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A book of medium size, bound in plain light leather. Inside it are the words, written in a clear hand, "This book belongs to Topaz."
Thursday, 25 February 2016


The lamp is lighted. Follow it home
where love is waiting, night and day.
Through mountains deep or ocean's foam,
the lamp is lighted; follow it home
from foreign lands where now you roam.
As once, so ever, still I say:
the lamp is lighted. Follow it home
where love is waiting, night and day.
Topaz posted @ 23:22 - Link - comments
Wednesday, 25 February 2015

WARRIOR'S SONG (Eighth Anniversary)


Come, Warrior, stand beside me in the fray.
Our eyes alertly watch the charging foe;
our partnered swords will keep them still at bay.
Ultimate blades of Light and War, they glow,
and deal the darkness death with every blow.
Come, let us hunt together. Loud and clear
The Dead Zone calls, where you and I will go,
and make the Horrors flee from us in fear.

Come, let us heed the Crier's call today;
when danger threatens we must not be slow,
defending towns and townsfolk as we slay
the evil hordes descending, row on row.
Death on the deadly gladly we bestow,
and meet their loud laments with songs of cheer.
What brings us joy will bring the demons woe,
and make the Horrors flee from us in fear.

Come, walk with me upon the Warrior's way.
In knowledge, strength, and honor let us grow.
Our Queen's commands we hasten to obey;
the mighty gods we humbly seek to know.
So let us join our fortunes, high or low,
by word and deed new-promised every year.
Our strength like shields and armor let us show,
and make the Horrors flee from us in fear.

O Mighty Ones, to whom all mortals owe
allegiance, this our prayer vouchsafe to hear:
may we the foes of Valorn overthrow,
and make the Horrors flee from us in fear.

Topaz posted @ 21:15 - Link - comments
Thursday, 12 February 2015
A lantern's fire will burn through darkest night,
through any stormy cloud or falling rain.
Still it shines forth, for so the gods ordain
that light will conquer darkness, glimmering bright.

Of Cenny Konxovar I now endite;
in Valorn's army he does not fight in vain,
but strikes with strength and courage, evil's bane,
the foe of darkness, cleric of the light.

He bears the gods-light burning through the dark;
his is the power that makes the darkness flee,
that heals the wounds where evil leaves its mark;
singing with triumph, a zither in his hand.
So Cenny Konxovar will always be
a fire in Valorn, a light in the land.
Topaz posted @ 23:26 - Link - comments
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
Bemused, bewildered, here I stand and stare
around this place, mouth parched and breathing dry,
and shield my eyes from scorching heat and glare,
and ask myself, What happened? Where am I?
A moment since I walked the sandy shore
of Kilican, and breathed the scent of sea;
but now the heat and smoke, the glowing floor
make all too plain to me where I must be.
I cough, and breathe the sulfured air, and choke,
and quickly drain my useless water-skin;
and as I grow accustomed to the smoke
I feel increased misgivings deep within.
I try to get my bearings in this haze,
lost in the deadly, dread Volcano Maze.

Lost in the deadly, dread Volcano Maze,
awash in heat that takes my breath away
with every step, my eyes begin to glaze,
and faintness follows; staggering, I sway
from side to side in trackless halls of flame.
No respite, no relief from heat I find;
the maze in all directions looks the same;
the walls and floors burn bright enough to blind.
But then a hint of movement I espy --
or was it just illusion that I saw,
crazed by the heat, that so deceives my eye?
Then straight ahead, with hostile hiss of claw,
burned black and glowing furnace-red with wrath,
enraged, a Smoldering Ember bars my path.

Enraged, a Smoldering Ember bars my path,
to sear and scorch and, burning, to devour.
Can I escape this foul and fiery death?
Or will I fall in flames before its power?
I draw my sword, but dare not use my shield,
for metal soon grows hot in this environ;
yet in this battle still my sword can wield,
for gauntlets shield my hands from heated iron.
Fiercely the Ember presses; I defend,
and carve great gouts of magma from its side.
Will I survive or will this be my end?
I strike; it falls, its death-wound gaping wide.
Alive I stand, but still in danger dire,
entombed in endless corridors of fire.

Entombed in endless corridors of fire,
with armor scorched, and blistered hands and face,
I fear this maze will be my funeral pyre.
I see no life nor movement in this place
of heat, but heat-spawned creatures; 'tis the den
of hostile Smoldering Embers, and the lair
of Greater Lava Titans. Now may Ben
the Mighty Builder save me from despair!
Then far ahead an eerie sound I hear,
like scales that creep and slither on the floor.
Some creeping thing approaches, drawing near,
then rises up before me with a roar.
Amid this heat I feel my blood run cold:
the massive Blist'ring Fireworm I behold.

The massive Blist'ring Fireworm I behold,
its coils of living lava, writhing flame,
its fearful beauty burning red and gold;
it leaps with fangs of fire, my life to claim.
I turn and flee. I have no shame or pride,
no warrior instinct, cleric's purity
of godly purpose, roguish skill to hide,
enchanter's spells -- I simply turn and flee,
alas! not swift enough, for fiery jaws
engulf me, though I flee their deadly strife.
I feel the final rending of its claws --
then waken at the Monument of Life,
and breathe once more the tang of ocean air:
bemused, bewildered, here I stand and stare.


Topaz posted @ 16:29 - Link - comments
Saturday, 11 October 2014
AZURE'S SONG


I am the color of the sky,
made bright with dawn, Sunrifter's golden light.
I shine in streams and lakes and pools of water,
in rare and precious gems of sterling worth.
I am the bird that bears on wing a song,
the indigo of springtime blossom's eye.

I serve as Valorn's watchful eye,
walking the ways between the earth and sky,
and on my lips a greeting and a song
to lift the heart and make its burdens light.
I find no soul of Valorn lacking worth.
My heart is fresh as rain and pure as water.

From tidal sands and ocean's water
to mountain peaks where soar the eagle's eye,
I rush to battle, and behold the worth
of courage, fearless death beneath the sky.
I bear the glint of mighty iron's light,
the sweetness too of food and drink and song.

I am the rallying battle-song
to call the hero-hosts, who roar like water
down on the darkness, cleansing it with light
that dazzles Balthazar's unwelcome eye,
first of defenders under Valorn's sky
to show the foe what valiant death is worth.

The Mighty Ones declare my worth,
and praise my works of fable and of song.
My tales are heard beneath the midnight sky,
Sunrifter's noon that dazzles on the water,
by tavern fires to soothe the sleepy eye,
and in the spider-cavern's eerie light.

To fight the dark and serve the light
are my true path, my being and my worth,
to guard the weaker with a loving eye
and meet the hardest battle with a song.
As barren deserts bloom near springs of water,
I flower always under Valorn's sky.

Let Cory's Light re-echo with my song,
its worth renowned o'er Trinald's land and water;
my eye still smiles upon you, blue as sky.

Topaz posted @ 12:36 - Link - comments
Sunday, 29 June 2014

MYNA


The demons came to Ryndall, a burning, deadly horde,
and Cenny stood against them -- a valiant rogue is he --
until they all were vanquished, defeated by the sword,
but he was struck by demon-dust, and soon he could not see.
In pain and darkness he was bound, who once was whole and free;
the nimble rogue now groped his way; a sword he could not wield.
But still he smiled and greeted friends and kinsmen patiently:
not every act of courage is upon the battlefield.

Twas only holy Myna to whom his grief outpoured,
as to the gods for healing he prayed on bended knee.
She searched to find a cure for him; she travelled and explored,
then to the temple she returned, most unexpectedly.
And to the Royal Guards she said, "The gods have heard my plea,
so now for me and Cenny let the temple be unsealed,
for what is needed I have found, and it is here with me."
Not every act of courage is upon the battlefield.

"What is it that is needed?" Thus Cenny now implored,
"This ancient ritual will drive the dark away," said she.
Within the inner temple her fervent chanting soared,
and holy power filled the place, and made the darkness flee,
the demon evil burned away like mist upon the sea.
In radiant light they stood -- and Cenny rose up whole and healed,
but blindness fell on Myna as she whispered, "Me for thee."
Not every act of courage is upon the battlefield.

O holy Ben and Cory, who caused the world to be,
behold the cleric Myna, in honor bright revealed!
May Kane bestow upon us all such wondrous bravery:
Not every act of courage is upon the battlefield.



Topaz posted @ 17:35 - Link - comments
Tuesday, 03 June 2014


K orba the Faithful! Many know that name
O f great renown and well-deserving fame;
R ogue now, but once a cleric's robes he wore,
B right Bearer of the Light in days of yore.

A s Julia's minion found he strength and joy;
T he Radiant Slayer's might he did employ.
H e spoke, and Xia answered laughingly,
E arning for him the Ring of Levity.

F rom end to end of Valorn's boundaries,
A cross the deserts, mountains, rivers, seas,
I n maps and scrolls his skillful hands provide
T he Paths of Light and every hero's Guide.

H ere may I write these lines to him, and raise
F or him a song of high and worthy praise.
U pon this hero's life, in war and peace,
L et blessings fall like rain and never cease.
Topaz posted @ 21:30 - Link - comments
Sunday, 01 June 2014

I tell the tale of T'yandra the Holy,
bold battle-cleric, blessed with bravery,
held in honor by the heroes of Valorn.

In the strife of the Seals a seeker was she,
who risked her life with righteous courage,
the good right hand of holy Elijah.

Joining the quest of the Queen's rescue,
with might of Ben, brightness of Cory
she took the field; the foes feared her.
By the fire of Miranda she fought and conquered,
worthy servant of the strong Warbringer.

The pen of this Poet praises her gladly;
the High Queen's grace grants her welcome.

Topaz posted @ 12:19 - Link - comments
Friday, 04 April 2014


FORGEMASTER

When Balthazar's dark minions caught Valorn unaware,
they tore down Milltown's northern gate and slew the sentry there.
And standing in the ruins were a rogue of stealth and skill,
a warrior in scarlet and a cleric strong of will.
The rogue he sought a mountain forge, for well he knew the land;
and there he swore a mighty oath the gates again would stand.

He took his hammer to the forge; the work was well begun.
Through all the marcs of day and night, from dawn to setting sun,
he pounded out the hinges, and he never seemed to tire,
but taught the forge his mastery of metal and of fire.
His strokes were strong and steadfast, and by skill of eye and hand
he strove to keep his promise that the gates again would stand.

But Balthazar, that baleful one, while he was thus employed,
sent minions to attack the forge, and all his work destroyed.
Did he allow this brief defeat to turn him from his path?
Not he; he stirred the fire again, and blew the bellows' breath,
he gathered scraps of metal scattered on the forge's floor,
and pounding on the anvil he plied his trade once more.

And now a drumming sounded, like a horrid heavy tread,
and demons from the Golden Age, those evil ones of dread,
came storming into Milltown, an army of despair,
but where the demons threatened, Valorn's heroes too were there.
The heroes fought in Milltown back to back and side by side,
to guard the builders of the gates, though in the dark they died.

They called on Cory's light and on the mighty name of Ben,
while three intrepid heroes strove to raise the gates again,
until in spite of Balthazar and battles long and hard,
the three their work completed, and the gates were shut and barred.
And now the shouts re-echo through this strong and war-torn land:
The Forge has met its Master, and the gates of Milltown stand.
Topaz posted @ 21:46 - Link - comments (1)
Saturday, 01 March 2014

Beyond the door what mysteries are sealed?
What hidden marvels wait to be revealed?
We stand before the carved colossal stone,
and watch and wait, but all is still unknown
until our eyes behold things now concealed.

What knowledge new, what wonders, will it yield?
What artifacts behind that mountain shield
have met the eyes of eagles who have flown
beyond the door?

Immortal gods, who awesome powers wield,
for light of knowledge now have we appealed.
With answers none, our questions still have grown,
while giants keep their counsel well, alone
beyond the door!
Topaz posted @ 22:09 - Link - comments
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