Men of the Shadows

Introduction

This is a story in the Bran Mak Morn series, written circa 1925-1926. It was submitted to Weird Tales but ultimately rejected in 1926. This early work explores the struggles of the Pictish people, their battle for survival against foreign invaders, and the burden of leadership carried by Bran Mak Morn, their last great king. The story blends historical fiction with elements of myth and prophecy, presenting a grim meditation on the decline of an ancient race facing inevitable extinction.

From a letter from Farnsworth Write dated March 16th, 1926 we learn:

Dear Mr. Howard:-
I thoroughly enjoyed “Men of the Shadows,” but I fear I can not use it in Weird Tales. It is too little of a “story,” despite the vigorous action in the opening pages. It is rather a chronicle of a tribe, a picture of the  evolution of a race; and thereby it lacks the suspense and thrill that a story of individual conflict and hopes and fears and drama would have.

I do not know of any magazine that would take a story like this, unless possibly Frontier. But if you send it to Frontier, I suggest that you first clarify the conflict between Bran Mak Morn and the wizard, on page 11, for the reader is left in the dark as to what happened, as to what Bran Mak Morn did to cause the wizard to give up.

“Men of the Shadows” is a tale of doomed resistance, ancient legacies, and the inexorable march of history. Bran Mak Morn stands as a tragic figure, a king who sees the decline of his people yet refuses to surrender to fate. The story is rich in historical and mythological elements, reinforcing themes of the inevitable downfall of civilizations and the fleeting nature of human power. Despite its rejection by Weird Tales, it remains an important part of the Bran Mak Morn saga, showcasing the author’s vision of a warrior king fighting against the tide of extinction.

Detailed Summary

The story begins with a poem that laments the fall of a once-great nation, the first men to rise from the darkness of prehistory. It speaks of their early struggles, achievements, and their ultimate decline, trampled by newer peoples and left as mere shadows in history. Their remnants still linger, but their memory is fading, much like the wind whispering through forgotten ruins.

The narrative then shifts to the perspective of a Norseman serving in a Roman expeditionary force deep in the northern lands of Caledonia. The Romans had marched from Hadrian’s Wall, confident in their power, but their numbers have been relentlessly diminished by Pictish ambushes and skirmishes. Now, only thirty men remain, surrounded by a hundred Pictish warriors. Though the Romans have the advantage of armor, the Picts, small but incredibly strong and fast, fight with relentless ferocity.

A vicious battle ensues, where Roman discipline is pitted against the Picts’ savage, close-quarter fighting style. The Romans manage to hold out, but at great cost. When the combat finally ends, only five of them remain. With no other choice, they attempt to flee south, navigating treacherous mountain terrain while constantly harried by the Picts.

The Norseman, now the sole survivor, sheds his Roman identity, taking up a long sword he finds on the battlefield and embracing his primal warrior nature. Abandoning his former civilization, he strides defiantly into the wilderness, daring fate itself. Eventually, he is captured by the Picts instead of being slain.

He is brought before Bran Mak Morn, the enigmatic and powerful ruler of the Picts. Unlike his bestial followers, Bran is tall, dark-haired, and intelligent—an outlier among his people, as he descends from the pure bloodline of their ancient rulers. He reveals the tragic reality of the Pictish race: once the greatest people on earth, they have been pushed into the shadows by wave after wave of invaders. He sees himself as their last hope, striving to rekindle their former strength and unity.

Bran’s authority is challenged by an ancient Pictish wizard, a figure representing the old, dark traditions of their race. The wizard accuses Bran of betraying the ancient gods and seeks to prove his dominance in a battle of wills. The confrontation is a mystic struggle, an invisible war of mental and spiritual force. Bran prevails, asserting his rule and solidifying his control over the tribe. The wizard, now defeated, submits to Bran’s power.

As the night progresses, the wizard tells the tale of the Pictish race, recounting their origins as the first men to walk the earth. He describes their ancient civilizations, their battles against the Lemurians and Atlanteans, and their gradual decline as newer races such as the Celts and Nordics drove them into obscurity. He prophesies that their end is near, that Bran Mak Morn may delay the inevitable but cannot prevent it.

As dawn breaks, Bran gazes into the dying embers of the fire, knowing that his people’s time is coming to an end. He will fight to preserve them, but history is against him. The last flames of the Pictish race are flickering out, soon to be extinguished forever. As the fire dies, the first light of a new era touches the land, marking the dawn of the future and the end of an age.

Characters

  • Bran Mak Morn – The last great king of the Picts, a visionary leader fighting to preserve his dying people against insurmountable odds.
  • The Norseman (Unnamed Protagonist) – A powerful warrior of Norse descent serving in the Roman legions. As the story progresses, he sheds his Roman identity and reverts to his primal, warrior nature.
  • The Ancient Wizard – A Pictish sorcerer who represents the old traditions of his race. He challenges Bran’s authority but is ultimately defeated in a mystic duel.
  • The Roman Expeditionary Force – Five hundred men sent beyond Hadrian’s Wall, systematically ambushed and slaughtered until only a handful remain.
  • The Flame-Haired Hibernian – A fierce Irish warrior among the last survivors of the Roman force, who dies heroically in battle.
  • The Chief’s Sister – A young Pictish girl who pleads for the Norseman’s life, showing a rare moment of compassion amidst the savagery.
  • The Pictish Warriors – Fierce, primitive fighters who remain loyal to their chief despite their race’s decline.
  • The Pictish Gods (Mentioned) – Old deities worshiped by the traditionalists among the Picts, though Bran seeks to break from their influence.

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