As the wind runs through the glade, Mell's sweet smell ran through a jealous nose.
Skret — a wicked lord of Orr's misfortune — wished nothing more than to crush.
Exhaustion, disappointment, jealousy — a plague of happiness in his eyes.
Aderfod's rituals of fruit and of love, the wickedest of Mell's inventions to the heartless King.
His mischievous road led to a Knight of Honor and glory.
"Whence lies the abode of a noble man?" a misfortunate finch calls.
Shining, "The land past the hill, in a humble home of Laefundloum shall I lay my head."
"Take a bride and lay your head upon bosom! Such rewards, you deserve!"
"I shall, young finch. For your aid, some feed" — the Knight tossed seed to Skret.
Skret went ahead of the Knight and planted seeds of sorrow.
A maiden, betrothed to another now could not recall or see her beloved.
Seeing such distress, the Knight comforted her and took her as his own.
But as much as he plague her, Skret could not ill her faster than the Knight could heal her.
While the maiden lay with child, the winds grew wicked and bellowed.
The eternal transporter of soul, Gorrn both took and gave life that night.
The Knight torn by conflict, blamed not the god of these acts.
A mischievous owl arrived at the door and stared into the house.
"Who? Do your eyes feast upon the tragedy of a lonely child?"
The bird spoke naught, and pointed to the townsfolk outside.
"What of the town? Those not here could do none to aid!"
A pause, a seed, "Those not here would do none to aid."
The Knight became a King and his son, a Lonely Prince.
The castle was now full of birds and servants, obedient and afraid.
While the kingdom grew, the smell of Mell ran through just the same,
and with it, Skret's song played again to each new Knight.
Gorrn grew weary of the exchanges—more weary than after one or other of his vocations.
Patience is a virtue played well by the vile, and the King of Vile most.
Skret appeared to Gorrn as a giant land octopus — as costume not disguise.
"Are the hours and journeys of your talents a burden of late, brother?"
"The seas are full of the dead; the forests, the waters, even the clouds are full of sadness and rage."
"Ah yes, my brother, I have seen. I have observed. Tis the Kingdom of the Old Knight."
"I do not wish to think blame of this unbalance upon the people, nor of you. Tell me another tale."
"As you wish, I shall explain how your scales have weighed and tipped."
"Architect of the gods is the Kingdom of the Old Knight, my brother.
The Forests are the realm of Fiara and Filifa, who can be dangerous and unkind. Surely blame lies there.
The Waters are the realm of Ocielle and Korga, both have laid waste before. Surely blame lies there.
And Clouds must be calmed, Mell should look after Areis, but she does not now. Certainly blame is there."
Then, the god of change stopped. "But why would blame be spread so far amongst the gods?"
The wicked smile was cleverly concealed in the beak of the mischief King.
"Moghus himself wishes to rid the Orr of that most godlike of creatures."
"He would not burden you with this plan, and I refuse to give up my playthings."
Gorrn—furious at the false revelation—slammed his foot so that every god could hear.
"Fight with me, for the people down below, to stop their Kingdom of the Old King, my brother."
"I accept your offer, my brother. I cannot allow the unbalance to continue."
And so they raised an army of demons and souls without men.
Thus, in the nights of the longest Andrand, the armies of unknowables came.
The Old Knight stood on the throne of his Kingdom and sent Knights to fight.
The Knights were no stranger to war, but to war with gods' flock they lost often.
The Old Knight grew weary and the Kingdom passed to the Lonely Prince.
Skret, delighted, led his armies to Mell's fields, where she lay in wait.
"Jealous King of Lies, why have you tainted my land with your Demons?"
"They merely come to counter the Apsara's protections, my sister."
"You are no family."—Skrett shortened her with his blade.
Gorrn stormed the castle of the Lonely King with his spirits.
"Moghus, you need not vessel in this Old King! Show and Explain all!"
The King stood from his worn throne. "I am not Old nor god. I am Lonely."
The Kingdom lay in waste, Gorrn left the Lonely King to his empty Kingdom in Laefundloum.
Gorrn, ressurrects Mell, and drives the demons from her lands.
Moghus places the sisters, Lilith and Adele, as watchers of his time of repentance.
Skret, King of Insolence and Defiance, is pleased with his ploy and armies.
He keeps many souls for his games and enjoys brief respite from jealousy.
Holiday
Laefundloum is a holiday of horrors, ghosts and demons.
It takes place the night before Gorrnuary - the time of Gorrn's repentance.
There are parades where people dress up as monstrous things and ghosts.