Codex Peitho Song Vol3¶
What follows are the memories and recollections of Peitho the Iridinian.
Written on the 21st day of Allinius, 261.
Welcome dear friends! Be silent now, and hear my tale of woe,
Of riches and fear and adventure, but most of all heroes!
Return with me now to the land of Midlight, to the glistening City Eternal.
I'll sing you a song of Iridine, of heroes true and villains infernal!
You know their names, our heroes four, 'gainst mighty beasts they've battled.
After the last encounter, lo! Their spirits had been rattled.
This time they would bring assistance; the task would be too great for four.
This villain had to be stopped, before he began another war.
The help of other warriors was enlisted, brave and true,
To come and see what had been found by this fortune-seeking crew.
Among their number was included several heroes who are legendary,
Valten the healer, Alejandra, Timithius, and the next two both were Legionaries:
Noelan, once an Optio, and Hephaistion the Silver Wolf,
Would accompany our brave heroes to inspect the esecarnii turf.
Later on they would be joined, by three soldiers of high regard:
Captain Modius, Telorc, and Balinor of the Monlon Volunteer Guard.
But once they reached the ravines, the Guard soon lost their discipline,
As Modius their reckless leader stubbornly charged directly in!
"Halt!" The others cried, "Hold fast! We must tread carefully!"
But Modius could not hear their cries as he dashed foolishly,
Headlong through the tunnels looking for signs of a vicious beast,
But our heroes had already found a poor victim upon which an esecarnus did feast.
The heroes prepared their weapons as they descended into the lair,
Of the dreadful creatures they were destined to face. Bold Peitho uttered a prayer,
That Ereal might see all of them safely through the hazards that they would find there.
Demios readied his silver-blue blade, and they all heard a rumbling roar,
As a grizzled brown esecarnus knocked mighty Timithius to the floor!
The heroes all tried to save him; they fought hard and rescued their friend,
They carried him back to the temple for help. He'd recover, but they didn't know when.
Now it was clear to everyone, this was no normal foe that they faced.
They grimly returned to the scene of the battle, without fear they'd encounter their fate.
The heroic band crept into the den; they felt certain death would be near.
But when they dropped down into that dark pit, there was one voice that they all could hear.
"My name is Jonux!" The hooded man shouted. The heroes were filled now with dread.
"And if you all don't have answers for me, my beasts will slay you and gnaw on your heads!"
The cages were opened, esecarnii growled, "'Tis only my word holds them back!"
Bellowed Jonux the Cineran spy, the assassin! The heroes waited for him to attack.
Demios tried to reason with Jonux, "What is it exactly you're after?"
"I'm seeking scrolls Soldiers of Ereal burned. I must bring the scraps to my masters!"
"What scrolls do you mean?" Hephaistion asked cunningly, as he tried to pry for information.
But Monlon's Guards were impatient, they were quite direct, and they risked the lives of their compatriots.
Balinor goaded Jonux into a fight, and the Cineran called the attack!
Although Jonux was wounded, the beasts were released, and eleven esecarnii struck back!
When the dust settled the esecarnii were slain, their bodies strewn where they had fallen.
Among the grievously injured were Hephaistion, Demios, Telorc, and Noelan.
Jonux then quickly made his escape, although he had also been wounded,
And Jyus the crafty, the clever, the swift, swiped some documents in the confusion!
Now that our heroes knew what Jonux sought, they knew more assistance was needed,
Grimly they journeyed to the city for help and hoped their requests would be heeded.
In several days time they were ready to go; of warriors they'd gathered a gaggle:
Numbered among them was Ardinia, with her help they'd have no need to haggle.
Our heroes four with the help of their friends made the journey across the great lake.
They knew that this journey could well be their last; the Republic itself was at stake!
They reached the ravines, every hero prepared to battle with reckless abandon,
But all they could hear as they wound their way there was the silence throughout the dark canyon.
"Something's amiss. I don't like this," muttered Demios the wise to Hephaen.
"I fear that you're right. It's too quiet tonight," responded the noble Hephaen.
But what ho! The sound of marching feet, as they passed another door!
"What's that?" asked Jyus? "Soldiers of Cinera!" cried Peitho, "Not just two or three, but more!"
Now the heroes knew they must swiftly deal with this mess, or draw Iridine into a war.
Out of the shadows stepped Jonux, his wicked dagger whistling!
"Take him!" bellowed Demios, and our heroes' blades began to ring!
During the grand commotion more esecarnii were released,
Many were slain but a few escaped to wreak havoc in the east.
The Soldiers of Cinera quickly withdrew; it was Jonux's life they were after.
They realized that he had met his defeat; they could report success to their masters.
It seems Jonux, well he was a renegade, creating his own machinations.
Even the Cinerans knew 'twas not worth risking a war with the Iridinian Nation.
Though Jonux himself he still lived, and questioning he must endure.
The Legio tossed him into the jail. He would give them some answers for sure!
What's that you ask? Our heroes? Then what happened next to them?
They had many more adventures, and remained, they did, true friends!
Wise Demios? It's said he wanders, through far-off distant lands.
Strong Hephaen? He journeyed deep into Rock Valley and hasn't been seen again.
Clever Jyus? I must sadly say, in the last few years he met his end.
Bold Peitho, you ask? I am glad to report, this grand song by himself he has penned.
And so my friends, it's finished: this great yarn, which I have woven.
Who knows? You could well be the next hero that fate has chosen.
So raise your drinks to memory, to friends and heroes fallen,
If you carry them with you in your hearts, then they aren't truly gone.
I thank you kindly for your time. A great hero you too could be!
There're many songs yet to be sung: all songs of Iridine!