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Difference between revisions of "Homecoming"
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[[Category:Bardic Runners Up]][[Category:2006 Bardics]] | |||
By: Valeria | By: Valeria | ||
Posted on: June 25, 2006 | Posted on: June 25, 2006 | ||
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"Thank you for coming to attend my recital, everyone," she said, softly but | "Thank you for coming to attend my recital, everyone," she said, softly but | ||
clearly. "This poem is called 'Homecoming.'"<br> | clearly. "This poem is called 'Homecoming.'"<br> | ||
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Weaving strands of fire and air together, Valeria gestured grandly. A glowing | Weaving strands of fire and air together, Valeria gestured grandly. A glowing | ||
mirage swirled into being above her head, depicting human villages in Sapience, | mirage swirled into being above her head, depicting human villages in Sapience, | ||
quaint and lovely: Thera, Shastaan, Petra, Tasur'ke, and others. | quaint and lovely: Thera, Shastaan, Petra, Tasur'ke, and others. | ||
"So many years have passed to let me learn and grow<br> | "''So many years have passed to let me learn and grow''<br> | ||
Yet still I remember my childhood home from so long ago.<br> | ''Yet still I remember my childhood home from so long ago''".<br> | ||
To the gasps of the onlookers, the mirage suddenly flickered, now depicting the | To the gasps of the onlookers, the mirage suddenly flickered, now depicting the | ||
floating city of Arcadia and the snowy village of Genji, where the winged | floating city of Arcadia and the snowy village of Genji, where the winged | ||
Atavians resided. | Atavians resided. | ||
"The golden memories of my youth have never left me<br> | "''The golden memories of my youth have never left me''<br> | ||
When my heart was bright and I dreamt of what I could be."<br> | ''When my heart was bright and I dreamt of what I could be''."<br> | ||
...now it portrayed the isle of Ulangi, home of both the Grooks and the | ...now it portrayed the isle of Ulangi, home of both the Grooks and the | ||
Horkvali... now the swamps of Kasmarkin, where once dwelt the troll race... | Horkvali... now the swamps of Kasmarkin, where once dwelt the troll race... | ||
"Long ago I left, to try my hand at the adventurer's life<br> | "''Long ago I left, to try my hand at the adventurer's life''.<br> | ||
But after a lifetime of only struggle and strife."<br> | ''But after a lifetime of only struggle and strife''."<br> | ||
...now the mirage showed the looming Siroccians, home to the dwarves...now the | ...now the mirage showed the looming Siroccians, home to the dwarves...now the | ||
tunnels of Moghedu, guarded by towering Mhun guards... | tunnels of Moghedu, guarded by towering Mhun guards... | ||
"I longed to come back to where I lived in happiness<br> | "''I longed to come back to where I lived in happiness''.<br> | ||
In those days when I knew neither pain nor loneliness."<br> | ''In those days when I knew neither pain nor loneliness''."<br> | ||
...now the mirage depicted Valeria's own childhood home, the verdant Aalen, | ...now the mirage depicted Valeria's own childhood home, the verdant Aalen, | ||
oddly juxtaposed with a beautiful castle in Shallam. | oddly juxtaposed with a beautiful castle in Shallam. | ||
"Now, wiser and greyer with the passage of time<br> | "''Now, wiser and greyer with the passage of time''<br> | ||
I returned to my former home in the glow of my prime."<br> | ''I returned to my former home in the glow of my prime''."<br> | ||
In the image, a younger Valeria stepped into view, staff in hand, clearly an | In the image, a younger Valeria stepped into view, staff in hand, clearly an | ||
accomplished Magi. Her expression is one of wonder and joy as she gazes around | accomplished Magi. Her expression is one of wonder and joy as she gazes around | ||
her. | her. | ||
"Oh, the memories! How they overwhelm me as I crossed<br> | "''Oh, the memories! How they overwhelm me as I crossed''<br> | ||
The threshold between what I have and what I lost."<br> | ''The threshold between what I have and what I lost''."<br> | ||
In the mirage, a dark cloud fell over the forest, causing Valeria's face to | In the mirage, a dark cloud fell over the forest, causing Valeria's face to | ||
fall into sombre shadow. | fall into sombre shadow. | ||
"And yet, though my return wraps me within a joyous glow,<br> | "''And yet, though my return wraps me within a joyous glow'',<br> | ||
Yet within my heart still remains a trace of sorrow."<br> | ''Yet within my heart still remains a trace of sorrow''."<br> | ||
Outside the mirage, the present Valeria gazed at the trembling mirage, a tear | Outside the mirage, the present Valeria gazed at the trembling mirage, a tear | ||
travelling down her cheek as she let the image slowly dissolve away. | travelling down her cheek as she let the image slowly dissolve away. | ||
"All these years I carried visions of my childhood in my head<br> | "''All these years I carried visions of my childhood in my head''<br> | ||
My home remained the same; it was I who changed instead."<br> | ''My home remained the same; it was I who changed instead''."<br> | ||