HORAE - The Book of Hours

[Ioannes]

HORAE - THE BOOK OF HOURS

The Book of Hours is a tome kept and maintained by the paladin Denain le Jonquille. The manuscript is a varied collection of Twindari prayers, chivalric poetry, and funerary elegies for the departed of Ephia's Well in the Twindari mode. It is kept in his personal possession, however hand-copied excerpts are occasionally circulated among the libraries of the city.

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let death fall upon us only at the requisite hour
In days of yore ere ringwalls fell,
there strode a knight of deeds to tell.

By oath he swore, to guard with care.
A maiden pure, beyond compare.

Jonquille, the brave, in armor bright,
laid many low, in fearless fight.
preserve us

A noble soul, both strong and rare,
with sword in hand, and heart so fair.

Yet lay the king in silence slain,
as crumbling walls could not remain.
why has thy wrath befallen us
The choking ash consumed the sky,
And with the world, the maid did die.

are we displeasing to thine eyes
But in her final, fleeting breath,

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She bade him swear in life or death.
kalim judge me gamil preserve me
"Oh noble knight, heed now my plea,
Go and seek the wisest maid for me.
desire I fair and righteous judgment
To her, thy hand in honour give,
And serve her well as long as you live."

breathe into me life after death that I may pray for the living
She faded soft in deathly embrace,
And left her knight to shame's disgrace.
I seek in you a worthy death
I shall make of myself a martyr

Ivsti mortvi
Ora pro nobis
Martyres
Ora pro nobis
Yet swore he then, by honours plight,
To keep his vow and serve with might.
Holy are the martyrs
Holy are the dead
Through barren wastes he wandered far,
In search of wisdom's guiding star.
For years he roamed through trials grim,
til found he there the Well's bright brim.
Holy are those righteous in faith

Beneath the shade of towering walls,
He sought to heed his noble call.
There found he one both wise and true,
And swore to her his Purpose new.
Where go you now,
fair Jonquille?

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[Ioannes]

The first of nine poems (with margin notes) detailing Jonquille's encounters with aspects of each spoke of the Wheel on his journey to Ephia's Well.

[Ioannes]

Jonquille is assailed by a company of bandits, but a miracle of the Axe drives them from his path.

[Ioannes]