Messages

[A second edition of this work is published, with varying changes from the first, though the original is still available in certain locations.]

I loved him and he will be missed. Great screenshots also!

Wonderful work!

She was very cool!

I loved all of our interactions. Thank you for listening to poem recitals!

[Amendments to the second edition are published, adding the completed "The War of the Southern Wastes" and "Of Kula and Gamil".]

[Hziran 19, IY 7788]

Hziran 19, IY 7788

Balstan Gloamingdaith,

We are grateful to receive your letter. We of the Sibylline will have certain edits to your work and we expect to have these to you shortly. We are mindful of your deadline of Hziran 24.

We commend you on this marvelous effort. Based on even a cursory review of your draft, it is clear our confidence was not misplaced.

Sister Amélie

[Hziran 19, IY 7788Niranye,]

Hziran 19, IY 7788

Niranye,

I prefer to speak, rather than write, of the Grandmaster's works and the history of our Cinquefoil Rose. It is an especially important lesson and with the arrival of many new students I will make a point of addressing you and yours on the matter. Rest assured, your curiosity shall be sated.

As to my works of verse, many of them are allegories. They are intended to be instructive on the nature and virtues of the Wheel, especially fierce Kula, and you are most welcome to showcase those you find compelling. I would be glad to speak with you at length on this also.

And at the last, as to music, I am not a composer. While Acolyte Narwen has done yeoman's work in setting some of my verse to melody, I have never had the talent to compose it or musical ear to gauge its quality. I batter my poetry out with a hammer and mold the verses into a shape that fits my chosen meter, whether iambic, trochaic, or otherwise. If you care to set any of my works to music, you have my permission, and I shall look forward to the fruits of your labor.

Serve ever our Garden home, and cast your eyes to the Paradise that we shall win.

Yours,

Sister Amélie

[Of Kula and Gamil]

Of Kula and Gamil

Allegory, upon the shared duty of Kula and Gamil in the protection of mortal lives.


Sister Amélie of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine

In the Style of the Kulamet

First Edition
Hziran 12, IY 7788


I.

In early days of waking world:

The wayward soul was clinging on; To barest glim'ring light of life;
For sight of mortal world was gone; And now she stands at edge of knife.

She reached up to the dimming light; With weary, oustretched, wounded hand;
And found a voice in growing night; For which her soul would swiftly stand.

"Lament you not, you one of mine"; Did fierce and verdant voice proclaim;
"Your sight is gone but mercy fine; Shall keep you through this bitter fane."

And thus was Kula's Wyld decree.


II.

But wayward soul was mortal true; The Holy Mother's mighty gift;
Her life yet slipped away from view; As Wyld clung to hold her swift.

And there from Edutu's great banks; Another trav'ler here appeared;
But offered Wyld naught in thanks; Repoaching raised a staff revered.

"Go off, Green-Souled, this one is mine; Thy shepherd's crook is nearly done;"
The Living Martyr's challenge fine; "My duty last, I shall not shun."

And thus Gamil did not agree.


III.

And up Her spear, and He his staff; To keep this soul from waning true;
Each stood for this mortal's behalf; And turned to meet, ere clash they flew.

But then the dirge did reach their ears; The death head from waters bright;
The scales to judge that life, well-lived; Should float Edutu into night.

The Martyr-Slain upon them went; And moved between the fierce repose;
And down their arms, their anger spent; He raised a hand there to compose.

And thus Kalim's lamenting plea:


IV.

"That waking dawn; That noontime fair; That evening air; By twilight, gone.

To each your task is true.

From verdant noise; To hour late; That mortal fate; In deathless poise.

As one, you see them through."

For mem'ry shall alight the path, the test;
That we have bid them live;
They answer you through ages' wrath, the crest;
And service faithful give. 

[A second edition, after a long period, supersedes the first edition originally published on Tabbah 21, IY 7787.]

[Hziran 5, IY 7788]

Hziran 5, IY 7788


Nonon,

I shall give a longer answer than is perhaps required. There is a prophecy which guides we Sibylline. In brief, it may be writ: "There shall be a Pilgrim, who in virtue shall realize the Chalice, from which the waters shall flow and Paradise return to the world."

These words have been written in a thousand ways, in a thousand places, in a thousand times. From the Age of the Caliphate in its glory to the words of our beloved Princess Faziima in this Age of Ash. They have echoed through the Ages, for they are wrought of the Wheel itself.

The prophecy is clear. The Pilgrim shall be known.

And as the secret gardens of Bel-Ishun lie wounded, a fortress of the Wyld's power against the Ash; as Life within the Great Desert has taken up thorns to defend itself; as the meek so-beloved of Kula strive and struggle, all await the realization of this prophecy.

The Pilgrim, striving. The Pilgrim, virtuous. The Pilgrim, to lead the peoples. The Pilgrim, chalice-bearer. In every story, in every tale, the Pilgrim must be known.

And so we seek, and the Cinquefoil Quest marches on.

Ask of Alejandro, who we love, but who struggles with his place in the world. Ask of Aurelio, who has sought to lead, but grapples with the weight and meaning of his charge. Ask of Narwen, who shall sing you a song of hope.

And ask of yourself, if your heart is moved by the Pilgrim's promise, to what end shall it strive?

And seek me with the answer.


Wyld keep you,

Sister Amelie

[A letter is left with a certain lift-minder within the Tablet. It is addressed to "Fox" and is written in an unusual, unfamiliar hand.]


Fox -- I had not forgotten, but I have been away. In any case, all good things come in time.

I keep my word. Listen for a bellows from one of mine including the word "vindicated," and we shall meet thirty minutes later in the place discussed. And there is much yet to discuss.


[The letter is unsigned.]

I have had a fairly massive life event (all for the best) that will keep me from being active for awhile. I'll still try to get on from time to time but my general availability will be severely limited!

[Honorable Legates,]

[A letter arrives for Jordan Clearcreek. A note is included: "Jordan, this is for you. Use it as you see fit. May the Wyld keep you."]


Honorable Legates,

I write at the specific request of Magistrate Jordan Clearcreek.

In the early days of the past year, almost ten months ago to the day, the Stele of Law was defaced by the Ninth-Spoke, the Wyrmists. They were led by a cult of the malignant and abominable that shall remain nameless, but the sum of their works was to raise their nefarious Spoke to the command of the Stele in much the fashion that B'aara now looks over our people.

Legate Syter had been murdered, Legate Zarat was missing and suspected of treason, and Constantine Diakos was traitor, though he was wounded and his duplicity was not then known.

And the Ash had beaten furiously upon the Well. With the carving of the Wyrm to the Stele, it beat all the swifter. The Shade failed. The Astronomers could not hold, and ash piled up in the streets, poisoning all it touched.

It was the Ecstatic Terrace's arrival that prevented the devastation of the Well. The Geomancers defended the Well as they defend Baz'eel. And though this lasted only until the storm abated, they protected the entire well for that period.

I do not necessarily advocate what this letter might otherwise imply. The costs would be dear. It is for your consideration only.

We are all praying for your success.

Sister Amélie

[Nisah 18, IY 7788]

[A letter arrives at the Temple of B'aara, addressed to "The Honorable Gausim al-Marain." Enclosed is another parchment.]


Nisah 18, IY 7788

Honorable Gausim al-Marain,

I greet you in the name of the Wyld, and in reverence also to the Holy Mother and all the Wheel. As I have promised, in addition to my work on "The Fate of the Garden" which you have, I enclose an essay I wrote for the Sandstone College on the nature of the dichotomy of the Wyld's faith that we spoke on.

May Kula keep you in verdant health until we speak again.

Yours,

Sister Amélie