retel Hylvinham the Human.
She appears to be in her 40's, has very long golden blond braided ponytail, violet eyes, and pale skin. She is holding some silver edged black ora chimes in her right hand. She is wearing a translucent spidersilk veil, a crystal amulet, a dainty woven mournbloom circlet, a pair of emerald earrings, a tiny jade nose ring, a coiled emerald serpent pendant, a golden coiled snake bracelet, a green hunters cloak, a star-cut veil iron bracelet, a serpentine Luukos pin, a shimmering opalescent silk bodice, a delicate golden beaded chain, a twilight grey satchel, a black velvet skirt, a delicate gold toe ring, and a pair of ankle-tie sandals.
Gretel recites:
"The Wyvern"
You hear a soft melodious clink as Gretel slowly turns her chimes.
Gretel recites:
"Once upon Jastatos night, my soul was weak and cursed with light.
I huddled over volumes vast, filled with tales of times long past.
Time passed and I was nearly napping, when suddenly I heard a tapping,
Like someone there was barely rapping, rapping at my window pane -
"Tis just the wind," I muttered, "rapping at my window pane." -
And I bent to study yet again."
"The sound grew strong behind the curtain, I hesitated - sad, uncertain.
Memories of terror filled me. Shane's dying cries, as always, chilled me.
So that now, to still the pain, to quell the deep abiding shame,
I concentrated on the rapping - "Tis a priest who does the tapping.
There he knocks, again, again - Some kind priest to quell the pain.
There he knocks, again, again."
You hear a soft tinkling sound as Gretel taps her chimes.
You hear a soft tinkling sound as Gretel taps her chimes.
You hear a soft tinkling sound as Gretel taps her chimes.
Gretel recites:
"Curiosity growing ever stronger, I could not wait a moment longer.
"Good priest," I said, "Take not my hesitation for disdain.
But truly I was deeply napping, and so gently you came a-window tapping,
That I dismissed as rain your gentle rapping." - and I threw open the window pane-
Darkness there and no one came."
Gretel recites:
"I flung wide open the rattling shutter, and my heart began to flutter.
For no priest was standing there, but a Wyvern hovered in the chill night air.
I knew that he would surely kill me - for a truer beast he no more - could be.
But, with a flourish he bowed right to me - and my I felt my fear begin
to drain.
A Wyvern at my window pane."
Suddenly the spiral collapses upon itself with a deafening thunderclap, then
explodes brilliantly and is gone. Stars wink down from the night sky, and
the greyish white face of Lornon presides over the lands once again.
Gretel recites:
"Ebon creature of the night, he should have filled my heart with fright,
But instead I felt an odd delight, I had reached a peaceful plane.
I opened my mouth and spoke to the night, "Oh, ghastly Wyvern see the stain
Of hearts blackened with wretched shame that hide from death like shadow from light."
The Wyvern spake, "Embrace the pain."
Gretel recites:
"I marveled to hear the creature speak, though his words indeed were bleak.
Such words could bring no surcease and surely no abiding gain.
Nothing further did he utter, but soon my mind was filled with clutter -
Adrift in visions of that deep russet stain.
I closed my eyes and must have uttered, "Not again."
Quoth the Wyvern, "Embrace the pain. "
Gretel recites:
"Prophet!", shrieked I, "Evil Creature! - Sheru's get! Vile thing, Prophet yet!
By the moons above us - by my soul with sanity strained -
What profit in embracing pain? Tell me now, I beseech again!"
The grief struck my soul like lashes from a cane, and the Wyvern...
The Wyvern said, "Embrace the Pain."
Gretel recites:
"Visions of Shane's small shallow grave, grief washed over me in waves -
Regret at actions left untaken, my confidence broken, shaken.
"Wretch!", I cried,
"The Dark Gods have lent thee - by Lornon's light they have sent thee!"
"Respite! Respite from this everlasting grief and shame!
Quaff, oh quell this pain and let rest forever the soul of poor Shane!"
Quoth the Wyvern, "Embrace the Pain."
Gretel recites:
"And the Wyvern, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting -
Beneath the tree of willow just outside my window pane.
And his eyes have all the seeming of an Ur'Daemon who is dreaming,
And the moonlight throws his shadow like an everlasting stain.
And Shane's death was with purpose, for his sacrifice was at last my gain.
Look now unto my eyes and discover
- I am the Pain."
You hear a soft melodious clink as Gretel slowly turns her chimes.
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