A CHRONICLE OF BARDIC PROPORTIONS SOOTHE THE BEAST I have lived for over half a millenium.
In my time I have watched would-be heroes rise and fall, I have seen stars
fade from the heavens, and I have witnessed the advances of this thing
humans call technology (some of these inventions rival even my great magic).
I can crush dragons with my bare hands and rend souls from the bodies of
the living, yet still something escapes me .. poetry. This simple harmonious
language is beyond my grasp .. Because of this, I have devoted my spare
time to collecting the music, poems, signatures, and artwork of others
.. in particular this fellowship of people who call themselves THE
BLOOD THAT BINDS. Were not Arokh and Rynn a part of
the new order .. I would have asked Atimar to contact these individuals
.. for they are warriors of great potency. A side note .. if you are reading
this, I have met my untimely demise .. for this chronicle is my most treasured
posession.
Fourth Archmage of the
Order
IN HONOUR OF THE FALLEN, by [CYA]WolF This I dedicate to the Fallen Sage, and to those who are left to mourn, to all my clanmates and friends. Mady Wady and others... Today I came face to face with a moment that I won't forget, I took a tumble down the stairs in our home. From top to bottom, I woke at the bottom on a hard marble floor - alive and relatively unharmed, but it gave me pause for thought and this is what came from it. These are the words that I leave with you, to read and digest... My own tribute to those who have fallen, and to Sage, who I knew well enough. Credo One honours the fallen “It is hoped that out there beyond destiny and desire is a realm that stretches through infinity and into time, space and meaning. That exists to guard our souls, as we traverse the worlds from one, unto the next it is also hoped that out there should be a guardian – to ease us into this transition.” ~ Nameless Sage pre Sundering. I sat in silence and read the words on my journal, attempting to contemplate the whole enormity of what happened, somehow this felt oddly enough more personal to me, than even the death of my own grandmother – yet I felt a familiar stirring at the back of my head, as if someone were attempting to impart a wisdom that I wish I shared. In my heart had been left the mark of a fallen comrade, a friend of the High Wayfarer of the Blood that Binds no less – this task was something I did not wish to do, but as I felt a heavy hand over my heart – another curled about my shoulder. “Hard is it not?” The voice stirred me from my contemplations and I sighed heavily, turning to face a pale skinned face, lit with blue eyes that flickered like open stars. “Would you desire this task to be placed in another’s hands?” “I…I am not sure, I feel as though I must say something, but I do not have the words…you know me…well as any…” My stammering voice whispered from the back of a dry throat. “Then perhaps you would like to talk?” “I…would…I think, but I don’t know what about…” “Try to say everything you wanted, but you could not my friend?” Her voice was almost compelling, lulling and toned with such sweet sorrow. “How can I honour the fallen?” “Each one that lives and ultimately passes on, leaves behind a footprint in the sand, a mark in the heart and soul…do you sit and mourn for the rest of your life, or do you remember them for that which they gave you. Wit, wisdom and skill?” She sat down now and folded her hands into her lap, patiently. “I admired him, and we were good friends, or I would like to think so. He was a skilled warrior and brought an understanding to the field. Also honour, comradeship and everything that is embodied by the Blood that Binds.” I reached for an empty tankard, gave it a scowl and placed it back down. “There, was that so hard? Is there more?” She urged me on. “Only that I seek your wisdom for something to say to those who were close to him as well.” “Ah…this is harder isn’t it?” “Yes…” “Wolfe, in life rain must fall, nothing is ever certain but one should always remember to make the most of the time you have. You can dwell on those who have passed, or you can take the spirit of the warrior, who fell and forge it into an understanding to teach you – although this has been a great loss, to everyone involved – the time is for you to remember the good and lock away the bad. It will be hard to do this, to move onwards, and to open your heart to others. But you have your clanmates and you have your friends, as they have you. Old or new…I have these last words for you, before I must go.” “What?” Now I felt tired, heart heavy and sorrowed like a falling star. “You are given a measure of life on this world, you can use it to cause pain and suffering or to prevent it. Regardless of what you do, stay true to that which you believe in, that which you fight to uphold and to the ties of blood to all you respect, honour and love. Most of my young friend, stay true to yourself – you can only move a mountain if you have the strength and conviction of heart and soul to do it. It is easy to fall into an abyss, the trick is climbing back out.” “I…” That’s all I could say before a river of tears caused an almost howl to tear from my throat. I looked around, as I knew, she was gone and only a soft breeze danced from my window. So then I opened my journal and began to write once more, still heavy of heart but somehow I understood things better now. Honour, friendship and love are the most powerful things in the world; if you are given these and throw them away…you’re as foolish as a King who only seeks gold. If these are taken from you, you are as poor as a beggar who has naught to fill his purse. But there are those out there, beyond your circle, which can help if you let them – they can be a rock in a terrible rapid to hold on to…or they can be a bastion of strength and a beacon of light and hope. Guiding a
lost soul towards a distant star, like in ancient times.
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KALIANA's ARTWORK The following pictures were submitted for your enjoyment by the talented Lady Kaliana! (They are modifications of NeoPet Uber-faeries.)
LADY ALANI'S MUSIC and ART These haunting and beautiful melodies have been performed and composed/arranged by Lady Alani. Steel Dragon and The BloodBound are original. The third song, Epona, is a well-done rendition of an Enya piece. A sound card of at least SoundBlaster AWE 64 quality is needed If you wish to fully appreciate the MIDI compositions below. "The Bloodbound.mid- Dedicated to....guess who.....you guys!
Lady Alani[bbG]
HERON666's ART
RIMRIL's ART
AZURE FLAME'S ARTWORK
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