A Tale of the Headless King

We are the People of the Torch. We remember the words of our longfathers and foremothers who speak of a time when we came down from the high mountains and dwelt beside an azure lake, and there we learned the lore of fire and grew strong, for we were beneath the notice of those who dwelt in the lake.

We are the People of the Torch, and this is how the Builders came into our story. They came and built and raised a great wall and held back the waters, and what was lake became a plain of mud. And we were afraid to see the mighty things that came to light. And those who dwelt in the lake dug into the earth until they came to the silver plain, and they dwelt there.

We are the People of the Torch, and this is what the Builders said to us: that we should go and dwell in the new land, for it would be fertile, and there we should multiply. And they said that we should have a mighty king to rule over us, who came from on high.

We are the People of the Torch, and the Mountain King bade us to build a great city and this we did. And many treasures we found there, and the greatest was the Weapon without Answer. This was most terrible to us, for we knew not why those who dwelt there did not use this thing. But the Mountain King bid us not be afraid, and that this power was his now, as the Builders had intended.

We are the People of the Torch, and we knew many years of plenty in that land. And much could be written of our deeds, but this is not the place. And the Mountain King ruled us in all things, and we thought that we should endure forever, for did we not possess the Weapon without Answer? And we were not the only people who dwelt there, but one of many tribes.

We are the People of the Torch, and with time all things must pass. Of the breaking of the water wall we will not write, for we are humble, and know our place, and are not the Skexos to write of such things. But of the coming of the Baron Thalassan, we will write. We remember how he came and demanded of the Mountain King that he submit to Death who could not die. We remember how in the towers that stood above the waves the Mountain King spoke saying that he was no longer the musician but had become the music.

We are the People of the Torch, and we remember the promise of the Mountain King, that he would for all time be a help and guide to all people, and would see us to new lands. And we remember the building of the ships to carry us from the drowned cities. We remember how upon the leavetaking the Mountain King submitted, and the Baron Thalassan struck off his head with the Line of Division, and how beyond death the King guaranteed that there should always be kings in that place, and that his Spirit would endure in the hearts of the just.

We are the People of the Torch and we remember how the people were divided, some to go, some to remain, and some to bear away the Weapon without Answer. Then came to us the Heralds of the Torch of Sound, and bade us follow, and some fought against them, but only mind powers would bite upon them, and this we had little of. And so we sailed through chasm and swamp, seas and ice, and came to at last to a new land.

We are the People of the Torch, and we remember how we came to Lemuria, and here we shall dwell and commune with our King, and live according to his teachings with justice, honor and mercy. And we shall have peace with the People of the Tree, and in time our story shall begin anew.