| OF THE EDEL KRISTAL |
| I It was then ages ago Ere the likes all Men would know The Bay of Rauron housed a cave Its location none knew save From Pellora a family Longed at heart for the Sea They sailed upon the Western shore And fell upon unlooked for A cave amongst cragged rock Dashing upon unsettled dock In Rauron Bay the water rough No ship built strong enough Fate blew in darkened storm Looming as oppressive form Steered the ship from its course to the rough water's source Into the Bay were they led Unto the Mouth of Hell were fed One of ten there had died Captain of the wife who cried As his body lay to rest Drowned under vehement crest To the reaches of the Sea Abandoning his family A tunnel there was in the dark All those left their fear stark Naked. And their hope dim Lives chanced upon Fate's whim It winded long, delved in stone void of Life and left alone Under Talakar it did stretch And no light did it fetch But they cornered each new bend All hope in another end For they were stranded at the gate The water rough would not abate Through the cave they needed go To what end they did not know Days they ventured in the deep Their sanity not long to keep Thirsty had they tarried on Fleeting wishes then were gone But ere that they nearly died Believing that their eyes had lied Up ahead there was a light More calming than it was bright And warmth there came upon the air From its gaze they could not stare As if drawn they closer went Renewed strength that they had spent As they reared around the bend A radiance the cave did send A shimmering of water pooled Around a strange island jeweled Crystal mound of splended sight Emitting within the source of light Atopmost the grandest shard Pure beauty amongst the marred Cavern walls under earth These crystals of unknown worth Throats parched there they kneeled And drank of water which reeled Around the feet of the mound And having done so they found All weariness thus did flee Health returned increasingly But they felt something more Not knowing what in store Was done by that act Choices of Fate now stacked For months they dwelled by the Light An answer to their current plight Something in the water near Saved them all from deathly drear Their bodies all there sustained Life anew had they gained Of the Light they would not leave To they themselves of it bereave Yet time came when they did miss All above that deep abyss A world which once they knew To them no longer seemed true So came their journey thus away To greet another darkened day Yet two there did stay behind For they were not of the mind To leave the Light, as enthralled Talek and Glori they were called Aneese there who was in lead Left behind her eldest seed She it was the Captain's wife Widowed when Dun lost his life All the rest of her family Sons Daglor, Dukar, and Dormi Fair daughters Aegna and Almee The youngest crew of the Sea And last of there who was Not of blood but there because A foster-son they did take Who rode upon a turmoiled wake Of a storm that blew ashore A tiny boat which thus bore The little babe whom they claimed And Dun the Strong he was named Long they journeyed under stone Tunnel dark and they alone To find a way through shadowed haze Which no eye could piercing gaze With hands they felt along the wall Assured steps as not to fall and having they had seen the Light Darkness now gave more fright For they felt no longer whole the hope that the Shadows stole Then the cavern's path did change Ever upward did it range And climb and climb tired feet No visible end to greet But then there crept into view Subtle light of subtle hue For compared to Crystal shine Illumination not divine And thus Aneese in the lead Delivered day unto her breed Darkened cave they did leave First fresh air in lungs did breathe In the mountains they found themselves High from which the cavern delves Near were they to the peak A better view did wish to seek Once atop the sight was grand Aneese could see all the land And to the South she did see Pellora Village by the Sea Thus it was that upon The Voldt Mountains they were on The path off was treacherous Footings most preposterous but their steps carefully To commit to memory For they desired to return To the Light Ever-Burn But ill chance befell on the way A rockey ledge in decay Too much weight as they passed Their escape just not fast Enough, for at the end Gave away and it did send Dukar to tumble down From up high on mountain crown There Aneese fell to knee And cried most mournfully To her aid came her daughters two To console all that they could do And Dun led the journey thus on Leaving Dukar's body gone When at the base of rock and cliff Muscles sore and muscles stiff They gazed upon peaks so tall And yearned inside one and all Their secret dear would they keep For those left behind would weep Yet to return vowed Aneese Desire thus could not cease Their path now came to the Plains Of Hammelin's grasses and grains There one could gently trod Across the great flat and broad Expanse of field before their home Where ne'er a danger would roam And so at last they arrived Of many perils had survived Pellora gave them welcome due The family of the wayward crew II For many months they tarried on Fair memories all but gone When one night upon the shore Gazing West on Ocean's door There ahead in the sky On the edge of Heaven's Eye Burned bright a gleaming star As it did traverse far This Aneese as sign did take Returning home a sad mistake To the cave they must return Seek the Light of Ever-Burn Then it chanced upon her heart To teach to those dear of such art Thus she gathered those she knew To their word could be true And promised them such a sight To share this secret founded Light So she rounded quite the host Of those who were trusted most Such earnest words they did believe And with her would they leave To the mouth of the cave Through rugged mountains did brave Past rocky ledges and tallest peaks Not giving up as one who seeks Trouble had she to relocate But her group not to relate For they the Light had never seen And of this feat not so keen Yet ere their chance to return Redemption Aneese did earn About them loomed the earthen door Darkness reaching to the core There the host halted feet Wishing then to retreat In their hearts doubt stayed long So stepped forth her son Dun the Strong "Hath not my mother always true Earned most devoted trust in you? She speaks hereof something dear And of shadows shall not fear I say here now let her guide And through this doubt abide For you shall earn just reward Though in rank and dampened hoard I, too, have seen the Light And will it set all strife aright" Though with spirits greatly darkened To Dun's proud words they harkened So with courage hand to hand Ventured deep under land Did they wind around each bend Toward the prosper of the end Jaws agape and all eyes wide With a wonder none could hide And Aneese had them drinking Of the water without their thinking For the yearning in each heart Came to them and would not part Thus imbued with the power All doubt before them did cower But Aneese felt distressed Of unknown omen in her breast For her eldest were not near Filling her with dismal drear But ere the week was yet done She was greeted by her son And gravely Talek said: "Alas, poor Mother! My sister's dead! She wandered off into the cave Ever eager and ever brave But then when she did not return Myself I left the Ever-Burn Nigh a month I had sought Against all hope had I fought From end to end and all around No avail nor her body found So thus assuming in my head Our dear Glori must be dead!" To the Sea Aneese would go Weep she would to the waves below Thus did she and her friends dear Dwell amongst the cave year after year And only when was great their need The rest of the world would they heed And so it was their numbers grew Their own society did construe All enhanced by the Crystal's Light Their own future looking bright And as years passed they did find New prowess of body and mind The forces of Nature in their grasp Power mighty for their clasp Earth and wind, water and fire Each now serving another sire And other powers of the mind With practice did they find But as the population grew Aneese knew what they must do A new abode for which to live In order that they could give A better life for their offspring And the Light they must bring So it came into her thought Of the Crystal must be wrought Fair gems theat each may share So that the Magic they could bear To a land where they may be Of their own for eternity So had the labor begun Led by Dun her foster-son Many jewels he made fair Entrusted all to the wives' care But of the topmost largest shard Did Dun the Strong labor hard Of it wrought a mighty gem 'Twas the brightest of all of them The Edel Kristal was this piece Given to the wise Aneese Upon their leave they threw down The face of the mountain crown The hidden cave lost for good To have their secret as they would Thus to Pellora they did go So that some ships they could bestow To bear them South far away Their location none could say Sailing South upon the Sea They founded opportunity A little island they did find Settled not of any kind Save some animals there were And of this isle did all concur That this was to be the place To perpetuate their future race III Thirty-eight years since the day The mariners had lost their way The cave was found of Crystal Light And with wrought gems took the flight Southward to Island Geylin Upon there History would begin The Crystals granted life real long Mystic powers and bodies strong In peace they dwelt, side by side But a secret lust one did hide Talek, eldest son of Aneese Held a greed that would not cease Of a tale told to none A most evil deed was done When he and Glori dwelt alone Powers harbored he did hone And not willing of it to share Even of one for whom he should care He beguiled her to go to the Sea And there beset his treachery He summoned water to his aid A crested wave sudden made Taking Glori ever down Aside her father she did drown One night there a shadow crept Ill-favored and his intent kept Secret; for no one knew What it was he was about to do From house to house, quietly With mystic prowess, steathily From each place a gem he stole But trifle to his final goal The last gem which he must wrest Edel Kristal from Aneese's breast For it hung upon a chain And about her neck was lain As he snuck into her room Prepared to bring about her doom But she woke and did she Blind with Light this enemy As he turned to run away Aneese fell unto dismay For Talek it was, eldest son Now this spiteful, wretched one To the shore he did flee And stole upon a boat to Sea All the men of the town Followed chase sailing down South, where Talek went and with their jewels he spent But with Aneese stayed her sons Of the men the only ones The Sea in tumult, all uproar The ships of Geylin it roughly bore Many lost to crested wave But pursuant these souls so brave For Talek commanded the waters there Hindering those competent to dare But, alas, few did live Still giving chase as they could give When at last they sailed around Within the encircling World abound So to the South they sailed afar Now to the North of Talakar Another island upon the Sea Did they reach eventually And Talek's boat there a-dock Upon a shore sheer of rock Though water was in his command Talek was dealt a ruthless hand Stranded now upon this place Dead-ended in this chase When at last they cornered him He surprisingly not on whim Did not attack with magic power Assumingly he did cower But even all the while His intent was to beguile For much prowess of the mind His to control and to bind Using the allure of the gem He spoke then thus to them: "You do not see thus as blind That each wife does rule your mind All the gems they ever kept And would forever now, except To you I thus propose For everyone here, I deem, knows Through hardships we all came The Crystals we, too, rightly claim So, Brothers of the Light, Do not give up without a fight These Crystals here they are there So that all the men may share On this island you may be king And your family you should bring But before your chance turns sour Heed now to your rightful power!" Through beguile or twisted truth The men now tainted and uncouth They returned to Isle Geylin Wreaking havoc with vengeful Sin Imprisoned they their wives Claiming new destiny for their lives And their children they did slay Paving over the olden way For afresh they wished to start Ruling all with blackened heart They then to Krommel Isle returned After the village they had burned But Aneese and children five Did they luckily survive And of their spouses, too All that remained of their crew These few that were free of Sin They are named the Angellin IV It was not long they lived in peace Those who did follow Aneese: Dormi, Daglor, and wife Laendee, Aegna, Seraph husband of Almee, And foster-son Dun the Strong Who ever for revenge did long A child there was in her fourth year Whom Dun as uncle did hold dear Of Seraph and Almee this babe born With love and pride did they adorn This new hope for their race to know The fair child was she - Serapho At a time when out at Sea There Aneese and family Enjoying leisure on their ship In cooling waters took a dip But Dun at home did stay alone With the child her care to own And upon her neck Aneese's chain Ever since her kin were slain Aneese did wish her life at length Filled with wisdom and magic strength Dun most learned of magic skill Would thus teach her at Aneese's will A fake crystal Dun did make If Talek returned for it to take And that necklace Aneese did bore So that she might be a lure To protect that precious child From fiends vicious and wild So as they were on a swim The sky grew menacing and dim The waters then began to wake Clouds did rumble and lightning shake Quickly out of water and aboard Now winds they gusted, rain it poured The family drew together tight Defenses raised, prepared to fight Talek's ships they drew around And trapped the Angellin abound "You know what it is I seek Shall I board and have a peek? Or my trouble would you save And you yourself to drown in wave?" Then Aneese replied aloud Though inside with fear she cowed "You it is that should fear What you seek I hold near From pure of soul it shall never part Let it die as you have killed my heart!" Then knowing that her doom was nigh She set in motion her devised lie Swiftly she moved, edge of the deck And took that chain upon her neck "I claim you now no son of mine The Edel Kristal shall not be thine!" She then cast herself unto the Sea And loud cried out her family Talek released the water's command But in turmoil gone did her body strand A search his crew did commence And the Angellin were slain thence Among the dead Dun was not And Talek desired to have him caught Ever Dun did he abhor For their mother loved Dun more A child he was of blood not born And paved Talek to a life of scorn So with cruelty would Dun pay On this darkened, blood-stained day To Island Geylin the ships were bound Until Talek had him found But Dun the Strong had hearing great Surpassing all of children eight So came tortured screams upon the wind Of foul deeds his brother sinned He and Serapho then fled to shore With few supplies and nothing more Clambored they upon a boat And pushed off to Ocean blue afloat And with that left their world behind With Sorrow lingering on the mind Talek searched the isle West to East Defiling the land like savage beast But Dun nowhere did he catch Nor the Seas around his boat did fetch To Krommel Isle furiously returned Of all his sins naught he earned The Fellar, his race, in time were named The magic beings of Sin were maimed Over time they'd morph having ugly skin A reflection of black hearts and Sin Talek was slain in the dark one night Against his leadership they did fight Krylic and Orglin then beheld As new kings once Talek was felled Yet there they'd dwell myriad years Before the time of Belefont's Tears Of those future woes tells not this tale When across the Sea Time must sail Concerning Dun and Serapho They went where the wind did blow To the South of Talakar But East were they blown afar Upon their landing a stinking marsh Kralen was a setting harsh Across Kerrigan River they did go Dun carrying Serapho To Furgon Forest where they would live Great seclusion did it give Fosterre Village resided most near And of intrustion did Dun fear But from there no one ever came And Dun would have it all the same Serapho there was thus raised Ever loved and always praised Great skill she learned well from him And never left the Nitte Brim Sheltered she grew up in peace A heart as pure as the late Aneese Countless years did pass by But doom revisited was nigh The Fellar started the Belefont Tide Where many Men of Talakar died But in the end all Fellar slain An end to great and darkened pain But Taragot there was who born Half Fellar blood he lived in scorn But ere he brought upon his war Talakar knew long peace for Many ages until when Civil war led by Captain Tren When his advances came close to Dun One night under the light of Moon He took Serapho and fled North Toward Kingdom Alboroth headed forth But Dun was shot by arrow swift Poisoned it set his life adrift Yet long enough he did hold on Ran fast until pursuit was far gone His goal achieved before he died Her days in Alboroth she must reside Entrusted her to Malathor The kindest King in all of lore Her secret now safe, Dun let go And of the Angellin survived only Serapho |