AL-KHĀTAM: The Final Tablet

[Wavey 2568]

Spoiler

 

 

    

  

THE THIRTEENTH AND FINAL TABLET

“We hear but we do not listen.” 

 

TRANSCRIBED BY IVAN CARDINAL LOTHARIA

 

 15th of Sun's Smile, 140 B.A.

ABSTRACT

The Lothar Stones are marble engravings regarding life in the Balthalite Empire, otherwise known as Old Balian, dated somewhere between the fifth to seventh century. They are attributed to St. Lothar the Bannerlord, the final dynast of that ancient civilization. At least twelve of these stones are believed to be in existence, with each depicting the perspectives of Lothar and his countrymen on various topics. They are written in Old Balthalite, a script similar to non-Dragaari Flexio.
 

SYNOPSIS

Scholars have inferred that there are twelve tablets written during the ancient civilization. However, another tablet was recovered alongside the twelve tablets within the same expedition site. Evidence has shown that this tablet was written amidst the same time period as the other twelve were authored, yet, the words seem to be much more cryptic in nature. The writings engraved within the artifact seems to be different than the style of St. Lothar whilst the language has a mixture of Bathalite flexio in conjunction with Rudran and Rhenyari terminology. Many of the deciphered words used reveal that the author may have been a Rhenyari oracle or a priest, a contemporary amongst Lothar’s time, but his affiliation with the afore-mentioned Saint is left as a mystery. Nevertheless, its contents are intriguing. The tablet contains two poems, one at the beginning and another at the end. Both poems are seemingly connected to one another as if they are addressing each other. Betwixt the poems is an ominous lamentation about the end of the Bathalite civilization written in the style of a prophecy. The tablet is transcribed into standard common below:

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وایورن از اسمان  | The Wyvern from the Skies

 

Skies asunder 

His roars they fear 

The grey clouds swirl 

Whilst his eye appears 

 

His gaze falls upon the deepest hues 

Of her sapphire tides 

beckoning him near 

He bellows determined 

For all who could hear 

 

"My Queen, 

look to me! 

the distance is gone 

I am here, I am here, 

I am here, I am here!"

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. Listen closely.

Samedhra cries. Badhir laments. Mother Radaga taught us for naught. And Akritara’s wisdom reaches upon deaf years. Do you hear them? 

 

Our crime was when we took the sea and sky for granted. KHUDA was wroth but he did not see our transgression as an original sin. Yet, he knew that our folly of vanity would inhibit our obligations of humility. 

 

When HE sent down Badhir, his purpose was to contain the Saat Asmaan. Brash and full of life, Badhir was elated to follow the LORD’s orders. Thus, his body intertwined with the sky, holding it together as a firmament for our LORD. 

 

When HE sent down Samedhra, HIS instructions were clear. She was to contain the seas and tend to the creatures within. Calm and collected, she was ready to listen to HIM. Thus, she fused with the sea, duty-bound to uphold her oath to the LORD. 

 

Two Ferestes had their fates intertwined by KHUDA’s will. He knew what was to come, verily the LORD knows all things and things to be.
 

The rain was enough to grow our crops. The waters were calm for us to sail and catch for sustenance. The snow upon our mountaintops were plentiful, yet moderate, to ensure their fair beauty. KHUDA had willed it, verily he was gentle, and Badhir and Samedhra were kind. We prospered with KHUDA’s blessings brought forth by the two Ferestes. 

 

But we did not listen. When KHUDA instructed us to leave the firmament, we grew hasty and impatient. As we grew, our egos grew with us. Ask your fathers, ask your grandmothers. They know the sin we were tainted with.

Badhir and Samedhra were one, their oath to the LORD led to their affection for one another. We felt it during the rising tides and the lowland monsoons. As their affection grew, so did our gratitude to them. But our gratitude would soon grow to entitlement.

Our beasts fattened, our treasury grew, and our minds were enlightened with knowledge upon knowledge with the blessings of KHUDA. But we soon became lax in our faith. Our affirmations of faith were delayed until forgotten. The call to prayers became quieter and quieter, until even the mightiest city of Sibilsgard barely even whispered the summons to the temples.

Verily, our lost battles were a testament to our loss of faith. KHUDA showed us the signs. But we went against him, for we believed that we deserved to see through the firmament, to glimpse upon the Saat Asmaan before he deemed us ready. We built thirteen pillars in our thirteen cities. Under the orders of Beros, the pillars were built within thirteen days. Each pillar was to be high enough to reach the sky. We reached the peak of each pillar, the air was dense, yet we did not falter.

Shaytaan whispered in the emperor’s ear. And in turn, he shouted the same orders to us. We were to fire our trebuchets and ballistae upon the sky.

Badhir watched in horror as his own being cracked. We saw the thin lines form upon the firmament with each projectile launched towards his very being. Tears began to form as the clouds darkened, but we did not cease the relentless assault. Badhir would soon release the grief of his pain down upon us in the form of rain. Yet, we continued our assault.

Samedhra watched from afar as her beloved’s tears caused ripples upon her sapphire waters. Her frightened gaze soon turned to anger as our onslaught upon Badhir continued. In tears, she begged the LORD to cease our madness as she saw our sinful pride devolve into a savage desire to reach the Saat Asmaan. Beros was led astray by Shaytaan, for he was convinced that if he had an audience with KHUDA, all the troubles of our people shall be washed away.

Rather, we were washed away. KHUDA was wroth and the land rumbled. Our mightiest mountains to our north crumbled, and Samedhra came forth in the form of a leviathan, the tides followed behind her, washing away the crumbled mountains. I heard her tearful screams of revenge, and at the moment, the skies bellowed in a thunderous roar. Each of the thirteen pillars were struck down by thirteen flashes of lightning. And we all fell from grace.

I was saved by a gentle wind, as soft as feathers, as I was brought down upon a lone mountain untouched by the LORD’s wrath. I was made to watch with horror as Badhir, in the form of a Wyvern, appeared through the cracked firmament, his mouth opening as a fiery gust of wind bellowed from his breath, laying waste to our marble structures. Samedhra soon followed from below with her roaring tides of waves, and within moments, Sibilsgard was washed away.

I survived to witness it all. KHUDA wanted me to witness it. For I was the only soul who heard his warning. I was the only soul who heard Badhir’s laments and Samedhra’s cries. I was the only soul who listened and took HIS warnings to heart.

I survived. I heard HIS voice when the land rumbled. I listened when HE bellowed,
 

“KHĀTAM.”

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لویاتان از دریا | The Leviathan from the Sea

 

Muffled roars 

She could barely hear 

Yet her watered eyes opened 

When his eye approached near 

She now heard the echoes 

They would become more clear
 

She raised the tides 

Closer to her dear 

From blue to green 

Her happiness reared 

And then she felt it 

Closer to her ear 

His calls of arrival 

Which brought them both to tears 

she would sing in response

 

"My king,

Your presence I feel,

I can see your tears, 

I am here, I am here, 

I am here, I am here!"

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AFTERWORD

Historical journals and records of the expeditions of the Old Bathalite civilization in Almaris showed evidentiary records of soil erosion upon the northern canyons. Extremely coarse sedimentary deposits showcase a geological history of that which the northern lands were once encompassed of mountains. Thus, it is possible that this tablet does indeed tell the true story of the fall of Sibilsgard.

However, if such is true, then it is possible that either the author, or Lothar or his companions spread this warning to the remaining cities within the Bathalite civilization to lead them back to the right path. Yet, the collapse of the Bathalite civilization perhaps tells a different story. That the people had heard the warnings, but refused to heed them. 

 

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LEGENDA TERMINI 
 

Badhir - An Angel whom the Bathalites believed was sent to uphold the firmament between the mortal plane and the Saat Asmaan.
 

Samedhra - An Angel whom the Bathalites believed was sent to ensure the stability of the oceans within the mortal plane.
 

Saat Asmaan - Seven skies.

KHUDA - GOD
 

Fereste - Angel

Shaytaan - The Deceiver / Iblees

Khātam - Finish / End / Stop

Spoiler

A big shoutout to @VIROS and @Cracker For introducing the Lothar tablets! And a huge thank you to @VIROSfor helping me with this idea and going over the bathalite lore with me! 

 

 

[Andustar 4143]

Upon receiving a copy of the translation, the King of Balian sat in deep contemplation. "The Balthalites of old were blinded by deception; now their cities lie in dust," he mused. It was a stark warning for all to bear, that one must heed warning and keep their arrogance in check. There were some places where mortal hands were not meant to hold dominion. "Cardinal Ivan has certainly outdone himself. I must commend his transcription."