Armed with these Children of Hel, Dietrich was prepared to do battle with his enemy at last.
—The Death-Linked Bridge
The Children of Hel were beings created in the Underworld to be used by Dietrich in his struggle against the Great Hund.
One of many beings created in the Underworld. Four of them passed into the Grauwelt under the service of Dietrich. Were responsible for the death of the Great Hund. Were taken and buried across the Grauwelt, so that their power might never be used again, by Mann nor Hund. Klinde was among their number.
Physiology[]
There were a total of four Children of Hel, but only one of them was known to Einsa at the time of The Sword and Its Servant.
Klinde[]
Klinde was a sword of about four feet in total length. His blade was perfectly straight and slender and his handguard was fashioned to resemble twin ravens facing away from one another. Along the base of his blade was carved a single line of runes (though the meaning of them was not known).
Klinde was fully sentient with a charming and devious personality. He was very wise on the account of his very advanced age.
Klinde was able to exert his own strength alongside the bearer's, augmenting their power. He could also guide the bearer in slicing through solid objects, like limbs and even steel. His handle would become hot to the touch when Löwa would come near.
He had a mad bloodlust for the Löwa.
History[]
Dietrich made a pact with Hel: in order for the power to destroy his enemies (the Great Hund and his followers), Dietrich would pledge himself and his people to the underworld. Hel bestowed upon Dietrich the four Children of Hel (though the Grimoire of Foes attested to there having been many more Children of Hel, though just four passed into the Grauwelt).
One was a sword, named Klinde. The others were a helm to allow Dietrich to see the unseeable, a cape to hide him in the shadows, and a girdle to protect him from harm.
Using these four allies Dietrich was able to keep his own against the Great Hund. The two combatants struck mortal blows against one another, and Dietrich was the first to die.
After Dietrich was thrown in Hel and sealed there forever, the Children of Hel were taken and hidden, buried, across the four corners of the Grauwelt. It is said that they were indestructible, and thus could not be killed by mortal means. The Great Hund feared that the Children of Hel might again fall into the hands of Mannkind to be used against him.
After creating the Löwa species, the Great Hund also forbade his progeny from disenterring or ever making use of the Children of Hel.