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Cozmic

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November 2008 - February 2009

Post 1: Information
Post 2: Pirates999's piece
Post 3-4: Bunni Killer's poem
Post 5-6: Auraofguthix's poem
Post 7-8: Daimyo30's poem
Post 9-10: Fargrist's peice

29-Jan-2012 06:42:13 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:26:28 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

---------- Pirates999 ----------
3rd Place, November 2008

“The King is not yet dead.”

“I promise you, within a few short hours he will be. I have done all you’ve asked of me. I am forever your grateful and indebted servant.”

“Wretched man! You swore the same to Roald.”

Thalius remained silent at this, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground. It would be dangerous to say anything at this point. If he were concerned for only his own health, he would not have held his tongue. If he were not so selfish, none of this would have happened. He’d sworn to meet the King’s needs before his own. But mere words could not override his overwhelming love for Lily.

“I am forever your grateful and indebted servant.”

“You will be compensated for your efforts only when he is dead.”

At this Thalius flung himself to the ground at the nobleman’s feet, overcome by emotion. “Please, my Lord,” he sobbed. “Please, I beg of you! I need the silver now! She will die if I cannot provide the medicine!”

“The dog may eat from his master’s hand, but will turn on him once his needs have been cared for. Your daughter’s health is no concern of mine.” The nobleman’s voice was cold and indifferent. He flicked an invisible speck of dust from his pristine doublet as though physically dismissing Thalius’ earnest supplication.

“Please, my Lord,” he whispered, only now raising his head to meet the nobleman’s hard gaze. “I beg of you just this one thing. Would you hold a human life in the balance to meet your agenda?” On second thought… Thalius lowered his head to hide the tears.

“Thalius, Thalius, Thalius.” The nobleman knelt down and lifted Thalius’s chin with his finger. There was laughter in his voice now. "What good is a puppet without strings?”

29-Jan-2012 06:42:13 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:14:48 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

----------- Bunni Killer -----------
1st Place, Wintumber 2008

When the first flakes were falling at Wintumber’s start
Less benign frost descended and coated my heart
I had not left my window since the summer before
When the lords in their boredom had waged a new war

And now, as my vigil I patiently kept
Came the news I had told myself not to expect
I sprang up from the windowsill, stricken with fear
As approached the first omen of the new year

I pressed up to the glass, throwing back the curtain
And glared at the figure, but by now I was certain
He marched as if drilling, steps perfectly timed
Though his navy coat by now was with icy frost rimed

His uniform was plain and his expression bland
But I knew too well the letter clutched in his hand
Recognition brought fear, and I wanted to flee
He was “officer” to many, but reaper to me.

His march was deliberate, solemn and slow
But inevitable as the Wintumber snow
My knees went weak, and I fell to the floor
When Death and its messenger as one reached my door

He pulled on the knocker, and it sang like a bell
His knock was the sentence, the funeral knell
I gathered my courage but could not feel stronger
Though I left him outside for a minute or longer

I hoped that he would turn back and go,
An apparition forgotten in snow
But he stayed, and finally I let the man in
There was reason to lay blame, but not upon him

He saluted and asked, “Are you Mrs. Dubame?”
—For the first time—I wished I was not of that name
And he sat me down, and I knew what would come
And my heart pounded loud as an uneven drum

29-Jan-2012 06:42:14 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:16:00 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

He passed me the dispatch; with revulsion I took it,
And the violent trembling of my two hands shook it
As I opened the letter, tears sprung in my eyes
Blurring three simple words, which read: “I am alive.”

When the first flakes were falling at Wintumber’s start
Less benign frost descended and coated my heart
As they fell to the ground and melted to dew
My cold heart thawed out and my anguish was through.

29-Jan-2012 06:42:15 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:16:18 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

---------- Auraofguthix ----------
2nd Place, Wintumber 2008

As the night of Wintumber settled on the lands,
From Trollheim's peak, to the Kharidian sands.
Men and creatures both, with anticipating eyes,
Gazed expectantly towards the fast-darkening sky.

From Jad to the chickens, feathery and small,
Everything was transfixed, awaiting the fall.
Promise was hidden in the bellies of white,
A balm of purification, cleansing all blight.

Children's eyes, filled with innocence and longing,
Crowded the roads, swarming and thronging.
Their parents had eyes only for the clouds,
And their contents, hidden beneath fluffy shrouds.

Men grouped all over the island of Miscellania,
And all manner of ghouls observed from Morytania.
All over Karamja, eyes peeped from the trees,
In Varrock, the sewer rats abandoned their cheese.

The sigil was taken up by the hidden elves,
Even Reldo came, leaving his books on the shelves.
The revenants halted in their reaping of life,
Great demons ceased their causing of strife.

The Godwars was postponed for this one night,
The gnome pilots settled down from their flight.
The ogres and trolls, and giants of all kinds,
All stood assembled, one thought on their minds.

"Let it snow! Let it snow!" thought every working brain.
Even the fish wanted the white, flurrying rain.
The animals cried, in a blast so fierce,
The very gates of heaven, they seemed to pierce!

Like the crash of the waves, or the crackle of thunder,
By this call the clouds were quickly sundered.
But no matter how loud the outpouring rose,
To keep their snow, was what the clouds chose.

Saradomin cried, "Enough wait, let it snow!"
And yet the black sky remained utterly fallow.
Though Guthix's tear flowed freely on the ground,
Even a drop of snow was yet to be found.

29-Jan-2012 06:42:16 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:18:02 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The dejected masses prepared to take their leave,
Animals around the world began to greave.
And as the array of humanity started to go,
A shout was heard "It's starting to snow!"

Joyous celebrations resounded everywhere,
The world experiencing happiness beyond compare.
The children and parents gave happy cries,
For a blanket of pure white fell before their eyes.

But in hindsight, one might begin to ask.
Who caused it to snow, opened the cloud's flask?
Men, animals, and even Gods were unable,
Who accomplished this act of great fable?

Was it Mother Nature who made the clouds flow?
Was it the virtues of humanity that sent the snow?
Nay, 'twas Paul Gower, and his karaoke hub,
"A.K.A. Mister make it rain in this club!"

29-Jan-2012 06:42:25 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:18:20 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

------------ Daimyo30 ------------
3rd Place, Wintumber 2008

‘Twas a lonely afternoon, about that time of the year
The mistletoe was heralding; “Wintumber draws near!”
In the arid southlands, where the frozen gale dies
Across the golden dunes and beneath the blazing skies
Where even cool iron and bright silver burn
Where magic runs thick; I waited my turn

No frost was in the air to temper my greed
Slow hunger bid me to fill its endless need
By the edge of the arena, I paced out my tension
A hundred thousand coins – indeed, a pretty pension

‘Let my foes come!’ Thought I, mouth distorted in a grin –
Sweet insanity came upon me, as I was signaled to begin
Drawn into dim oblivion by death impending
I remember not the fight – save the moment of its ending
***
In respect for his memory, I opened his eyes
As is custom – so the soul can escape to the skies
Then I turned away, and hid my brow in disgrace
Unable to look upon his calm, ashen face
And repulsed by my deed, I turned and I fled
Wishing it might have been me who lost instead

A crystal pond stopped me – my wild, frantic dash
And with my heart by my feet and my mouth turned to ash
I fell to my knees, just to stare into the deep
And rest my hands upon the surface, unclenched as though in sleep
‘Merry Wintumber,’ whispered I, just to drive sarcasm home
To the jackals and the palm-tree in a horrid, bitter tone

‘Merry Wintumber,’ came the echo, but merry and clear –
It hardly seemed possible, but someone was here

‘Go away,’ I called, ‘just leave me be!*
The visitor ignored me, and stepped forth so I could see
A visage familiar to many a child –
His eyes deep and friendly, his smile quick and mild

‘Santa Claus,’ I groaned, ‘just go away, please’
But he just sat beside me, beard wafting in the breeze

29-Jan-2012 06:44:01 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:19:59 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

‘It’s Wintumber, dear child; I have a job to fulfill
Choose your present and then leave I will
I’ll give you one wish, just one, mind you –
Not seven, not three, not five and not two
So don’t blurt out any ill-considered thought;
Make a wise wish, or good intentions come to naught.’
Pensive I mulled, while my heart leapt in my chest
Perhaps things could still turn out for the best!
But Santa, continuing, shattered my delight;
‘I can’t undo your doing though, can’t un-see your sight.
What has happened has happened; I can’t bring the dead back
Necromancy is not something I keep in my sack.’

With the spark of an idea invading my mind
I thought and I reflected for quite a long time
‘If you cannot bring him back, then let me go,
Make me sweet frost; make me all-encircling snow.
Where is hot and fierce, let wan flakes fall,
To cover the bodies, and bring joy to all.’

‘*was a lonely night, about that time of the year
The church bells were pealing ‘Wintumber is here!’
And in the southlands, people opened there door
To see snow, where snow had never fallen before
Ice danced to the ground, to kiss the fevered earth,
Whispering; ‘Be joyous, ‘tis the season of mirth!’

29-Jan-2012 06:44:01 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:20:38 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

------------ Fargrist ------------
1st Place, February 2009

The Lord of Balance felt the scales shift, slightly. A power moved.

~~~

The healer wished she was on the Sea Change, the stench of Varrock was too much. Down the alley she trudged through the mud and sewerage. Scarf wrapped around her face. The captain beside her, leading her to their destination.

A church.

The red robed monk looked up from his studies in the gloomlit church. Visitors at the door. A man and a woman, recently from the desert by their look.

The man tilted his head and looked at the monk. The monk closed his book and as he did so, remembered his visitor, from a time years ago.

"Ah, the Abyss.", voiced the monk, the man in the door nodded and spoke, " We have a visitor for you, she will not enter your church, but her words you will want."

So saying the man opened his hand and a portal appeared hiding the couple. In the portal stood a white robed woman, in a desert.

The church filled with her presence and the monk felt his heart lurch as he looked into the sunset eyes of the red-haired woman. Her hair flared up wildly, alive as flame. The monk felt the air prickle with change.

Her voice commanded.

"I am the unremembered. Once death was my sanctity, now my joy. I am your enemy, monk, but you are small and a greater foe moves now."

"My red-haired seafarer and his unwounded healer bring you my word."

"Heed it."

"From time to time a great spirit breaks back into life from death, Ankou, they are mindless flesh and bone. A few rare of these with time and will, gain greater power, and can shape themselves."

"Becoming mirrors of life, such a one, called doppelganger is amongst you now."

"Your enemy Zaros uses this doppelganger as a vessel. "

"Zaros does not know that I sent a powerful, but flawed gift for his vessel."

29-Jan-2012 06:44:01 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:21:57 by Cozmic

Cozmic

Forum Moderator Posts: 16,435 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

"Zaros does not know that I sent a powerful, but flawed gift for his vessel."

"A flaw that gives you power, and a chance against a god unbound by Edicts."

"Wake the vessel. Kill Zaros. The healer sees all, the seafarer slays all. Use them. I will not mourn them."

"What gift did I send from my country undiscovered?"

With a malign twist of her lips the vision vanished.

Only her last word hung in the dark of the church as the dust and drapes settled from the turmoiled air.

"Iban."

29-Jan-2012 06:45:12 - Last edited on 30-Jan-2012 19:22:26 by Cozmic

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