View source for The Birth of Kastalia (Jerenii Bardic)

By: Jerenii
Posted on: April 27, 2006

Within the shaded corners of the pond,<br>
a lily stands in mute remembrance there--<br>
a time when all of Sapience fell to prayer.<br>
It came upon a morning as it dawned,<br>
and with it crept an illness and despond<br>
that touched all life with its unbound despair.<br>
And slow, the people came to be aware<br>
that from the waters fell disease was spawned.<br>

The fishes died along the river's shore,<br>
all rotten as the filth began to spread,<br>
and kelp contaminated as though dead,<br>
as soon the plague touched every city's door.<br>
The people questioned all that came before<br>
as with the illness came both fear and dread.<br>
Some said the Sea-Lord caused the plague instead,<br>
as Zaphar called out loudly to his Lord:<br>

"The tear's soft warmth is growing with its size."<br>

No river water left could be called pure.<br>
One lake remained--the shores of Vundamere.<br>
Some Nerai rallied close amongst their peers,<br>
infecting self to make their homes secure.<br>
They swore their lives to somehow find a cure,<br>
as others swept the gathered dust of years--<br>
they sought the answer in the words of Seers.<br>
Yet all the people found themselves unsure.<br>

The naiads wept as worse the hardship fell,<br>
and, hopeless, mortals prayed to the Divine.<br>
Yet further moved the travesty in time:<br>
with nothing could the illness be dispelled.<br>
But we were not alone in what befell!<br>
For then the ocean's currents were aligned<br>
and lunar forces came to be combined--<br>
the change unfolded that could make all well.<br>

In truth, the Goddess listened to our cries.<br>

Just when the river's Flame had smoldered low--<br>
the end of all was close enough to taste--<br>
we hurried to the ocean with all haste.<br>
Then from the salty beaches down below,<br>
from deep within the ocean's briny flow,<br>
arose a Goddess, full unique in grace,<br>
and star-kissed eyes shone clearly from Her face--<br>
the moonlight and the ocean both aglow.<br>

The lily from Her hand grew quick and strong--<br>
the petals cured the plague's unlikely source,<br>
and spotless water turned back to its course.<br>
Her mercy put the realm where it belongs,<br>
with balance midst all levels of the song.<br>
Ascended thus Kastalia, fair resource,<br>
a balm upon our suffering and remorse--<br>
She rose in glory, righting that great wrong.<br>

Upon the lucid moments of moonrise,<br>
the sheltered places where the current lies,<br>
observe the endless wonder of Her eyes.<br>