VOICES: Songs

THE BOOK OF VOICES

   It had become the practice of the priest to burn incense in the Great Meeting Hall of Mithar early in the morning hours.  Just before daybreak, the priest would open its great door and ceremoniously chant songs about the Great Departure.  Lamenting prayer began the morning call to prayer for the city.  At the first call the people would stand where ever they were found walking or called to rise from their slumber if in bed, and face the twin peaks of the Bay of Luhun. 

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1   SONGS OF GALADIR

(For Lord Symordare)

Come now and remember the Dead,

For he loved life to its fullest,

breathing in adventures grave and small.

Many paths and lives he wove,

Among the fabric of his own;

A tapestry of interest and caring,

a life of seeking and sharing.

To remember him is to recall

Yourself, for we all, here shared

In some brief measure, a smile

before his passing joy and days.

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2   MORNING LIGHT

   “Beyond the Sun and Moon peaks

far from the rim of the world

our departed kin are forever

remembered lost from us.

   Hope we do ring out our bell

and beacon light shone forth

the way back to us may they

someday welcomingly return.”

~ Lord Vethdema, First High Priest (GD2)

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3   SING UNTO HIM

Let us come and eagerly sing

   For GOD sang first of us,

And now we of Him!

No face or limb has He

   Yet the warmth of smile,

And strongest arm we know.

Always the loving teacher

   Forgiving and willing us to grow,

And opening His knowledge.

He is the One above all others

  The Angels were as children unto Him,

And we His humbled servants.

Let us come and early sing

   for God sang first of us,

   And now we of Him!

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4   TOO LATE

Through all the sorrows and pain

I have seen amazing wondrous things;

Hail the unseen hand of Him,

Who moves my heart in faith.

Death, loss and crippled weaknesses

There has been love, compassion, and empathy;

Hail the unseen hand of Him,

Who moves my heart in faith.

Fear, helplessness and lonely doubt,

The Lord’s joy shines through;

Hail the unseen hand of Him,

Who moves my heart in faith.

Keeping a smile in our soul

Even when they are lost on our faces;

Hail the unseen hand of Him,

Who moves my heart in faith.

Knowing, believing, sharing and doing

For tomorrow it may be too late;

Hail the unseen hand of Him,

Who moves my heart in faith.

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5   THE MOST HIGH

The Most High sees the most low

Water rats, street folk, none

Are far from his watchful gaze;

He whose name is unspeakable.

On the great or small fishing boat

Poor broken home or grand tower

The master of all is maker of all;

He whose name is unspeakable.

Father unknown and mother wayward

Brothers too many for count among the streets;

No matter excuse or reason there is,

God’s purpose always prevails above all.

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6   ABOVE ALL

God is the One and Always

We who follow Him are His children

And glory in His way of peace

We call others to follow in joy.

The Lord is Above is good.

No one can command another

To surrender to his path of learning

But the elite who draw close

To God are obligated to shun the fallen

The Lord above is good.

Encourage the weak to endure

For like the desert many fall away

Do not become weary but thirst

More for His understanding than water.

The Lord above is good.

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7   TO KNOW HIM

I shall raise my voice unto God

For who else knows my inner desires

There is a yearning within that burns

Since childhood has that search been ongoing

As though others cared nothing of me

They seemed distracted in this numb life

As all I ever wanted was more of the next

Where shall my answers be found if not in him?

For the grand architect knows His children

My inner voice cries to know Him

Yet men fail in desire, but for more power

Their strivings have never fulfilled my heart.

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8   BLESSED ONE

May the Blessed One grant us Hope

May the Blessed One grant us Mercy

May the Blessed One grant us Joy

For the Hope, Mercy, and Joy

Of the

Holy Blessed One alone

Can be granted

By Him alone.

We praise the Unspeakable Name

Unspeakable because of our unworthiness

And inability to comprehend His greatness;

Blessed Be The One and Always.

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9   STAND FIRM

The wicked fall by the thousands

Even at the gate of terror they flee

Before the righteous who do battle

With naked faith in truth before the liar.

The Tower stands firm

Illuva-Eru’s hand is on the King!

The four Houses raised the good

But the best are grown to build

Catch, compose and teach others

The Truth, accurate knowledge and Way.

The Tower stands firm

Eru’s hand is upon the King!

Strong minds and will control

The servants to fulfill the Lord’s

Will as they are His strength

Righteous servants venerate His Name.

The Tower stands firm

Illuva’s hand supports the King!

Stand firm in opposition to hate

When persecuted by evil be strengthened

As tested one are like steel swords

Endure the making of a spiritual servant.

The Tower stand firm,

Stand firm for The Tower!

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10   MIGHTY BEYOND

You did not make the changing leaf,

The warring ant or the collecting bee.

You had nothing to do with the clouds,

The making of a rainbow or morning dew.

Mighty beyond reason is GOD.

Where were you when the sea was filled,

The fish given armor or gull’s their wing?

How did you alone craft the mountains,

Fashion valleys or design forest trees?

Mighty beyond reason is GOD.

Neither you nor I performed these works,

They are beyond the very thoughts of any.

How arrogant we are to forget GOD

We frail thoughtless things need humility.

Mighty beyond reason is GOD.

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11   ALWAYS IN HEART

Rain or Shine I will praise Him

In sorrow or joy is He worthy

Mountains or valleys is He forever

Death and birth are in His hands.

Who am I not to speak of God?

Who are you to silence me?

There is nothing we can do better

For who among us can create an ocean

Build the sky or light the stars

None among us can boast of being good;

Yet, we are always in His heart.

~O’bajuth; The Reluctant Prophet

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12   LIFT UP

I lift up my voice to you Oh Lord

the maker of heaven and earth

for I am but nothing in comparison.

Before a thunderstorm is a dragonfly

Weak and hindered in flight

Or against the gale at sea

is a gull made to seek landfall.

None ca withstand your hand,

Oh Creator of all that is, for

even in death you are there

in death, you humble our arrogance

our bones are crushed to ash.

Praise forever your most High

and sacred unspeakable name for

truly unknown and beyond our thoughts

known only to yourself as we all kneel someday.

Before your handiworks, we pale,

in solemn awe, we stand in frailty alone,

unable to comprehend your might.

Gratitude beyond words for allowing us

the briefest aromas of understanding that

you are even there and forgive our faltering

disbeliefs as we strive this life.

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PRIESTS: Their Holy Staff

THE PRIESTLY STAFF

      1 THE Priest Vethdema was injured in a fall one day.  After he fell down the stairs of Varlendur he cut a thin branch from an orchid tree and used it as a staff.  Thereafter he walked with a limp in the right foot.  The orchid staff was passed to the successor, Nolmithlon.  Upon his death bed, Nolmithlon cut a braided lock of Vethdema’s hair; later he fashioned it to the staff.  The third priest, Aeradreth did the same with Nolmithlon’s braided hair and all those who followed in his footsteps.  The priest thereafter wore a single braided strain of hair on their left side in honor of Vethdema, the first High Priest of Mithar.

   2 IT was also Aeradreth who cut and polished the great spiraled trench into the wood grain of the staff.  He embellished the spiral groove with the sigils of the Priest’s House, and their names were written in Sinenya.  The script thereafter was used only by the priesthood.  It was Malladek who carved the top of the staff, and his successor Nal Kahass who wrote The Blessing verse atop the raised spiral rib.  The sixth priest was Shayna and he wrote the verse and designed at the base.  The seventh priest, Yelomen carved the hoof at the bottom tip, thus completing the embellishments of the staff.

   3 JUST as the Scepter belonged to the King this staff belong to the High Priest and became the symbol of The Priesthood.  Each priest wore a white vest-tail in front, this was sashed, and a heavy dark-blue robe was worn over this. Such was the dress and manner of his office.  Each priest added prayers and rituals and devised new aspects of ceremonies for the formal occasions so the people would be ever mindful of the times and seasons worthy to be recalled.

   4 THE Day of Eru, (The One) was the third day to the third week of the third month of the year.  No formal work was allowed, by order of the king and a day of rest to remember that God was above the King, and the King was to favor his people on this day.  Feast and royal stores were freely opened up unto the people.

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PRIESTS: Shay

SHAY

The Burning MAN of God

   There was a poor farmer just outside the walls of the towered city name Shay. One day Shay told his wife, Anya he was going to market for more supplies. Walking with a stick in hand Shay journeyed down the wall-stone road from Mithar to Lindol as was his custom. Up ahead was a single stranger. Shay thought it odd that there were no wagons or other people on the road, but he continued even so. From time to time the gray cloaked figure up ahead would slow down and turn to look back at Shay, all without a greeting or sign. Having his pointed hood up, no face could be seen.

    Shay called out, “Yo stranger, is there something wrong; something you need?” Suddenly to his shock the cloaked man burst into flames. There was no fright, no crying out or any reaction to pain from the stranger.   The man kept walking down the stone road as though nothing had occurred.   Several steps later, and still he continued walking down the road, albeit consumed in fire. There was no reaction from the torched man to the shock of the farmer Shay.

    Shay ran to the stranger to help put out the fire. He called out, “For God’s sake man – let me help you!”

   In that moment the roaring figure of the burning man was utterly extinguished. The only remaining form was filled with a boiling, wisp of smoke.  As the farmer approached and stopped, the once figure of a man calmly turned to face the sure-footed farmer and said, “For God’s sake”? Yes, yes you may help.  Stand still oh child of man and know before whom you are now standing for it is I myself; Illuva, the One and Always. I am that one you feared most, and in a lifetime have come to know the least. I call you, oh child of man to go and tell them who have corrupted the deeds of my name and they are warned to turn from their wicked ways!” With that, the smoke form was gone before the wide eyes of the poor farmer.  Shay stood all alone on the road.

   Rising from where he had been bowed in prayer, Shay realized he had just seen a vision.  Many wagons and people were passing along on either side of the stone road, going to and from both cities.  Looking down at the place where he was standing, Shay saw that the very paving stones were deeply scorched.  Passerby’s stared at him strangely.  One called out, “Fool, stop burning things!”

   Forgetting all else he returned home back to Mithar.  Upon telling what happened to him to his wife; Anya said, “You are very gifted and a blessed husbandman, but why would the Creator manifest himself so and speak to a poor man like you and not unto the king?”

   “Because,” came a voice from the doorway, “of your humility, my friend.”  It was Olma the candle maker.

   “Forgive me for not having yet purchased the supplies as you requested,” Shay said.

  “It is alright,” replied the merchant.  Entering the home upon Shay’s welcoming, Olma continued, “So, this visionary figure of yours called himself ‘Illuva’?”

   “Yes,” Shay did not back down, as his conviction grew, “Would you accompany me along the wall-stone road to see for yourself the place of meeting?  I did not burn the pave stones nor did another man melt them on that way.”

   “I do not know who burned them either, for all we have is your say so, and others will call you mad or a dreamer, perhaps both,” Olma said disbelievingly. Adding, “It is just a curious thing you call the Father of All as opposed to one of the Vala.  I mean-”

   “If you believe me or not is no care to me, I simply shared my experience.  If it makes you happy or offends you, that is no matter to me.  As for me – and my wife, we shall praise Illuva as the One and Always, for he far exceeds any of the Vala whom he sang into being.  They were his children and we his grandchildren.  The Vala made us but we were only gifts back to him from them!  Amazing as those angels are, they should not be worshiped as Illuva alone should be, for he is God!

 I had a vision once:

“I saw seven stars fall from the heavens, and they lay dead upon the ground.   Then something like unto a sheet of skin appeared blowing in the wind came and covered the fallen stars.  It came to pass that a great ocean wave washed them away for neither the sheet of skin nor the stars were to be found.  They had both become as whispered rumors as a forgotten nightmare is unto children.” Shay said as Anya embraced him.

   Olma replied, ‘I am not offended by the faith of your experience, Shay.  Not everyone has had your vision.  I have not had such, but you tell it as you wish I only give you caution is doing so.” Olma smiled and left the home, disbelieving in his heart.

   Two weeks later Olma and another man, Vethdema by name journeyed together from Mithar to Lindol for a council meeting to strengthen trade between to two cities. Olma relayed the story he had overheard the farmer Shay telling his wife, and he asked Vethdema what he thought of the matter.  As Olma was talking, the two of them came upon the very melted place of which he spoke.  The pave stones, that once made up the first outer wall of Mithar were deeply scorched.  The two men stopped where they stood.

  Before Vethdema could speak in turn, there suddenly came shaft of light from heaven bursting through the clouds.  Everyone along the road stopped as well to gaze upon the wonder, for in that moment a flaming stone was hurled to the ground below.  Out beyond the road beside Vethdema, the ground burst open wide with fire leaving a gaping hole twice as broad and deep as a wagon!  From the pit’s dying fire a pillar of black smoke rose up.  Before everyone, the boiling pillar of smoke took to shape of a man, not its form.

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KINGS: Their Scribes

THE SCRIBES

      1 TO list the Kings would also be to list their Royal Scribes for to see one you saw the other.  They were also called The Silent Sisters.  They were forbidden to speak unless spoken to, and if they did so only at the behest of the King himself; they were all girls.  Their age began at eight years, and solely in that office for the service and record of the King.  A sworn mandate was made in open court by the second Crown that no one, not even the King himself could touch or molest them upon penalty of death, as they were charged with recording history good or ill.

  2 SISTERS, as they came to be called, were strictly trained by the Scribe-Mothers.  They were former scribes in the service of the Kings.  Chosen and trained as early as six years of age, The Sister Scribes were a devout class unto themselves.  Their memories and words were a reflection of the law of the King they served and those before them as a reference of law before all.

  3 ONLY after they had fulfilled their office could a Sister become a wife if she so chose; however, relations with a man was strictly forbidden under her training and law of the third king.  There was no requirement as to how many could serve a single king or for how long.

      2 THESE are the listing of the Order of Scribes:

   2 THE first scribe of Mithar was the Watcher, Adoromeir, son of Lord Beirdan and the Lady Holmath.  The second scribe appointed was the Watcher, Nolmithlon; a sailor, shipbuilder, and apprentice of Cirdan.  He, in turn, was the Head Master over Lydia.

   3 LYDIA was the first to be called a Sister unto the Scribes, and those under her tutelage were thereafter called The Order of the Sisters.   She was called ‘Mother’ by her students.  Only those students who had been hand chosen and served as Sister-Scribes were raised to Motherhood to train other ‘daughter’ scribes.  Sisters who were not chosen to be royal scribes lived in the tower of Varlendur and worked as the copyist, transcribing The Grey Book.  It was later called The Book of Books and The Watcher’s Book.  They were the keepers of the Law and highly respected and feared among the people in conversation, for they could always be chosen by the King. 

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KINGS: Korale

Lord King Korale

and 

Stones, Bone, and Seeds

   There was an old woman brought before King Korale one afternoon. The guard said, “My Lord here is the Seer you called for.”
He spoke to her saying, “Word has come to my ears you are one who practices the dark Arts, is this true?”
   She answered, “I Thaslah do practice the Arts sire, but it up to others whether they be dark or light. For God makes it rain on the just and unjust; as do destroying forest fires replenish the woods. Pray Lord, what is it really that thou seeks, Oh King of the West?”

   “To amuse us as I weigh the case of your kind before me,” Korale said to her.
   “As you wish, sire,” She stepped forward and took the kings own bowl of water for cleaning his hands and cast it before court on the chamber floor. “In time we all vanish before the world.” Suddenly the water on the floor dried away before the onlookers. From a pouch on her waist cord the old woman withdrew a velvet bag. Emptying the contents into the bowl she set it before the king again. Stepping back to where the guard had introduced her, the old woman requested of the king. “Oh King, before this council chose and do with them as you wish.”
   Looking into the bowl he saw gem stones, acorn, almond and various seeds, crow, rabbit and rat’s foot and various bones. Then King Korale picked out the gem stones: red ruby, black onyx, blue sodalite, purple amethyst, snowflake obsidian, rose quartz, blood garnet, white agate, and the yellow leopard skin stone. The king set them in a row, and then looked up at the old woman. She gave no attention to him with regard to reaction.
Thinking he had been made to play a fool’s game, king tried crushing the stones with the hilt of his side dagger, then brushed them and the bowl from off his table crying out, “Rubbish and nonsense, this is all foolishness.  If we are called to play games then name it as such, and if it be some lesson of fate then instruct such as well.”
   The old woman covered her face in her hands and began weeping as she rocked back and forth. Then answering the king’s question of ‘What is wrong’ the old woman rose to her feet from the floor?
   “I would, that you had chosen another course of action my lord.  At my leave, shall you set many undoable things into motion.

   “Hear now, oh realm of Eriduah for your king has selected your future oh Mithar! Not the bones of your various enemies did he seek to wipe out nor the various seeds of your children doeth he care to plant; but those who desire to instruct with wise council has your king chosen to crush before him.  Yeah, for many kings and Judges after them shall rise up and crush those with firm voices; yet shall the un-thrown Prophet remain before the city falls!”
   Looking before him, the king saw that the white agate remained where he had placed it.  Then to the guards he pronounced, “Take her from my sight, and to the caves of Sinjar you are confined till I call for you, one year from this very day.”

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KINGS: Legandriel

THE LORD KING LEGANDRIEL

      1 TO the astonishment of many, the warrior King Legandriel showed a most poetic and religious side as he mandated the act of daily prayers.  All those of the fourth and fifth degrees were obligated to recite prayers from his Book of Voices.  Twice a day at dawn and dusk was the master of The Great Hall to call the people to braise God in Heaven.  No matter the occurrence everyone was to face the twin peaks of the Bay of Luhun and recite: “Praise be the Unspeakable Name!”  For even in its simplest profession, the people called to mind their humble state before God alone.  Somewhere beyond the twin hills and the rim of the world, even their Arrogant forefathers praise Eru in answer.

   2 IN this one decree was King Legandriel was unmoved by even those closest to him, yet in all other matters, he eagerly sought the counsel of others.  In time The Book of Voice became a priestly work from which rituals were devised and added.

   3 THE second king of Mithar was a good and righteous lord.  Under the rule of Legandriel many of the water fountains were rebuilt, overgrown passages made clear again, and Mithar’s damaged southern wall was repaired.  Legandriel ensured that all who entered within the city walls were fed and cared for as all things were held in common and wealth was shared.  The king and his household lived as the commoner.  Under his rule, both poor, rich or visitor were held the same under God.

   4 FOR twenty-nine years King Legandriel ruled gaining respect from the people as he saw himself as their servant.  He, more than any other king or priest was Legandriel the most pious and honest in all his dealings before elf, men, and dwarf.  He praised Eru-Illuva daily, and never with the same prayer, nor was the king ever found to be boastful. Any who saw Legandriel would have thought him a commoner had it not been for his crown; which he mandated as the king’s office.

   5 KING Legandriel was ever a king of the people and much loved until his death.  A boating trip across the bay saw a sudden storm arise causing the king’s boat to sway.  A yardarm crushed his skull and tossed him overboard.  Three days later a fisherman, Rizon Derekin discovered Legandriel’s bloated form upon the northern shore of the Bay of Luhun.

   6 WITH great pomp was he returned to the very steps of Varlendur, the king’s great tower in the center of Mithar.  The king’s body was ritually bathed and dressed by Na’Seek his beloved widow.  As he lay on the burning funeral pyre and even for eight days later the people mourned his loss while a priest read from The Book of Voices. The children and women of Slavath, the Bedouin tent city, sang songs of tribute to the fallen elf lord.

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Meeting Lydia

2 TWO weeks after he became King, Legandriel began having night dream that worried him in his waking thoughts.  He had no wife.  Nor did he share the details of the dream with anyone, but thought in his heart, ‘I shall see the trustworthy for myself.’  On the seventh day of still having the dream, King Legandriel called his court together.  As he laid the distress, but not the details of his dream before them, many pondered but none gave answer unto the matter.  The king grew impatient with his silent court and ordered them to be fed in silence.

   It came to pass that all of them were made to be most astonished.  A cook from the Nasilian kitchen came before the king, without summons nor tray in hand and openly addressed the court, “My Lord, forgive my boldness in approaching this fair court –“

   Being gentle Legandriel replied, “Speak for all are welcomed to do so in this matter good woman.”

   Beside her, a small eight year old child had been led to stand nearby.  The woman continued, “Noble Sire, this is my only daughter and youngest among twelve boys; her name is Lydia.”

   Before the king gave word or rebuttal, the girl spoke boldly, “Gracious Lord of the Fair Ones, hail the truth today.  You said you saw much in your dread but gave no details; but now, let your court now hear what you saw.

   “There was a white shore, not unlike that along the Bay of Luhun of Mithar oh great King.  Alongside that sacred shore were walking cranes with outstretched necks.  Some were fat and others most lean, but all white in their glory.  One by one did each of those nine swans lift off in flight, never to be seen in those mortal lands again.’

    The gathered court of the king murmured among themselves in disbelief, some with outrage that a child spoke so freely in like manner unto the crown.  Yet other perceived a change in his lordship’s continence that indeed truth was spoken but wondered as to its meaning.

   Again the child Lydia continued unmoved from her boldness to Legandriel, “Then, you counted, oh king by the sea some crabs breaking forth from the beach sands.  Of these thirteen you saw, one at a time taking their turn to measure the length of that shore and then back into the sand return.

   “It was then when the last crab began to walk forth that a great wave overtook the crab, the white beach and very rocks of all the lands.  For the world was naught and lost unto the living.”

   It was then that King Legandriel fell back into his royal seat, and in grave silence pondered all the spoken words of the child before him.  Then he said, “Child do you understand I have all authority to do with you as I see fit; grant you reward or chain you in a pit of despair?”

   Looking without a smile and unimpressed Lydia replied, “With all due respect my lord you have no power over your dreams nor did you even know their meaning.”  Legandriel said nothing to this.

   Lydia continued, “After the nine Mitharian Kings shall fall from grace, thirteen Judges shall arise to brutal power.  It is as it shall be, even so the flooding waves shall purge the world of all your ages from time itself.”

   Legandriel changed that in that moment on that very day.  Rising from his seat amidst that gathered court said, “Come closer child.”

   Lydia complied.  The King told her, for all to hear, “Because you are so remarkable and fearless  I am commanding Nolmithlon to begin training you to be my royal scribe.  From this day forth shall every king of Mithar be served by a scribe such as you.  May it also befall the penalty of death should any molest or harm you or them you teach, for your records shall be unhindered and held as undisputed truth.  The Scribes shall be record keepers that even the kings who follow shall not impede.  The king is not above the law, nor any other he holds before the people as such.”

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KINGS: Vendumar

THE LORD KING VENDURMAR

      1 HERE is the listing of the Kings of Mithar and their deeds.  By the decree of her first ruling lord, let this book serve as a perpetual memorial unto them as they tried to lead the Grey Haven into a new age.  May the words inscribed be presented as truthful and uphold the high standards.

  2 TWO days after the Great Departure of that arrogant fleet from the Bay of Luhun Vendumar was crowned as Mithar’s first king. King Vendumar pushed against the mindset of his brother; to abandon their elven-birth right as leaders in the world.  Lord Vendumar was the first to regain the city gates and shut them from the outside that grew upon hearing the city was no more. The nomadic travelers ascended in hopes of learning the secrets of hope life from the Fair Ones.  The Nasilian people from the far eastern lands raised a tent village, called Slavath which swelled overnight.

  3 VENDUMAR as lord king was the first to deal with the Nasilian people by holding a prisoner in the depth of the tower of Varlendur.

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The Mayor of Mithar

      2 NEWS came to the ear of the king one day, by word of his cup bearer, that the people had become too many and bored with life behind the walls.  “Their excitement of such new and different things, have made them complacent and in need of redirection, lest they begin to find pleasure in strife and rally against you.” 

   2 CLAPPING his hands the king called for his Spiritual Advisor and Chef of Arms.  He shared what his cup-bearer had said and agreed with his words, “Go out think on this matter for your selves and in one hour return as to what shall be done.”

   3 AFTER they left Vendumar told the cupbearer to tell the kitchen to make a meal and have four settings prepared.  At the hour’s end, a table had been so set as ordered.  When the Spiritual advisor and Chef of Arms returned they saw the king being served wine by the cupbearer beside him.  Vendumar asked, “Well, speak plainly.”

   4 THE Chef Guard, Legandriel began, “Sire, it is true the entering people have overwhelmed Mithar, and their only intent is to claim homes for themselves with no regards to heritage or how the provisions came to be.  They have become drunk from the bounty, and yes Sire rumors that the Watchers are less than once thought.”

   5 LOOKING at Vethdema, his spiritual advisor, “What do you say?”

   6 VETHDEMA echoed the same, adding, “Sire, if I may – a way of earning these ‘blessings’ might be devised that would encourage more willing citizens of our original intent as teachers to the ‘lesser’ men.”

   7 VENDUMAR smiled, being greatly pleased, “Understood.”  Turning to his cup-bearer, the king introduced, “This man here, Kalena by name, had no fear in sharing this truth with me.  Because of that, and the respect I have witnessed first-hand; I name you as the Mayor of Mithar.  As the people reenter the city I think it would be best to see one of their own leading them. You shall be second only to myself.  Your greatest advisors shall be these two here.  As quickly as you rose surely may you fall; we all know this to be true.  Now, come you three dine and tell me more.  I am hungry for meat and your councils both.”

   8 SLOWLY over the weeks, a teaching school within the tower was set up.  It also was devised that only those who attended such training were allowed to reside within the protective walls of the city.  In this way was the city regained from the Nasil without bloodshed, and the power of the king grew.  The basic need for masons to repair the southern wall, and teaching desert dwellers how to fish came as among the first lessons to be taught.  Later great houses grew out from the tower each with a degree plan and skill.  In time the Priesthood grew stronger devising coded lessons and password making it even more challenging to reside in Mithar Its wealth and prestige grew as well.

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The Tale of Kimashe and the Bleeding Stones

      3 IN the early morning hours King Vendumar was awakened by a horrific nightmare but told no one of its details.  He called for his Councilors: Spiritual Advisor, Chef Guard and the Mayor of Mithar.  Though their conversations eased him back to a waking state, none could tell him his dream or its meaning.

   2 THE Mayor said, “Forgive me O King, but there is one from the Nasilian camp named Kimashe, called a Seer by her people.  It is said that ‘she knows the unknown and can discern the yet to be’, sire.”

   3 VENDUMAR replied, “You are all good as you are but in this matter – bring her before me, but do not breathe a word as to why.  That I may know she is true or false.”

   4 GOING out to the tent city of Slavath, a mile from the city gate of Mithar they searched her out.  At a blue tent on the outside of the settlement Kalena, the Mayor and two tower guards dismounted their steeds as he called out her name.  From within the tent, she called them inside.  The tent looked much grander and larger on the inside than its small outside appearance.  Many colored veils and lit candles were everywhere, bones and feather and furs.  Rising from a pillowed seat a young woman said, “He has cried for three nights, but only this morning has he begged an answer from you and two others.  Even now he orders me to appear for a meaning of his woe.”

   5 “HOW did –,” began Kalena?

   6 BUT Kimashe replied in haste, “We must go.”  She walked as the three others rode horseback refusing to be lifted up.  Through the great statued gate, down the cobbled stone streets to the many stairs of Varlendur they soon came before the king in his tower.

   7 BEHIND the King’s throne the wall was a painted with a scene of the Great Departure; the boarding of the last swan ship.  For all his power Vendumar he had no understanding of his own dream.  Coming before the king, Kalena introduced her, “Sire, here is the Nasilian Seer, Kimashe by name Lord.”

   8 KIMASHE stood naked all but dressed in a white hooded robe, both hands and bare feet adorned with rings and bracelets; she was covered in tattoos.  Her face was sand white and hair black as coal.  Just as King Vendumar was about to speak, she spoke instead, “The bleeding-eye crows have nothing better to do than to torment you for the last three night of your sleep, and wrestle with your thoughts in the day, milord.  Shaken and crying in the night like an abandoned child in a sand storm.  I tell you now oh King to command your scribe to write down all that I say, and the day my words perish is the day the dreams return worse than before.”

  9 VENDUMAR nodded, even as the scribe was already fast at his work.  Then the king asked, “What was the dream and its meaning, child?”

   10 “A bleeding eye crow sat on a huge cut stone lying on its side.  The crow flew to the ground as the pillar was raised.  Four times this happened.  Yet amid the standing stones were six bleeding eye crows walking about on the blood soaked ground.”

   11 THE king was happy to have found someone who could tell him his dream but was in awe at who spoke the words.  The one before him was no more than a child of eight, but her maturity was more.  Vendumar inquired, “There was another.”

  12 KIMASHE looked very grave, “Indeed there was Sire.  For all six crows came together as one making a seventh larger crow.  The seventh crow had white bleeding eyes and a forked tongue like a snake.  The large, sharped-tongue crow began pecking at a gold, ringlet-leaf crown, like yours.  It filled with holes and each one was bleeding, before it fell apart and melted into the blood soaked ground.”

   13 FALLING back into his throne with great fright, Vendumar gasped, “Come, wicked child!  Pray tell me surely the meaning of such disgust and mare as this thing you have made a plan to me and all here.  These are the very things indeed that have so plagued me!”

  14 BOTH of her arms rose out and became stiff.  Her fingers went jagged and ridged as her own gray eyes began to bleed.  Suddenly her gentle voice sounded like that of an old man, “Six shall come, and four be slain and their black words shall see much blood spilled.  A seventh shall rise greater than the six.  Embolden by them the very king who hears him shall be the final one!”   After her prophecy, she collapsed to the floor.  Upon standing she was as before.

  15 THE entire room was much worried by her words.  Vendumar said, “No one shall speak against the king.  The king himself, alone shall reprieve or condemn any who do for that is what kings do; fate and judgment.  In this matter, I perceive you have spoken truthfully without malice.  We shall strive in our reign to cause only light, good and harmony to continue in -.”

   16 “WHAT of Varlendur and the dungeon renown through Eriduah; and you as the holder of its iron key?” Kimashe interrupted.

  17 VENDUMAR saw this was no child before him but something greater, “You have been afforded good will up to this point, Seer of Nasil.  Watch your words and tone thereof.  There is a reason and season for that key and its business is no concern of yours.  Thank you for your service; you may either return to your old life or begin a new one here.”

  18 “I shall return unhindered either way.”  As she turned to leave the great tower doors flew open on their own accord to the dismay of all.

...

KINGS

THE KINGS

       1 OTHER city-realms had had their own rulers long before Mithar called for her own.  Since the early days following the Great Departure, a council of three lords rose to the task of leading the ones who remained behind in the Grey City.  Forgotten they were called.  But out of fear or trepidation of those who clamored beyond the walls, those Mitharians crowned one of the three.  So began their rule and herein are the names and deeds mustered to the call.

   2 TWENTY-ONE remained behind after the Great Elven Departure from Middle-earth following the devastation of the Ring War.  Those arrogant brethren fled leaving us behind: Beirdan, Holmath, Adoromir, Finomal, Nathveiren, Kielmeth, Galadir, Valinada, Elhuron, Celegreth, Symodare, Seariphim, Lyreah, Fay’Lorin Celegreth, Sal’Gilvan, Baal’Yick, Legandriel, Nuthcorlan, Nolmithlon, Vethdema, and Vendumar.

   3 OVER and above those twenty-one Watchers; three stood forth and counseled the others following the death of the sage Symodare: Baal’Yick, Nolmithlon and Vendumar.  Six weeks following that Great Departure, the remnant called for peace and a single voice to plead their case before the growing number of Men that pressed upon the city gate for entrance.  As such, Vendumar was crowned the first king of Mithar before the Nasilian men and the dwarf lords of Mount Jebul.

  4 IN the first year after the Great Departure, King Vendumar decreed that that one event would begin their calendar as New Year’s Day.  The king also called for those who remained behind, who refused to venture to the Undying Lands beyond the sea’s western rim; that they recall their reasons for staying.  These collected memories and chronicles would be kept alongside the listing of Kings and rulers, deeming their deeds and histories as well.  The tongue of Sinenya would be their language and all volumes crafted afterward would be with its characters.