Back to Contests

Praise for the Hallifaxian Pantheon by Allyrianne

Runner Up for January 2016

I'll sing of a city, fairest of all,
that treats Beauty and Truth as divine
A floating jewel whose spires stand tall
Where Science and Art intertwine.

Oh Hallifax, by Harmony blessed
Where logic and reason do reign
Collectivist peace brought to those distressed
While our culture puts others to shame

I'll sing of the pair whose dreams were made whole
Despite the doom looming above
Their promise kept by the shards of Their souls
Proof of Their undying love

Of Trillillial, the Painter of Skies
Who flew to the edge of the Dawn
With colour created a feast for the eyes
Inspiring Her kin to fight on

Through loss and sorrow She grieved with grace
And did Her duty fulfill
She held Her love in one final embrace
Before She at last became trill

Of Her lover Xyl, emotions restrained
The Elder who studied the Truth
Who sought to define the laws that constrained
The layers of the world in its youth

Fates-bidden He built the Portal of Fate
Salvation for soul-filled life
Sire of lucidian no more did wait
Ent'ring the realm of mortal strife

Praise Their great labour, and Their Sacrifice
Praise Their shards, who strove long and hard
And built, at last, an earthly paradise
that survived taint and war unmarred

Sing of the shards that broke Hallifax free
Returning to the stream of time
Restoring its glory for all eyes to see
Defeating false paradigm

I'll sing of the first of our pantheon:
Lord Elostian did arise.
The mysterious God of Two made One
Peerless, discerning and wise.

The Twilight Enigma guided the city
With questions designed to provoke
Artists to show off their ability
While hungering minds He awoke.

To question, to seek, the mind to expand
With complacency ne'er satisfied
To grow, ever learning, was His command
And to save our fair Beacon He died.

I'll sing of Lord Zvoltz, the First among Firsts
Architect of Grandest Design
Who structured the Elders, in order immersed
And thus brought peace to the Divine

Freed from the Dreaming by Sibling and Foe
He woke to a Basin at war
Wasting no time in profitless woe, 
He sought to bring Order once more.

To Hallifax did the Architect turn
Upon His Foundations to build.
Lightning for those who did Harmony spurn
While Law He enforced with His will

I'll sing of Isune, the Lady Aesthete,
The Wings of Compassion once called.
Known for saving the world from defeat
She once gave Her life for us all

Rescued at long last from Kethuru's hate
She bore many trials with poise
To Beauty She turned, compelled to create
Defying those who destroy

Drawn from the Dreaming by Lord Zvoltz's voice
She joined Her soul-sister's city
There to encourage the noblest choice
Emotions that sought harmony

Of Lady Jadice, the Queen of the Frost
Mediator and Judge most wise
Icily led to prevent greatest loss
To combat the Soulless's rise

Merciless Judge of the Traitors was She
Unswayed by Their subtlest wiles
Displaying Her equanimity
She ended Their secret smiles

Considering patterns within and without
She of the Ice Plains ponders
Constancy signals the truly devout
of the weaver of ice and aethers

Sing of Their service, sing of Their trials
Praise Them for what They have wrought
Let Their teachings inspire Collectivist style
And let none of Their deeds be forgot.