We Live, So We Must Die

[Lammy]

Prelude; Author's Note

From: Nobody

 

Writing isn't my strongest suit to wear. Most of my life, I was always the one to ask others to record these adventures and these thoughts for me, because back home, learning to write was as useless as tears over an animal dying so that the others can eat. I would often portray these thoughts on my walls; this time I wanted to write them down in a book, so that others - if found - would be able to understand where I come from.

Who am I? Irrelevant. By the time you get to the next chapter, you would have forgotten my name, much like you would forget your idols and names of the old gods. It is always in one ear and out the other for human beings which is no one's fault. Trying to remember names that are tied to books is redundant; actions speak loudly, like the roar in heaven from the angels during the day of judgement. Or like the bolstering scream of the mother in the presence of something that is mighty. Or the call of your sin when it should be your name.

I call you to repent. To change your mind, to fix yourself mentally and let your actions to declare that change. To finally be free of your past mistakes and find yourself in greater standings with yourself and in your faith. To forgo the sin of your flesh - of your desires - so that you can overcome fear. This is a warning that the day will come when everyone faces themselves and their "gods", some sooner, some later, but in the end...

You don't care, do you?
Well, hey, that's okay!

 

A lot of people don't care. In fact, it is encouraged by your enemies that you pay no attention to the world around you, for they want you to remain ignorant of your potential, of what is wonderfully deep inside of you! I urge you, however, to look around, to see the legends that have left this realm while marking its names into the soil of Meranthe, either in success or in failure?

Let me remind you of a man-made-god, Jokul, and how the god of Hel sent you a challenge that all of you were afraid to answer to, Varrach, and of how a man was able to make an empire that was destined to crumble, though not after answering that challenge and paving a way for you?

Or should I remind you of Orphee, one who's ambitions overcame another sent by Hel, Sak'noth, and overcame evolution through sheer might and power?

Or we can go back further, Glufdor, Surtyr, even Vdalion, once great, and how they all remind of us our potential while soon meeting an end.

These were men who were well into decline; still fought in order to bring about their own vision. Yet you are too scared to look in their direction that they made for you. Or you don't care. Or you're too much of a sloth to see the effects of this ripple of both good, and evil. You should look, for they are what the epitome of what man and demon should be. Those who strives for a change, to be your challenge, to be your answer.

Beautifully, like all things born to the womb, must too die. From dust you are from, to dust you return to. And in the distant future, these names will be the petals that are pecked from the most bloodiest of Sinka and forgotten in the wind. Their names changed and the echos differed, but not of what they have done. These are my own idols, and such is also my sin: for when I look to man, I look to them. And when I look to them, I look away from the source that created them, only to reflect and remember.

So, I will tip over the statues of old, break them into pieces, and remove the images of those deified so they can finally look inward - to remind you of your potential. For, while I am irrelevant, I am still your challenge. In this, you will either break and wither away to be forgotten, or be the answer that will face any challenge head on - to be stronger!

I write these stories of repentance for you, the one who reads it.
For the little light, I will be that darkness that you will strive to erase.
For the one that wishes to surpass Orphee, I will still curse your name and answer my covenant of curses.
For the primordial fire, who is like a phoenix.
To the Queen of the Faeborne, who's kingdom will never truly be yours.
To those of Fortune, who's kingdom will be met with a great lack of.
For the son of the Glutton, who desires to grow.
To the dragon of coin who runs a bar - surely you're greater than even that!

For we all need challenges, trials that test the very mantle of one's integrity and drive.

For if everything was so easy, then repentance would be easy! And if it was easy, you would turn away from it the second that you are sanctified! So, walk with me through these stories retold, and I will return to you, reader, not only hope - but a brand new way to live! To change your ways and become greater, like they wanted.

So that through us, the standard can be raised.

Are you ready?

If so, then let's begin the first tale.

...I am bad at endings, but great at the beginnings. So let's start from the trek, and the arrival of the fox from the shadows, and to the great land of Meranthe.

After all, all things that end have a beginning; every genesis, a revelation, and every day, a night.

I think that's why I'll title these stories, We Live, So We Must Die. Because, what is so scary about it? The dead are more happy than we are. They already done what they need to do, so they're just partying all the time! Eating, laughing, maybe even battling still while laughing at us! Hopefully, one of them will pick up this book, and read it too.

Though, if not? Fine! I'll retell it to them when I can! Sooner, hopefully!