Original Submissions by Gimfalisette
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War Dirge (The Soldier's Life)
Added on Feb 11, 2009Attributed to a soldier of the Allanaki militia in the time just after the gith invasion of year 39, age 21, this song mournfully expresses the melancholy and bleakness of long service.
Heard of Sergeant Laila Makarim, Jade Saber Legion
The soldier's life is a hard, hard life,
And death is our sole reward;
But none can say I won't fight, fight, fight,
And die with blood on my sword.
The soldier's meal is a tasteless meal,
Spiced with the stench of the dead;
Swallow back anything that I feel, feel, feel,
And just take what they give me for bread.
The soldier's bed is a rough, thin bed,
And sleep is plagued by the dark;
Though I rise at the dawn feelin' dead, dead, dead,
Still my blow seeks the enemy's heart.
The soldier's friend is a soon-dead friend,
And the weight of a blade in her hand;
When it all comes down to the end, end, end,
Every soldier's alone on the sand.
The soldier's death is a lonely death,
Her companions are all gone before;
I gave sweat, I gave tears with each breath, breath, breath,
And I'll die when I've got nothing more.
The soldier's fate is a swift, swift fate,
There's few that will live to be old;
Lay me down on the altar in state, state, state,
Burn away what has finally gone cold.Heard of Sergeant Laila Makarim, Jade Saber Legion
The soldier's life is a hard, hard life,
And death is our sole reward;
But none can say I won't fight, fight, fight,
And die with blood on my sword.
The soldier's meal is a tasteless meal,
Spiced with the stench of the dead;
Swallow back anything that I...
Continue Reading...The Gith Are Coming
Added on Dec 11, 2007A seasoned Lieutenant of the Blood Spears Legion, Highlord's militia, leads her units against an army of gith in defense of the streets of her home city.
The harsh sting of sand and fierce, gusting wind on her face brought clarity to the Lieutenant's mind as she turned her gaze to slowly survey the pair of militia units under her command. Twenty Blood Spears, proud in their black cloaks, stood in ranks behind their Sergeants. These light infantry soldiers would bear the brunt of the attack she knew was shortly coming, clad just in cuirbouilli armor, with jade-emblazoned shields and weapons in hand; but they'd meet it prepared by a daily training regimen that sifted out the weak and left only the strong of body and heart.
Still, the Lieutenant worried as she paced a few steps. Nothing on her expression or in her tall, firm posture betrayed any emotion but calm determination to her soldiers, and yet she knew that some would undoubtedly not return from this battle--and the imminent loss of loyal young men and women pained her. "But we've all sworn our lives and deaths to the Highlord," the Lieutenant reasoned with herself, under her breath. She twitched the edge of her jade-shouldered black dustcloak back to reveal the polished gleam of silt-horror armor as she stopped to again look over her units, knowing that the fine figure she cut was an inspiration to those under her.
Raising her dragon-etched, obsidian-bladed axe high above her head to shake it, the Lieutenant pitched her voice over a sudden scream of wind which whipped tendrils of her own night-dark hair into her face. "Blood Spears!" she addressed the soldiers. Tension was evident on each face as they stared at her, weapons gripped tightly. "Remember you are the steel blade in the Highlord's hand! You are His Arm, and you will not fail!"
A cry to the Highlord lifted from the soldiers, and they beat their shields in response to their commander. As their shouting echoed in the dusty street, now abandoned by everyone but militia, fools, and those with no refuge, a familiar mind sought the Lieutenant's. "Gith spotted, Miner's and Commoner's, press in from your position and hold the road, order of the Captain," was the message abruptly relayed by the Senior Adjunct before he broke the link. "Thank the Highlord I don't have his job today," the Lieutenant thought, briefly amused, before shouting orders to her Sergeants. "The gith are coming, fall in!"
They engaged the gith after a hurried march west along the winding street, the units abreast to fill the relatively narrow span between sagging mudbrick buildings. With a full unit of soldiers to each side, shields raised in a line to neatly deflect blows, the Lieutenant charged amidst the enemy. In Allanak, where combat prowess was taken into account for promotions, the top officers were also the best warriors, and it was her duty and joy to lead the fight.
Had her thoughts not been keenly focused on the battle, the Lieutenant's senses would have been overwhelmed by the stench of sewer-soaked gith, the baleful red glare of the sun directly overhead, the guttural snarls of the enemy, and the clang of weapons and shields as blows began to fall. With short, sharp strokes of her axe, she struck again and again at the enemy around her, facing off with two or three at a time as waves of gith assaulted the militia line. Her movements settled into a methodic rhythm of blocking and parrying gith spears and swords, the motions requiring nothing but the instinct gained by ten years of soldiering. One of the yellow-skinned gith before her swung its club hard at her wrist, apparently aiming for a disarming hit, but before the blow could connect she easily twisted her hand and sent its weapon flying back through the enemy ranks. As an expression of surprise crystallized on the gith's face, the Lieutenant continued the quick arc of her axe and sunk a vicious chop into its neck. A hot spray of blood spattered across her bronzed cheek, and the gith crumpled. Striding over the body, the Lieutenant merely picked a new foe and set to work.
With lesser but still effective expertise, the soldiers to her right and left advanced alongside as she led them deeper into the Commoners' Quarter against the gith. The absurdity of fighting a battle against thousands of these disgusting creatures within the walls of her own beloved city--for her own territory!--did not prick the Lieutenant's mind at this moment, though it had weighed heavily for the past month, as gith forays up through the sewer pipes and into the city increased. All that lay before her now was the certainty that the war was finally here, and it had to be won.
A sudden, sharp twang caught the Lieutenant's attention through the din of battle; a noise she'd been dreading. Clattering dully to the packed earth of the road, a wooden arrow narrowly missed the Sergeant to her right. Harsh yells in gith-tongue from what seemed to be their leaders rang in the street, and the horde of gith scrambled backwards clumsily as more arrows, and then spears, began to fall toward the militia line.
Again, instinctive reaction forged from years of combat experience took over. Sensing an arrow flying toward her, the Lieutenant raised her shield and batted it away; the next arrow she struck from the air with her axe. The Private to her left, in his first real fight since taking the black, was helpless against the onslaught of missiles. He screamed shrilly as an arrow caught in his thigh, a sound which was abruptly cut off as a spear *thunked* into his neck. Eyes gone blank, the soldier toppled forward, his life's blood seeping out onto the threatened ground of his birth city.
Time seemed to lengthen, arrows and spears hissing slowly toward the Lieutenant's line, in the moment of mental pause that it took for her to consider the only two possible options: Advance, or retreat. Faced with missiles, without cover, light infantry had no other course of action but to change the distance between themselves and the attackers. To stand in place was to let the enemy cut her units down at will; and retreating to leave the Commoners' Quarter open to gith pillage was absolutely not acceptable. "Forward!" she shouted at her Sergeants, and rushed toward the disarrayed line of gith warriors, sunlight glinting off the freshly-blooded obsidian blade of her axe. Their motion no longer arrested by the hang of time, missiles rattled to the road behind the Lieutenant's force as she and her soldiers ferociously pressed the attack, becoming enveloped in the heat of battle again.
Minutes, hours, maybe a day later--she knew little except the primal, triumphant feeling of being covered head-to-toe in smears of gith blood--the Lieutenant screamed a furious, wordless war-cry as the few remaining gith broke their line, turned, and scurried away like jozhal. Enemy bodies littered the street; though the gith were individually tough, their unsophisticated, tribal methods of war were no match for the training and strategy of the Highlord's soldiers. Still, as she turned, panting for breath, the Lieutenant saw that her force was not without losses. Another Private had fallen to gith missiles before the distance could be breached, and a Corporal had been lost to the blades of a group of four gith. But there was no moment to spare for mourning them or moving their bodies; it was those who were alive but wounded who needed attending now.
As the Sergeants assessed the condition of the soldiers, medics assigned to the units moved amongst their companions, quickly wrapping bandages around wounds to staunch bleeding. Though she had learned over the years the basic techniques of bandaging on the battlefield, the Lieutenant did not move into the ranks to treat the soldiers; those assigned to that job needed the satisfaction of putting their expertise to work for their fellows. Watching the deft motions of the medics' hands, the Lieutenant allowed a brief feeling of pride to swell her chest. There'd be no need for any of -her- troops to be submitted to treatment by the water wigglers stationed at the field hospital at Meleth's, not today.
Then, the Lieutenant found her attention caught by a young Corporal whose face had paled under the usual dark tone of his skin, and whose eyes were wide and fixed on some distant, unseen thing. Shaking arms were crossed over his body and his fingers clutched at the black armbands he wore as rank insignia, as if that might stop the trembling. Stepping around a few soldiers to move to the young man's side, the Lieutenant leaned in. "Something wrong, Corporal?" She kept her voice low and warm; the question was for him only. Slowly, he focused on his commander, mouth hanging open for a moment before he found words to respond. "I tried, sir, I tried t' save 'er, but there was too many on 'er, an' I couldn't pull 'em off fast enough," he choked out. Clearly stricken, he turned his stare to the still form of the fallen Corporal, her brunette hair darkly matted with drying blood from the sword wound which had cleaved her helmet and head.
In a flash, empathetic sadness threatened the Lieutenant's composure; how often had she felt this same regret at her inability to protect a companion? No matter how good a soldier was, there would be failures. It was never possible, in the brutal rush of battle, to be everywhere or even to see everything as it happened. But that knowledge was cold comfort, and wouldn't help the living Corporal manage the loss of his unit-mate right now.
Gripping his shoulders, the Lieutenant shook the Corporal gently, her green eyes boring intensely into his brown ones as he met her gaze. "Corporal," she firmly addressed him. "You did what you could. We need you here right now. The war's not over yet, and you've got a job to do. You hear me?" After a moment's blank stare, the Corporal heaved a breath and nodded. "Aye, sir," he rasped. Nodding in return, the Lieutenant stepped back, still watching him, and squared her shoulders into a taut military posture. Unconsciously, the young Corporal mimicked his commander's posture as he gathered himself.
"Blood Spears! Prepare for the next engagement!" the Lieutenant shouted as she pivoted on a black-booted foot to face the setting sun, grip flexing on her axe. The solid weight of the gore-coated weapon in her hand was a reassuring reminder that victory surely belonged to the Highlord's Arm. Her soldiers took up positions again, and then a tense silence befell them as dark figures appeared on the road ahead, silhouetted against the angry red of sunset. The gith were coming.
The harsh sting of sand and fierce, gusting wind on her face brought clarity to the Lieutenant's mind as she turned her gaze to slowly survey the pair of militia units under her command. Twenty Blood Spears, proud in their black cloaks, stood in ranks behind their Sergeants. These light...
Continue Reading...Counterpart (a poem)
Added on Jun 29, 2007A poetic exploration of love, death, art, struggle, and meaning from a Zalanthan perspective. Composed by a bard of Poets' Circle in Tuluk circa Year 34 of the 21st Age.
Counterpart
by Caitrin Irofel
No, dark is not the opposite of light,
As day is not the nemesis of night.
A coin that's carved from slick and shiny stone
Has two reflective sides; and yet is one.
The purest truths are found in paradox;
The deepest truths are simplest to unlock.
The shadow cannot tear itself away,
But owes existence to the sun's bright play.
All things must seek their balanced counterpart;
The bard's beat echoes in a stranger's heart.
Our bodies, bound in ecstasy, collide;
And still remains the merest of divides.
Were there no doubt, there never could be trust;
And absence heightens passion's fueling lust.
Twins, love and war are conflicts that engulf;
Impassioned struggle kills and births the self.
Both joy and sorrow spring from but one seed;
The greatest art is born from wretched need.
And still you ask why I would choose to love?
Though every life begins and ends in blood?
Yes, death will come and put an end to us,
The sands will sift, and all will turn to dust;
But I would rather fall entwined with you
Than die regretting what I did not do.Counterpart
by Caitrin Irofel
No, dark is not the opposite of light,
As day is not the nemesis of night.
A coin that's carved from slick and shiny stone
Has two reflective sides; and yet is one.
The purest truths are found in paradox;
The deepest truths are simplest to unlock.
The shadow cannot tear...
Continue Reading...Tuluki Lullaby
Added on Nov 23, 2006A bedtime song for children which teaches essential concepts of Tuluki culture and some counting, composed by a bard of Poets' Circle in New Tuluk circa Year 28 of the 21st Age.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
Hush now, my dear child, put tears to rest,
I'll sing you a song to count how you're blessed.
Lay your head down and dry your eyes,
While I play a soft, sweet Tuluki lullaby.
One for the Sun King, his love and grace
Shines down on you warmer than the sun's red face.
Two Orders of His Faithful, their care and might,
Watching and keeping you safe through the night.
Three for the third faction, the Houses so grand,
His Chosen's dedication is known through the land.
Four are the castes which labor as one,
Each has a duty in the work to be done.
Five is Gol Krathu and its four-direction surround,
Where all good things of nature abound.
Six are the Circles of the Poets of the north,
Where arts ancient and new in bounty pour forth.
Seven hours does the sun shine each bright day,
In the Ivory where you'll grow as you laugh and play.
All these things and more will bless your time,
But for now, go to sleep, precious child of mine.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
Hush now, my dear child, put tears to rest,
I'll sing you a song to count how you're blessed.
Lay your head down and dry your eyes,
While I play a soft, sweet Tuluki lullaby.
One for the Sun King, his love and grace
Shines down on you warmer than the sun's...
Continue Reading...The Victory at the Battle of the Canyon
Added on Sep 27, 2006Rousing historical song which celebrates and chronicles Tuluk's victory in the final battle of the War. Composed by a bard of Poets' Circle in New Tuluk shortly after the end of the war.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
(song is also known as "Look Up, Soldiers")
They'd fought long and hard at the Copper War and each soldier was tired to the bone,
Our Legions beat back the Nakkis again and again, and had faith that the war would be won.
Then they heard word--The last battle is ahead, so Legionnaires stand and prepare--
With the end coming on, as the red sun went down, my love raised his face to its glare.
Look up for your help now, look up, soldiers! To the Sun King pray for a sign!
My love put on his armor and raised up his weapons, for fast came the killing time.
Look up for your strength now, look up, soldiers--And remember the Ivory--
My love's thoughts turned homeward, far to the north, and softly lingered on me.
Through a long dark night His Legions lay there in wait, ready for the dawn with its light,
But when the sun crept over the rocky canyon's east edge it shined on a terrible sight.
The Black hordes had left their camp in the dark and amassed to march for the fight,
An impossible force now stood at the gates, and the canyon floor shook with its might.
As far as he looked, all my love saw was a roiling swarm of abominations,
The crackle and stench of their vile magicks would have turned a weak man to desperation.
And the Blue witches rode at the front of that line, piercingly shrieking commands--
But my love held onto courage, and stood by His Faithful, steady with weapons to hand.
Then all at once with a crash and a boom like thunder, the craggy cliffs started to fall!
For His Legions are clever, and knowing the enemy, had planted traps in the walls.
And as rocks tumbled down to smash through the ranks of the Black's assembled force,
Something even more wondrous, and strange in the telling, began to take its course.
A feeling then touched our Faithful Lady Eunoli, a sense of the Sun King's presence--
And she knew He watched over each Loyal soldier standing there in the Ivory's defense.
Unseen, unheard then, at His bidding, she and our Faithful Lady Felysia ascended
To the top of the cliffs overlooking the battle to complete what the Sun King intended.
Then drawing her sword, by name Rectitude, the Faithful Lady held the steel blade up high,
And its metal caught the blaze of the morning sun, throwing flame toward the enemy's eye.
Shielding his gaze, my brave love looked up and encountered that awe-striking sight--
Against a hot red sky, a gleaming vision of fire, and two Faithful figures in white.
Look up for your hope now, look up, soldiers! A flash of light on the canyonside!
My love's heart beat fast and he started to think he might be home in Tuluk that night.
Look up to your joy now, look up, soldiers! Look up to see the glory of victory!
My love's breath came hard as his soul lifted up in a silent cry for the Ivory.
Then, it is said, as that steel blade shone bright, the Nakki commanders lost hope,
Their mighty line did break and flee, as their leaders' voices choked in dry throats.
The war was won at the Battle of the Canyon that day, where not a drop of Loyal blood was spilled,
My soldier love then came home safe to me, while with shouts of rejoicing our Tuluk was filled.by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
(song is also known as "Look Up, Soldiers")
They'd fought long and hard at the Copper War and each soldier was tired to the bone,
Our Legions beat back the Nakkis again and again, and had faith that the war would be won.
Then they heard word--The last battle is ahead,...
Continue Reading...Tuluk Girls
Added on Sep 9, 2006A song composed as a subtle warning to 'Nakki traders during the Copper War by a bard of Poets' Circle in New Tuluk.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
As I walked down the North Road a fair lass did I meet,
Who asked me please to see her home, she lived just up the street.
I said, "Oh lovely woman, I'm a stranger here in town,
I left my wagon just a moment ago, from Allanak I was bound."She said, "Come with me, lover, I'll stand you to a treat,
I'll buy you ale and spice my love, and smoked meat for to eat."
And when we reached The Tembo's Tooth, oh the drinks were handed out,
That spiced mead was so awful strong, my head went roundabout.When the drinking it was over, we straight to bed did go,
And little did I ever think she'd prove my overthrow.
When I came to next morning, I had an aching head,
And there I was, Amos-all-alone, stark naked on the bed.I looked all around the room, nothing I could see,
But a silken dress and slippers which now belonged to me.
Everything was silent, the dawn was coming hard,
I put my dress and slippers on and headed for the yard.My wagon-mates seein' me come aboard these words to me did say,
"Well, my friend, you've lost your armor since last you went away.
Is this the new spring fashion they're wearing in Tuluk?
Where is the shop that sells it, I'd like to have a look."So listen all you Nakkis, take warning when in the Ivory,
Or else you'll meet some charming lass who's licensed in thievery.
Your hard-earned coin will disappear, your gear and boots as well,
For Tuluk girls are tougher than Suk-Krath's Pits of Hell!by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
As I walked down the North Road a fair lass did I meet,
Who asked me please to see her home, she lived just up the street.
I said, "Oh lovely woman, I'm a stranger here in town,
I left my wagon just a moment ago, from Allanak I was bound."She said, "Come with me,...
Continue Reading...Dance and Laugh at the Poor Ol' Nakkis' Fate
Added on Sep 7, 2006A boasting song addressed to the soldiers of Tuluk and composed to celebrate a victorious battle over the forces of Allanak during the Copper War by a bard of Poets' Circle in New Tuluk.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
I heard you tore through Tor, showed those Scorpions the door!
The Borsail Wyverns are squeaking now with fear.
It won't be very long now, friends, 'til you're back with us again,
And when you get here I'm gonna give a great big cheer.
In fact, a kiss for one and all! When you come back proud and tall,
I'll kiss you each as you walk through the gate.
And then we'll drink and drink again, and celebrate the battle's end,
We'll dance and laugh at the poor ol' Nakkis' fate.
Now go and kick some weak Oash ass! This chance has rarely come to pass,
Once in your life to watch a Fale--well, fail!
The rest of their puffed-up so-called nobles ain't even worth a thought or trouble,
And their survival chance is thinner than a nail.
Every soldier do your part, give it fast and give it hard!
You've got the stinking Nakkis by the throat.
Just get the job done one by one, kick them Nakkis in the bum,
And leave 'em in the Red Desert's sand to bloat.
And then a kiss to one and all! When you come back proud and tall,
I'll kiss you each as you walk through the gate.
And then we'll drink and drink again, and celebrate the battle's end,
We'll dance and laugh at the poor ol' Nakkis' fate!by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
I heard you tore through Tor, showed those Scorpions the door!
The Borsail Wyverns are squeaking now with fear.
It won't be very long now, friends, 'til you're back with us again,
And when you get here I'm gonna give a great big cheer.
In fact, a kiss for one and all!...
Continue Reading...My Heart Belongs to the Ivory
Added on Sep 7, 2006A patriotic song on themes of love for nation-state, loss of companions, and war. Composed during the Copper War by a bard of Poets' Circle.
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
I will remember my young Legionnaire,
Who marched off to war with the wind in his hair.
I will remember the Black City's attack--
Dead in the desert, he's not coming back.
I will remember the many friends I've lost--
They chose to bear arms regardless of cost.
With hope and faith, in battle they fell,
Each face and each name I remember so well.
CHORUS:
My heart belongs to the Ivory,
Her life and her breath and her soul real to me.
My grief I will take and put to her use--
Rather than mourning, service I choose.
My Tuluk, my love, my light, my home--
In your embrace I am never alone.
Though all may fall and leave me forever,
My love for my Sun King and home will not waver.
No matter how humble what I have to give,
The Ivory shall have it as long as I live.
Instead of the kiss of my lost beloved,
In place of the laughter of friends now dead--
I will comfort myself with the work to be done,
Unresting 'til the Ivory's victory is won.
CHORUS:
My heart belongs to the Ivory,
Her life and her breath and her soul real to me.
My grief I will take and put to her use--
Rather than mourning, service I choose.
My Tuluk, my love, my light, my home--
In your embrace I am never alone.by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
I will remember my young Legionnaire,
Who marched off to war with the wind in his hair.
I will remember the Black City's attack--
Dead in the desert, he's not coming back.
I will remember the many friends I've lost--
They chose to bear arms regardless of cost.
With...
Continue Reading...A Soldier's Love
Added on Sep 7, 2006A melancholy song of love, war, and death composed by a bard of Poets' Circle in New Tuluk at the time of the Copper War.
A Soldier's Love
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
My first soldier love was my father, but nothing of him do I know,
Save that mother loved him with a passion until off to fight he did go.
He never returned from the battle, and she in turn lost her heart,
When a little while later I was born, nothing was left of her spark.
A solider will love you like a blazing fire,
Hot and consuming as the flame's desire.
But fire goes out, as the life of the soldier--
A bright-burning love, and then it is over.
When I grew up I met a young man, a handsome Legionnaire,
In a time of peace we fell in love as our hopes and dreams we shared.
But the call came for him to go to war, and far away south he marched,
When he fell in the desert I knew why my own mother had lost her heart.
A soldier will love you like the warm plains wind,
Rushing and fierce to embrace you again.
But wind blows away, as the life of the soldier--
A sweet breeze of love, and then it is over.
Though I didn't want to love again, the war caused us to meet,
A Corporal with hair as black as night and a smile that was so sweet.
At the war's end we celebrated together the Ivory's victory,
Then two weeks later he fell in battle, that soldier who so loved me.
A soldier will love you like life and death,
Will hold you tight and cherish each breath.
But death comes soon to take the soldier,
Who loves strong and deep 'til his life is over.
A Soldier's Love
by Maerylin "Mae" Konviwedu
My first soldier love was my father, but nothing of him do I know,
Save that mother loved him with a passion until off to fight he did go.
He never returned from the battle, and she in turn lost her heart,
When a little while later I was born,...
Continue Reading...
