[Letter and Parcel for the Balladeers] [PC/DM]

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[A simple package containing a quarto arrives at the desk of the College of Balladeers, addressed to the organization as a whole. While the note is short, the quarto rather longer.]

Honored Comrades,

I have written this inspired by your works. Let ever our Cinquefoil quest go forward, that to the ends of all the world we strive for the Chalice, and the world to be.

If it is suitable for your records, I hope that it may find a worthy home beneath your storied songs. May the Wyld keep that flame of Life burning ever in your hearts.

Acolyte Amelie

To Paradise and Bel-Ishun

Acolyte Amelie of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine

In the Style of the Kulamet
Hziran 31, IY 7787

On blasted sands, Her path was known; Warad had marked the pious course;
The turning of the Wheel, thereon; Through lifeless days and nights along;
But here, She stopped, and cast her eyes; A river wide and there, to flow;
Through canyon's great unmark'd course; Down into Bel-Ishun, below;
And then, she Spoke! A thunderclap; All eyes, looked swift, and there to see;
Her Garden grew upon the banks; Her mandate there, was set to be:
"This Garden here is Known to Me; And Mine shall keep it true, and so;
Let not its verdant banks beset; Its waters, great, shall ever flow;
And neither great corruption know; Nor dwindle through their base misuse;"
This She did speak, and Hers did hear; Commandment given form, and light;
Warad shall spread the missive, Word; That of Bel-Ishun, Paradise.

And there She dwelled in harmony; As long the Ages turned without;
Her Garden grew, it multiplied; Into the desert sands it spread;
With Waters, Mercy, of B'aara; O there, to flourish, Life began;
And Life, in triumph, then arose; And called, did plead, unto Godhead;
"What now, great one," Her children spoke; Around Her they did stand at once;
And pleading there, for purpose strove; To meet their lofty chieftain, Crown'd;
She spoke once more, command again; And all about did start to hear;
Their Names, there-giv'n, with purpose bound; Rejoiced, them then, through field and fen;
But one Name then was left to give; One Name for them to know, revered;
Their Gard'ner there was yet-unnamed; Though great works, she was humble still;
And said she then, "Kula, am I! and all of me are 'Kulamet.'"

And all the Garden did rejoice; For Bel-Ishun, its Goddess named;
But not all there were pleased, it seems; The shadowed Djinn did rage and feign;
For they had names, unwhol'some things; And jealousy now stirred therein;
For Kula's names were mercies giv'n; while Djinni chafe in strife and pain;
But what could they, in secret do; Against the power of the Wheel;
All strikes, all blades, to nothing there; The Goddess' fury, there array'd;
But one among them rose and spoke; Of meager court, and nameless then;
And cunning there it did propose; To strike at those of meager strength;
To Life, the Djinn, would hearken then; Corruption there, their lowest aim;
Ashfolk, Man, and Stonefolk tall; And Elf, and Dwarf, all Kindred folk;
Of them, the Djinn, would hunt for sport; By Wyld, Wheel are held at bay..

As all the ages then went by; From Colossi to Caliphate;
Though Darkness sought then at the door; Pra'raj cast down Its scorching light;
Their ways were barr'd, by Kingly power; Be-Ringed as they once were, all;
Still Kula looked upon the world; Her restless eyes would not be still;
In peace the focus of the Wheel; Attended Life, in all its flower;
The greatest Cities here arose; Upon the sea, Qadira sang;
Il Modo shone atop the waves; Baz'eel enthron'd, a diamond keen;
The greatest gardens there to build; Save Bel-Ishun in Wyld's ways;
Where ten-and-one Kalihlah stood; To tend the vines and flocks in praise;
And Kula looked upon the growth; And saw that Life did flourish there;
She smiled, blessing unto all; Who give the World their gracious care.

But in that age of mighty works; Foreboding shadows did appear;
By star-lit dreams, Gellema's sight; She looked upon triumphant night;
By subtle Art she shared this doom; So all the Wheel would swiftly know;
That Age of Glory, not to last; The deserts drown'd in poisoned Ash;
B'aara, wept ever, for the world; The Warrior, his axe gripped close;
Izdu chiseled upon the rock; Fierce Wyld sowed Life far and wide;
Gellema masked our dire state; Warad marked all the coming ways;
The Martyrs stood there to receive; All that would Curse these bitter trials;
But here the Wheel took one more step; To mortals, trusted, widening world;
In Prophecy they did portend; A Pilgrim through audacity;
And gave to us crown'd Cup; That we shall end calamity.

Now here the Krak des Roses stands; The Cinquefoil banners proud aloft;
For Ibthial, we've overthrown; And now keep safe this Garden last;
To Chalice, yearning oaths are named; We Answer to Wheel's prophecy;
That Pilgrim, promised, shall be known; That Waters, pure, again shall flow;
From Well-spring here, Eudtu too; As Life in Bel-Ishun will grow;
Our desert grand, no more a waste; As Wyld's Life shall cleanse the ash;
And all the sacrifies dear; Known there upon the Martyrs' brows;
Now answering their lofty call; Remember we unto the dead;
Our purpose named: the World Redeemed; As Kula stirs the soul to sing;
That sanguine blood, our hearts beat true; Prepare, O World, for spirit's toil;
For now we sound the Pilgrim's path; To Chalice, then, and promise kept.

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[Another parcel is left, belatedly, with another handwritten quarto.]

Honored Comrades,

And to most of all, Lynneth and Alejandro: I have answered your challenge and sought to rhyme. The verse is still tetrameter, holy for the eight wholesome spokes of the Wheel, and iambic,  holy for reflecting the duality of the Wyld. It is a martial verse but does homage to the Wheel entire.

Of the spokes, it is the Holy Mother, Kula, Warad, and the Wroth chiefly in mind that I have written this. My thanks as ever to the Lyrist Hiltrud for insight into a "breve."

Ever Yours,

Acolyte Amelie

The Fate of the Garden

Acolyte Amelie Terrois of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine
Speaker for Kula

Maribeh 1, IY 7787

In ancient days, of distant lore;
No verdant green was seen before;
B'aara the Mother, sought without;
And wept Her tears to Life devout;
In barren lands, these waters flowed;
Edutu marked its canyon road;
From sorrow, holy, light of Life;
Though balanced on the edge of knife;
For angry Demon cast His gaze;
To burn away the seed in strife;
The Wheel to meet His evil blaze.

With body wracked by bitter pains;
B'aara kept safe the growing strains;
And Life in all its myriad forms;
She gave anon to meet the storms.

For Kula, Wyld, did relieve;
The Mother from her music's breve;
With guiding hand and bidden thanks;
She lead them from Edutu's banks.

But recognizing newfound fate;
The Martyrs stood, repose ornate;
Commanding cycle then to be;
From Life, to Death, in grave degree.

For then did Kula far and wide;
Sow verdant growth on paths beside;
But found pursuit upon Her path;
Turned She to face with Garden's wrath;
The hooded form that matched Her stride;
But stayed Her blow and spoke, empath:
"What here are you, O Cowled One;
Who walks these virgin sands with me;
That n'er before have tales been spun;
Of Life and Wyld's ways shall be;
Forever known as Bel-Ishun."

And answering the fierce demand;
The Wand'rer spoke without command;
He stated plain that She would know;
Warad, His name, Her paths to grow.

O'er years made green were all the ways;
And sages asked of Her in praise;
By Izdu's hand, the Ashfolk, taught;
Of treasured, verdant knowledge caught.

But paths they carved to verdant groves;
Were not for mortals, all in droves;
So Sabotage did shine false light;
And hid from them most potent sight.

But heed, O Pilgrim, not in vain;
Pra'raj does malice Wheel's refrain:
"Attend this world of goodly folk;
My scorching gaze shall soon upturn;
No B'aarat waters now shall cloak;
Ambition's rot shall see them spurn;
The Wheel with blasphemies invoke;
Devour'd in blood, and strife to churn";
And pressing down in dire heat;
The Demon offered but deceit;
Though blazing light was bound to Ring;
The verdant land felt Thirst's new sting.

Not then to be outdone by Sun;
Of midnight clad, the Wyrm was glad;
In hastening the Garden's fall;
Reply to noble groves in squall.

But rising then the sturdy Wheel;
Would bear up axe with burnished zeal;
And hew the great and monstrous Wyrm;
Afore the End, the Soldier firm.

And through the many centuries;
The Foes saw their advantage seized;
For Wroth had bidden them to fates:
To pass never the Ring'd gates.

Aghast, the Wyld, in verdant speech;
Encamped upon the desert vast;
The wounded land sought She to teach;
Her Fury cast through godly eyes;
"Foes' victory is in the past;
Though changed you are, with thorns' disguise;
And mine shall put theirs to the sword;
My Garden shall reveng'd arise";
Foretold: In action, Truth applied;
The Pilgrim's Gift shall see restored;
And drown the Enemy in stride.

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[Another few sheafs of parchment arrive at the College.]

Honored Comrades,

This was written from my own perspective, living in the wastes, and speaks of my coming to this place. It speaks of our Grandmaster and our quest directly.

Yours,

Acolyte Amelie

Of Elizabetha

Acolyte Amelie of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine

In the Style of the Kulamet
Maribeh 9, IY 7787

Ye brightly gleaming soul;
That wanders without aim;
You're cast to distant shoals;
And witness world aflame.

O hearken ye to sounding trumpet bright;
It shines for all to witness, clarion, calling in the night!
That voice is high upon the rising scree;
Aloft 'tis held by those persistent, calling now for thee.

The Well you found at last;
Though home is fairly won;
Unto the desert vast;
The Quest is not yet done.

They carried it from far-flung tower grand;
But all those ancient lands are lost and felled at dark command.
So now they've sought, that valor is not broke;
Where all the knightly flower lost uplifts the Rose-borne cloak.

The Krak des Roses stands;
A rock amid the sea;
Of we it now demands;
To hasten us to see.

The gleaming blade is drawn before the tree;
Now Cinquefoil stars, agleaming there, upon yon tapestry.
Her eyes alight, her sword aloft, said she:
"Of purpose yet our storied Name, upon my guarantee."

And Rose we all with her;
To follow then the Quest;
That we may be what were;
And meet the highest test.

[Moonlighter]

A simple missive, written in a familiar handwriting arrives for Amelie.

Amelie,

Incredible! I am in awe of your work as ever. I especially adore the one about Grandmaster Elizabetha.

You have laid a mighty challenge at my feet. I shall have to come up with something to serve as a riposte.

I will show you whenever it's ready.

Lynneth