The Zem: History of the Ancients

> Our Ancestors came from the East
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> Aboard vessels of great size
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> They spread wings like birds
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> Used the wind to carry them across the depths where dangers lurk
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> Where the waves are born
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> The Ancients breathed the sea
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> Like air
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> Though they may journey far from its sight
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> Their thoughts always returned to it
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> Before sleeping
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> The Ancients reached Skara on the darkest night of the cycle
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> When all the Gods were hiding behind clouds
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> They heard the land before they saw it
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> With a great shudder and crash
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> Their ships ran aground
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> When Celem rose again from his resting place
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> The Ancients saw their new home
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> A mighty river flowing out of a wooded land
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> Covered in mist
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> From the wreckage they swam to the land
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> And wept
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> For great was their loss
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> All except one of their vessels lay destroyed by the waves
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> That had carried them so far
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> After a period of mourning
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> Our Ancestors commended themselves to their fate
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> They found the trees that bear fruit
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> They saw the fat Waachi that swam
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> In the shallows
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> And they began to learn a new kind of happiness
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> Our Ancestors learned many lessons
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> How to build dwellings on poles
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> To stay off the wet ground
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> And to avoid the solitary creatures
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> That wandered hungry in the night
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> How to walk through the mist
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> Without getting lost
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> How to hunt on land, build fires and wield sharp stones
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> There still belonged to Our Ancestors one vessel
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> Floating
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> So they cast lots as to who could use it
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> To travel further
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> To where Celem slept and perhaps
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> So far that they might return
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> To where the waves are born
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> When Celem had burned the mist away for a time
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> The winners of the lot
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> Boarded their vessel and headed south
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> For it could not head against the waves
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> A great distance those on board journeyed
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> Past the misty forests
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> Past a barren coast of cliffs and sand
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> Till the distance was pierced
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> By land of great height
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> They met the clouds and disappeared
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> As the vessel neared this strange land they noticed a Tower
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> It was straight and tall
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> Came up as if out of the water
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> From the center of the land itself
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> Atop the tower drifted a great cloud of smoke
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> And hid it from view
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> Through the period of Celem’s sleeping
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> Our Ancestors waited—their ship drifted towards the tower
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> As if by force
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> And they heard strange noises
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> Like singing
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> And through the smoke they saw a light bright as Celem himself burning
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> Fear gripped many of our Ancestors’ hearts
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> But one let curiosity enkindle courage
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> He offered to climb up and see what was atop the Tower
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> When Celem awoke
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> Celem broke over the horizon and the youth
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> Began to scale the tower
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> Up and up he climbed
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> Till those below could see him no longer
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> Celem passed that place three times
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> Our Ancestors heard nothing from the youth
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> But above the light, the drums, and the singing continued
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> Finally he returned
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> But he was no longer the same youth
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> His skin was pale
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> His eyes looked far off
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> And words no longer passed by his lips
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> In his spell the young man remained dumb
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> No amount of medicine could cure
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> No amount of questioning could revive
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> Our Ancestors sensed a curse
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> So they let the youth be
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> To sit at the bow and look into the distance
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> With a new fear for what lay ahead
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> Our Ancestors decided to return
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> Any way they could
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> To their brethren in the misty forest
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> They turned the ship around
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> Altered the sails
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> Adjusted the wings
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> But to no avail
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> The vessel would not point in the direction where the waves are born
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> With heavy souls
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> Our ancestors prepared to leave
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> The last vestage of their old life
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> They set the wings to point to where Celem sleeps
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> Set it on fire
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> As a sacrifice
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> And got out
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> to walk back the way they had come
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> But the youth would not leave the vessel
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> No amount of fighting could displace him
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> Finally with a drug they took him from that place
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> Carried him to land
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> Put a fold over his eyes and a rope around his hands
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> To lead him whither they desired
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> It was many more of Celem’s journeys
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> Before finally our Ancestors returned to their kin
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> On that particular occasion
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> They held a feast
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> Thanked Celem for allowing them to be once again together
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> And Alive
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> The youth never recovered
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> For the rest of his life he remained
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> Deaf and dumb
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> Staring into the horizon
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> He died of old age
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> On the rock looking
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> To where the waves are born
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Continue reading more Stories of the Ancients: The Ravaging of Kon Lin