputation for strange disappearances.
1. Ferenk's Hut
Ferenk lives in a solid timber-frame, daub and wattle cottage
with a thatched roof, such as are common around Hrn. The hut
lies about fifty yards off the main track and has a small
clearing in front. Inside, the cottage has only a single room
with a wood-covered floor. Crammed into the room are Ferenk's
cot, two chests, and a small table and chair. From the rafters
hang numerous bags and baskets containing Ferenk's store of food
while several pots hang on the sides of the stone chimney.
The larger of the two chests is filled with Ferenk's collection of books, the other contains his personal belongings. One of the books Ferenk owns is a much-treasured copy of Pymel's diaries.
A small path leads north east from Ferenk's hut and towards a series of three large, twenty foot tall, standing stones. Ferenk likes to spend time walking around them.
Ferenk is a scholarly loner with a single-minded interest in his work. His family has tried to talk him out of staying at Vara, however Ferenk argues that this is the only place where he can do his work. He usually arives at Vara around the beggining of the year and only leaves when the weather begins to turn bad at the beggining of Autumn. The danger to him is not too great since Melderyn Isle is free of Gargun or the majority of Ivashu.
Ferenk is well aquainted with Gemril Avona, the lord of Nivon manor and cousin of Earl Avona at Karveth. Gemril has been asked by Ferenk's family to keep an eye out for him and Nivon is where Ferenk gets his supplies from.
Forty three years old, Ferenk has long greying hair which is tied backin a pony tail, and a beard that he keeps shork with a knife. He tends to pay little attention to his dress so that his clothes will at first appear to be rags, although they are actually well-worn but well-made. Generally introverted, Ferenk becomes animated when it comes to his interests. When met on one of his common walks around Vara his reaction can range from friendly questioning to introverted indifference. If asked a question about the Henge Culture or Vara he will tend to talk for a very long time about topics which seem unrelated to the question. He does not appreciate too much interruption to his work and may try to shoo any visitors off, calling them "sight-seers". If necessary, he will try to scare the visitors by telling them the story of the lost children (see below) or any other frightening story that might come to his mind.
Ferenk knows the location of the three "floating" Barasi points at Vara and has given his own names to the circles in the centre of which those points occur. The names indicate what Ferenk thinks is a relation between those points and the two Henge Culture sites that Vara lies directly between: Gelimo and Telegar Hill. He has been trying to find further evidence for this theory during his stays at Vara. However, the sites to which the Barasi points open seem to have no relation to those other two henge culture structures.
2. Gelimo Circle
Standing upon one of the three wind-beaten hills that stand out
of the forest which covers most of the site, Gelimo Circle (as
Ferenk has called it) is the second largest henge at Vara and
probably the best preserved. It is made up of two circles of
granite stones. The inner circle consists of eight sets of stones
set up in portal-form (two supports plus a lintel stone). The
portals are roughly ten feet tall. The outer circle is made up of
twenty four twelve-foot stone pillars, again of granite. None of
the stones have any markings and only a few of the outer pillars
have fallen over.
In the centre of the henge lies another stone, five foot by four foot lond. It is covered in numerous markings, very similar to those at Gelimo and at other Henge Culture sites. Clockwise and anticlockwise running spirals predominate. The Barasi point associated with the Gelimo Circle is located directly above this central stone.
3. Telegar Circle
This is by far the largest of the henges at Vara. It consists of
five sets of concentric circles of stones. The lintels of the
innermost one must have one formed a complete ring, lying atop
twelve foot tall megaliths. However, this circle, as well as the
remaining outer ones, has been heavily damaged. Many of the outer
stones now lie among the grass, some of them some way down the
hill. What is more, the central stone that is a common feature of
most henges is missing (see the story of the Altar below).
As far as Ferenk can tell, the damage to the henge has not affected the functioning of the Barasi point which lies in the air, in the centre of the circle.
4. Vara Circle
Lying in the moist Derna valley, the stones of this henge appear
to have partly sunken into the damp ground under them. Surrounded
by the thick forest that grows in the sheltered valley the henge
would be difficult to find were it not that it lies at a junction
of three forest trails.
The stones here are smaller than those of Gelimo and Telegar Circles and divination has revealed that the henge is not as old as those two.
The central stone, seven foot by three, lies in a depression and is partly covered by moss, just as most things in the area. The two rings of stones each consist of sixteen slightly pointed roughly shaped pillars, many of them now standing at odd angles. Among the stones lie the remains of several ancient trees that have since fallen and begun to rot. No trees are currently growing amist the stones, however. The Barasi point, rather than being directly above the central stone is now on the north east edge of the outer circle, several feet above ground.
5. The Leaning Stone
Said to be a giant placed here by the builders of the henges to
welcome visitors this enourmous thirty foot roughly spherical
boulder leans over the path that follows the creek. The surface
of the underhang has numerous runes cut into it. Most are runic
but there is one set which appears different. The runes appear
somewhat like those used by Kasp of Haus and may have been placed
here by him. They say, simply, "E. E. 1938".
In the Darna nearby lie several large, shaped bouders, much like those which make up the henge in the area. Most are broken or partly smoothed by the action of the river.
6. Gully and Tombs
What on Ferenk's map appears as a canyon is actually only a
steep, very damp gully. On each side of it, set some way back,
run two lines of tombs that are now overgrown, many by ancient
trees. In a number of cases the tombs have caved in under the
added weight and some of the inner chambers now lie open. Ferenk
generally avoids this area, both because of the open tombs and
because the gully is a breeding place for mosquitoes and leeches.
7. The Watch
On the forested ridge that runs south of the Darna stand three
ten foot tall stones. Enourmous faces that look ever northward
have been carved into them. The visages are rough and worn but
still recognisable.
It is said they are three of Erebir's most staunch knights placed here by the first ruler of Melderyn to stand guard over Vara. Their patience is such they have grown to be as stone over the years but, yet, will spring forward if any threatening force should gather in the valley below.
They are known of well enough for the saying "As firm as the Vara Watch" to be common among Melderyni knights.
8. The Harvest Tomb
Standing at the north west edge of Vara is a tomb much larger
than the others found in the area. Oblong in shape and about
thirty feet in height, nothing is known about its creation
although some scholars point towards its similarity to the Long
Barrow at Gelimo.
The source of the name of the tomb lies in a no longer practised tradition of the Nivon peasants to come during harvest time and place small loaves on the tomb as offerings to forest spirits.
Among the shepherds of Poria hundred the story of the lost children is very well known.
Old Jorek was a good shepherd. He had many healthy, fat sheep and the finest ram around but he had grown old without a wife or children to take care of him. Well, everyone was happy but surprised when he married young widow Dynae. Still, some said it wasnıt him she was after. Mind you, they shut up right quick after she bore him a pair of lovely twins, a boy and a girl. He named them Soren and Marrae, after him parents.
Well, it seemed like Old Jorek would die a very happy man, surrounded as he was by a fine family. Sorek and Marrae were growing up a really lovely pair, as dear to each other as to be unseperable and Dynae was as devoted as every good wife should be.
But it wasn't to be. The children were barely old enough to trust with a flock over-night when Dynae took ill. It looked bad for her, and not Jorek, nor the children, could sleep with worry. Well, the children had heard of the spirits that stir up the Darna. Brave little hearts, they decided to go into the hills to ask for their mother's good health back. And, as a gift they took one of the best ewes.
Need I tell you what happened? Three days later the ewe was found wondering the hill, would you believe, the wool on its back scorched black. Never did lamb after that. Neither did the little ones ever come back, either. It was as if the damned hills had swallowed them whole. Some say that they walked into a tomb and fell into the netherworld. Some that a figure led them into one of them magical rings. Nobody knows rightly, I say.
Well, when Dynae's call for her children went unanswered she realised something had happened and her heart broke. She died that very same day. And Old Jorek was left all alone again, too old by now to even take care of the flock. It just shows, I tell you, you never can tell. You never can tell.
It isn't known what had happened to the stone from the centre of Telegar Circle, or even if there ever had been one. Some suspect that it may now rest in the walls of Karveth Castle although the following story is more commonly told.
This was a great time ago, before the coming of Erebir. Men acted as their folly would take them, without a king or the law to guide them. There was a man among them who ruled what he could by the strength of his sword-arm. He fancied himself a noble but there was no refinement in him, just vanity and greed. One day a visitor came to his castle and was invited to a banquet held that evening. After the dinner the stranger stood up and thanked for what he'd been given but said that the best banquet heıd ever seen had been in Cherafir.
As vain as he was, the lord could not stand a challenge. He rode out of his castle and with his men hunted down two score deer and as many boars and other delicacies. Back from the hunt, he ordered another fine banquet and, once again, invited the stranger. They ate till the sun came up and after the food had finally been cleared the lord asked his guest what heıd thought. Standing up once again, the stranger said that the food was indeed finer than any other but that, still, something was lacking. Pointing towards the table he'd sat at he said that he'd eaten in inns at tables like those.
The lord's vanity once again been bitten and so he said that he'd send to Emelrene for their finest. But the stranger looked at the lord and said that not Emelrene had the finest table to eat from. The finest table would be made from the Altar of a great henge with thick legs of stone to support it.
The lord took to his ship and sailed to Vara where his men worked a month to take the Altar and carry it down to his ship. With it aboard he thought to himself that now he was a greater lord than any other and set out for home.
But there had been evil spirits trapped under the Altar and now that they were free they caused havoc all round. Seeing the lordıs ship on the waters they dived upon it and tore it apart under his legs. Last he was seen he was holding onto the stone.
When the survivors got back to their castle the stranger was gone but Erebir and his knights had come in the meantime. Seeing Erebir the men paid him homage and begged him to save them from the curse they had loosed. So Erebir drove the evil spirits back into the ground from which they had come and told three of his best knights to stand watch over Vara so that the spirits could never trouble a good soul again. And we know that the story is true because the men stand there still.
Copyright - Konrad Talmont-Kaminski, 1995
Email - s_kwtk@EDUSERV.ITS.UNIMELB.EDU.AU
