Book One
 
 
I'll sing of bloodshed and fury, of virtuous war
and the sack of a temple, the fall of the idols
of a thought-fearing race. I'll sing of the glory
of Nitrae herself, and how she went forth
with an army behind her, into the world
to carry cruel war away from the spires
out into the world, out to savage people
who were strangers to reason, depending on faith
to make sense of their world. Glorious spires,
do you find my theme pleasing? Then give me my voice.
 
There was a quarrel there up in the spires,
two sisters were fighting, hurling harsh words
without any rest, for their passions were roused.
Nitrae spoke first, and of the two sisters
her voice was the coldest, for though she felt anger
her passions ran cold. There was ice in her voice.
 
"Tell me, my sister, where are you going
in that twirling dress? Are you off to some ball
to giggle and titter and wallow in words
without any sense? Are you truly so worthless?
Do you find such things pleasing, spending your days
in indolent joy, while your brain decays?
Your skull is a temple, do not defile it
with such empty things. The joy is far greater
in doing great deeds. You need only arise
and reach out to claim it. Why do you delay?"
 
Her sister then spoke in a voice full of rage.
"Love-hating Nitrae, you know nothing of joy.
You know only of work. Why do you fault me
for going to dance, for living a life
that deserves to be lived? How can I be wrong
to act as I do? Do you know the people
who go to these balls, and are you aware
of the deeds they have done, of their great skill?
I call you a liar. I call you a fool.
You're not better than them, though you spend your days
locked away in a lab, do you truly do more?
Count up the hours and go find their sum,
then measure the deeds and go add them together.
What will you find? I shall hazard a guess.
Hour for hour, you all are the same,
but they live in joy, while your days are filled
with dull lamentations and dreary refrains.
What do I care if you do more than them?
If we measure skill, you are all the same.
Go do something better than they could not do,
then I'll believe what you say and trust in your words.
Until then, little Nitrae, I shall take my leave
and live as I like, and you cannot condemn it."
 
Having thus spoken, she turned and she left,
leaving Nitrae alone to let her thoughts fester
there in her head. Nitrae pondered her words.
What did she conclude? What thoughts became her?
To do as she was bade, to do some great deed
 
that was worthy of fame and eternal renown.
Now, in those days, the world was yet untamed
and the barbarous ways that still linger on
in a few places held sway in the whole world,
save in the spires, where the civilized people
looked down on the world, and on rare occasions
went forth to tame it and to set all men free
from thoughtless delusions and from petty faith.
 
She made her decision. She steeled her resolve
to go forth from the spires, leading a host
to conquer some tribe, to throw down their idols
into the mud, then build up their city
into a praiseworthy place that works for the spires.
She chose to act beyond all of the customs
that governed her home. To conquer and build
were two separate things, her chosen mission
bent the caste-custom, in that she saw glory,
to surpass all the rest by doing great deeds
in disparate fields. Such was her scheme.
 
She needed an army, she needed a host
of valiant spear-comrades who could fight her war.
She did not recruit them from their own caste,
from those who were known to have martial skill,
She chose to look lower, she looked to the dregs.
She chose criminal men, those who would follow
wherever she led, and do as she bade them,
who would not be missed if they fell in battle
or starved in the woods. Such was her choice.
Although they were weak and quite lacking in skill,
she still chose such men, for she yet craved
a great share of glory, she wished to prove
that such men could be better than they once had been
if she lead by example, and if she taught them
the true path of virtue, the way of the spires.
Such was her quest, to earn glory in war
and yet more glory in peace, by shedding the light
of virtue at home and still further abroad.
 
How did she arm them? She sought new weapons
to suit her new quest, she called in her friends
who bent shining gemstones into new shapes
to provide her with arms, and they were quite eager
to do as they were bade, they gave arms to her host.
Each bore a new weapon called a void blaster,
the pride of the spires, a fabulous thing,
a sign of great power, for they had mastered
the dread void itself, and harnessed its power
to fight for the spires. They took pride in that.
Nitrae accepted their gift, and to it she added
great suits of armor, of shimmering steel.
She armed some men further, gave them great pikes
to blunt the attacks of their furious foes,
to safeguard the rest. That's how she armed them.
 
Thus was her host levied, thus was it armed
and readied for war. She set out from the spires
without any delay, trained her men on the road.
Her men learned quickly, they had little choice
but to learn well or die. Her men chose life.
With that force behind her, Nitrae went forth
from the known world, from the civilized places
that she knew quite well, and out into danger
where glory awaited. Thus she went forth.
 
 
Book Two
 
 
She went into the world with an army behind her,
hunting for glory, she searched the wide world
for its savage places where folly lingered.
That was not without risk, for nature itself
opposed her quite fiercely, for such is the way
of the unconquered world, it strives to slaughter
all who pass through it. It allows some to live,
those who kneel down before it, abandoning hope
and begging for mercy, those ones who accept
a pitiful life like that of a mute beast.
Some such people survive by nature's grim grace,
but their lives are short, death races towards them
when nature grows bored and it resumes the chase.
There are others who live, but not by the grace
of all-slaughtering nature, there are a few
who rise up and fight it, who grapple the beast
and force it to yield, who conquer the forests
and build up a new world. It is not by the grace
of the world that they live, but by their own grace
and by their own power, thus do they live.
That was the custom, the way of great Nitrae
out there in the world with her army of men.
 
Grim frost approached them, the life-stealing bite
of merciless winter, the foe of all souls.
Snow fell down upon them, it bleached the whole world
as white as clean bone. The cold bit at their skin
and it threatened their lives, and some wished to flee,
to go back to their spires in a hasty retreat.
Nitrae forbade it, that was not her way.
She would not yield to the mere breath of the wind
or flee from mere frostbite, she stood and she fought.
She gave her commands and her men rushed to obey.
They went forth with axes out into the woods
and killed many trees, they struck with harsh blows
and let the mute wood fall down onto the snow.
They gathered the wood, that flesh of the forests
and they made a great heap, then they lit the pyre.
The cold wind was banished, the heat was quite pleasing
to all those who felt it and knew they were safe.
Still, the fire could not last without further work.
The wood turned to ash and it needed restocking
with more fallen trees. That was no pleasant task
for it meant leaving the fire, wandering out
into the cold to put more trees to the sword.
One man volunteered, and his name was Gennoh.
He bore the cold gladly, he thought it better
to harden himself to the wrath of the wilds
than to fend it off by some fleeting means,
so he feared not the cold, he went to his work.
He worked without resting until at long last
the snow ceased to fall, and nature's first volley
came to its end and the danger had passed.
 
The force moved with great haste, moving quite swiftly
until they came to a valley with unstable slopes
that were covered with stones and with yielding earth.
Great rains came upon them as they made the trek
through the course of that valley, the rushing water
turned the soft earth to mud and loosened the stones.
Stones fell to the valley, a great mass of mud
rushed towards the army, it went with great haste
and it had the strength to crush them to death.
Many felt fear, in their hearts they were certain
that death was upon them, they trembled and wept.
Gennoh resisted, for his heart had been hardened
to such bitter fears, and he still loved his life
enough to defend it against grim nature itself.
He spoke words to Nitrae, they swiftly agreed
to a simple scheme that could save their lives.
They gathered their pikes, they gathered their shields
and built up a crude wall, a ring of tall spears,
layered with shields, and they sheltered inside it.
The stone crashed down on them and their shelter shook.
The mud struck with great force, for it had the weight
of a mountain behind it, but their wall still held.
The avalanche ceased. All of them had survived.
The men dug themselves out, but some lamented
that the world had opposed them, that they faced the wrath
of nature itself, and they begged for the right
to turn back and go home, to abandon their quest
and seek a safe haven to shelter their lives.
Some would feel wrath to hear such a thing,
but the heart of a leader can feel no such thing
and Nitrae felt nothing but  quiet contempt
in her heart for the men who could be shattered and broken
by unfeeling nature. Still, she resolved say a few words
that might make them better. She plied them with speech.
 
"Cowardly men, do you lack the valor
to fight such a foe, to stand against nature,
an unthinking opponent? Where is your courage?
You were eager to fight against other mortals,
against men like yourselves. Why should it be different
to fight against nature? Do you hate noble wars?
Why would you fight against some savage tribe
of men who might be improved, who might see the wisdom
of civilized ways, but refuse to bear arms
against a base thing that cannot be improved?
Do you fear for your lives? I see no reason
to quiver and shake with cowardly fear.
Have we not conquered? Have we not prevailed
when nature attacked us? Since we have triumphed,
what do you have to fear? We can do it again.
There is a choice that each of you must make.
Courage and valor, or fearful trembling.
Choose as you like, but remember one thing.
 
A good life is brief. A bad one is longer
if you measure by hours, but what good are they?
If you measure by deeds instead of by days,
then one thing is clear. Brave men live longest.
Even if you crave years, think of the glory
and the life it will give you one hundred years hence.
All those who flee are forgotten at once,
but great deeds will linger, they will be recalled."
 
 
 
Book Three
 
 
Her men were thus shamed, contempt filled their hearts
for the men they had been, for what they had done
Each man then swore an oath. Gennoh was first,
and he led all the rest, speaking bold words.
"I swear not on my life, for I do not love it.
Nor do I pledge my honor, where's the value in that?
I swear on my name, my undying glory,
such as it is, it will serve as my bond.
The deeds that I do in the upcoming days
will be judged by all men, to that I consent.
I'll not retreat, I'll not turn and be bested
by the natural world, nor unfeeling fate.
My heart is mortal. I am the master
of unthinking things, the lands and the beasts
that I look upon. Domination awaits.
That is my duty and that is my joy,
to look on the world and force it to kneel.
If I should fail and choose shameful weakness
then all will condemn me for ten thousand years
and curse my black name. That is the price."
 
Gennoh took that oath with joy in his heart
and without hesitation, building his courage
with unyielding words. The rest of the army
spoke the same words, they did just as he did,
and it gave them courage. It strengthened their hearts.
Thus they found the strength to continue their march.
They found their way to the forest, a quiet place
where flowers blossomed and animals wandered,
resting and grazing, and hunting for prey
killing each other and eating the flesh.
There were mortals there, or something quite close,
who lived in the forest, if it can be called life.
They had no houses, they instead made their homes
between the vast roots of the sky-touching trees
and slept in the dirt, they lived just like beasts.
They feasted on berries and on windfallen fruits,
and the flesh of mute beasts that they had chased down
and killed with their clubs, with branches and stones.
 
One stood apart from the rest, and he came forth
to greet Nitrae's host, to speak words at them.
"Unknowing strangers, why have you come here
with your foul tools, with your far-reaching spears
that shine with steel that you ripped from the earth,
that you stole from the earth, the mother of all?
Why are you here? Why have you come forth
to this unspoiled place, where virtue still reigns?
Are you seeking wisdom? I will gladly grant it
and show you your sins, so that you can mend them.
Have you some other purpose? If you come as foes,
I shall give you advice. Turn now and flee.
Harsh death awaits you. Our lives make us strong.
Now speak, foreign strangers, give voice to your thoughts
and tell me your aims. Choose wisdom of or war."
 
Nitrae had wisdom, she knew the cold truth,
that a foe must be known before it is slain.
Knowing that truth, she spoke faithless words.
"All-knowing sage, why would we come to you,
if not to learn virtue, to study your ways
and make them our own? That is our errand.
We came bearing arms, but not to oppose you.
The wide world is harsh, but they kept us safe
so that we could meet you and learn from your words.
Teach us all that you can, and show us your ways
We shall be able students, learn all that we can.
I'll give you an oath that I mean you no harm.
I swear on my honor that we are friends."
Having thus spoken, great Nitrae reached out
and embraced the old man, laid a kiss on his hand.
 
The man led her forth through the heart of his nation,
such as it was, and Nitrae saw many people
but no wonders to praise. There was only the herd
of unthinking people, of ignorant souls.
After a long hour, they came to a temple
unlike anything else out there in the woods.
It was the sole building in all of the nation,
it rose up from the ground, lacking in grace.
It was built from old wood, salvaged from trees
that fell to the ground through some turn of fate,
and not by the will of a man with an axe.
Nitrae went on, she looked in the temple
and she found a surprise: a fortune of gold.
The man quickly explained the source of the wealth,
it was taken from rivers, salvaged over time
without wounding the earth or building a mine.
It took five hundred years to find all the gold,
to build up the fortune that the temple housed.
It was a great trove, none could deny that
and Nitrae knew at once that it would be hers.
She saw the potential in that savage place,
the wealth that awaited, the town she could build
if she only forced a few savage people
to kneel and submit with the point of a sword.
 
She went forth from the temple, returned to her men
and then turned to her guide and spoke a few words.
"I'll give you a choice, you must make it quickly,
you may do as you will, but do it with haste.
I offer my hands, and each one is holding
one of two fates, you may pick as you like.
My left hand is peace, my left hand is progress,
I'll show you the way to become a true nation,
to live civil lives, to study and learn. 
My right hand is war, it holds a grim sword
and it will spill your blood if you prefer battle.
Choose peaceful progress, or choose forced advancement,
I'll swear on my name and I'll give you an oath.
This savage land will kneel and be tamed
and progress will blossom, your savage ways
will come to their end. I can promise you that.
Go, savage man. Go, unthinking child.
I'll give you a day to ponder and think
if you can think at all. Go and decide."
 
 
Book Four
 
The answer came quickly. The morning light
lit up a field that would soon taste the blood
of countless brave souls, and beyond that,
of savage souls. Who would waste time counting them?
As soon as dawn came, as soon as the sun
chased Night from the sky, the savages marched
with brute clubs in their hands, great heaps of stone
that were ready for throwing, and a few sticks
that bore humble heads carved from crude flint.
Nitrae stood against them, leading her men
from the front of the host. She looked at her foe
and she stifled a laugh. She could see no path
that led to defeat. A slaughter seemed certain.
 
One fighter stood out, walked ahead of the rest.
He wore a few pelts that still reeked of blood,
and he bore a long spear that was tainted with blood
from some hunt or another. That's how he had learned
to fight with a spear, from slaughtering beasts.
He was a bold man. He craved martial glory
and thus he was fearless. He called out to his foes
as he marched right at them, ahead of the rest.
 
"I call you all cowards who fight in a line,
all pressed together. Where's the glory in that?
Come out and face me if you have the courage,
as a man fighting a man. Not as an army
that strikes as a mass, where each man plays a part
in some larger whole. Show me your valor.
Can you not do that? Have your lives made you soft?
We soon shall find out. Be men or be slaves."
 
When Nitrae saw that she smiled a broad smile
and she gave a command, not by speaking words
but by waving her hand, and her army obeyed.
Training took over, they took up their arms
that they took from the spires, the pride of their makers.
Each had a void blaster. Each took careful aim.
They fired as one. The cold touch of the void
brought the savage's end, and I don't say that he fell
for nothing remained that could fall to the ground.
 
There was a brief silence. The savages shook
with fear in their hearts to see such a sight.
They quivered in fear and some turned to flee
in spite of the shame that soft cowardice brings.
A voice called them back, it banished their fear
as an elder spoke, he built up their souls
with courage for battle. He spoke his brave words
in a strong voice, he spoke them with pride.
 
"Do not fear your fate. Do not flee from cold death.
All men must die. There are no other laws
that are greater than that, no larger truths.
If you must die, you should try to die well.
We each do it once, we have only one chance
at a glorious doom. Do not cast it aside
and die as you flee. That brings remembrance
that is tainted by scorn. Do not waste your death.
Nor should you cling to life. That is not precious.
Why do you love it? Do you cherish long days
spent picking at roots to find a day's meal?
Even if you love toil and long days of working,
there are worse things to come. The last agony
that comes with old age. I don't speak just of pain,
though there is plenty of that, I mean the decay
that gnaws at a mind, I mean the grim sight
of your own muscles failing, weakness and folly.
That is your life, and the life of all men.
Do not cling to that. I have lived long enough
to know that I lived too long. So be without fear
and remember one thing. To live or die well
are one and the same. I swear it is true."
 
That was enough to stir up their spirits
and charge into the fray, screaming and shouting
oaths to the spirits and hate for their foes.
Nitrae stood firm. Her men formed up into lines
and each man took his place and readied for war.
The first rank knelt down, the second stood firm,
and both brought the kiss of the void to their foes.
The maddened mob charged them, each one ran alone
straight at their line. There was no order
in that bellowing throng. The void cut them down.
They crumpled and fell. Still more came running
up towards the lines, too many to slaughter
with the cold void alone. Nitrae held fast
and gave a sign to her men. They responded at once
and took up their pikes, they ran at their foes.
 
The battle lines clashed, order and madness
fought to the death. Blood watered the grass
as much blood was shed. The crows would eat well.
The savages fell, but not without taking
their token revenge. A few of the soldiers
from great Nitrae's host fell to their madness
and yielded their lives, they returned to the wheel.
That clash was brief. The savages routed,
they turned and they fled away from the fight.
Some perished then, as they ran for their lives,
on a pike's fatal point, or as the void touched them,
but many escaped, those who could flee the fastest.
The swiftest of them was the very same man
who had stirred up their hearts with his fine words
and urged them to fight. He fled like the rest
for the sake of his life. His words were wind.
 
They fled from the field, they went with great haste
back to their village, but they kept running
away from that place, even as their own kin
came to ask them for news. Their question was answered
by the sound of their feet as they ran away.
Nitrae did not pursue them, her prize was won,
it was there for the taking, not just the village
but the great temple that they had built there
for their low gods, for the spirits they loved.
 
 
 
Book Five
 
 
Nitrae came to the temple, she came bearing arms
with a few soldiers behind her, a chosen force
of the best that she had, with hearts full of hate
for the foe and a hunger for glory.
Some soldiers were there defending the gate
as best as they could, a mere motley band
fit for feeding the crows and the carrion birds,
but not for great deeds nor for glorious war.
That was their last stand. Unlike their fellows
they died where they stood without turning away.
The Void gave them death. They returned to the Wheel.
The gates that they guarded had been locked and barred
with a strong barricade, a desperate ploy
by desperate men to keep their holy place safe.
It was no use. The Void conquered all.
 
That unhappy temple was filled with small shrines
for spirits and godlings, unworthy things
of any devotion. Much like their gods
the shrines were quite humble, brambles and bones.
The Void did its work. Not even mute ash
remained of those shrines. Nothing remained.
 
Nitrae moved on. She had seen greater things
in the heart of the temple, a great treasure trove
was there for the taking. She remembered it well.
A great fortune of gold, seized from the rivers
by laboring hands. Five hundred long years
may have been enough to build up that vast hoard.
Unthinking men made a gift of that gold
to uncaring gods, to unthinking spirits.
They gave it all up. The fruits of their work
were not for the workers. They yielded the trove
as payment for prayers, a fee for false hope
and stored it away. It profited none.
 
Nitrae soon found that hoard, and right beside it
an elderly man who had lost both his eyes,
and not in cruel war, nor from a wasting disease
for he had no other marks, just two perfect holes.
He had plucked them himself while singing high praise
for his uncaring godlings, this man was a priest.
He heard Nitrae coming. He hailed her at once,
and spoke in a clear voice, untainted with fear.
 
"Daughter of spires, why do you come here,
to this sacred place? Do you take your joy
from our lamentations, are you well pleased
by the screams of our wounded, the sound of our death?
Is it not enough that you live in the sky?
Why must you come here? Why not let us keep
our ways for ourselves? Why does it harm you
to let us linger here? There are better places
if you lust for mere gold, or if you want slaves
or plunder at all. There must be some reason
that you chose to come here. My people are dying,
so I make a request, the last of this life.
Speak only the truth and say why you have come."
 
Nitrae laughed as she spoke, she did as he asked.
"Profit and power and doing great deeds.
That's why I have come, and why you are dying.
I might have fought with the dwarves if I wanted gold,
that much is true, or else I might have gone
to some wealthier field if I had need of slaves.
Glory is here, that is why I have come,
and I don't mean in war. What glory is there
in some simple slaughter? There is none at all.
No, little savage, I have come for the glory
that you cannot know. I come to bring progress
to those who would shun it, to build a great city.
That is my aim. There is nothing greater
than a goal such as that. There is no nobler war
than the one that I wage, not here against you,
but that I wage every day, the the glorious war
against nature itself and the world as it is.
 
I will not kneel to some holy decree
of uncaring gods, who in the ancient days
shaped the world as it is. What is that world?
An uncaring place of hardship and woe.
Look at yourselves. You labor and starve
to live natural lives, while those of the spires
live apart from the world and do glorious things.
I'll stand in this temple and I'll speak the truth,
that the gods shaped this world with not thought for us
who would be their heirs, but just for themselves.
I follow their custom. I do as they did.
I shape the world to my will as best as I can
for my own sake and for that of my friends.
 
Thus I claim this trove, and with it the right
to do as you should have done, to trade it away
to build up a nation, to conquer the land
and make it bend to my will. Such is my goal."
 
Having thus spoken, she did as she said
and laid her hands on the gold, seizing the trove
she brought it out of the temple, then she turned back
and looked on the shrine and gave a command.
She barred the door with the priest still inside it
and she took up a brand from a bright-burning flame
and set the temple alight. She let it burn.
As it burned down, she turned to her men
and to her captives, she loosened her voice.
 
"Abandon all gods and abandon all faith,
look on their power and know that they failed.
Now trust in your minds and trust in your hands
and no other things. I will show you the way
that a nation is built, that the world can be tamed.
Long have you suffered in this blighted place,
in these unfettered wilds, that all will change.
You savage souls who still have strength in your limbs
may join with us now, if you join here with us
we shall call you our kin. You shall have a place
in our rising city, a far better life
than you ever have known. That much I swear.
If you betray us and cling to the past,
then grim death awaits. That much I swear.
The old days are dead. Our will be done."
 
 
 
Book Six
 
 
 
There was much to be done. Without any delay,
great Nitrae went forth and she gave her commands
for the birth of a nation, the building of walls.
Each had a task, idleness soon fled away
from that growing city. Buildings arose
from the new-conquered earth. Stones were heaped high
to build up strong walls, and old trees were slaughtered
to build up new homes. Such was the city
that Nitrae was building, a far fairer place
than what had been there before. Still,
there was much to be done beyond the dull work
of chiseling stone and cutting down trees.
Nitrae knew that. She had to lay down new laws
to govern the people, the new-mingled race
from the loftiest spires and from the savage woods.
She called to her comrade, she called to Gennoh
who had proven his skill and soundness of mind.
She spoke to him, she asked his advice
seeking good counsel from his strong mind.
 
"Answer me truly and say what you think
of the plan I conceived, of what I would declare
our sacred laws. These are my goals:
to bring order to chaos, and beyond that
to drive out the wilds, to settle this place
and purge it of nature, until at long last
nothing remains of the old savage ways
but faint recollection for history books,
to cultivate virtue if that can be done
and to raise men to greatness, not just for glory
but for the work that they do, the progress they bring.
Such are my goals. The laws must be arranged
to bring all that to pass, so answer me well,
and speak without fear if you see some flaw
that I must correct in this plan of mine.
I am no king, and I am no priest
so you can speak freely. I will not slay you
for speaking true words that conflict with my own.
 
Now, I see the flaw in trusting the masses
of unthinking souls to govern themselves.
They live without thinking. Instinct alone
is what drives them on, so they cannot rule.
Let them have no power, let them only obey
what their betters decree. They will not hate that
for deep in their hearts they long to obey
those who would rule, just so long as those men
take care to tell them that they are one people,
and that custom determined who serves and who rules.
As for the rulers, they shall not rule as kings
but as a conclave of peers, that will ensure
that reason prevails. Discourse will guide them
away from their passions, that much I know."
 
Then Gennoh spoke, he voiced his concerns.
"How will you choose them, the reasoning lords?
You must do it with care, for if you allow
them to choose their own number, they will become
a gossiping throng that thinks not of skill,
but of pleasing words and of nothing else.
And what of their powers? If every thing
must come to a vote, then nothing will happen
for a committee is slow, and if they delay
their own work for such votes, their science will suffer
and their art will soon cease. You must look to that
and settle that matter before you move on."
 
Nitrae pondered his words, then spoke a response.
"That much is true. Now, as for their choosing
I can resolve that. Let it be decided
by competitive means. On every new year
let a contest be held, and not just in the arts
but in every field that is worthy of praise.
Let those who conquer take their place with the rest
of those fit to rule. Thus we can be certain
that the powers of state fall to those few
who can use them well and who do the must good
for the sake of the nation. Let it be so.
 
As for their powers, let each one have a share
of our newborn state. Each one shall be equal.
Let each one rule they will over that which is theirs
and let them come together for only the things
that pertain to all men. Let it be so.
Let one of their number hold some higher power
in war and in peace, when emergency looms
to rule by command, and when the need has past
let that one be tried for all that he has done.
That will stop all abuse, that much I know.
I shall be the first to hold that high office
and I'll tend to it well, or else be condemned.
 
I will give one more law, the right of all souls
that none shall abridge. Let none be prevented
from studying well, from growing far better
than they were before. Thus each will rise
as his merit decrees. Let it be so."
 
Thus were her words, and thus were the laws
that she laid down for the nation, that all obeyed.
The foundations were laid. A city arose,
through the work of the people who lived in that place.
Soon wealth came to all, they lived in great comfort
and many rejoice, for though some rose higher
than all of the rest, their lives were far better
than they had been before. The two peoples mixed
and children came forth with their mingled blood.
Few then lamented that Nitrae had come
at the head of her host, but out in the wilds
away from the city, a few nursed their hate
and readied for war to take their revenge.
 
 
 
Book Seven
 
 
 
They came from the dark places, those who resisted
the rule of great Nitrae. Their numbers were few,
but their passion was great, and they had grown cunning
through long years of hiding. Their hearts had hardened
and they had forgotten the little that they had known
of civilized ways. They were no more than beasts,
but beasts still have fangs, and their claws were sharp.
There were two groups among them. The elder had known
their ancient ways. They had lived in the time
before Nitrae had come, and they had fled her might
and shunned her new ways. They hid in the dark places
where wildness reigns. They had borne children
in those savage wilds, and those callow youths
formed their own warband, unschooled in the ways
of civilized men, but savage in battle.
They knew nothing else but bloodshed and strife
for that is the way of the wild places
where they had been raised. Peace was unknown
to those young souls and they fought like the beasts
that lived with them in that bleak place.
 
They spent many long years hiding out in the woods,
biding their time and nursing their hate
until they were ready, until they had bred
a new host for war, then their vengeance began.
They fought a small war, they fought in the shadows
for that is the way of mute beasts in the woods,
a war without glory, fought not on a field
but in little raids. The poor souls who went out
from the walls of the city soon stopped returning,
they died at the hands of that beastly host.
The city was vexed, and Nitrae demanded
her station's powers, the emergency right
to rule by command. That power was hers.
 
She had grown old, and she lacked the strength
to lead a host in the field, she gave the order
to Gennoh instead, to hunt down the foes,
to let them taste the Void and perish at once.
He obeyed without question, he rallied a host
and armed them quite well, he set out to find
his lurking foe and send them to the Wheel.
They hid from his sight, they hid from the woods
and they fled when he came, they would not face him
in battle at all, for though they were beasts
they knew death when they saw it, and they ran away.
That did not vex him for long, he knew a way
to force them to fight, he gave his commands.
 
"There's one thing to do when your quarry is hiding,
when it runs right away at the sound of your coming.
Ruin its shelter, burn down the forest
where it is crouching and hiding from sight.
That is the way that all men can be caught.
Let them hide if they like when hiding is death.
They'll flee from the fire as they fled from us
and come out in the open. We will await them.
When they come running we'll go to our work
and let the Void kiss them, they will not last long.
Come now, my comrades, let it be done.
First go dig trenches. The flame will not spread
where there's nothing to burn, I'll not be the one
that starts a wild blaze. It must be controlled.
Then gather up branches and soft kindling-wood
to start up the fire. I want a great smoking blaze
that will fill them with fear. But, do not light it
until you find sand, or some great reservoir
to snuff it right out when our duty is done."
 
They went to their work, digging the ditches
and gathering sand, and light kindling-wood.
The savages saw them, they were filled with fear
for all beasts fear the flames, most fled right away.
A few who were wiser, those who recalled
the time before Nitrae took counsel together
and went forth in peace to offer a bargain,
a chance to make peace. They left the woods
with their hands in the air, bearing no arms
and Gennoh received them, he heard their words.
 
"Conquering lord, we have heard of your might
and we can't stand against you, we know that much.
If you burn us out, then we all will perish,
but is that your goal? It might be prudent
to make peace with us, and find common ground.
Let us keep our ways, let us live in peace
and all shall rejoice, then we can be friends
and find common cause as we live our lives here.
Tell me, great lord, which do you find more pleasing,
a group of fine friends who will come to your aid
if you will come to ours, or do you prefer
a heap of charred corpses? That's what you will have
if you see your plan through. If you seek profit
then your path will be clear. Profit needs peace.
We give you our words and we give you your bond
that we will keep the peace if your leader comes forth
to speak fairly with us, we swear it will be so."
 
Then they fell silent. Then great Gennoh spoke.
"You made war upon us, and I have orders
to put you to death, but I have discretion
to deal with such things as this that we could not foresee.
Here is my judgment if you will accept it.
You'll have your meeting, we will talk of peace
but I need proof of your faith, a token of trust.
A few will stay here while you gather your tribe
for this pleasant meeting, that is the price.
If you keep faith then they will be unharmed
and you'll see them again when this meeting occurs.
A hostage for peace. Will you accept it?"
 
They had little choice. What else could they do?
They gave a peace-hostage as proof of their word
and returned to their tribe to rally them all
for war or for peace as their words would decide.
Some found that pleasing, those who could recall
their ancient ways. But those who were still young
had no knowledge of peace, they prepared for war
to fight as soon as they could, to fight and to die.
 
 
Book Eight
 
A new day dawned, and the bargain was kept.
The two nations met below the bright sun
to speak with each other, perhaps to find
some common ground and to build an accord.
The first to arrive on that day was great Nitrae
with a small guard, she brought only Gennoh
and a few hand-picked men to guard her life
against treacherous foes. As for the tribe
that lived in the woods, a few elders came
for the young souls had no love of talking.
As for the rest, fighters from both of the sides
stood ready to fight, they were laying in wait
for their foes to attack. There was no trust
between those who were meeting. They were prepared
to fight and to die if their foes broke faith.
 
Nitrae spoke first and she chose her words well,
with great pride in her voice she uttered her words.
"So few have arrived. Is this all you have?
If you've come to surrender, I will accept it,
you clearly can't fight with a force such as this.
I'll even forgive the wrongs that you've done
if you lay down your arms and spare us the fight.
There's glory in war, I'll not deny it
and a chance for great deeds, but this is no war.
Who sings of the one who treads on an ant,
or who catches a mouse in his well-laid trap?
Why waste the time to fight those such as you
when peace is far swifter, what would we gain
by choosing grim war when we might have peace?
If you want peace, then just lay down your arms
and join hands with us, I will find you a place
in our growing city. What do you say?"
 
The elders spoke then, and their voices were hard.
"Conquering Nitrae, we know that you are strong
but we will not yield, we will not kneel,
but we too favor peace, just on different terms.
We are not slaves, but we'll greet you as peers,
let each live their own way, you in your city
and us in the woods, let each of us choose
to do as he likes. We need not quarrel
over such things. There is enough land
for us to do that. Then why must we fight?
Vengeance and pride, those are the two reasons
that drive us to blows. Let us set them aside.
We can forgive all, from the first slaughter
to your rising walls, if you will forgive us
for the raiding we've done. What do you say?"
 
Nitrae laughed then, she laughed at their words
as she gave her response in a hateful tone.
"All is forgiven. I do not bear a grudge.
Still we must fight if you will not kneel down.
Not for mere glory, though I do crave that,
but for my city's sake, you all must die.
Progress awaits. It is the lone force
that always moves on, but it can move faster
if we help it along. That is my goal.
It is for the good of all living souls
that progress progresses, and you would delay it
by living your lives in these savage woods.
It is bad enough that you linger out here
without helping it on, but you wage a war
to slow down the march of our burgeoning world.
Does that surprise you? What else can I say,
as long as you live, there is a temptation
for small-minded fools to go live with your number.
You would rob us twice, first of your own labor
but then of all the souls who would flee from our ways.
That cannot be. I strongly forbid it.
I ask you again. Kneel and choose peace
or die in grim war. I'll not ask you again."
 
The elders took counsel, they spoke to each other
and then gave a response, speaking harsh words.
"Your ways are cruel and no better than ours
and if you'll not permit them, then we must die.
That much is certain, we'll not lament it
for who can lament all the things that must be?
We ask nonetheless that you reconsider
and let us have peace. But if you cannot
we shall leave this place and make ready for war.
We'll do what we must and not fight against fate."
 
It was not enough for great Nitrae to speak,
she bent over with laughter, mocking their words
before speaking her own, giving a response.
"You'll kneel down to fate, kneel down to nature
and kneel down to gods, submitting to spirits
but not kneel down to me? I see you are fools.
Why must you accept these things as they are?
Even in war you are not looking to conquer
but to let fate run its course. That is the way
that foolish men live, who wish to be slaves.
Here's how I have conquered and why I will win
when we come to blows, I'll teach you the way
how greatness can come, how great people live.
I do not kneel to the mere whims of fate.
I act as I wish. By my will alone
do I choose my deeds. When there is conflict
I fight as I can, and I seek to conquer
and I crush all the foes who seek only to live
by fate's cruel decrees. If I should quarrel
with one just like me, then there is challenge
and glory to win. The best always conquers.
If that does not suit you, if you do not wish
for glory at all, then by all means kneel.
But kneel down to me, or die by my hand."
 
She spoke no more words. The elders were silent.
For a few moments they each stood and stared
awaiting more words. When cold silence reigned
each turned to leave. As the savages left
they raised up their hands, giving a sign
and their fighters rose up, ready to fight.
 
 
 
 
Book Nine
 
 
Nitrae's men acted fast, they took up their arms
and rushed into battle, ready to fight.
It was no more than a brawl, an ambush laid
was attacked by an ambush, no ordered lines
could form in that fight. Each man fought for himself.

Nitrae and the elders were forced into battle
with a few bodyguards, their closeness was all
that it took to compel them to fight.
Nitrae and her men were armed only with swords,
they had shunned the void blasters, seeking to look
as though they came in peace. Still, in that fight,
their swords did their work, for they wielded them well.
The elderly men were armed only with staves,
petty weapons indeed, but not without use.
The two groups came to blows. The elders fought fiercely
with the strength in their limbs not lessened by age.
They were first to attack. For a brief moment
they pushed Nitrae pack, but she soon responded
with blows of her own. With her men beside her
she forced them to their knees, shattered their weapons
and forced them to yield. They begged her for mercy.
There would be none. She raised her sword up high
and brought it down on them. She severed their heads.

Great Gennoh rushed on while Nitrae did that,
he rushed into battle, he saw a few youths
scavenging weapons from his fallen friends,
picking up arms made for far nobler souls.
He came on them quickly, he would not allow
them the time that they needed to study the tools
of merciless death and turn them against him.
They were only three, but he was only one
so he was hard pressed to put them to death.
They dropped their new weapons, picked up the old,
grasped their war clubs and struck out quite madly
when he came upon them. Gennoh struck with his sword
as best as he could, but he could not draw close
without bearing the blows from their brutal arms.
When they drew close and strove to strike him down
he could dart out of reach, they could not strike him.
It went on in that way for a short while,
neither could triumph and neither could fall.
Gennoh feigned a retreat, he acted quite weary
and made use of his feet, but he went slowly
and the savages followed, they pressed the attack.

He lured them closer to his great comrade, Nitrae
who saw their approach and knew just what to do.
She joined the attack, she pressed them quite hard
and her guards came up with her, the tables soon turned.
They cut the three down in a brutal contest,
swords clove their throats, their heads tumbled down
to the black earth, the blood gushing out
of their worthless bodies soon stained the ground red.
Nitrae took a moment to look at the battle
and see how it was changing, who had more power
and who tasted death, to see what she should do.
It was unlike all of the other battles
that she had seen, disorder was ruling
the field on that day and that bleak chaos
was no boon to her men, but a friend to her foes.
She still had one advantage, the strength of her arms
exceeded that of her foes, the might of the Void
was a great ally indeed, few could oppose it.
The chaos still vexed her, strengthened her foes
so she knew what to do, she had to bring order
to that mingled mass, to shatter their strength.

Nitrae gave a command, her men rushed to obey
and form ordered lines, do as they were bade.
That was not easy, all the men had been fighting
in an unruly mass, it took them some time
to take leave of their foes and form up in lines.
A few were struck down as they disengaged
but the greater part lived, they acted as one
and guarded each other as they fell right back.
Once they formed up, Nitrae gave a command
to her soldiers at once, to fire at will.
They gladly obeyed, those who still bore
the Void in their hands, she detached all the rest
who only had swords and long spears of steel
to follow her closely and strike a fierce blow.

She led them to battle by stealth and by guile,
not to the front lines, she made her way to the rear
where her foes were not watching, she launched an attack.
Fear took her foes. The Void cost them dearly
in the front ranks, while those in the rear
died by Nitrae's hand, grim terror took them.
They all tried to flee, but where could they go?
Those who turned to run soon found themselves facing
Nitrae and her men, they died by the sword.
Some tried to run forward, they tried to break through
the line standing before them, they launched a last charge.
The Void cut them down as they ran at their foes
and they died as they charged, there was no escape.

As for the rest, they made their last stand
right there in the field, not in good order
but in a mad fight, as great Nitrae pressed
the attack from the rear, they struck back in rage
and did what they could to take token revenge.
They claimed a few lives, that was the price
that great Nitrae paid to be rid of her foes.
None of them lived. She settled the matter
once and for all, there could be no rebellion
in the long years to come, for she slaughtered them all.
Thus she made peace. Thus she cleared the way
for all things to come, for her dear city's growth
and progress unending, such were her deeds.

She paused only briefly, catching her breath
then returned to the city, she left the corpses
to rot in the field. There was much to be done
and much to arrange, she did not linger
but went forth at once to return to her work.

 
Book Ten
 
The city had grown, the city was safe
and it was quite strong, but just by the grace
of Nitrae herself, who had given commands
to all of the city and lead it quite well.
Could it stand on its own? That remained to be seen.
Nitrae called up the lords who have proven themselves
by means of great deeds, and she spoke to them.

"Glorious lords, you are all worthy
of a mountain of praise. You are fit to lead,
and now you must do so. I think it is time
that I set forth for the spires, bringing them news
of all that we have done, of our great deeds
and the birth of our city, our triumph in war.
We must decide on one thing. Will we kneel down
to those glorious spires, take them as our lords,
pay our taxes on time, and be of one soul?
I think that we should. That would be noblest
for they are like us, respecting great deeds
and joining together for progress itself.
If you all agree, then I will go forth
without any delay, and bring them the news
and our code of laws. If they accept our laws
as they are, then we shall join with them at once.
We will keep our customs and join them as friends.
If they refuse that, I will not kneel down
without first returning to call on your minds
for your prudent counsel. I swear that on my life.

There is a great deal that the spires have to offer,
alliance in war, there is safety in that,
and a partner in trade, a wellspring of wealth.
There is more than that, they can give us ideas
and we'll do the same, the greatest exchange
will be thought for thought, for that is the way
to make progress go faster. You all know the truth
that the greatest of deeds are not done alone,
but are guided by counsel, they build on the deeds
done in older days, that much we know.
For all of those reasons, for safety and glory
for wealth and for greatness, I'll go to the spires
and let our nations mingle. Do you find that pleasing?"

All were agreed. There could be no disputing
that her reasons were sound, that the great spires
would make for fine friends. She set out at once.
It was a long journey, she made it alone
for those who had marched from the spires long ago
had built up new lives, they had no wish to leave
their newest home. Great Nitrae herself
had little desire to return to those spires,
where the gossipers lived, where those who did deeds
were held in contempt by the gossiping throng
that made claims of greatness but did not act.
Still, she remembered that duty demanded
that she return to that place, say what she had done
and bring word of her city's pledge to the spires
if they would accept it. Thus she went forth.

She entered the city. Many were shocked
to see her on the street, it had been long years
since she had set out, many forgot her
and still many others thought that she was dead.
The throng stood and stared as she climbed up the spires
and she walked on without giving a thought
for those who stared. She had only one goal.
Word traveled fast and she soon met her sister
who came out to greet her, to speak empty words.
Nitrae ignored her, she went right on her way
for she had little time to exchange windy words
nor to speak with her kin who longed to acquire
some shred of her glory by virtue of blood.
She simply walked on, Nitrae saw no reason
to argue or quarrel, she just went to her work.

She sought out the chairman, that august man
who had proven his worth, not in cruel war
but with the written word, he had won great fame
with the strength of his quil, and now he ruled.
Nitrae bowed down in greeting, he did the same
and she gave her report, speaking in a clear voice.

"I come bearing new for the glorious spires
and an offer as well, if you will accept it.
I have gone forth with a conquering host
and seized savage lands, built up a city
and given it laws. Such are my deeds.
Now as for the offer, a new colony
is there for the taking, if these great spires
would have it be so. We shall swear allegiance
if we can keep our laws, they are much like yours.
The greatest will rule us, and rule by command
of a small portion of the commonwealth
and all of our lords shall come together and think
when a matter to settle pertains to us all.
Do you find that pleasing? Will you take our hands
and embrace us as friends? We each will be better
for standing as one. Now, will it be so?"

He gladly accepted, he had little choice
but to do the right thing, to let reason rule
and call Nitrae a friend, to do as she bade.
That filled her with joy, for peace was assured
as well as her fame, for as long as her city
still stood in the world, her name would be known.
She went back to her city, she left at once
without any delay to return to her home
and bring them the news from the glorious spires.
The whole city rejoiced, their battle was won.
They had peace at last, and all were certain
that the upcoming days would bring many chances
for glorious deeds, for rightful advancement.

Such were the deeds of glorious Nitrae,
fearsome in war and triumphant in peace.