The Tetrad of Conclave: Chronicle Two

 Chronicle Two: The Conclave’s Embrace.

The First Born: These things are gods. From the many, a Conclave emerged; of five. Five, who chose, from all that birthed wetly from below, the first folk. Chosen, by wim or wit, as wards and favourites. Harken thee:

In the wild places abode DEIS: Woodmother; The Meadowing Bear; The Slumber and Storm. Drawn, by tranquil urge and formless spirit, to the fertile dens of beasts and berries; there she found the first of us. Brown; pink and beige; blunt and hairless; they squirmed stoutly, inapt and misplaced. Forth, for these, she apprised queer fungus. Forth, hence, she drew these folk; from the savage and serene she bade those who yet lived; unto the realms of stone and river she led.

There dwelleth AESTIEN: The Witness; Black Mountain; The Sword and Noose. Eternal eyes catch first the timid nomads’ foray; disturbance uncalled. But some truth he sees, with both eyes focused. He feared not their gentle mitts; feared not for havoc upon timeless rock. But no mere beasts, nay; of these tender wretchlings he spies in the heart: Order and edifice. With long purpose descendeth he; a glacier of stone. He gave unto this fated band the disc and the trigon.

Too, here, his sibling LLOD: The Wolves and the Water; The Courser; The Flood. With trickling laughter, in greying time, does it coax AESTIEN to change. The hunter it did hunt; little did it think of the folk; and it thought of them little. To hunt with, or for, it rode. Still; some followed it to the waters. To others it sent rains; their drenching amused; or floods; their bubbling howls too. But of meat it knew, and the folk learned of it.

At times, the wild sisters of folk were called by DEIS; these joined LLOD’s hunts, for some liked not the incursions of their new children. Some learned again the taste of them, and came unruly to the plains. They lolled in peace with full bellies; nests there they wrought.

The folk cowered, and did bleat; they dare not flee to the wild places, nor the realms deep and wet. Dark things preyed, as they do; and some light. AESTIEN, obstinate, took no pity; but lo, long purpose waned with the fortunes of folk. Though anguished so, he thus ruptured, and unto caves he bade the wretched. Dry nests, from whence some requital for the unmalicious mischief of LLOD and DEIS might issue. The hammer, vengeance; smite order from twisted things.

But fear swayed; no foray. How might resolve persist? Not when fates are so fell.

A Priestess of Austre (Art by Midjourney)

Hence, here cometh AUSTRE: Mother Mercy; Amber and Rose; The Dawn. A gale and zephyr; argent and pure she flies, all yonder at once. Her blood the rose of dawn and ruby of dusk; all dark things rend; yet here unwavering gallantry prevails. A tender hand cups trembling cheek: With kindness this, furnished unto the folk; this, to take forth; face the wild; the dark; the hunt. This to cower not in caves; this to bring love. But with mercy step forth: Her spear and shield cold silver, not burnished gold.

Last to conclave; drawn far on fragile wings was NOVH: The Willing Heart; The Covetous Crow; Frost, Fire and Fervor. Long hath he spent, distant from closest hearts; now returneth he. Cold winds disturb little; here rest the chilled ashes of long spent fires. He knows what AESTIEN sees not; sought by heart from these wailing folk, the raven heeds. All tinder and spark; bare throats raw; call thee, thrice, for the bellows of black wings. Bring close thy face; blister upon the burns of thy desire.

So furnished; step forth the folk. Limb and life spent free; the sanguine rush of reclamation; bring fertility to the field; fire to the foe; form to the flailing. Take heart, the young. Yea, heed that given freely; yea, heed that hidden keenly.