Poetics of the Forge (Rave Merrill) COMPLETED

[Masamune Tametomo]

"You learn quickly, child,
Of things you only just
Understand with mild
Knowledge and curiosity.

This will lend you strength
In the times to come, Child.
Go to great lengths
To live with open thoughts.

With mind open wide
And the stance in motion
Attack, do not bide
Your time, there is much to learn."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"If I have grasped well, or perceived far
I never have accomplished it alone
Nor even with a skilled and wise teacher:
I am the product of unrighteous stars
And stood on giants' shoulders, chained there
I am still young, but in my soul is hid
The memories of an Elder Nightsister
A woman of the sword, and of the forge
A gift unwanted, just like much I learn
From my late Masters, sir. I am Sith-raised
And Dathomiri born. If I see clear,
'Tis for their their purposes they made me so.
You've given me a step to take alone,
An art I can attain on my own terms,
A skill beyond whatever they have shown."

She ran her hand along the blade and sheathed
The product of the labors they'd employed.
"If you're amenable, Master, I'll stay
And train with you when e'er I may attend."

 

[Masamune Tametomo]

Masamune sheathed the blade and
Bowed to Rave as the sparring ended.
He gestured then, with his hand,
Towards the forge.

"Train with me whenever you desire,
Child, my door is always open to you.
Though I believe that, despite the mire
Of souls within, your's is very much your own.

You say you hold within
The memories of those before,
But despite this, you must begin
To realize that your soul is to
The fore, it is yours and yours alone,
Child, and none may take that from you.
You need not, for memories not your own,
Fret over something that only you control."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"If you had once withstood a mind within
Your own," the girl said and, bitter, laughed,
"You, too, would question agency and self,
Long years have passed since I was exorcised.
Perhaps your instincts guide speech after all.
One thing I know for sure: I shall not touch
Control over my soul or destiny
In speech alone. For that, I have the forge.
Perhaps we'll find a higher way," she said.
"Your art and mine together, and who knows
What might become more possible in time."

 

[Masamune Tametomo]

"No, your mind is your own
And your heart belongs to only you.
Another mind, I see, you shall not condone
And only you, within and without, remain.

Let the past become such
And let it reside in the dust behind.
But the past can provide much
Stability in deciding who you are.

A young woman, strong and stern,
Yet pure in your way.
I see how you painfully yearn
For purpose and path.

Follow your heart and soul
Whe'er it may guide you.
Remember the heated coal
Within and use it where needed.

Return here to train or smith
Whenever you please.
This is your home as much as mine, with
All within allowing you free reign.

Further search into the forging arts
Would be welcome, indeed.
I can train you further to using the heart
And soul to meld and bend and work the steel."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"I still intend to earn my keep while here.
There are some stranger arts than we both know,
Things neutral and oft-bidden, Light or Dark
In long-forgotten ages -- if I may,
I mean to find that path, and disembark,
And learn what I can learn from elder days.
If that has value unto you and yours,
I hope that I can partially repay
The reorientation you've shown me."

 

[Masamune Tametomo]

"Ancient arts, both light and dark
Of elder days long gone by
Greatly interest my curious heart,
I shall help wherever I can.

We shall both endeavor
To discover such arts
And, perhaps, together
Relearn the ancient ways.

May we forge, together
Might blades of legend
That shall, with ease, weather
Even Heaven's falling."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"I've seen the heavens fall, Masamune.
I've watched great cities burn, and worlds.
There is no permanence. But I defy
The very jaws of entropy with these."
She gestured to her sword, and all of his.
"My duties take me far away from here
I shall return with better steel than this.
A gift for my new teacher." Rave bowed low.

 

[Masamune Tametomo]

Tametomo bowed deeply to the other
In respect to the woman.
He then produced an object with leather cover
And offered it to Rave.

"My gift to you, young one.
A Tanto, a knife, of my forging.
It is not of Songsteel, but done
In the old style of forging.

I hope it shall serve you well,
Though I wish you never need it.
It will guard you from Hell
Or whatever Heaven may task you with."

 

[Velok the Younger]

"But Heaven doesn't sign my checks, or pass
Me orders down the chain that binds the worlds.
I answer to a higher power than that,
Or one whose tasks demand far more."
She took the tanto with good grace, and from
Her bag she took another lump of ore.
"With rhyolite of Svoltan make, your edge
Will never grow too dull, Masamune."
A final bow, and then she left the yard.

 

[Masamune Tametomo]

He watched her go and leave the yard
And knew that she had a while yet
Until she back the one who, with hard
Work, would inherit the blades forged.

It was a hard road that she must
Travel, but he knew she would weather
The roads well and, with much trust,
That she would truly become whole one day.

 

[Velok the Younger]

Fatigued, she set her back to Masamune
And to the forge where she had learned so well
And to the yard where he had taught her arm
That she might best direct the fires of hell.