The Rune-Stone and the Spiral of Names

Deep within the mists of The Hollow Vale lies a shattered relic known as the Rune-Stone. This ancient artifact, described in the Companion Guide as Cavren byraeth ("stone of word"), is said to hold the names of those who have walked the Vale. But the stone is not whole—it is fractured, its inscriptions fragmented and incomplete.

The Rune-Stone is closely tied to the concept of wyrmreth, or "the whispering spiral force," a Tharionese term that captures the cyclical nature of memory and fate. According to legend, the stone was split during the Thonbrial aethrun ("last bell's unfolding"), an event that marked the breaking of the Wyrd's harmony.

A fragment of the stone's inscription reads:

"Cavren byraeth, saelon lacrimae,
Thonbrial clufon, gemynd scyndeth.
Skyborn llaeneth, nomen antiquum,
Clymu spira, wyrd gefyrn."

Translated, it reveals:
"Stone of word, sight in tears,
The last bell splits—memory shatters.
Skyborn dwells there—an ancient name,
The spiral binds; fate is old."

The Rune-Stone serves as both a warning and a guide. It reminds us that names are not merely labels but vessels of memory and power. To speak a name inscribed on the stone is to invoke its essence, to bind oneself to the Wyrd.

For Caelwyn, the Rune-Stone represents a turning point in her journey. As the Bellbearer, she must navigate the fractured spiral of names, seeking to restore what has been lost while avoiding the Hollow's pull.

The Rune-Stone and its spiral of names invite us to reflect on the nature of identity and memory. In The Hollow Vale, to name is to remember, and to remember is to shape the world.