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The Cuneal Sermons
Posted: 07 Feb 2006 02:50 AM |
((The Cadence - Kin. The first of the Cuneal sermons, spoken by Coruva Lorehammer to the masses of the Halls of Bregodim))
Hear me brothers and sisters, for I speak words that are known to you. They have echoed in the very caverns of our birth. They have resounded in the deepest tunnels as we sought what we now call home, and have rumbled in harmony with the footsteps of your brethren as they march off and engage those that would oppose us. These words are of the stone itself. It speaks within the rhythm of our daily lives. The rhythm of the hammer and pick against the stone. The rhythm of the ringing of metal upon metal in the heat of the forge. The rhythm of the sleeping song whispered to the youngest of our kin as they are lain down to dream. It is nothing more than the words of life, my kin. The words that have been there long before us and will remain long after. They tell the story of life, both beautiful and ridden with agony. Listen now as the tale is told. Of the purpose that can be found even within those of us who find our lives simple and without merit.
The Cadence
Kin
Few are those that I would stand with, that see faith as more than a momentary respite in their lives. Those that cleave to it as if it was the very pillar of their existence are those that I may call kin. Do your hear this call? Do you understand the consequence of its weight? That we are more than our personal desires. That we are more than the drive that scavenges like dogs for our own personal gain. We are the mountains. Each holding its own secrets, each unmoving against all that oppose it. But deep beneath, veins run through the earth tying each mountain together. Intertwined with a singular secret wonder.
It is not enough to know that we are tied together as one. It must be realized in our actions. Do you stand with your brothers and sisters in the face of hardship? Do you take the time to teach what you know to those that will follow? Do you honor the memory of those that came before? There is no greater force of learning, no greater wall of defense, and no greater aid to the weak than kin. If it is honored it will return that honor tenfold. If it is dishonored, it taints us all. We have stood against great enemies and have suffered wicked wounds at the hands of those that would sway us from our path. Yet it has never been one alone that has faced these temptations and evils, but the force of a united will. One that hears the voices of his kin raise his name high should never forget that their deeds have only been accomplished upon the shoulders and lives of the thousands that came before. To praise him is praise to all. To hold that praise as yours and yours alone is the downfall of so many others, my brothers and sisters. We see these acts in the many lands above us. They fight for their own gain and for a personal honor that is hollow. One that fights for no other cause than their own will fight a battle that cannot be won. Every moment of their struggle should be waged in tune with the memory of those that fought for the same belief before them. I have seen self proclaimed heroes lay down their blade when abandoned and left alone, and I have seen the most common amongst us step forward and fill the gap of the fallen hero when emboldened by his kin. For the will of the united shall never falter where the will of one shall crumble.
The few that understand the greater good in strength of race and family are drawn to the singular vision and stand strong against the oncoming storm. Take this as the first beat in the never ending song of the stone. For without kin, without family, the song will be lost to us. |
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Re: The Cuneal Sermons
Posted: 01 Mar 2006 01:35 PM |
Are mountains eternal, my brothers and sisters? Do they stand firm against all elements and time? Some would say yes, for as long as our own kin remembers, the mountains have cared for us and have been the one constant in our lives. Others would argue no. For even the smallest stream of water, freezing within a crack of a granite boulder may break it in two. Time waits for no dwarf, nor does it allow anything to remain unchanged. The moment we accept that truth is the moment we gain the ability to change our future.
Over the years, we have become complacent. Believing that the foundation of coexistence that has allowed the many races of Vives to live in peace was eternal. But time is unforgiving. It alters our reflections of the past and makes us view those important moments in a different light, if it even allows us to view them at all. We, as a race, have had much of our past hidden from us. The turmoil that existed has separated us from much of our history. Truthfully, it has denied us of our heritage. But one thing has held true. Our devotion to stone, and to kin have remained strong. We have not ignored that one basic truth that unites us all. That we all hear the same calling. That we all realize the hardship and sacrifice that those before us gave, to allow each of us the livelihood that we lead now. We do not doubt what we have been given, and we each strive to recapture what we have lost. Others have ignored this truth.
The flames may not have been seen, nor the screams of pain. But the clouds of smoke that appeared on the horizon could not be ignored. The true paladins, those that held to the tenants of the Cuneal, perhaps without realizing it, where extinguished in a brief flash of light. I will not pretend to know the pain that those on the Isle suffered. Nor will I pretend to know the hardship that those that called them kin, still feel. All I know is that a group of men and women that held to a belief that transcended race or creed were snuffed from existence because they refused to ignore their past and their beliefs. They held true to both history and stone. They held firm to a desire to improve the livelihood of those near them. Not caring for politics or personal gain. This was the true result of the black cloud upon the horizon.
Complacency may have covered our eyes, allowing the humans to deal with human matters. But at certain moments in time, there are events that transcend race or nation. The attack upon those of the isle, and the oppression that those sworn to Midoran preach and now act upon is one such moment. It stabs at the very heart of our culture by denying the personal right to learn the past and decide their own future. I ask each of you, do we continue to turn our heads and pretend that our peace is eternal? Do we ignore the purpose of those that called the Isle their home and dishonor their memories by ignoring this event? Would we not stand in opposition if it were our own children? If they heard even the faintest of the stone song and responded to it, where they not kin?
I call upon you, my brothers and sisters, open your eyes to what is transpiring in the world. Understand that there is a force that wishes to deny us the right to chose our own future and worship our own lord. I ask those of our kin that still walk the streets of Midor or make trade within their cities to take their wares and their homes instead to those that still stand free. For the gold that they place in your hands is tainted red with blood. And your homes are covered in the soot of a fire that purges all truths but those they desire.
Those others that still call the Halls their home, do you believe that their desire to control will stop at the mountains of our home? Do you still believe that the mountains are eternal? Will you still believe when the sky flames turn instead towards our gates? Stand firm and raise your voice. Do not let this go unopposed or unanswered. We have been granted a voice that deserves to be heard and a vision that deserves to be realized. Do not let it be lost because we were too afraid or too naïve to act. |
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Re: The Cuneal Sermons
Posted: 21 Apr 2006 05:14 PM |
A large mountain goat slowly trundles through the outside gates of the Halls of Bredodim, urged forward by a pixie riding on its shoulders. It moves dutifully ahead until the two guards at the inner door position themselves to block its continued motion. The mischievous pixie flies off of the back of the beast, crossing her arms and casting an appraising look at the two dwarves. Her eyes twinkle as she returns to her perch and opens a saddlebag, deftly removing a scroll from a leather scrollcase. She then flies back to the dwarf with the shorter beard and addresses her request to him, calculating, correctly, that she has chosen the junior of the two guards.
She positions herself between the two so that it is impossible for her to make eye contact with the more senior, despite the fact that her chosen listener keeps casting questioning looks toward him.
"None but dwarves are allowed in the Halls of Bregodim," he intones in a deep voice, replying to Jane's question. "I canna grant yer request."
"And you are fine guard," she responds, smiling sweetly and batting her eyelashes, while the other guard looks on with something between amusement and disgust. "Then you fetch him for Jane?"
"I canna do that, either...lass," he replies. "I canna abandon me post."
"Oh yes," Jane smiles, "Jane not ask you abandon post. Jane wait with you." She flies up and lands on his shoulder, glancing to his unkempt red beard.
"You want Jane do something with that? she asks, pointing to the beard." Jane have four hours for play with Feddur before him take message to Coruva. "Jane make beard pretty."
Four hours later, beard entirely composed of small, tight braids, the dwarf walks up to Coruva and delivers the message.
In a neat hand, it reads as follows:
Dear Coruva
I much enjoyed my discussion with you a few days back, and would like to find out a bit more about this 'Cuneal' philosophy. If you have written drafts of the speeches you have given, I would very much like to peruse them. Please send them to me with Jane. She will know where to find me.
Yours truly,
Lucius Edmonds |
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Re: The Cuneal Sermons
Posted: 21 Apr 2006 07:24 PM |
It had taken two of the finest mages still remaining in the halls to reverse the pixies spell on the unfortunate gate guard. Feddur "Blossombeard" Arraust, as he is now known, was relieved of his duty for a time to mend both his pride and his sanity. The occasional roar of laughter over the incident could be heard even in the small caves surrounding it that many dwarves had made home.
Coruva smirked to himself as another cheer went up from the longhall. It was good that the dwarves had something to laugh and be merry about again. Even at the expense of one of their own. He knew their humor was matched by their compassion to Feddur. Those of the halls where once again finding common ground with one another.
Staring for one last moment at the pile of paperwork and designations that had slowly taken up more and more of his time, he turns to the flowing script of the note that had begun the days fiasco. It had been some time since an outsider had wished to hear the tales about the Deep Faith. If he could use the information to learn more of himself and his personal honor, then so be it. If he could be another voice to spread the truth, then even better. The Cuneal was not something to be hidden, it was to be a beacon for all.
Coruva brings a small horn to his lips as he stands outside the entrance to the Halls. It has summoned those that are friend to the dwarves on many occasion and have brought fear to those that stand in opposition. Within minutes, the hoofbeats and rough breathing of a mountain goat can be heard in the distance. He reaches into his pack and pulls a small leatherbound book transcribed by the adepts of Bregodim. Attached to it is an envelope with a letter addressed to the pixies master.
Lucius,
Enclosed is the few sermons that have been spoken within The Halls of Bregodim. Some of this may have reached your ears, but I would rather have you hear the whole tale rather than a smattering of it. Also within lies some of what I have been able to gather from certain artifacts of old that have fallen into the safekeeping of my brothers and sisters. They speak of what I see as the larger purpose of the Cuneal. Do with them as you will, for I feel this knowledge is not to be held in secret. If you wish to continue our conversation, please seek me out in person. I fear that another appearance of your friends will end in a panic.
Coruva Lorehammer
Priest of Bregodim |
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