Characters:Historical:Tanath
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<td valign="top">The Seafarer, original
<p>In his home the captain kneeled,<br>
his eyes deep as the deepest sea,<br>
to King of Sea and River Wife<br>
safe voyage for to plea.</p>
<p>As so the gods upon him looked,<br>
a seed was planted in his mind.<br>
his spirit rose, his heart grew keen,<br>
all doubts were left behind.</p>
<p>Tall as the tallest mast he stood,<br>
curled like waves his golden hair.<br>
And now he knew that he would cross<br>
the ocean wide and fair.</p>
<p>Seafarer was he called for good,<br>
a child of water, wind and star.<br>
In love with sea and sky he was,<br>
and with the shores afar.</p>
<p>Unlike the nature of his kin,<br>
towards the sea his heart had turned.<br>
Not for the moon, not for the stars,<br>
for distant coasts he yearned.</p>
<p>A call to shipwrights he sent forth,<br>
if not a vessel they could craft,<br>
a ship as never seen before<br>
by Elf and Man and Dwarf.</p>
<p>A ship to sail the ocean far,<br>
with strong a hull and many oars<br>
to carry him through storm and calm<br>
to undiscovered shores.</p>
<p>His heart content and full of hope<br>
to sail where none had sailed before,<br>
he spread the word and soon the news<br>
came back from near and far:</p>
<p>'Such ship you seek has not been built<br>
since long forgotten days of yore',<br>
spoke many brave an artisan,<br>
'and will be nevermore'.</p>
<p>Atop a cliff the captain stood,<br>
the sea below was rough and grey.<br>
'So end all dreams; there is no ship<br>
to take me through this day.'</p>
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<td width="53%" height="973">The Seafarer, expanded
<p>In his home the Captain kneeled,<br>
His eyes as deep as the deepest sea,<br>
To the King of Seas and His River Wife<br>
For safe voyage he made his plea.</p>
<p>The Powers smiled to see him so.<br>
A seed was planted in his mind:<br>
His spirit rose; his heart grew keen;<br>
All his doubts were left behind.</p>
<p>Proud as the tallest mast he stood,<br>
Like waves curled his golden hair,<br>
For now he knew that he would cross<br>
Lord Galor's ocean wide and fair.</p>
<p>Seafarer was he called, and for good reason,<br>
A child of water, wind and star.<br>
In love with sea and sky he was,<br>
And with the shores unseen afar.</p>
<p>Unlike the nature of his kin,<br>
Towards the waves his heart had turned.<br>
Not for the moon, nor for the stars,<br>
But for distant coasts he yearned.</p>
<p>A challenge to shipwrights sent he forth,<br>
Whether a vessel they could craft,<br>
A ship as never seen before<br>
By Elf and Man and Dwarf.</p>
<p>A ship to sail the ocean far,<br>
With a mighty hull and many oars<br>
To carry him through storm and calm,<br>
Through fog and rain, to undiscovered shores.</p>
<p>His heart content and full of hope<br>
To sail where none had sailed before,<br>
He spread the word and soon the news<br>
Came back from near and far:</p>
<p>'The ship you seek has not been built<br>
Since long forgotten days of yore',<br>
Spoke many a brave artisan,<br>
'And will be nevermore'.</p>
<p>Atop a cliff the captain stood,<br>
The sea below all rough and grey.<br>
'So end all dreams; there is no ship<br>
To take me through this day.'</p>
<p>The surf beneath him roared and rushed<br>
Once more still Seafarer fell.<br>
'Will Galor's own be so denied,<br>
Or dare the flood whatever befall?'</p>
<p>'Shall a son of Galor, Lord of Waves,<br>
Turn so simply and so cravenly aside?<br>
Dare the waves, you favored of the Deep,<br>
Build craft and cross wave to shrouded tides!'</p>
<p>A second voice, more still than the first,<br>
'Do not snuff out your life, Seeker of Rivers;<br>
You cannot serve us so. The sky is grey,<br>
The waves in tumult, the sun a paltry sliver;'</p>
<p>'But hope remains.' A third voice, quieter yet:<br>
'Do not lose hope, for the Powers are faithful.'<br>
All three spoke and then appeared. Three voices,<br>
Each attuned to each, but each unique.</p>
<p>A mighty form, tall and full of glory;<br>
A burning fire of white and silver-blue;<br>
A dove of mists with eyes of purest light.<br>
'Bow not to us. That you must not do.'</p>
<p>The Seafarer had dropped to his knees before them.<br>
'We are not the Mighty. Rise, Seafarer,<br>
But remove your boots, for the place is holy.'<br>
He rose as commanded and removed his boots.</p>
<p>'I have no ship, Mighty Ones. What then shall I do?<br>
A great rover of the waves and I, but no shipwright.'<br>
Neither Syul nor Khuzdun can craft a hull to cross the grey.'<br>
'Fear not. Help comes. All your kin are not lost to pride.'</p>
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