Third Book of the Orchids

Ye Book Of Ye Orchids
Part The Third

First Verse

First came the sea on the shore of the world
Then came the Mother of All
Then Mandorallen with banner unfurled
Then Ilass, who fell in the Fall
Last came the Orchids, that sealed the world's fate
Long before the first Isle e'er rose
Which will seal the Book shut when they join and they mate
And bring all of our tales to a close

Second Verse

For the world's dread Creators, the Powers Undreamed
With their knowledge arcane fixed a date
The last day, the last hour, the last instant they deemed
And they bound it in ironclad Fate
Thus they sent us two Orchids in full baleful bloom
Even 'ere the first Isle arose
Two Orchids, as signs of implacable Doom
And the Story´s eventual close

Third Verse

But the minds of the Gods and the minds of the Races
Still look at the World day by day
Seeing only the matters in front of their faces
Not the waves poised to sweep them away
But to each his Dominion, as part of the Plan
Whatsoe'er that Dominion may be
Whether Irdia, Faldia, Kwendia, or Man
Down to null - up to Infinity

Fourth Verse

Could we travel the world and explore its great frame
Like a spirit, unbounded and free
Many awesome and wonderful things without name
Would our eyes, and our spirit-eyes see
But alas! We are mortal, to Time and Space bound
And unable to break or compel it
So who looks for that world which Time's current has drowned
Must sit still - for I now plan to tell it

Fifth Verse

I shall start where I ended - the Races cast down
Out of Tirbal, which hung in the sky
To the cloud-girdled Earth out of anger were thrown
And were doomed by the Just One to die
But the wrath of the Champion would not be appeased
Until Ilass was punished as bound in Chains, Mandorallen then seized
And he threw her, still wailing, to Hell

Sixth Verse

Her brother, the Dark One, called Ennabruk's Bane
In like manner he hurled from above
With a whistle and wail like a creature in pain
Through the air and the bedrock he dove
To a cavern, the Pit, all surrounded by fire
Where he stood by his sister and nursed
His anger, his hatred, his darksome desire
And shouted, and boiled, and cursed

Seventh Verse

Then Yetal, forsaken by friend and by foe
Was cast down to Ifreann as well
But he snagged in a tree on the world down below
And escaped his confinement in Hell
O Powers! What blights come from such little chances!
What holocausts cover the Earth!
What history happens from such happenstances!
To what fiends can Chance not give birth?

Eight Verse

For Yetal, in wandering, found what he sought
His brother and leader, foul Sun
Who had also been exiled Earthward when caught
At the plot he so vilely begun
And the two swore an oath to avenge their lost lord
On the innocent children of Men
And they plotted, by evil, by fire and sword
To wage war with their betters again

Nineth Verse

Now these humans, unknowing, had made their abode
In the Rainors, a region so fair
That they never went cold, and a breeze always flowed
And brought tinges of salt to the air
They did not know of fire - they had not the need
Nor of hunting, nor farming - so good
Was the land that without even planting a seed
Glist´ning trees would burst forth bearing food

Tenth Verse

Then Carding, the Wise One, arrived from above
Bearing teachings in science and art
And he taught the men goodness, and mutual love
And to always hold God in their heart
And the people formed nations, with chieftains and laws
But they always were righteous and just
And there never was strife or rebellion because
They ruled well, and were worthy of trust

Eleventh Verse

After years had gone by, some departed by sea
For new regions to claim and explore
Thus the Race was divided, no longer to be
Confined to but one lonely shore
And Uisceor laid open the lenghe deep
Even Gaother held back her storms
And from isle to isle the voyagers leap
First in bands, then in droves, then in swarms

Twelfth Verse

To Tapfer, the Haven from storm and from wave
To Audentior, chosen by Fate
To Shireroth, land of the warlike and brave
To Alteria, braving the Strait
To Babkha, where Shahs might in later days reign
To Norfolk, commanding the ocean
To Yardistan, land of the gravely insane
To Lyrica, loud with commotion

Thirteenth Verse

South of Goldshire's gold mines an island chain lay
Standing high in the watery brine
Called Asmodea then and Khaz Modan today
Richly blessed by the powers divine
It was settled by mariners, hardly and brave
Sons of Lochrin, begot by the storm
Who were masters of current and weather and wave
In each fearful and terrible form

Fourteenth Verse

These men formed a kingdom; among them they hailed
Their bravest as captain and king
After many an eon the royal line failed
And they prayed that the currents might bring
A new ruler to take their unoccupied throne
And restore them to glories of old
That Uisceor might bring, from a region unknown
A new monarch, their scepter to hold

Fifteenth Verse

A god heard their prayer but 'twas not who they thought
Not the Old One who dwells in the Deep
But the foul Lord of Demons, whose eyes closeth not
And refuse the cool night's gift of sleep
And he summoned a draken to bear him away
A draken with fiery eyes
And when Ulcharam´s veil overpowered the day
He took Yetal and fled through the skies

Sixteenth Verse

North the Vardia flew 'til at last he arrived
Where the people assembled in prayer
And by means of his spells and his magic contrived
To be hailed as their king then and there
And he forged out an empire with steel and with power
`Til the islands came under his sway
The inhabitants call him a despot and cower
But Sun sends the armies away

Seventeenth Verse

First is Mirioth conquered; the fairest of lands
Is the first to be lost in the wars
Then more earth and more ocean is lost to their hands
Wide Amity, gate to the stars
The gold mines of Goldshire, aming
Florencia, land of the vine
For the dark Lord of Demons was secretly dreaming
That all Earth might embrace his design

Eighteenth Verse

But the gods' shining champion saw and took heed
At the conquest and wars down below
And he realized the depth of his children's great need
And to Salio Gemsmith did go
And he ordered four jewels, with high magic imbued
Four jewels, to be set in four swords
Four swords, for four heroes to use in the feud
Four heroes, to serve their four lords

Nineteenth Verse

The Sword of the Stormrider, flickering and wild
Its heart spouting tongues of blue flame
But the emerald-set sword was as gentle and mild
As the breezes that gave it its name
The sharp Sword of August, as scorchingly hot
As the thunderstorms spawned south of Breigh
And the Einlanzer Lightblade, within which was caught
The glow of a bright summer day

Twentieth Verse

To the cardinal points the four weapons were given
But since force cannot conquer alone
The Microns, the race that remained high in Heaven
When their kin to the planet were thrown
Inspired by love for their sisters and brothers
Elected to travel below
That they might share their teaching and lore with the others
And the gods gave permission to go

Twenty-First Verse

Great ships they prepared, out of planks strong and oaken And the sails were of gossamer strands But were so tightly bound they might never be broken In their flight through the Winds to the Lands Like birds or like dragons they dreamed they might glide Through the cloud-studded oceans of sky `Til they came to a storm-wind or current to ride So they bid hanging Tirbal goodbye

Twenty-Second Verse

Alas for the race who abandoned their youth! They are doomed to return nevermore For the Powers have coded this unyielding truth: None can ever go back to before What lunatic, given his will or free choice Would from even the cradle depart? And would any but moon-stricken madmen rejoice To dissever a piece of their heart?

Twenty-Third Verse

Twelve ships had the Microns, twelve cities to found And the first one to finish its trip On an isle near Tapfched down on the ground And they joyfully flew off the ship There they founded their capital, Ptia by name The world and the races to guard With its sisters eleven, their purpose the same To keep, and to care, and to ward

Twenty-Fourth Verse

But the demons attacked in the Great Micron War And its hero, both youthful and bold Was King Istvan the Second, and never before Was such valor in monarchs of old Nor so mighty a talisman, valor to aid For the Storm-Rider´s Sword graced his hands And the battles he fought, and the allies he made Were the hope of the Races and Lands

Twenty-Fifth Verse

But valor and goodness are destined to fail When a Vardia serves as your foe They meet mercy with cruelty and truth with betrayal And honor with darkness and woe The demons drove forward the Microns fell back And a siege was on Vladagrad laid But Ptia was lost in a nightly attack And its towers were never remade

Twenty-Sixth Verse

Old Aeon says: Blessed are those who are down For they have not much further to fall Istvan took this to heart while defending his town And stood firm on the towering wall And he screamed his defiance against those dark hosts And he summoned dark hosts of his own With the Call of the Stormrider, raised up the ghosts That his armies might not fight alone

Twenty-Seventh Verse

Thus the towns of the Microns were torched and were torn But Vladagrad stood tall and proud So the Khaz Modan forces, in battle outworn Find the hero can never be cowed So they change their direction; turn round and march forth To less steadfast and civilized lands To Goldshire´s gold mines, which lie in the north Where the city of Musica stands

Twenty-Eighth Verse

Nay, it stood not for long, but by demons it fell And with it, the whole southern coast And when Elwynn was seized by the hordes out of Hell Then the whole western region was lost And they sought, by the strait in the Northland to break A passage, to reach eastern sands And go south once again, and a circle to make For the doom of the Circle of Lands

Twenty-Nineth Verse

Then Salio pierced to the Earth´s fiery core And five pof fire-rock rise And they bubble and reach toward the sea´s oozing floor Then touch air, and break into the skies Five Isles, as Shields, pushing backward the death Of Tirlar, reversing its loss The long-lasting Treesia, the westernmost Reath Awful Shleg, royal Ahans, and Khas

Thirtieth Verse

The Five Isles! Their men mighty, valiant, and proud! The best Tirlar ever gave birth! No wonder their glory was not long allowed To remain on the cloud-shaded Earth! No wonder the fates had to see them destroyed Lest their men become gods in their might! For if Ahans the reign of all Tirlar enjoyed It might blind the whole world with its light!

Thirty-First Verse

From the ends of the Earth mighty Mandorel sought them His worshippers, champions, and friends Unto Ahans, the City of Royals he brought them He himself to the capital descends To serve in the ritual of crowning the King Larn, the Blackrocker prince, is selected And the hymns and the songs round the citadel ring To the palace (which Salio erected)

Thirty-Second Verse

Then was started the war that might redefine war Whole Isles made bare and laid waste Made Earth shake as it never had shaken before And the bright face of Tirlar defaced The champions of Tirlar! The chosen of Hell! How the hills with their battle resound How each mountain and valley and sea-coast and dell Is with smoke, fire, and sorcery crowned

Thirty-Third Verse

But in war, as in peace, one could hardly expect That a Demon would trust things to Fate And would match swords in honor, nor try to affect Its conclusion with secreted weight Thus Sun sent out a Demon, in shades and disguise To infiltrate the lands of his foes Not only their tactics and strength to apprise But to join them, their plans to oppose

Thirty-Fourth Verse

The Demon Demerfin on storm-clouds was sent And presented himself to the court As a friend - though a demon, one led to repent And who burned with desire to thwart The plots of his brothers - and thus he requested Some post in defense of the land And the king, all too trusting, naively suggested He be given thest command

Thirty-Fifth Verse

Thus, their leader a Demon, the Islanders´ luck Reached a sudden, unfortunate end All their strategy failed, and their plans went amuck Their defensive lines ceased to defend First Khas and then Shleg were by Khaz Modan taken And Treesia tottered to fall And Larn thought himself by the Champion forsaken And feared for the end of it all

Thirty-Sixth Verse

But the bright-hearted champion forsakes not his own And the hero had nothing to fear (For Men never need fear that they struggle alone With the Gods always helpful and near) Round his warriors and worshippers Mandorel gazed And divided the wheat from the chaff Their courage he judged and their spirits he raised That the Isles might live and be safe

Thirty-Seventh Verse

At last in his seekings he came on a spirit So pious and loyal and bold So fiery and mighty no others came near it (E´en in those great Isles of Old) "Of all Generals, he shall be greatest and First A Saviour and Prophet and Guide All his wars ever blessed, all his foes ever cursed And his name known forever!" he cried

Thirty-Eighth Verse

This was Refin of Reath. In a wind in a dream Mandorallen appeared to his chosen In terrible aspect - his power supreme Mixed with moonlight and odors ambrosian "Go forth, O my child, your land to defend! Go forth - well thou knowest the need Lest the gods and their handiwork come to and end Go forth - with gods´ help, and godspeed!

Thirty-Nineth Verse

Fear and trembling seized Refin - he woke with a scream At the greatness of God in His Might Then he thought to himself - was it only a dream? Or a vision, my course to incite? But then what is a dream? Or a vision? Or thought? But a path, or a change, or a choice? Then no matter the source! I will do what I ought And my conscience confirms the god´s voice.

Fortieth Verse

Through the wave-tortured seas and the rock-guarded costs He arrived at fair Ahans at last The City of Royals, where legend still boasts Of its glory in ages long past But then at its pinnacle - roads straight and wide Paved with marble, and marbg and his Councillors meet and decide How to hold the world back from its fall

Forty-First Verse

Into such came the First, unassuming in manner Not copper nor iron nor steel His strong body enclosed; neither weapon nor banner Clothed but in a robe and his zeal "I have come" he exclaimed. "Give me leave to defend My friends and my country and lord Lest the demon Demerfin, on whom you depend Wound your land, at your charge, with your sword

Forty-Second Verse

The king heard his suit with a look of amaze At the boldness and pluck of his mien For a while he faltered, his mind in a daze As he stared at his men and his queen When his wits were recovered, he gave a great laugh Neither nasty nor mocking, but glad And expressed his delight, to his nobles and staff At the manner of subject he had

Forty-Third Verse

Then he spoke to the First, saying "Friend, I admire Your devotion to sovereign and land But Demerfin is strong, and `tis not my desire To relieve him of rank and command Go off then in peace, but receive as my gift Any sword from my arsenal´s store Take the best - for a sovereign ought not to show thrift To his subjects, when valiant in war

Forty-Fourth Verse

But as chance (or by fate - chance is merely a name Used when fate keeps its presence unknown) Demerfin, the traitor, at that hour came For his troops and his arms to be shown And he paused in the arsenal, viewing its hoard (His mind bent on evil and doom) When Refin, rejected, in search of a sword Eyes cast downward, came into the room

Forty-Fifth Verse

On the belt of the demon there lay, glowing green The Sword of the gentle March Breeze As a symbol of power, by all to be seen One of Four, and the oldest of these As its emerald and steel the bold Refin admired It flew like a bird to his hand He said "´Tis the best, just as the king has desired And I claim it, by royal command!"

Forty-Sixth Verse

Then he thrust forth the sword at the servant of Sun Who countered with thrusts of his own Refin gasped in amaze at the deed he had done His hands' acts to his mind were unknown For 'twas notdered the blow But the will of his god-fashioned sword Which now blazed with a brighter and purer green glow With, at long last, its mission restored

Forty-Seventh Verse

The demon recovered his wits and he snatched Up a blade in the arsenal found The next blow that Refin dealt, Demerfin matched Clanging arms through th' armory resound The First watched first in horror, and later in awe As free from all conscious commands His arms moved, parried, countered - his eyes merely saw Foreign acts by his sword in his hands

Forty-Eighth Verse

In anger Demerfin closed in for the kill He had mastered the warrior's art But the sword forged by Mandorel lacked not his skill And it flew at the general's heart Pierced his breast, but the demon just gave a dread grin For the First sought a heart there in vain There was just coal and stone where a heart would have been Just putrescence and filth for a brain

Forty-Nineth Verse

The sword wearied of stabbing, and burned emerald bright With the fires of Tirbal above 'Twas not Mandorel's strength which was seen in that light But Laguna's all-compassing love It was love then that conquered, when iron had failed Love that won, where no battle-art could 'Tis said Hate over Hatred has never prevailed You can only fight evil with good

Fiftieth Verse

Thus was Demerfin conquered, and Refin in fear Would have fled from his murderous deed Had he not beheld great Mandorallen appear And the god o'er the palace decreed: "Men of Tirlar! Of Ahans! Your champion behold! Harm him not - he is sacred to Me Rather use him - his spirit is fiery and bold" And Larn heeded his master´s decree:

Fifty-First Verse

He made him his general: Refin the First Sailed that eve to the isle of Khas In a fortnight, the fortunes of war he reversed And inflicted on Sun a great loss For the men of the Isles were valiant and brave And their leader was pious and true And when fighting their land and their loved ones to save There is nothing such men cannot do

Fifty-Second Verse

Shleg too was retaken, but Refin pushed on Urged forth by the fire in histhe mountainous land of Fabon Where the demons still held in the west When he landed, he fought with his foes once again Once again, by his courage, he won And in Treesia he paused, some supplies to obtain 'Ere the next operation begun

Fifty-Third Verse

But Sun, Lord of Demons, upon his jet throne Heard news of his northern defeat Dread and awful he rose, and his awful eyes shone And he ordered his councilors to meet In a Council of Demons, the Isles to end - The Elders, the Chaos of Sark And all the Infernals from Ifreann ascend And the tropical sun they make dark

Fifty-Fourth Verse

Then Sun spoke, saying... well, I don't know what he said From the base of his dark throne of jet For his words, and his deeds, were so awful and dread Even lorekeepers sought to forget They expunged all the records, and burnt all the scrolls Ripped up every paper and book For too dark and too dreadful for innocent souls Were his words, and the actions he took

Fifty-Fifth Verse

Yet we know the results of his deed - every isle Each home of the valiant and proud Black mists and black vapors of Ifreann defile The period that Fate had allowed Was ended - the towers of Ahans might shine Over Folcador's seas nevermore Only Treesia was saved from the vapors and brine Saved with Refin, who stood on its shore

Fifty-Sixth Verse

But in Treesia, the First, in that one moonless night Went from fiery and youthful to old His voice became trembling, his hair became white And his fires grew dim and went cold The Enabler of Life started wishing for death And his soul became dark with the loss Of bright, kingly Ahans, of tree-speckled Reath Desert Shleg, and hard, rock-studded Khas

Fifty-Seventh Verse

Alas the Five Isles! Five bright points of light! Five jewels on the Crowning Plane´s crown Unrivaled in beauty, unconquered in fight Their hope and potential unknown What futures were stifled? What empires unmade? What thousands of heroes unborn? What stories unwritten? What cities unlaid? When the darkness enclosed their bright morn?

Fifty-Eighth Verse

Woe! Woe unto Tirlar! Woe! Woe unto men! Refin the First! The lands of the gods now defiled once again By Lest, and his follow´rs accursed Woe! Woe unto Ennabruk! Woe to the gods And woe to the Races below! Woe! Woe to the World-Planes, the Seven Abodes To Tirbal and Universe - woe!

Fifty-Nineth Verse

The gods up above once agreed on a law Not to meddle in matters below But when so Cataclysmic an evil they saw And the Crown Plane beneath filled with woe Wrath burnt through their fetters - the War God, appalled Grabbed his tripartite axe in his hands With a trumpet blast Tirbal´s great armies he called To deliver the Circle of Lands

Sixtieth Verse

The armies of Tirbal were gathered together Encased in their glittering mail Brimming full with the fury of war, heedless whether Their purpose would triumph or fail Just exulting in battle, rejoicing in fight And itching for clashing of arms Shining light off their armor, the Forces of Light Came in droves to the War-God's alarms

Sixty-First Verse

Then Folcador raised up a whirlwind that bore them From Tirbal to Tirlar below Made the lightning-bolts flash as a herald before them And winds like to hurricanes blow And rainbows as banners, untouched by the wind And contrails to show them their way And great walls of stratus as vanguards behind That covered the sun and the day

Sixty-Second Verse

When Sun saw these armies he trembled in fear And Yetal turned pale in dismay For they knew at long last that their hour was near And their crimes bore a high price to pay So they rode on their draken, in haste to proceed In haste to shun battle and fly Lest the champions of Tirbal avenge their foul deed And thus craven, they fled through the sky

Sixty-Third Verse

Now the great Whip of Folcador flew round and round And the great Axe of Mandorel fell And the Fires of Tineon fell to the ground Where they raged like the fires of Hell Nor was Istvan then absent, nor Istvan´s dread blade Nor the Microns, their goal to fulfill Nor the men of the East - every land ever made There converged, and prepared for the kill

Sixty-Fourth Verse

The fortresses fell without ht The armies dispersed in dismay The whole land was extinguished and wiped out of sight And was lost in a night and a day The high walls were ground into pebbles and stone The palaces fell to the ground Not a brick stayed on top of a brick - all were gone And dark Ruin spread its wings all around

Sixty-Fifth Verse

Atop high Mount Medivh great Mandorel stood 'Till he spotted the demons in flight And he cast the spear Unis, resplendent with Good Its point and its shaft made of light It struck the great Draken that bore them away Right between its two fiery eyes A death-blow it struck - as they howled in dismay The two demons fell down through the skies

Sixty-Sixth Verse

In the ocean they landed, but swam to the coast Disgraced, sopping wet, but not dead Men who saw them but laughed - all their power seemed lost And their aspect was no longer dread Mandorallen beheld and said "Thus let them stay `Till Fate, with her knowledge arcane Either kills or restores them - I care not which way Let us now return home to our plane"

Sixty-Seventh Verse

Thus was Khaz Modan conquered by power divine And the Isles by power demonic Thus was vengeance obtained, thus did fate intertwine Good and evil in patterns ironic Thus the shaping of Tirlar in battle begun And in battle will Tirlar be lost Thus was destiny filled, thus was history run But alas! What was history's cost?

Sixty-Eighth Verse

The world is a story, and stories have ends And this book has an end of its own When the First, dead of grief, up to Tirbal ascends With the Gods, who in life he has known Open-armed, Mandorallen embraces his friend Who holds still in his pale, wrinkled hands The sword with the emerald, still bright to defend All the hopes of the Races and Lands

Sixty-Nineth Verse

Said the Champion: "Boldly you fought, friend, and well That which mortals could do, you have done In battle you strove with the forces of Hell Remained pious, persisted, and won O, blame not yourself for the twistings of Fate! Rest a while, and hand over your sword And in Calaspier's halls future ba- you must have a reward"

Seventieth Verse

Spoke the First: "For myself, I can no more desire Then the Battle of which you have told Let ANDAN´s apocalypse relight my fire Let me fight, once again, as of old Give reward then to Treesia, the last of the Isles Let another arise in my place Let him wield my green sword, and enduring great trials Bring new honor to me and my race"

Seventy-First Verse

"Let it be!" spoke the Champion, his eyes all alight "Let the Second in Treesia arise! And let there be Barons, unconquered in fight! Let their fame fill the seas and the skies! Let the times yet to come a new Ardeaspeg see! Let them see a new Ahans erected! And in that Golden Age of the world, let there be A new King of All Tirlar selected!"

Seventy-Second Verse

Then the Sword of the gentle March Breezes he threw Down from Tirbal to Tirlar below Through the skies for three days and three nights the blade flew Like a star, with a bright emerald glow Till it struck land in Ecosse, where dwelt a young man A young man with a fire in his heart And the emerald stone blazed with the fire of the plan Plans for Treesia's - and Tirlar's - fresh start