Words of Love

Introduction

Hello,

Enclosed within the pages of this book are fitting tributes to the Goddess

of Love, the Matron of the Light, the beautiful Taliena. Through her gifts,

Algoron shines brighter than it ever could without her, for she is more than

simply about Love. In fact, Love is more than simply about Love, and it is

such because of how Taliena has guided our knowledge of Love, so that it can

be more than one simple definition.

Love is what we're striving for, all of us in the Light. A world filled with

Love is a world where all may seek happiness and peace in harmony. A world

filled with Love is a world where Honor is not twisted by perverse individuals

who use it as a front to their dark gains, who claim honor and yet kill the

weak and use their strength for selfish purposes. A world of Love is a world

in which all seek happiness in a mutual togetherness. The strong help the

weak, and all give of themselves so that the world may function and grow.

This is the kind of world that Taliena would transform Algoron to be.

Thus, Taliena is more than just one of Love. Taliena is a way of life, a way

of living. To follow Taliena is to understand that the world is more than just

a place for ourselves, it is a community of peoples and creatures, all of

which deserve the chance to strive for happiness without being judged by

others as too weak or unworthy. This is the kind of world worth fighting for,

the kind of world that Taliena represents. And so we give Taliena praise, for

all of her quality.

In this book we will share true stories of Love, Parables, and Songs. In

addition it will include her tenets and commentary by various voices within

her Church. This book is every bit a celebration of the beauty that can be

found in her gift to us all.

May she be praised forever and ever,

Arreana Lightwing

Of Taliena's faithful

Words of Love

Index

Page 1........Introduction

Page 3........Tenets

Page 4........Introduction to Parables

Page 5........Hope in the Darkness

Page 6........Strength

Page 7........Commitment

Page 8........Justice

Page 9........Introduction to Songs

Page 10.......Songs of Love

Page 11.......Introduction to Stories

Page 12.......Garaint's Story

Page 13.......Ballad of Seal and Pythia

~*|Tenets of Taliena|*~

1. All you need is love - The common and basic emotional need for all is

love.

2. All may feel love - From the most evil to the most good soul, all may

be touched by Taliena's love.

3. Virtue adds depth to love - the more moral and virtuous your

relationship, so deeper shall the potential of your love be.

4. Taliena's love for us is unconditional - Love Her or spurn Her, She

will always carry you in Her heart.

5. Taliena's love ought to be aspired to by Her followers - We ought to

love not only our friends but show love to our enemies as Taliena does.

6. Taliena gives to us platonic familial love for our friends and family

and soul bonding true love for our partner - With these gifts we give our

soul to one, and we cherish our family and friends with the other.

7. Love requires trust, compassion and commitment - without these

principles love cannot realise its potential and can never be true.

8. Love brings health, happiness, understanding and peace - Those who

understand the world and the nature of people seek these things above all

other fleeting or material goals.

9. Love is the strongest force in the world - It can destroy all

boundaries and unite all peoples in harmony.

~* Introduction to Parables *~

The Parables contained here within are some of the ones that I have told in my

sermons so far in my time as a Priestess. Some I have made on my own, some I

have heard before through the oral tradition of my people. All of them are

relevant to Love, and living a life worthy of praising the Light. One of the

parables contained within, named "Justice", has never been used in a sermon

of mine. Though it could be in the future.

When reading the Parables, don't simply read them for their value as a story.

Put yourself in the shoes of all of the characters, allow yourself to relate

to them and see the world as they did. In this way you might understand the

lessons being taught. Lessons about why we fight, how we can find hope and

Light in the Darkness, why it's important to remain committed to what we love,

and why we can find strength, not weakness, in love.

In future editions I might include even more parables, for, from these

stories, we can gain such a greater understanding of the values we hold dear.

If we look beyond how simple these stories are, we are allowed to see their

value and importance and learn something of value in turn.

Thank you,

Arreana Lightwing

Of Taliena's faithful

Hope in the Darkness

This story is of a woman named Purity, given that name by her parents when she

was young and marking her forever as a faithful and devout woman of the

Light. She never deterred from that path. She found a husband, they courted

for some time and then were married. After marriage they had a son and life

continued on. However, 5 years after her son was born, 7 years into

her marriage, her husband passed away suddenly.

Darkness swept over her like a wave. She did not lose her purity, but anguish

became her blanket and it seemed as if the lights in her home were always off

even when they were on. She had loved her husband with as pure a love as any

mortal could bear. He had been precisely the man that she had wanted to be

with and her heart felt empty without his presence. Desperately she struggled

to find solace and to make peace with the aches in her heart.

Some nights, Purity would wander out when her son was asleep, and stare up at

the black, velvety sky, peppered with the light of countless stars. The red

and white moon were visible in their varying phases. The black moon's presence

was only indicated by a void in the sky which blotted out the stars that

should have naturally occurred there. In the quiet, serene moment, she would

pray.

She was desperate for an answer to the ailing of her soul, but it seemed as if

an answer was never to be found. As the months passed she began to despair

more and more. Everyone around her noticed.

One night, she stood out again, looking up at the sky filled with unending

stars. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pleased for some sort of release

from the darkness which surrounded her soul. Then something happened which

hadn't happened in any of the nights previous since she had begun to come out

and pray, she felt a tugging on her skirt.

'Mommy? Please don't cry' said a little voice.

Purity looked down to see the blue eyes of her son pleading up at her.

Throughout the time since her husband's death, her son had been there with

her. Some days he needed comforting, whether it be for a scraped knee or

something else. She would hug him tight, never certain who needed the hug

more. She was sure he didn't really understand what happened to

his father, but he had been there for her all the same.

When she looked at her son she saw things which reminded her of her husband.

When she looked at him she saw his youth, his innocence. Her motherly

affections overtook her and she scooped her son up into her arms, 'I love

you.' she whispered.

'I love you too.' he said in return and she smiled, feeling a warmth she

hadn't felt in months.

Strength

There was a little boy who was as obedient and good as a child could be. He

loved to see his mother smile, and to hear his father's praise. He got into

trouble sometimes, nobody is perfect, but more often than not his heart was in

the right place and his actions with it. One day, his mother approached him

with a seemingly simple task. "My son," she said, "would you pick something

up for me? There is a crate in town that I need picked up, but I must stay

home and prepare our dinner for tonight."

The town was a peaceful one, and the mother did not have to fear for her

son's safety, but she overestimated his strength. Still, he agreed and made

his way into the center of town, following the directions given by his mother.

Eventually he came upon a small, dimly lit building with an older, but kindly

appearing man inside.

The boy handed the man the note from his mother, and, after a few moments, the

man nodded and smiled. He disappeared into the back and returned a minute or

so later with a crate that he strained to carry. Dropping it carefully by the

boy's side he nodded, saying, "Good luck."

Rolling up his sleeves, the boy reached down for the crate and hefted it in

his arms. The weight was so much that he almost dropped it. However, somehow,

he managed and he walked out from the store waddling with his load. He

certainly had an awkward appearance, and more than a few villagers stopped to

look at the smaller boy clearly carrying a crate much to big for him, impressed

that he could even lift it.

However, the boy did not get far outside of town before he dropped the crate

and fell to one knee, panting. His arms felt shaky, wobbly from the strain of

lifting that was too much for him. Despairing, he knew not how to continue and

bring the crate home. He couldn't leave it alone, however, lest someone

mistake it as lost property and take it with them.

For a long time, the boy sat there pondering his dilemma. Just when he was

about to concede defeat and take the risk of leaving the crate behind, someone

familiar appeared in his vision. The boy's brother was older by several years.

Still young, but strong and strapping, easily able to carry the weight.

Sometimes he and his brother didn't get along, and he would think his brother

was mean.

But, deep down, he knew that his brother was good, and there was a bond

between them that was much stronger than the strength needed to lift the

crate. And though that strength would not lift the crate, it gave him the

courage to seek his brother, to ask him for assistance. Differences had to be

put aside.

He asked his brother for help, his stomach turning as he imagined his brother

shaking his head, or, worse, becoming angry and lashing out at him. But that

never happened. Instead his brother simply looked over, rather neutral in his

expression. "Why?" he asked. The boy explained that mother had asked it of

him, but, he couldn't lift it up. His brother chuckled a little and said

that he would have to help make the boy stronger but that he would help.

Reaching down, he lifted the crate with ease and together he and the boy, his

brother, walked home.

Commitment

There was a father with two sons. He owned his own land and ran a successful

farm, raising them both equally in his instruction of how to take care of a

farm for the day when they might one day take over what he had left behind.

But both sons had other ambitions, ambitions of going to the city.

Ambitions of quick riches and easy fame had seduced them both, and their

father loved them and let them go. He gave each an equal portion of some of

his savings, bade them good luck and watched them trot off to their imagined

destinies.

But the sons each fell into the darkness of the city. Gambling and prostitution

squandered their funds. And their intentions were met with failure instead of

success.

Unable to find fame or fortune, each realized at about the same time that

their destinies had been misguided, that the wisdom of their father was not

hollow, and so they returned to the farm.

Their father loved them both no less and so took them in. But his sons were

grown now and he was old. He decided that it was time for him to retire and to

pass on what he had to them.

He had amassed a great amount of land in his time and so was able to give a

sizeable portion to each of his sons, keeping only a small bit for himself so

that he could remain sustained through his retirement.

Each son built their home upon their new property, given lovingly by their

father, ready to begin their new lives.

The man's younger son, however, was deeply moved by his father's act. For his

father had already gifted each with much of his savings. Blessed them as they

left him, even when he told them that such a road would be more difficult than

they thought it to be.

And even though they'd returned in failure, having squandered their previous

gifts. In his love, he had given them yet another gift. He vowed that he would

not fail this time.

The older son had expected and been given. He knew that his inheritance would

be a portion of the land, and his failure with the free gift of his father's

savings did not bother him.

It was unfortunate, but gifts were free and did not require favors. The

inheritance, he felt, was his to have. He was confident, he did not foresee

failure. He knew what to do.

But though both sons were confident that they would not fail, only one had

vowed not to do so. The father's youngest son worked hard every day. He loved

and cared for his land, the gift from his father.

He kept a strict commitment to his vow, a vow made in Love. The other son

worked, but did not work as hard. He had not binding commitment to attach him.

He loved his father, certainly, but not with the same richness and fullness of

appreciation that his brother did.

And because he only held a passing love, he felt no commitment.

When it came time to harvest, there was a notable difference between the

crops. The younger son's land had been far more fruitful, for he had worked

harder and shown it more love.

His labor paid off and he was rewarded with as good a crop as his father had

ever had himself. But the older brother's crop was weak and showed the signs

of inexperience. He had barely a quarter of what his younger sibling had

attained.

The same land, the same knowledge. Their only difference was commitment.

Commitment born from love was what caused one brother's farm to surpass

expectations and the lack of it caused the other brother's farm to falter.

Justice

There was an isolated village on an island, somewhere in the oceans of

Algoron. Everything about the town was self-sufficient, such that they didn't

have to make contact with or be corrupted by the influences outside of their

little world. In every sense they were perfect, untouched.

However, even in ideal circumstances, no mortal is truly perfet. Two of the

villagers decided that they wanted things to change in the village, their

names were Thief and Bandit.

Soon Thief and Bandit ravaged the town, stealing, murdering and beating the

unprepared denizens into submission. To them, only strength could stand up in

the world, the weak were to be used, or, if they got in the way, culled.

For too long they reveled in their victories, abusing their strength and

talents, wasting their gifts for evil purposes.

But not all of the good villagers lacked the strength and fortitude to stand

up for what remained of their home. Purity and Heart planned a way to route

Bandit and Thief and capture them in their own act, ending the violence and

putting a stop to the assault upon the village.

It was night when the brave heroes left the boundaries of town and headed to

the cave where Bandit and Thief were seen to be occupying. Their intent had

not been to kill, simply to capture and prosecute.

But Bandit and Thief had left too much at stake. They knew their sins would

never be forgiven by the town, they wouldn't ever find peace. So they fought

back.

The fight was a close one, the details of which I will not tell here. What

should be known is that Justice had to be bought with blood and Bandit and

Thief fell to the heroes, lives snuffed from Algoron forever. As tragic as it

was, it was necessary.

Sometimes, many times, those of an evil bent will not repent, they will not

see the error in their ways. Even worse, they will intentionally abuse and

misuse the well-intentioned purposes of good. These villagers stood up for

Justice, because they needed to protect.

~* Introduction to Songs *~

A short selection of Songs have been placed within this edition so that you

might have music to sing in praise and celebration of Taliena's beautiful

gift to us all. The songs contained within have been contributed by the

lovely dame of the Knights, Datai Amberillo. In future editions, perhaps

others might contribute more songs of praise and worship in her name. These

songs are meant to lift the heart in a manner of reverence for the works

of our lovely Goddess.

You need not sing them to appreciate their beauty, but if you do sing them,

sing them loudly, sing them with pride, let the world hear you sing these

songs so that your voice might be lifted unto the heavens and our Lady might

there hear of your joy in her arts and gifts. Even the deities we serve

enjoy being told thank you, and theirs if often a thankless job. Give them

praise, shout their names, be jubilant in your celebration.

Sing these songs and thus forever praise her name.

With Love,

Arreana Lightwing

of Taliena's faithful

Songs of Love

As submitted by Datai Amberillo

For My Love

Lo, I will bare my soul,

My heart's passion for you,

Our love will guide us through,

On Goodness' sacred role,

Together, strengthened, twined,

Greater, wiser, combined,

The end of quests I find,

Forever, love, defined,

Lo, I ride far away,

My heart's passion trust true,

Our love will guide us through,

By you my soul shall stay.

<>@<>

Love that Never Dies

Love that never dies,

I sing on music's wing to you,

While away our hearts near,

I wait and remain true.

Hope that never dies,

I sing on music's wing to you,

Your strong heart soothes my fear,

Winds lift my voice to the blue.

Faith that never dies,

I sing on music's wing to you,

Placed my heart in your care,

A choice I will never rue.

Peace that ever dies,

I sing on music's wing to you,

To soothe in evil's lair,

Till you return to my view.

To hold me again in your embrace,

Stand again before my eyes,

I sing of what time will never erase,

Love that never dies.

<>@<>

Together

Together we will make our way,

This path hearts will not stray,

Through the dismal weather,

Never lost when together,

Heart of Good see us through,

Should the end be in view,

I will ride there beside you.

Together we will make our way,

Each our own part to play,

Cadence rhymes sung forever,

Marking time together,

Song of Good see us through,

Should the end be in view,

I will ride there beside you.

Together we will make our way,

Silksteel will never fray,

Bonds that none can sever,

Victorious in our endeavor,

Love of Good see us through,

Should the end be in view,

I will ride there beside you.

~* Introduction to Stories *~

This is the key highlight and purpose of this book. In future editions I

hope to expand this section so that it is far larger than any other section

in the book. Contained within are the true stories of Love, from people just

like you within Algoron. There are stories of romantic love, stories of

familial love, and stories of friendship and kindness. In this section I wish

to celebrate all of the kinds of love in this world.

It is my desire to show that Taliena is more than just about love and

happiness, her message is one of purpose. Her purpose is the creation of a

world in which the values of the light may exist in peaceful harmony. Where

all understand the value and worth of each person. Where there are no more

selfish strivings, no more seeking happiness at the expense of others. Such a

world would be a world that is truly free. Free of violence and hate, free of

vengeance and rage, free of unnatural death (such as murder), and free of the

rotting of hearts which smoulder in dark decay. That which remains in this

world would be the acceptable, natural ends in life. Where the only suffering

is caused by natural things in this world, so that all happiness is pure and

working towards the greater good of all.

These stories of Love show us just how wonderful Love is when it is practiced,

and they are an act of celebration. Through these stories we praise Taliena

for her gifts and show her that we are committed to bringing about a world

that is worthy of the Love she has given us.

With Love,

Arreana Lightwing

of Taliena's faithful

Garaint's Story

Contributed by: Garaint

When I was seven winters of age, my childish ambitions led me to ignore

some advice my mother had given to me. Rather than coming inside and

warming up as I should have, I warmed up enough to feel my fingers and toes

once more, then ran back outside. Looking back, I know my mother must have

felt some aggravation, yet I know she smiled and shook her head as she

accepted my boyish antics.

I did not return from my play until well after dark and well after dinner

had passed. I recall my mother sitting before the fire in her rocking chair

as she sat knitting and humming. As I tried to tip toe past to my room and

take a piece of bread she stopped me by calling my name. Rather than

chastise me, as I rightfully deserved, my kind mother set about reheating

some of the stew as I changed into dry clothes, again ignoring advice she

offered me.

As these things unfold as they do, I awoke the next morning quite ill,

almost deathly so. I recall little in those first hours besides the aches

and the coughs whenever my stomach and bowels were not emptying themselves.

My mother, through all of this, sat at my bedside. She tended to me by

keeping me clean, keeping my fever from raging too hotly, encouraged me to

drink broth and sang me lullabies. Through all of this, the thing which

stays with me the most, was the feeling of her gentle, loving hands on my

brow or my hands.

In all of the time I was sick, she never left my side to sleep and she

turned her customers away so that she could stay with me. When the days

passed and I could finally climb from bed, my mother never scolded me, never

asked me if I had learned my lesson. Instead, she handed me the new pair of

gloves and the matching cap she had made for me.

My mother showed me compassion, patience and the unadulterated and

everlasting love of a parent. It is her goodness which has affected me most

deeply. Not only in this one instance which I have recounted, but over and

over again with her words and her actions. In her passing, she continues to

teach me that Love and the actions which accompany this strong emotion can

be life altering.

My name is Garaint, and this is my story of Love.

Ballad of Seal and Pythia

Contributed by: Datai Amberillo, written by Sehvelarious Iolius

Back in the days when the earth was young,

and the world lay in one continent.

there was born a love tale now often sung,

of two souls who reached contentment.

A bold young man fresh from Deep Water,

a clerist known as Seal Breingiton.

Did ride forth from that cold place,

south to Althainia where sun it shone.

Deep Water was a cold harbour town,

with stone fortifications true.

Knights of the Mark protected it from enemies,

and it had never been subdued.

When Clerist Seal did arrive,

he found men to his liking.

Men who preached truth and love,

whilst evil they were fighting.

The Knighthood of Gareth Keep!

he did aspire to join its ranks,

Lady Kiery he petitioned strong,

and upon entry he gave deep thanks.

Upon joining Gareth he toiled long,

he trained until he was very strong.

Then a crusader's lance did he chose,

and that would be what he would use.

Back in the days when the earth was young,

the insidious Eclipse did dwell just west of Gareth.

And more of the enemy would come than the Knighthood could cope,

many Yinn crusaders arrived there with their combat leader Kerith.

Squire Seal fought there with his bold friend,

Sir Piergeron - outgunned and outnumbered.

Scattered to the winds they were upon the battles end,

Piergeron made it back to the Keep but Seal became hunted.

Past the guarded Keep he flew and sorely hurt he was,

whilst running hard north did he flee to forest Shalonost.

With five pursuers at his back deeper to the forest did he run,

till he could run no more he came upon a hollow log almost done.

He dived inside,

to try to hide.

When he heard a soft surprised moan,

quickly he realised he was not alone.

A surprised elven woman quickly recognised his plight,

and wove around the log a magic spell closing it up tight.

A mighty cry of dismay was shouted from without,

as they could not force a way within after Squire Seal's rout.

Seal groaned as he beheld the eyes which had surely saved him,

two shimmering almonds looked back to his within the darkness dim.

That darkness overcame him and unconsciousness did claim him,

a dilemma came to she,

of this strange human in her tree.

This elven maiden was just not any dancer from the forest.

But its Speaker and leader Pythia Shalonost.

Long she had dwelt and there in the log had stayed,

Now alone but not for long as once she was married.

Bold decisions she usually quickly made,

but in this instance she tarried.

With her long experience drawn of humans,

she knew they could not be trusted.

Their short lives gave no guarantee,

and yet she was getting flustered.

This hurt young man was close to death,

handsome and noble his features were.

His goodness to her radiated with every breath,

to save just any human would simply not occur.

Decision was taken without any consideration from her head,

instinct did prevail and she chose from the heart instead.

She applied her druidic craft to him and washed and dressed his wounds,

and her skill given to him returned Seal from his doom.

He regained consciousness thanks to her healing lore,

and she nursed him back to health beyond his bloody war.

While he was sleeping fondness grew for the feverish knight,

and when he regained consciousness it gave her quite a fright.

Long did they tarry there as he regained his health,

of everything did they speak and of about himself.

When at last they did depart there was magic in the air,

If he never saw her again life about he would not care.

And yet every tale ever told to him about love of elf and man,

ended in tragedy because of the difference in lifespan.

He quickly realised that this fate would be his,

but because of the love he felt for her,

he sought to end their bliss.

Worse still did he find that this was not just any elf,

but the Forest's Speaker Pythia Shalonost.

Whilst he was just a lowly squire what could to her he bring?

he thought about it quite a while and came up not with anything.

He offered to receive her not,

and she respected his desire.

But neither of them could stop,

nor suppress their ever-growing fire.

It so consumed them both so that they could not deny,

and both made roses many in number to simply blow away.

At last when he was Knighted he felt better of the match,

but many of her Senators disagreed with their Speaker's catch.

Not to mention tragedy which came of man and elf,

which neither of them wished upon him or herself.

Now they would meet again since he was now a Knight,

and long time they would spend together talking into the night.

Quickly did he rise in Gareth's ranks,

While fighting valiantly on all the flanks.

Holding officer commands in Shield and Lance,

before Knight of the Crown did he advance.

At arms length they always were as this was knightly proper.

Virtue demanded total code discipline or he would come a cropper.

Lady Krysten searched for a new Lord Knight,

and in Seal she found one which was right.

With all of Knighthood in his thrall,

he felt now worthy of Shalonost's hall.

So each of her Senators he did entreat,

to prove himself worthy when they did meet.

Many trials and tribulations did they set,

and each challenge put to him was met.

Through virtue, discipline and Knightly quality,

they gave him her hand in much frivolity.

Together they had much fulfilment, happiness and all along,

blessed with Aengus, Ohlivia and Baldwin Breingiton.

Much happy time was spent complete,

In the vallenwood's quiet retreat.

But the spectre of tragedy did hang over their heart,

many times whilst together a cry for help and he would depart.

When Gareth's voice would often loudly call,

his loyalty to it was paramount to them all.

Placed in danger upon many occasion,

the mortality of men bore much persuasion,

to this elven maiden bold,

her fear for him would unfold.

At last fate said in the twilight of his life,

that he would fall in combat with Yinnae strife.

Ambushed between Serpantol,

and the village of Pan-toll.

Set upon in battle with his old squire,

a caravan of children was placed most dire.

The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder,

and the yinn could not move them for they were bolder.

The fight went on till the children were safe,

but to Sir Seal and his squire came death's embrace.

Overwhelmed by superior odds,

There they fell as ordained by the Gods.

A train of knights did come to find,

last words from this fine soldier's mind.

He passed to Sir Kuldan what for wife to keep,

then slowly drifted into sleep.

The tragedy of love for elf is real,

Now she is without Lord Seal.

Now alone this world to tread,

without her love to walk instead.

But myths and fairy tales it provides the bard,

for they are held in high regard.

Other tales of tragic love seem quite pallid,

compared to Seal and Pythia's ballad.