Tyrdda Bright-Axe

"None shall break my tribe apart, Not with demon-words that kill, Fear my fury's fiery rays, Dream-words lie, their thirst unslaking."

Tyrdda Bright-Axe is a legendary Alamarri chieftain attributed with founding the Avvar.

Background
Tyrdda was described as wise, diplomatic, and generous. The ancient Alamarri word for "axe" was synonymous with "weapon", and so Tyrdda's legend mark of "Bright-Axe" is referring to her weapon, which was a fire staff, as Tyrdda was a mage.

In -620 TE her tribe was living near the present-day Lake Calenhad. Due to her beauty she had many suitors, all of whom she rejected. She did, however, have a lover, who is said to have been a spirit of Lady of the Skies who was bound to a body of an elf by the name of Aval'var, of unknown gender. One of her suitors was a chieftain of a rival tribe by the name of Thelm Gold-Handed, who was likely also a mage.

Thelm merged with tribes that fell on bad times by domesticating its members with luxuries such as fattening food. His numerous warriors were skilled in battle and wielded fire-enchanted swords and dragon scale armours. Whilst he dreamt, demons approached him and filled his head with thoughts of conquering a "golden city" full of treasure lying across the Waking See, beyond the Valley of Ferelden. He pushed his tribe to their limits in pursuit of this dream.

He approached Tyrdda with gifts of gold and silver in exchange for her warriors. Tyrdda's tribe was weak from the winter and Thelm tempted Tyrdda to wed him with stories of the golden city full of food, across the sea. She sought the counsel of her lover, Aval'var, who was not fooled by Thelm's promises. Tyrdda refused her suitor's temptations, and did not agree to an alliance with Thelm's tribe, stating that the Fade lies and its demands can never be satisfied.

Thelm did not take the rejection well and came back adorned in mail for battle, wielding a silver shield and Dragon Bone sword. A fight broke out between the two leaders. As their warriors cheered as they battled, Thelm still tried to persuade Tyrdda to join him in his quest, promising the warmth of the north, saying that the whispers in his dreams promised him so. Tyrdda scorched his gleaming silver armour with fire and ultimately killed him. A sky burial was thrown for Thelm.

Following the battle, tribes of farmers attacked Tyrdda's tribe for her lands. She decided to leave the comfort of the lowlands of the Fereldan Valley and moved her tribe into the Frostback Mountains. The lack of shelter, strong winds and low temperatures affected her tribe heavily, and so she set camp in a found cave. However, it turned out the cave a was a home to a dragon. No blade could harm the beast, and the tribe couldn't leave the cave because of the weather outside. Tyrdda shouted out to Aval'var that she gave up power to be with her lover. As she did, a lighting from the sky stroke the cave and caused a cave-in that killed the dragon.

The tribes stayed in the cave complex for some time, before they met the dwarves in the Deep Roads. Tyrdda's elven lover explained to her that the dwarves were confused to have met Tyrdda's tribe, but that they were also honourable. Tyrdda approached the dwarven leader, a prince by the name of Hendir, and acknowledged that the cave belongs to the dwarves, and proposed trade instead of war, and an alliance which the dwarves accepted. The tribe prospered and Tyrdda became close to Hendir.

One day Tyrdda woke up to find that her elven lover has died. She remembered their conversations and that elf told her that she needs an heir if her tribe is to survive, and that the elf would be happy to join her on this adventure.

Her tribe grew strong and ensured the survival of the Avvars. Thanks to the dwarven trad and prosperity, the Avvars defeated their enemies, be it humans or demons, with diplomacy, magic, and swords. Tyrdda married Hendir, who hoped she would love him as he loved her, but Tyrdda had love only for Aval'var. Choosing to heed Aval'var's advice, she had Hendir sire a child with her. Human genes are always the stronger when breeding with other races, and so their child was human. She gave their daughter the name of Morrighan'nan.

After Tyrdda's death, Hendir named her daughter the new chieftain, and Tyrdda's body was laid to rest in a sky burial, so that she could join Aval'var once more.

Involvement
The Inquisition can investigate and retrieve Tyrdda's Staff, and discover that the "axe" in her name meant weapon, and the weapon was a staff. They were surprised to have learn she was a mage. The Inquisition can then share these findings with Stone-Bear Hold, who admit that Tyrdda's status as a mage was no secret to them.