Hymns of the Thornspeakers
~Excerpt from ‘Legends of the Thornspeakers’~
Not many within Kul Tiras have heard of the secluded group of druids known as the Thornspeakers, whose roots trace back to the most ancient days of the kingdom. The original members were once part of the Drust, an offset of the giant-men vrykul who settled on the island long before the first men did. These were not the witches and practitioners of dark magic that haunt the woods of Drustvar now, but keepers of the balance and the cycle of nature who guarded and helped bring balance between the needs of nature and the needs of their people. That being said, they do not shy away from the darker side of druidism. Nature is a cycle of both life and death. They find power in carving runes in stone and bones, read portents in animal entrails, and ritually sacrifice stags and other animals, though how much power these acts garner them is uncertain. If dear reader, you are open to speculation, then it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they can read brief glimpses of the future to predict the weather, grant boons to the health of livestock and crops
When early Gilnean settlers arrived in Kul Tiras, the Thornspeakers were the first to try brokering a peace between the two. Their sorcerer-king Gorak Tul would have none of it. He ordered the attacks on the arriving settlers and slew one of the Thornspeakers who openly defied him and his corruption of their magics. This choice did not go over well - those remaining exiled themselves from the Drust, and provided what aid they could to the fledgling humans in their fight against Tul, which they eventually won.
Nowadays, the Thornspeakers are composed mainly of native Kul Tiran’s and a handful of remaining Drust. They still keep themselves, though it is said that they can be seen in the deep woods of the Drustvar, dismantling the Heartsbane Coven’s vile wicker constructs and maintaining some of the ancient histories and traditions of the Drust alive with song. Such one is a song often sung to pass the time during work, camp chores, or long travel. It is transcribed as such:
Not many within Kul Tiras have heard of the secluded group of druids known as the Thornspeakers, whose roots trace back to the most ancient days of the kingdom. The original members were once part of the Drust, an offset of the giant-men vrykul who settled on the island long before the first men did. These were not the witches and practitioners of dark magic that haunt the woods of Drustvar now, but keepers of the balance and the cycle of nature who guarded and helped bring balance between the needs of nature and the needs of their people. That being said, they do not shy away from the darker side of druidism. Nature is a cycle of both life and death. They find power in carving runes in stone and bones, read portents in animal entrails, and ritually sacrifice stags and other animals, though how much power these acts garner them is uncertain. If dear reader, you are open to speculation, then it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they can read brief glimpses of the future to predict the weather, grant boons to the health of livestock and crops
When early Gilnean settlers arrived in Kul Tiras, the Thornspeakers were the first to try brokering a peace between the two. Their sorcerer-king Gorak Tul would have none of it. He ordered the attacks on the arriving settlers and slew one of the Thornspeakers who openly defied him and his corruption of their magics. This choice did not go over well - those remaining exiled themselves from the Drust, and provided what aid they could to the fledgling humans in their fight against Tul, which they eventually won.
Nowadays, the Thornspeakers are composed mainly of native Kul Tiran’s and a handful of remaining Drust. They still keep themselves, though it is said that they can be seen in the deep woods of the Drustvar, dismantling the Heartsbane Coven’s vile wicker constructs and maintaining some of the ancient histories and traditions of the Drust alive with song. Such one is a song often sung to pass the time during work, camp chores, or long travel. It is transcribed as such:
Of all the trees that grow so fair, Kul Tiras to adorn,
Greater are none beneath the sun than Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Yew that is old in churchyard mold, He breedeth a mighty bow
Alder for shoes do wise men choose, and Beech for cups also
But when you have killed, and your bowl it is filled, and your shoes are clean outworn,
Back you must speed for all that you need, to Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Well, Elm, she hates mankind and waits till' every gust be laid
To drop a limb on the head of him that any way trusts her shade
But whether a lad be sober or sad, or mellow with ale from the horn
He'll take no wrong when he lieth along 'neath Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Do not tell the priest our plight, for he would call it a sin
But we've been out in the woods all night, conjuring summer in
We bring you good news by word of mouth, good news for cattle and corn,
Sure as the sun come up from the south, by Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs,
All on a midsummer's morn
Surely we'll sing of no little thing
In Oak and Ash and Thorn.
---
((AN: The song above is Oak & Ash & Thorn by the Longest Johns from the album Cures What Ails Ya. The song itself is taken the famous poem, A Tree Song, by Rudyard Kipling. I claim only the appreciation of the band and their talent, and nothing more. I also recommend Alveryn on Reddit - I enjoy his takes on the different classes lore, and I find they are excellent reads. Wowpedia and Wowiki are also great sources.))
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