Shallamese Vignettes in Verse

By: Minosha Posted on: September 29, 2009

-Prelude-

'Ere the Jewel of the East was set to ignite,

'Ere Shallam became the City of Light,

In a mere two hours, on some fateful night,

The Empire fell to Seleucar's might.

-March of the Assembly-

Today we march in long procession!

Beside the glistening river's bank,

On Raphael's Way the column stretches,

Mounted Templars on our flank.

Steel-clad Templars guard our flank.

To the East from Shastaan's shores

The Ocean forms a line of blue.

Westward rise the Putoran

Like folds of silk in verdant hue.

Behold these Hills of verdant hue!

Brothers, sisters in the Faith,

Walk beside me on this road.

Hear celestial angels' voices

Raised in anthems as we go.

Singing, singing as we go

From Delos to the Eastern Jewel,

Whence the Luminai set forth

To cast aside cabalist plots

And chaotic powers from the North.

From the Bastion of the North.

Onward, onward, marching feet,

Out of the darkness of the past!

Behold the Light of Shallam's beauty,

To our home we come at last.

To the Jewel we've come, at last!

-The Tourguide-

A paltry country chapel, this is not;

Where some chubby friar rings the bell

To call the congregation to the spot

And preach to them about the sins of hell.

The stone from which this mighty place was wrought,

Impervious to flood or fire or... well...

Okay. So maybe once it was destroyed.

But Varian's to blame for all that mess.

How could Shakti willingly avoid

The chance to open up that magic chest?

Who would have guessed a fiery asteroid

Would land in Shallam as she did the quest!?

The first in matrimonial decree,

The Emperor's funeral, the Choir's harmony,

The Basilica, I think you'll see,

Has been a fulcrum of our history.

-Evening Vespers-

Holy Light enfold us tightly,

We who walk the toilsome way.

Burn benevolent and brightly,

Holy flame to welcome day.

At Dawn's breaking comes the new day,

Casting all in rosy glow.

Basilican marble strong and lasting,

This foundation that we know:

Honour, Service, Wisdom, Order,

Light and holy Righteousness.

Goddess of the mithril sunburst,

By Your touch are mortals blessed.

Holy Light enfold us tightly,

We who walk the toilsome way.

Burn benevolent and brightly,

Holy flame to welcome day.