Kindling Of The Circle
Hearken Brethren to my song!
It tells of the time that has been gone long.
The song of fallen gods and tarnished glory,
And yet, of the rebirth of virtue it tells the story!
An ancient Clan once ruled in Ancient Arnath,
Under the wise eyes of Divine Sicarius and Archinus it grew in might.
Centuries passed and after the Old God's demise,
Under the Goddess Kleothera it continued its rise.
From its ranks a Mortal Drowess arose.
It was Laren who the Clan's destiny chose.
With her in command the Clan grew in might,
But she had another goal in sight.
In her hands did the Lady repose her full trust,
For is not complete faith between ruler and ruled a must?
When talk started of a shadowy figure that did the hearts of the Clan corrupt,
Whom but the drowses did the Lady ask to find the truth before trouble would erupt?
Alas, the warming went in vain, nay it did harm,
She listened to the Lady's words and fooled her with her charm,
To the rest of us it seemed there was surely no cause for alarm,
What would possibly happed to us, guarded by Gorlim's arm?
Trusting fools we were and to the enemy were we betrayed,
The Divine Gwynn did perish on Laren's toxic blade
And evil Natatia's minions did she into the Hall lead,
For days the fires burnt, mute testament to her greed.
And so did the once mighty Discordance perish
Having betrayed those ideals it did once cherish.
Joining the invaders, traitors to their principles did they become,
Wisely did the Lady their presence shun.
Embers glowed where the Hall once stood,
Wolves howled where the Clansmen moved.
Two paths stretches before us, for all to see-
To follow the path of virtue or to evil bend one's knee.
Many did leave, the answer to this dilemma to seek.
While the weak hearted's faith faltered and grew weak,
That of Gorlim the Prophet, Ayla, Ciryath and Takori the Monk,
Was tempered by adversity and grew even more strong.
The Lady Kleothera did their voices hear,
Besides the smoking ruins of her Clan drew her near.
The rising column of black smoke did to the heavens rise,
Tugging at her heart and bringing tears to her eyes.
A picture of desolation met her eye, a blasted land by fire marred
Only a single oak stood- its gnarled branches charred.
A wolf's how did the silence break,
As if mourning the ones that are dead.
His grew fur glowed in the bleak red light.
Surely that only a wolf would guard the dead wasn't right!
He licked a fallen warrior's face, whimpered as if asking him to rise,
And then did Thrull, the Weaponsmith open his eyes.
A rare spark of anger then filled the Lady's heart.
From these humble beginnings shall the Circle of Fire start!?
The burning tears of our Lady's rage did quench the flames,
Her will did the lake that surrounds us create.
"You who use the fire as an instrument of pain and torture,
Shall see it rise and life for ever nurture.
You who sent it my people to kill,
Shall see it protect them, burning still."
With these words, an arcane gesture did she make.
And a mist cloaked island arose from the Lake.
The charred oak burst into bloom,
Golden music filled the air shattering the gloom.
"The Oak shall ever grow, a mark of faith unending,
Of Clansmen's commitment and of their will unbending."
Thus, the Lady spoke in words of thunder-
Her voice did tear the skies asunder.
"The wolf that had stayed with our dead
Teaches us the lesson of loyalty", she said.
"Wild and free as the wind the wolves run, and yet
United with their pack mates, an example of loyalty they set."
In the bowels of the isle was a mighty dragon set
To teach us wisdom and from invaders us protect.
Thus arose our mist cloaked island fair,
Hidden from unbelieving eyes, guarded by his lair.
Thus, on this holy shore did Gorlim our Prophet did appear,
The sound of the Lady's voice called him to be near.
To the Lady did he bend his knee, humbling his pride,
First member of the Circle and its Jarl did he rise.
Many did flock to his banner burning,
The Circle grew and one could sense the tide turning.
As year into decade, and century into century did pass,
The Circle has continued in strength to rise.
I Ayla Armenius, The Circle's blind Bard do so speak,
The years in the Heavens have given me wisdom that mortals vainly seek.
If the lesson of loyalty, commitment and unity is not learned,
Destroyed will be what we fought for, lived for, for what we yearned.
Hearken Brethren to my song!
It tells of the time that has been gone long.
Prophetess and the Circle's first Pendragon, I say
None will defeat us while in us burns faith's unquenching ray!
- by Ayla