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Hello beloved Bruno,

Thank you for responding. I will share with you in person what I have in mind. I think you will find it pleasing. There will be a meeting of my cabinet tonight. You are invited.


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Hello Leo Tzimiskes,

Thank you for reaching out to me. I am touched and honoured by the gesture. I have looked over your ode and find it very pleasing. I can hear it in my head as I read the words, something that is not always true of written works.

I feel that a duet is the preferred means to sing it. The first verse in baritone, the second in soprano, and the third alternating with the first half of each line sung by one and the second half completed by the other. The only piece that stuck out to me was the mention of Gamil's Lance - I have not known him to favor such a tool or weapon in any of his depictions or stories.

With respect and regret both, I must decline the honour. As for talented singers and performers who are actively performing in the Well, I can recommend Zaheera, an Ashfolk, and Niranye, a student of the College of Balladeers.


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Allow the throwable boulders to be used as catapult ammo too!

I survived. I'm good at that.

Forgot to give Clarissant the Cure in the midst of the fighting and the panic. She didn't say anything.

Found another bottle in my pack. Could have sworn I gave out all nine.

I did as I was told and drank it. I knew what it could mean. I hoped that my memory was playing tricks on me, as it sometimes does, and that a tenth bottle was hidden even from my thoughts. I knew that was unlikely.

I am relieved that nobody else died because of that decision.

The ninth is a serpent with mouth agape.

~

It is speaking again.

I might die tomorrow.

I've faced death and terrifying situations before. But they were for things that I thought were worth doing. Causes that I thought were worth the risk.

That is not what is happening here. The Astronomers want more bloodstar samples. What will they do with them? How will it help them 'destroy' the Goreheart, as they claim it will? I do not know. I do not see the path from here to there.

The Seer said it is suicide. The community has said that someone must go. We must help even if it is against our better judgement.

I suppose it is best that it is me. Maybe I will finally prevent the deaths of one of my family.

~

This Kardesler was interesting. Watched the Arbiter closely. Observed the movement of his feet and hands. Listened to the cries he made. Wondered if it was a practice that is passed down from generation to generation. Do they find apprentices to teach? Or is there but one Arbiter preserved through time?

Left with a feeling of hope. Arrival of Got Valdhazr was unexpected. Messengers were to be sent to Deep Kulkund so I expected the dwarven war-horns be heralding their arrival.

Concerned that the Kha'Esh War Master will focus solely on the East.

It is a terrible thing, to have to be a Master of War.

I think about the lessons of the Spring. The lessons of the Worldborn.

I try to reconcile all of these things.

Reconciliation takes time.

If you hack and tear at a branch you damage the tree.

I dearly hope my sisters will come to see that.

We should not seek to damage ourselves in our discernment.

Her words tore at me. I forgive her, but I feel so isolated from everyone else.

~

Shared some of my thoughts on heirophany with Sister Nebtu. They all seem so interested in my thoughts. Yet they never want to discuss it collaboratively. My fellow acolytes aren't ready for this yet. I want to help them understand but it must be a gradual realization. Charity is but a bird, a fine bird, but she doesn't understand these kinds of things either. Alejandro was close to understanding what I am grasping at, but he was so busy. And I am so busy.

~

Found some more chaos mist.

Dear Quendi, Beloved Speaker,

The great city-states of the old, tired world gather for Kardesler today. A few voices have suggested sending an invitation to Spring's Gift. I have advised them to the contrary, but they feel that the Gift may yet have a role in this sad war. My words to them was the same as before - Nothing green grows from ash and blood.

Sometimes these people I now live among only hear what they want to hear.

There is a clan forces held up to the east and south of Kha'esh. They do not threaten the Spring yet, they are still far away. They are waiting and building bridges and fortresses. I will let you know if this changes.

I have rescued a hawk from the Clans. Her name was Spleeneater, but I have given her a new name and she has taken nicely to it. Her name is now Charity. Charity Spleeneater Alendiel.


With love,
Narwen Alendiel
Acolyte of the Sibylline Sisterhood

The bad feelings are coming back.

I feel alone despite being surrounded by my family. It is not logical but matters of the heart rarely are.

They need me to be strong and so I smile for their sake.

I look at my friends and wonder if they are going to die. I know that all things die eventually but I don't want them to die a meaningless death. I don't want them to die trying to get some rocks for the Astronomers. Can I still talk them out of it?

I showed Aletta how to make a paint that glows when you sing a certain way.

Alejandro is dead. Tempo is dead. Devlin is dead.

I was told that I could pick something of his. A memento to remember him by. And so I held his shield in my hands. That my friend would be reduced to this... picking through his things for a physical token to remember him by. But it is a good token. I look at the shield on my shelf and I remember the times we spent together. I smile.

His funeral is today. I will have to say something.

Right now anyone can place furniture within a faction base. It retains ownership of whoever placed it.

My suggestion is that anyone in the faction should be considered an owner of the furniture. (Perhaps it can be limited to anyone of officer rank or above?)

This will help with issues of pcs leaving, dying, retiring, having their names changed...

There is something similar for properties - where you can flag an entire faction as being allowed to enter.

Dear Quendi, Beloved Speaker,

I share concerning news. The Thousand Clans have gathered under IAKMES. IAKMES has vowed to bring about an Age of Bronze. He vows to slaughter all the people whom he sees as interlopers in the Great Sea of Ash. He says only through their blood can the land breathe again.

I do not know what IAKMES intentions towards the Spring and our people are. In days past the people of the Well have vowed to me that they would protect the Spring and the Newborn if we ask for it. But their memories are fickle. Their lives short. Their speakers change with the month. Young speakers do not always honor the words and ways of old speakers.

The people of the Well have asked me if the Spring might help in their war. I have told them that nothing sacred grows from ash and blood. I have told them that the gifts of the Spring are for the Newborn and the Newborn alone and these gifts are not for the making of war. I have told them that the Children of the Spring will not fight in this war.

They understand.

It has been suggested that the Kinbands who feel the call to wander the Great Sea may see and hear things that are worth sharing. Tales of things-that-are which may save lives from the axe and fire. They wonder if the Kinbands of Ynys Eilir might share these tales with the people of the Well.

I ask, on their behalf, for your wisdom and the wisdom of the Spring in this matter. Will you hear their request and consider it? If it is your desire to hear them then I can bring Bashir to the Spring so that you may hear their words directly.


With love,
Narwen Alendiel

Dear Millefiori Safran,

I must regretfully inform you that your teacher is mistaken.

I am not a homunculus. I am not a larva.

I am an Eliri. An elf born of Spring's Gift.

I am willing to listen to your request for an examination. I must ask that you be considerate and mindful of my vows.


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Vico Rasco
Hziran 25, 7788

O, Where is the lonely hill?
O, Where is the warrior?

Where is the splintered shield?
Where is the saber?

Where has the rider gone?
Where are his kindred?

Alas for their duty!
Alas for their courage!

Never shall they drink again!
Never shall they revel!

Heavy is the sword in hand.
Heavier is the shield.

Heavy is the hurt in heart.
Heavier is the sorrow.

Here is the splintered shield.
Here is the saber.

Here is the lonely hill.
Here is the warrior.

[Hziran 22 7788]

Hziran 22 7788

The First Blooming went well! Friends and guests came, stories were told, food was shared. I did not know if the Spring would allow the guests to eat or drink of its bounty but it did!

I'm not sure what is going on with Otieyr. Why was he wearing what looked to be iron? Why did Quendi bar him passage? Why won't they tell me what is going on?

Then there was the news and all that came with it. My friends weren't going to tell me - which hurts almost as much as the news itself did. The Sisters would tell me to examine why this hurts so much. Pick it apart. Unravel it like a ball of twine to find the Mystery inside.

I know what is inside the knot.

I know why I stumble.

I know what they want from me.

I don't know if I can give that.

So many things are calling to me. My people need a guardian. The Grandmaster misses my singing. So many branches are open to me. Which one is the right one?

Spring's First Blooming

A long time ago our Mother and our Father grieved.
They grieved and their hearts became filled with sadness.
For in their hearts they desired children.
But alas, they were as barren as the land!
So bereaved were they that they set out on a great journey.
They set out to hear the wisdom of their Master.
For their Master was wise and powerful and the whole realm was his to command.
And so they journeyed, their hearts filled with sadness and despair, but also with the seed of hope.

And so, and so, and so.

And so they journeyed long and far. They eventually reached their Master.
And so they bowed before Him. They told Him of their woes and desires.
And so He looked upon his servants. He saw the Father's sorrow and the Mother's tears.
And so He said to them, "You shall have your children."

And so, and so, and so.

And so He reached a hand out into the world.
And so He plunged a hand into the sands.
And so He dug.
And so He dug.

And so, and so, and so.

And so He scooped up the sand and laid it out in a ring.
And so He scooped until he reached the clay beneath the sand.
And so He scooped up the clay and laid it out upon the sand.
And so He formed the clay into the shapes of bodies.
And so He scooped down into the clay until he found the Spring.

And so, and so, and so.

And so He dug out the mouth of the Spring.
And so the Spring Waters bubbled forth.
And so the Water filled the hole that he had dug.
And so the desert around it bloomed into life.

And so, and so, and so.

Bushes and cactuses and trees and vines sprouted forth and grew.
And as the water reached the bodies of clay,
They too bloomed to life.

To our Mother and Father he said - "Here are your children."
He blew, and into the wind he breathed the breath of wisdom.
There we were, opening our eyes, taking our first breaths, thinking our first thoughts!
Upon the wind we heard a song.
In this song we heard our first words.
The words were "Ynys Eilir."
The Spring was singing to us.
This song was full of love.
The love of our Mother.
The love of our Father.
The love of the Land itself for us.
We looked around ourselves in wonder.
This was the day the first flower of Spring bloomed.

[I]

Speaker Quendi,

I have a better understanding of the tale now. People have told me different things. False songs were sung by many without malice. I am grateful that they have acted on the Spring's behalf. I wish that they had spoken with me - that I could have done something. I have learned that they suspected that I was the one who told the raiders. They understand so little of me. I would never let harm come to the Spring or the Newborn.

You ask if my time among outsiders has made me distrustful? It has made me cautious. Wary. You are wise where I am passionate. So I heed your words when the fires in my heart are cool. It is true that I see the world through my eyes. But I am not the sole fly in the web. They have taken advantage of Notos as well.

There are good and kind people among the people of the Well. Our people are already roving the Great Sea. I met one of them. She was desperate. In her desperation she considered robbing me. I would help her and give her a place to stay. She would not need to worry about such things or burdened by thoughts of greed and loneliness.  I know there are other kinbands roaming out there. I will give them a place where they can come and rest when they are far away from the Spring. The children in the Spring are safe while they are in the Spring. Those out in the Great Sea have little protection.

That is what I envision, Quendi. A place of refuge for our roving kinbands. A place where we can listen to the song being sung by the Wellfolk. They are fickle but they can learn that it is good to be friends with us. We can help one another.


Narwen Alendiel