Poems of Peace from Stonewood: Part 2 By the River

 By James Swift (Timothy Suitor)

By the River

Grey clouds overhead, the lid of a coffin,

Some days my labs grow dreary and dark.

The rain these years falls so often

It can be hard to find a warming spark.

Some days my labs grow dreary and dark.

Into Starhaven I must amble,

It can be hard to find a warming spark,

While others from the rain, flee and scramble.

Into Starhaven I must amble

To the cafe that knows me well.

While others from the rain, flee and scramble,

There’s a table where I can dwell.

To the cafe that knows me well.

Below their deck, by the riverside,

There’s a table where I can dwell

By barrels and loading dock, a place to hide.

Below their deck, by the riverside

I can listen to rain on the water, roof, and street.

By barrels and loading dock, a place to hide,

Where I can write or read, along with a treat.

I can listen to rain on water, roof, and street

A moment away, where I can just be.

Where I can write or read, along with a treat,

A bite, their scone of the day, a hot cup of tea.

A moment away, where I can just be,

To set burdens aside and rest.

A bite, their scone of the day, a hot cup of tea.

To keep me going until the last quest.

To set burdens aside and rest,

To take the sky as a blanket. Not

To keep me going until the last quest,

But I’ve found calm, I’m seldom fraught.

To take the sky as a blanket, not

Grey clouds overhead, the lid of a coffin.

But I’ve found calm, I’m seldom fraught,

The rain these years falls so often.

With the near constant rain these springs and early summer, I felt it fitting to write a Pantoum for this entry in my Stonewood Peace Poem saga. With a Rhyme Scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD, etc, ending in JAJA, the repeating of lines from the prior verse until it ended in a repetition of lines from the first verse felt to me like it captured the weeks of rain beginning to blend. I practice poetry to train myself mentally for rituals, and have used one of these in a ritual to Chronos to display the cyclical nature of time. I enjoyed writing with a bit of focus on the punctuation. It would have been easier to make each line a self contained sentence, but by changing the punctuation around I was able to make it flow into other lines in a more organic way.

    Within the city of Starhaven, there are many restaurants and cafes. As our border city, and primary hub of trade, there is enough traffic to warrant a thriving food industry. I do my best to help these businesses in part because it is good to be seen about town, but also because I have yet to master cooking. I can burn water, and not in an impressive way, I can barely cook oatmeal or rice.

    But there is one cafe that I have grown fond of, a lovely place with a deck looking out over the river. They have a variety of teas and drinks, or little sandwiches and pastries, and they are always trying something new, experimenting. I respect that. At one point when the city was under martial law, and I was less popular among the folk, they tried to seat me someplace less obtrusive. That ended up being outside, beneath the cafe, by their back doors at a table used mostly just to hold cases as they were being brought off of boats and into the kitchen, and for cooks to throw dice when things were slow.

    It was quiet, out of the way, secure, and I’ve found a comfort there. In the summer, it’s cool from the river’s breeze, in the fall, the river reflects the lamplight and orange of the tree leaves in a way that looks almost like a crucible of bronze, in the winter you can watch the chunks of ice and snow drift along lazily like passing small islands by boat at sea. In the spring though, and most of the year these last few, I have been enjoying the rain there. It is soothing in its sound, and some days you can’t even see the other side of the river for it is raining so hard. I run warm, so the chill of it is kind to me, and allows me to enjoy even further the teas they serve.

    It may be one of my most comfortable places in the Realms. To no one’s surprise I feel like myself in my wizard’s tower, behind a podium, in a lab, or at a ritual circle. But surprising myself, a place I enjoy and find a calm and peace in, is at a table by the river, nestled between some barrels and crates, on a rainy midday or eve.

You would have my thanks,

-Magus James Swift

Sonnets from Artemis XII

 By: The Huntresses' Teams at Artemis XII  

Stars Upon the Field

Strong Huntresses in stars and armor bright

Assembled stalwart allies on the field.

“Starfellows, arm yourselves and bravely fight;

We’ll die with honor ‘fore we e’er shall yield!”

So spake the generals of foe and friend,

Then fought with gritted teeth and steel eye,

And braved the rain and battled to the end

And gave their all to make the others die.

Yet as the battles raged with blood and sweat

As Huntress forces fought throughout the day,

The reason for it all none could forget

As friends so fiercely faced off in the fray –

That when adversity and strife is done,

The Huntresses – and all of us – are one.

They Need Not Yelll

The day they joined, they learned to wield a sword. 

Against their foes, they saved the ones they love. 

They spread their wings in service to their lord. 

They’ll make their place when push does come to shove. 

But overlooked they felt deep in their soul. 

They worked and worked but silence always fell. 

And harder still they worked to reach their goal. 

A group worked as their voice, they need not yell. 

Then came a day they were called up to court,

With recognition came a sense of pride.

Emboldened by their friends who gave support,

They learned and grew with people by their side. 

They found their home among the Huntress Guild,

And now the voice of people they can build. 

Poems of Peace from Stonewood: Part 1

By: Tim "James Swift" Suitor

I live in a land oft seen as dark,

With reputation of danger and war.

Our home holds risks others don't have

Every time we walk out a door.

We may say ‘safe,’ in a relative sense,

Or with a sardonic smirk,

But be assured, every goodbye is sweet

When they head out to work.

It takes a strange folk to live in this land

They find a way to survive.

We get by on more than bread and cheese

And will find a way to thrive.

The people, resilient, the communities, strong,

Finding ways to keep their heads high.

They cannot afford to be overcome,

So they look each day in the eye.

But despite the dangers, the rigors, and worse,

There are still ways to find Peace and cheer.

Please allow me to recount some places and ways

To dispel a Stonewood fear.

–

    I was neither born nor raised in the nation of Stonewood, I petitioned the nation over a decade ago, and a common sentiment I observed was a shudder. People asking if that was truly where I wanted to live. Not that the nation was bad, but the lands themselves people justifiably were cautious about.

    The lands ARE dangerous. Full of undead, plenty of monsters, deities and their servants that can have ill tempers ranging from a curse to a laying low those they feel stand against them or in their way. We’ve been a part of wars against terrible threats that still manage to haunt us, and I’ve seen shadows far too deep here. But nonetheless, it is my home.

    I thrive here, I do my best work, and I seek to elevate those around me. The people here deserve peace, and I will continue to fight for it. At the request of my Lord, I am working on a public facing project for Stonewood, and this is the first stage of that. I hope to release a poem each month about the beauty or kindness that can be found in these harsh lands, sharing that important part of the country I call home.

    I follow Solarus, of the Novem, Stonewood’s Pantheon. She is a goddess of Peace and War. There has been a lot of war in these past years, and more still approaching. It is important that we find the peace we can.

 You would have my thanks

 -Magus James Swift

Resting Knight

By: MJ "Liana" Rodriguez 

There are kings and queens

There are barons and dukes

There are knights across the realm

There are many devoted to the people

And then there is the true element –

One in thousands of thousands –

Dressed in kindness, compassion, honor,

Loyalty, grit, wisdom, and friendship

To be near them is time cherished

To know their laugh or their cheer

Both are wondrous to behold

Ever grateful to have known even one

Of these rarest of True souls –

Now I have known two of the best

Wearing the rook as they grace the board

Long shall [Sir Iawen Penn / Janna Oakfellow-Pushee] they be known

Long shall we cheer them

A light lost in a time too soon

We shall light their way to the next place

With candles, love, respect and honor –

Savage Saegan Becomes Blackwood

Written by: James "Tao" Murphy 

Savage Saegan was Surrounded by Small Idarias.

Friendly functions found his name in FIM

Blackwood burst back, Dark decreed, then descended.

Knightly Karrol restored, duked, disheveled, determined.

FIM pleasantly perused, persuaded, promised, but declined

The Stag his home, his hearth, his heart

Terrible Toah, trainer of snakes

Violent Vedo, vengeful warrior

Laughing Laertes, last of his line

Diligent Desmond, darkly delighted

Blackwood invigorated, all invited, all included, Saegan says yes.

Squired succinctly, knighted knowingly, Princed perceptively

Kinged.

Homecoming

a poem by Renee "Kindrianna" Booke

The sun breaks over Calandia’s mountains,

Singing hail to the leaves of autumn’s crown.

A forest thrives in hues of gold and amber,

Frigid breezes dance in flowered gown.

Elven poets lift their pens,

While quoting colors of the morn’.

Bards drip honey from their lips,

And pour cider from their horns.

Nostalgia sprinkled over apple,

Sweetens homeward siren’s songs;

For battle-hardened, wayward heroes,

Sent abroad to right life’s wrongs.

Their spirits haunt in meadows yonder,

Yearning for the hearth of home.

Adventure keeps them from returning,

Barred by forest and sea’s white foam.

Pumpkins line our fields and halls,

Awaiting bellies and warm pies.

Soon comes the Cold Moon of December,

And the hour ‘pon which Raven flies.

The only treasures of true worth,

Are the ones we cannot hold.

The empty chairs that line our tables,

Speak more of family than of gold.

What You Missed- Rhiassa Presents: Queen of Hearts XXVI

by Renee "Kindrianna" Booke

My feet are on fire, my muscles are sore,

But I can still tell you a story of war.

Three teams took the field for a chance to compete

But to win Queen of Hearts is no quick easy feat.

First was Team Shadowdragon, all warriors true,

Their shields all stood tall and their thrown weapons flew.

The swift Athlete Vee ran as fast as a deer,

And One-Woman Lupa pierced through foes like a spear.

Shandar commanded a Legion united,

And over the weekend Daekara was knighted.

Elizah, an Ace, broke restriction and won,

And Wrath took on challengers until there were none.

Next was Team Shader, a fun and fierce lot,

They picked up their pikes and threw shot after shot.

Temorse kept friends safe from behind giant shield,

And Damion’s role as the Rat was concealed!

Raynor told us the story of a three-legged pig,

And Eldritch’s mantle hid a drink for a swig.

Twenaria had a dragon she could wear on her back,

While Tor inspired the team to lead the attack.

Last was Team Serra, who became Goldenduck!

Full of talented people, some spirit, and luck.

Kingslayer Kyomi remained true to her name,

And the Mayerling archers watched the field and took aim.

Janus took on a fighter and the crowd made some noise,

While I got pulled into squads and “stuck in with the boyz.”

Soarin sewed chaos with a clutch Cry of Life,

And Muursha made paintings, giving legends new life.

In the end, it was Aiden who won the day.

Team Shadowdragon triumphed and held us at bay.

With tears in his eyes, he thanked every friend,

And Queen of Hearts Twenty-Six was brought to an end.

The Ballad of Sir Vawn, Avatar of Vandor

by High Priestess Kindrianna Athame (Renee Booke)

The Summerlands beckon to the souls of the true,

The greatest of heroes who saw their deeds through.

They come with their honor to the codes that they swore,

And now our Sir Vawn stands tall at their door.

True to himself, both in word and in deed,

White Knight of the Realms when she was in need.

Heart full of valor, a path without fear,

His life and his courage have led him straight here.

The next journey waits just beyond golden trees,

In a land full of hope and sparkling seas.

Vawn, you have earned your peace and your rest,

And those that have known you are eternally blessed.

Templar and Knight, defender and friend,

May songs of your deeds never come to an end.

The darkness still fears you, and has for so long,

For the blade in your hand shines righteous and strong.

We’ll try not to mourn as we celebrate your life,

Free from the mortal-bound cycle of strife.

But the most important thing you should know,

All along it was your Light that helped us to grow.

You were there by our side when Wayland’s fortress fell,

And a swift wave of Bedlam began to rain hell.

Not once did you hesitate, you jumped in the fray,

For a true Knight knows no other way.

May Vandor’s warm light guide you as you roam,

Carry Eagle’s Rook with you forever as home.

And should evil strike, putting us to the test,

Then your soul will cry out to complete one last quest.

Watch over us all from your paradise,

And be with us always when we need advice.

It’s hard to be happy while watching you go,

But you’re with the Gods now and we’re down below.

Watch the clip below to hear Renee sing the ballad while Sir Vawn ascends to the Summerlands:

Grimloch Questing

by: Tempest (Lynn Butler)

The Friday night air hit exposed skin, as feasting gear never truly covers,
The loud musics beat blasting from a busy kitchen filled with feastocrats and a hall filled with food lovers
Small little foods to hold people over as liquor filled bellies would feel a little better.

People wandered and talked and drank, smiling from ear to ear.
The night carried on and people got tipsy some way too out there I fear,
From some drunken buddy’s falling outside on the pavement to other letting out tears,
Of laughter from the smallest little things.

Sleep is a wonder unless you wake up hungover but even then Saturday always starts with coffee.
Grabbing quest gear and a bottle of water, adventurers went out on their way, paying last night’s drunk fee.
“Surprise we are all in Booms dream.” Great.

We all wandered around looking for puzzles, even though I showed up a little late.
I just helped raise people.
By grabbing bodies when Boom’s farmers of discipline killed them for touching the puzzles.
“Is that yours? Nope!” “Dead.” “Dammit Guys.”
But, to get the puzzle we had to cut their ownership ties,
With a little honorable combat.

During that a frog of disease shot arrows, mostly at the Auroran.
Who, yes, ran.

Grab all the stuff, and come on down, to Boom’s Dream Carnival.
Get 1,000 tickets but try not to die,
From the lycanthropes wandering about and some evil witches whisper cry,
Death wishing our dead with a smirk upon her lips.
Without much thought or any doubt,
Syruss called “Hey Voraniss, found your guys.” Only to be met with my pout.
“Listen, not every werewolf is a Voraniss werewolf.
Nice thought though.”
GRAND PRIZE HAS BEEN WON!
A block? That was the hidden fun?
Aaaaand Boom threw it into the flames up at reg...okay...

Some brave people went running off while others warmed themselves up, with some nice hot chocolate.
Off to purify the water for the flowers we have been collecting...oh yeah...we are collecting flowers.
Running to get the water I used most of my powers, warding off damned Enchanted beings.
“The power of Vandor protects me from all enchanted beings~.  DAMNIT KID MOVE!” Yelling as we all fled.
A little ward and little legs don’t work normally when you have a kiddo not listening, if it wasn’t for my God I would have left him dead.

It took awhile but we made it, building a fire to the underworld, no harm with that right?.
Using some dragons breath on the flames we got that fire going while some got a chance to sit tight.
*Dinner Break. Yummy Yummy*
Oh no more Boom Dreams too, I think, I can’t fully recall, Matiya said we were done with his head at that point. I guess I’ll just listen to mummy.

Alrighty, it’s dark, we’re in the underworld dealing with some hounds from hell.
They were starving and we could all tell.
But slowly and surely you give them treats and trust can be earned.
Out within the field a familiar figure,
Armor of gold and entity of dark linger.
Then a lady of spring, the light within the dark.
“Hades...Persephone...”
The young spring running away from the sharks grasp to help the adventures while I stayed by the darks side.
Small talk flowed smoothly like the tide,
Before anger erupted.
Persephone wishing to leave, Hades fighting for her to stay.
Hades went down, many keeping him at bay.
“2 Days. Max.”
“Yes Sir.”

Well, more drinking, more fun, the night went on.
Alcohol making many it's drunken pawn.
Until sleep swept over and cold set in.
The cabins air frigid and bed frames feeling like cold metal tin.
The morning resulting in Persephone’s return.
Hades giving a small smile, as his spring has returned.

Scene. 

Cathedral - An Original Poem

by Lynn "Tempest" Butler

**Editor's Note: first place winner of the Friday night Poetry Tourney at ToC 2018 **

I am a cathedral with walls made of worn down stone and windows made from perfectly etched glass, my doors made of the finest oak and my ceilings painted by the artists who captured my memories. My beautiful silver bell lays up top to bless the ears who hear it’s song.

The floors do creak from years of wear and my pews have knots and indents from years of having visitors sit and weep to the tall alter that welcomes all. My oak doors acting as my arms, always open for those who wish to enter,  my alter that of emotion for you to lay out what you wish. To leave it there in safety’s unconscious state.

Though it’s been years since a visitor has traveled within, the many that used to once come and weep now flee to other cathedrals while I am left to degrade with time. My windows are smudged by old handprints and the glasses color now faded. My doors need oil at the hinges but they still rest in an open position for any that walk in.

My alter still lays at the center stage, the items placed upon it cover with dust, but left there, never forgotten. The pews stay the same as none have come to sit and pray and weep, and confess. My floors creak still but this time due to the foundations movements instead of footsteps.

Though I am an empty cathedral my body still stays, for those who have remembered but don’t return I understand. For those who don’t remember and stumble back to me I welcome thee. My oak arms are always open.

My arms stay open though my shoulders and elbows crack and pop, my eyes though smudged by tears stay a glazed glass, my alter...my heart, stays open to those who wish to place anything within it. My brain, the cathedral bell, only rings twice. The day I opened my arms and the day they finally close.

You Will be Missed

You Will Be Missed, Meatshield 
by Casey "Karhma" Lemay

 So Meatshield was a good friend of mine,

 As many of you know or have heard my rhymes. 

He would wander off with me far and wide, 

To see what far-off places had to hide. 

Infernal weapons I learned how to make, 

But little did we know what was at stake. 

Gathering all sorts of material in hell one day, 

Please forgive me for some of the things I’m about to say. 

We stumbled upon what I thought was a rumor, 

And once again, please excuse my humor. 

It was the infamous IMP PORN!!!! It does exist!!! 

We couldn't help it, had to look, we couldn't resist.

 It was awful and gruesome, they were goin’ at it like rabbits! 

And that right there is where Meatshield picked up some habits. 

That’s it, the trip was over, after that horrible sight, 

If we left right then we be back at the shop by night. 

Weeks went by I thought things were dandy, 

But Meatshield was slowly becoming less handy.

 Investigating his room I found it more “scummy,”

 I think he was giving JB a run for his money. 

He would disappear for days and weeks at a time,

 Again, sorry this isn't the most PG-rated rhyme. 

Disappointed, I knew my Meatshield was hooked, 

All because of that cursed day we just had to look. 

After much thought about what to do, 

I knew the only thing to get him through. 

Send him to Shadow he always knows best! 

He would fix him right up and Meatshield would pass the test. 

For Shadow always knows what to do with magic things, 

This right here folks, is why I call him my king! 

So let this cautionary tale be a fair warning, 

For my dear Meatshield, I am now somewhat in mourning. 

He is in time-out off and safe in the Shadow Plane, 

And maybe one day will return to me a little more tame. 

When looking for materials within hell, 

This one time and one time only I will tell: 

The item for infernal weapons you are looking for is IMP HORN, 

I pray to shadow you do not find yourself viewing IMP PORN.

Those Bedlam Days by Ethan "Jean Baptiste" Goldman

This song was heard by a lamenting apocalypse cultist who was lamenting the lack of apocalypsing currently happening to the realms.

Musical accompaniment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDPTAMPuuk8

Do you remember the good years in Bedlam?
The blood flowed endlessly cold
The fields were a patchwork of corpses
The questers were never too bold
We'd turn villages into graveyards together
And averything round us was fine

Now the fae are well and there
is joie de vivre everywhere
Et maintenant we drink a bitter wine


Those Bedlam days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those bedlam days


Do you remember those adventuring parties?
The questors turned Bedlam's cuisine
there ashen, trembling faces
The grayest the realms has seen
It's funny but since we lost Mad Jack
We've gone to the other extreme
No-one comes to kill us now
We couldn’t scalp them anyhow
I even find I'm missing those hero's screams



Those Bedlam days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those bedlam days

It's funny but since we lost Mad Jack
We've gone to the other extreme
Perhaps it’s not all that bad
Perhaps the Rising Army is just as mad
And soon we’ll hear those entertaining screams


Those Bedlam days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets

To those bedlam days


Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Bedlam days​!

The Charge of Mestoph's Appetite

The Charge of Mestoph’s Appetite

with apologies to ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

I

Half a bite, half a bite,
Half a bite more,
All in the halls of Highbridge
Dined Mestoph the Knight
“Mestoph, of the Blue Rose is here!
Bring me some dessert!” he said.
In the halls of Highbridge
Dined Mestoph the Knight.

Our Song by Toryn Gray

This is Our Song,

The long breaths we take

to get out our words,

when we just want to sing to each other

There is nothing wrong

with the words that we make

We can sing without regret

and surprise all others

We are the kindred lovers

of  our time

We are the Vox

or the Voice

It is not our choice.

We must flourish

within our own bodies

and exceed our limits.

We are not here to win it.

We are here to co-exist.

Therefor, this meeting is in our grasp

and in the clash of emotion . . . it ends

We are the sad Notes

of our own Concerto.

We are an unnamed Requiem,

but we don't have to be

We can be an Everlasting Melody

and paint life with words

We can be the Arduous Harmony

that can move mountains

This song we talk about,

it is not ours

we are this song and these Notes

we are this clash of emotions.

So let us March forward

with this Overture

and keep the Beat

with our hearts.

Shadow for a King by Karmha Celestine (Casey Lemay)

Now some say Jonas, The Shadowking, was a crook,

I ask you today to take a second look.

He wanted titles, like any man would

Just didn't go about it like one should.

He quested with us and fought the same foes,

But what he was thinking no one quite knows.

His heraldry he asked me, Karmha, to design,

And with that he changed a fate, that was mine.

His sister, Nadia. showed him some Shades,

A race in which she made them his slaves.

Now that he had ears to listen to him,

He went and stole a crown on a whim.

And with that action, led to war,

He now had the realms attention and much more.

It was at his coronation that he courted me,

A crown “oh my!” so I pursued it with glee.

Letters filled with love were written,

And soon I found my heart all smitten.

Never once did he ask me to do any harm,

I didn’t understand why the realms was at alarm.

He held a hunt and we only robbed him,

His opinion of the Realms soon went dim.

He went to Blackwood and brought food for all,

And I witnessed someone make a couple bad calls.

With Nadia now gone and dead,

Revenge is all that Jonas had in his head.

The letters stopped coming, I was concerned,

Little did I know that the blight was being churned.

The first I heard of it was at a factory,

I got to see Jonas! He asked me to take it to show loyalty?

That day when roaming along side my friends,

I kept getting rude orders to no ends.

See, shades never really swung on me,

So I got to roam places very freely.

Zatarra pointed out a room and off we went to explore.

It was only me who made it to the door.

And in it I found a mirror box with the cure,

I thought it could fix the Realms for sure.

But only one dose did it contain,

To keep it safe I must deal with some pain.

My beloved betrayed me and gave me the blight,

I was unsure what to do so I ran in fright.

I handed it over when I knew the same intentions were had,

And now I seem to be labeled as bad?

I had to see if Jonas was still the man I fell in love with,

And a ceremony, Sir Iawen, did offer to give.

So we met up one day and she happen to cure me,

And I finally showed Jonas the meaning of true loyalty.

And necklace of Nadia’s did I gift,

Which offered his heart a much needed lift.

A wedding was announced soon after,

With hopes of if joy and filled with laughter.

The wedding was preformed and lies were told,

With betrayal felt he then took my soul.

Heartbroken once again, my husband now doomed,

The bitter bride is now what loomed.

One by one the kings army did fall,

Until Tenebrous was the only one left of them all.

He protected me and respected me it was a tragic day.

And Shadow was the one to kill him to my dismay.

Once questing buddy and nation member,

He ascended to his plane this past September.

The short time we ventured together was a blast,

I’ll always love hearing stories of his past.

The crown he let me keep and the Queen he let me stay,

Is the reason I will celebrate Shadow each and everyday.

Jonas is dead because he became bitter and mean.

But I have it better now because I am Shadow’s Queen.

Slaying Tom by Rhiannon "Starmaw" Chiacchiaro

For to slay Mad Tom of Bedlam

To darkness’ heart we’ll travel

The Realms it goes on bleeding toes

From the years of hard-fought battle

Chorus

Light will sting bonny boys, Tom and his boys,

Bedlam’s days are numbered

For we’ll strip them bare, lay them out in the air,

Wake the Titans from their slumber

For Peter’s love of family

He hid the whole truth from me

‘Til the planes were crossed and the world was lost

Then he finally told the story

My staff took from the giants

A watch, a ring, a journal

For to cut through time and stop a crime

That corrupted death eternal

There was a smith undying

Whose forge was fury’s hollow

His soul was rent and to Hell was sent

‘Til by darkness he was swallowed

To save the queen of Faerie

Five Counselors were hired

From Earth and Sky and Water high

To the realms of Space and Fire

All the gods were called to gather

From the churches and the altars

And they all will play on a fateful day

When the mortal power falters

Both creatures light and frightening

Did flee the plane of Faerie,

But the sun is king and the moon is queen,

And the palace still is faring.

Upon the World Horizon,

We turned the moon to powder

Dawn Tomorrow fell, Night Sky as well

So we cry our wishes louder.

In the vault of Wellman treasure

Was the engine for a portal

And for Quetzal we sound the call

To the Book of Moons and mortals.

With a host of devious demons,

And many a commander,

In the burning flame we fight the same,

For not even Hell we squander.

With all Titans’ power

The world shall be forsaken,

So we shall bring the fight to Tom,

And no more will be taken.

He’ll now regret that ever

Poor Tom was so disdainful

‘Ere all is lost, he’ll pay the cost

And his death shall be most painful.

Ode to Meatshield by Casey "Karmha" Lemay

Oh Meatshield, you are my friend.
Always with me til' the very end.
My commands you listen to, which makes you the best!
To the point where I think "Hey we might win this quest!"
You don’t waste my spells, are loyal and true.
I couldn’t of asked for a better fighter then you!
Now some people may think your undead and cruddy,
but you my friend are the best BATTLE BUDDY!

Fates of the Shadowking (Lola’s song)- By Carrie Dolph

Photo by Jesse Gifford

To the tune of: "Copacabana (At The Copa)" by Barry Manilow

Her name was Lola, she was a dragon
She was captured and made a slave, and forced to do things so depraved
She tried to kill them, ‘cause Jonas made her
And though she’d rather fly afar
She fought and earned a few more scars
And then the arrows flew, and neck was smashed in two
The heroes then destroyed her body
What more could she do?

At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing (at Folkestone Questing)
The yearly trek north of Chimeron (here)
At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing
Questing and role-play for three days two nights
At Folkestone.... she got scalped dead

His name was Syroc, her name was Faelinn
Combined powers of dark and light, asked Aurora to spend some might,
An Intervention, for poor slagged Lola
And Faelinn thought it would be cute
Lola to Jonas’ face refute
To castle did she soar, a “bite me” she did roar
And “Oh, Faelinn says, ‘I love you’”
He reacted poor

At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing (at Folkestone Questing)
The yearly trek north of Chimeron (here)
At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing
Questing and role-play for three days two nights
At Folkestone… And, a feast too.

His name was Rico, dead Shadow-dragon
Jonas remembered Faelinn’s jest and wouldn’t let poor Rico rest
And so he raised him, a shadow-drake-lich
And a Cyclops, for good measure
The Shadowking promised treasure
And at the wedding gates, he gave them all fine plates
For the heroes to mount their heads on
Then he killed his mate.

At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing (at Folkestone Questing)
The yearly trek north of Chimeron (here)
At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing
Questing and role-play for three days two nights
At Folkestone… Feast of Blood...two.

Her name was Lola, the Shadow-dragon
The Shadow-King she did despise, so his army cut to size
She’d slaughter the shades, with teeth claws and tail
But as the shadow plane did fall
In her sight Shades became you all
Janus tried to reason, she just shouted “Treason!”
Protect the Soul made it all better
A deal made pleasin’.

At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing (at Folkestone Questing)
Two dragon riders to be chosen (here)
At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing
Would get trained and ride Lola to battle
Questing and role-play for three days two nights
At Folkestone… Rorin and Quinn.

Her name is Lola, the Shadow-dragon,
And after training they set out, boy, a dragon sure has some clout
Smashing shades quickly, until overwhelmed
‘Til Janus had a plan to share
Gate from Cresh to over there
But on the other side, Cyclops and Rico hide
Then the epic battle where Lola fought
Sadly, all three died.

At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing (at Folkestone Questing)
The yearly trek north of Chimeron (here)
At Folkestone (Foe!) at Folkestone Questing
Questing and role-play for three days two nights
At Folkestone… And, a feast too.

Just Cause, by Kathy Fey

Written for the wedding of Queen Meg and Sir Callin


A very sleepy princess one Rrathchllwyn evening late

Found her tentmate in a far too great inebriated state

So she set out for to find a place where she might take her rest

At the Folkestone camp she found the fateful answer to her quest


Little did she know that she would meet a man that night

Who in a future ceremony would proclaim to all in sight

That no sword will come between them, nor evil magic spell

And all those with just cause why they should not wed can go to –


“Hello, gentlemen,” she said, but they seemed not to hear

So she hollered “Guys!” and that address fell well on every ear

“Perchance have you a place where I may rest my weary head?”

What You Missed- Folkestone Questing - Elegy for the Shadow King

      Elegy for the Shadow King                                                                                    Robyn C Nielsen

Photo by Dustin Mack

Lament for a man of good intent,

by himself and others thwarted.
Knighthood and priesthood both were denied him, 
their teachings cruelly hoarded.

Jonas Cooke had a sister true, 
Nadia, dark and brilliant. 
Mentor, ally, kith and kin,
her strength kept him resilient.

With shadow folk he did resolve
to form a kingdom of his own.
His Iron Shades would keep the peace, 
all he needed was a kingly crown.

Tenebrous did procure a crown- ­
to the wrath of noble Chimeron- ­
and the Shadow King’s coronation 
was the peak of a day of food and fun.

The brightest thing that shone that day 
was not the crown upon his brow,
but a maid named Karmha Celestine, 
and with a rose he made a vow.

The noble folk of Chimeron
then broke into his steadfast keep. 
They ransacked his belongings,
and accolades and praise they reaped.

The Shadow King was not deterred.
He’d keep his subjects’ spirits high
by embarking on a wondrous hunt ­
but a mountain was raised, and his plans went awry.

Jonas resolved to stand for the small folk, 
whose lords did not protect them.
Wicked Sir K kept his people undead, 
and bandits often beset them.

The town of Najina welcomed the King,
who brought them food and protection,
and the strength of the mighty Shadow Titan 
ensured that his victory was the only option.

Nadia sought to broker a truce,
and was met with assault and aggression. 
She fled the scene to address her wounds, 
but her place of rest was set upon.

Jonas rushed to his sister’s aid,
and valiantly he fought his foes ­
but from behind came vile Sir K
who slayed her with egregious blows.

Betrayed by those whose praise he’d sought, 
The Shadow King on bile gorged.
All must know what ill they’d wrought,
and thus a blight was brewed and forged.

Since humankind was treacherous,
he’d turn them all to loyal shades.
But somehow they surmised his plans, 
and his factory fell to their vicious blades.

Then insult heaped on injury
as they raided his fallen sister’s abode. 
They took the things they wanted, 
leaving Jonas bereft and harrowed.

In no shape to defend himself, 
the King to his Creche retreated. 
His very mind was then attacked, 
and his Titan was defeated.

One bright light remained for him ­ 
his kind, devoted Karmha.
The King arranged to marry her 
And crown her queen of umbra.

He wed but did not bed his bride,
for he learned that she'd betrayed him. 
He killed her dead then turned and fled, 
their wedding turned to mayhem.

The Shadow Plane was plundered 
and a grand melee ensued.
His Iron Shades fell one by one 
and Jonas knew he'd lost this feud.

To save himself from certain death
 he doomed his envoy, Tenebrous. 
The heroes chose to slay the shade, 
even though he had been virtuous.

With little recourse left to him, 
Jonas drained Fate's chalice dry. 
It was his sister's gift to him, 
though its' use she did decry.

Ten thousand shades did then descend 
on the forces of the Realms.
The pendulum had swung his way,
and they were overwhelmed.

But Fate won't gift without a cost
and those who'd died were saved. 
Limbo would not keep them;
the Shadow King might yet be slayed.

The Fates allowed a trial, 
which they would oversee. 
He could either be concerned 
or granted clemency.

Lament for a man of good intent
who was bent to the point of breaking. 
With death now he sets sail,
his plans and his dreams failed ­
the shadow of a king.