Role

Chapter 10

The boy and the spirit-cat are much like many of her other visions.
In a sense, the sighting of a ghost is the same as a vision. This is
how they came to her. Now, the boy was there on the night she
had her first vision and was scorched by lightning so badly. He also
saw what she saw. Her final death. For thirty years, he has followed
her at a distance, yearning to reach out to her but afraid he would not
know what to say. When he foresaw that soon Captain Vlijerous would
be lost to her, he knew he had to do something. By now, he knew
Zxctikazxcti very well. He closed his eyes and asked Rarywey for the
words she would need to hear to prepare her for what was to come.
It is unknown whether or not Rarywey answered the little boys prayers
but when he opened his eyes, these words began to pour out from his
soul. They are a representation of all things Zxctikazxcti. Her ideals,
hopes and fears. And of course, because Zxctikazxcti comes forms
from a strange and esoteric arial culture with an odd language, there
will be included some translation/explanation for how Zxctikazxcti
interprets the poem as well.

The night is brightest,
When the moon is full,
Unswept, unkept,
Unkempt and cool,

The first paragraph represents the surface encounter that all living
creatures have with the cycle. If Zxctikazxcti has learned one thing
about people, its that they prefer to leave the surface barely scratched.
At least when it comes to such things as mortality and the end of days.
Even the most intimate funerary proceedings are unlikely to break this
barrier, which in any case is only held open long enough to say goodbye.

A peccant troth sighted, (A sinful/offending, solemnly made pledge)
Quoth doxy-eyes dighted, (Tis said the lover/mistress-eyes prepared/made ready)
The morn forlorn skyborn, (the morning brings sadness to the warrior)
Expiry-toll the duel, (Deaths toll the duel)

The second paragraph represents the second stage of Zxctikazxctis
journey into death. Of the conundrum of dipping her feet into the waters
of death while wielding the marans fire to fight for the living. It also
portrays the notion that even a solemn oath given to engage in the
cause for/against ones death is sinful in its very nature and that the
toll is the toll. There is no bargaining with the absoluteness of ending.

A dolorous sliver,
Of silvery river,
Shall hither and thither,
This wittering tide, (this token/piece of information tide)

The third paragraph represents that aspect of acceptance that one is
what one is. Of letting the river take you. Of giving in to it and going
with the flow.

Continued in (Part 2)