The Holy relic of the Scroll and Box
THE SCROLLS
As a way of introduction to the other sacred words in this record, I lead with The Scroll. These words are transcribed from the original cloth scroll of Lord Seraphim. They became first among the works we came to hold as sacred of the founding fathers of Mithar. The original cloth scrolls were sewn together from leftover pieces of linen that remained of Seraphim’s grandfather Lord Symodare’s burial wrappings.
I, Nathveiren was a childhood friend and fellow scribe with Seraphim in the Last Homely House at Rivendell. I discovered the pictorial, handed crafted scroll among the abandoned belongings of Seraphim two months after his departure back to the east. One year after the Second Council of Mithar he was officially declared deceased; lost among the eastern woods of Kinderval. I presented the Scroll as a tribute to his memory that we should likewise give an account of those early days. May these final words of Seraphim bring inspiration and insight to all those who read them.
THE HOLY DEAD
1. Our passing will mark
2. many endings and
3. many beginnings
4. awakenings of the unknown
5. dreams yet to come
THE TRI-FOLDED VERSE
1. I saw as in a starry dream
2. the old world purged of its
3. sons and daughters
4. everyone an all
5. low or high-born
6. frail or stout they died
7. beast of the field, foul of air
8. did creation itself
9. meet its end on that day
10. in a torrant’s flood.
THE FAREWELL
1 “Beneath that evening star dome, lead/
2 Lord Elrond with his people shed/
3 the woes of a war-torn land/
4 healed by a fulfilled king’s hand.//
5 Aboard their swan-carved ships/
6 with praises high on ruby lips;/
7 one - with Halflings dressed in vests/
8 rewarded for a legendary quest.//
9 Yet some later said by madness of pride/
10 those brothers fought and lied/
11 their bonds they broke and took/
12 all loyalties of oaths forsook.//
13 Shelda`Mar implored we few to come/
14 aboard the ship of Valithnor, Cirdan’s drum;/
15 to the Undying Lands of hope and grace./
16 yet outraged, Vendu`Mar abandon his place.//
17 On the worn-out piers, Vendu`Mar was arguing/
18 drew against the command of his brother/
19 harsh words like a bitter sword that bites,/
20 though Shelda`Mar in sorrow took flight.//
21 The wizard Gan`Mereith admonished us/
22 to be wary against our growing lust;/
23 Sal`Gilvan and Veth`Dema barked back/
24 with their own words of black.//
25 We stayed like an anointed remnant,/
26 who saw it our goal to rule as imminent,/
27 teaching a new history to lesser men/
28 with a diverse tongue, Sinenya I Seraphim penned.//
29 Like unto Sindar was Sinenya made/
30 with new characters and words I laid;/
31 letters designed for new purposes crafted/
32 for initiated secrets were they drafted.//
33 For the greed of some soon railed apparent/
34 as our original cravings became too variant;/
35 instead of being counselors to students in need/
36 many wayward misgivings did breed.//
37 Celegreth of the elven Crystal Caves,/
38 and Kwandol the dwarven mason, made;/
39 a Great Hall like greeting hands/
40 domed six hundred years, still stands.//
41 Close to the bay a watchtower stood//
42 with a bell’s tolling alarm it would;/
43 chime forth the hours of the Great Hall/
44 for secret Brothers to heed its call.//
45 In that kingdom’s darkened hall we met/
46 among fireside rituals fussed and fret;/
47 knowing inwardly we hoped against hope,/
48 preaching failed expectations, we groped.//
49 High in that Watchtower’s nest/
50 its bell replaced we thought best;/
51 with a pyre set eternally aflame,/
52 for others to return without shame.//
53 On the day the oil-soaked wood was lit,/
54 by Fay`Symodare’s death all were hit;/
55 the shadow that fulfilled Mereith’s woe,/
56 the nightmare of mortal man became our snow.//
57 From his ashes, we gathered a portion/
58 entombed in an urn with grave distinction;/
59 the rest we scattered upon the sea/
60 and pledged our own ashes would mingle.//
2 Lord Elrond with his people shed/
3 the woes of a war-torn land/
4 healed by a fulfilled king’s hand.//
5 Aboard their swan-carved ships/
6 with praises high on ruby lips;/
7 one - with Halflings dressed in vests/
8 rewarded for a legendary quest.//
9 Yet some later said by madness of pride/
10 those brothers fought and lied/
11 their bonds they broke and took/
12 all loyalties of oaths forsook.//
13 Shelda`Mar implored we few to come/
14 aboard the ship of Valithnor, Cirdan’s drum;/
15 to the Undying Lands of hope and grace./
16 yet outraged, Vendu`Mar abandon his place.//
17 On the worn-out piers, Vendu`Mar was arguing/
18 drew against the command of his brother/
19 harsh words like a bitter sword that bites,/
20 though Shelda`Mar in sorrow took flight.//
21 The wizard Gan`Mereith admonished us/
22 to be wary against our growing lust;/
23 Sal`Gilvan and Veth`Dema barked back/
24 with their own words of black.//
25 We stayed like an anointed remnant,/
26 who saw it our goal to rule as imminent,/
27 teaching a new history to lesser men/
28 with a diverse tongue, Sinenya I Seraphim penned.//
29 Like unto Sindar was Sinenya made/
30 with new characters and words I laid;/
31 letters designed for new purposes crafted/
32 for initiated secrets were they drafted.//
33 For the greed of some soon railed apparent/
34 as our original cravings became too variant;/
35 instead of being counselors to students in need/
36 many wayward misgivings did breed.//
37 Celegreth of the elven Crystal Caves,/
38 and Kwandol the dwarven mason, made;/
39 a Great Hall like greeting hands/
40 domed six hundred years, still stands.//
41 Close to the bay a watchtower stood//
42 with a bell’s tolling alarm it would;/
43 chime forth the hours of the Great Hall/
44 for secret Brothers to heed its call.//
45 In that kingdom’s darkened hall we met/
46 among fireside rituals fussed and fret;/
47 knowing inwardly we hoped against hope,/
48 preaching failed expectations, we groped.//
49 High in that Watchtower’s nest/
50 its bell replaced we thought best;/
51 with a pyre set eternally aflame,/
52 for others to return without shame.//
53 On the day the oil-soaked wood was lit,/
54 by Fay`Symodare’s death all were hit;/
55 the shadow that fulfilled Mereith’s woe,/
56 the nightmare of mortal man became our snow.//
57 From his ashes, we gathered a portion/
58 entombed in an urn with grave distinction;/
59 the rest we scattered upon the sea/
60 and pledged our own ashes would mingle.//
.................................
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