Believed to be the last remaining oral piece of the Kasillian Age, the Ballad of Light and Darkness is said to be a song of the common people.  Few material cultural works exist from that era, and the Age of Simplification destroyed most of what might have been left after the war.  However, the Ballad of Light and Darkness became an oral tradition, one in which the Order of Flame, could not quite eradicate.  Strangely, the Ballad does not describe the victory of the Lighted Folks as described in the Liberation Scroll, but rather  a “Darkening” and the rise of Heroes to fight as was done in the past.  For this reason, it is considered blasphemous unless performed in Celn tradition and in the proper military context. When heard, the metaphor of the Heroes and their “Path” has spurred numerous Celns onto battle.  It is often played before a great conflict, and always sung after a tremendous victory.

 

When Gaians hide from Lighted Day

When Erebus , in Night, holds Sway

When those above are shown the way

To dark and deep, forgotten Ket.

 

When Heroes sleep, but rise once more

When  Sages reveal our ancient Lore

When great Kings and Queens  from distant shores

Awaken from their peaceful reign.

 

When silhouettes  a Ring of Three

There will in time, come Darkening

When lands do swell from what does breed

Below, in chilled and frozen seed.

 

When the words of Kasille are unknown

Protecting those who rise to throne

When Heroes deeds will make it shown

The road to the Path of Light.

 

A Time for those to pay the price

Of man’s betrayal committed thrice

The Lords of Darkness wait to rise

Commanding hordes to battle.

 

Listen to the Sage’s verse

Not prophets speaking soothing words

To aid us All, a few must hurt

Make idols new; then ruin’s curse.

 

The Warrior shall be duty bound

His weapon rests upon the ground

His mortal wounds  shall bring him down

And he will rise anew.

 

The Trickster’s tool provides the spark

Between the Sunlight and the Dark

His hooded visage is  the mark

His time will come again.

 

Great Mother’s blood will play a part

Her enemies fear a noble heart.

To end the Dark, the Light will start

And lead her on the passage.

 

The Dying God is he who bleeds

In search of knowledge that he needs

For surely it is he who reads

the signs that others cannot see.

 

The Hero’s Journey is complete

In tome and deed  the past does meet

Those Heroes from a distant land

With knowledge  lost once in defeat

 

The shape of destiny may be

And time not just a memory

Open eyes in Sunlight and you’ll see

The path of  untold victory.

 

Hold true with those in righteous might

Beware the traitors of the Night

Seek flame upon the path to fight

The Enemy within the Light.

 

The Sacred Chant

“United Light, Mankind’s Might.

Darkened Flame, Mankind’s Shame.

For the Sake of All, We Cannot Fall

In our darkened hour, we take our power.”