In the Fields where the Red Flowers grow
We Sleep
We who marched, and fought,
and abandoned our own
We Sleep, but do not Rest
We Wait, and Guard against the Darkness
That seeks to devour our own
We Sleep, and Wait, and Watch.
Oh you, Who have witnessed our Eternal Slumber!
Take up this Torch that we have left behind!
Hold the Torch High with light
Keep faith with us the dead and we shall rest
As Flowers Grow in the fields of death.
~A poem carved on the Brazier of Eternal Flame[/right]
While many a traveler speaks of grandiose landmarks such as the Brass Castle of Poartlind or the shimmering Silver Gardens of Shimshar, not many will speak of the Garden of the Dead as a tourist destination. One of the few remaining relics of the Ageis Kingdom after the
The Fall of Ageia, the Garden is a giant graveyard dedicated to the army of General [Name], eldest son of King Ignatius IV. After Agiea fell, the army wandered the plains, seeking a home and a new purpose. A clash with a rival kingdom sensing weakness shattered the army, leaving thousands of dead sinking into the mud. Unable to re-establish his father's kingdom, [Name] instead established a small town to tend to the remaining survivors and the many orphans and widows the clash had left in its wake. At its head was the Garden of the Dead, the graves of every man who had perished in battle that day.
A Mountain of Mausoleums
The most striking sight of the Garden when a visitor enters is the sheer number of Mausoleums. Each and every soldier, from the lowliest messenger to General [Name] Himself, has their own carefully-carved grave of marble, which is plentiful in the region. Each grave is carved with the soldier's name and notable accomplishments, that his acheivements may persist long after his death. Those of Generals and Captains are more elaborate than the footsoldiers, but each has their place, organized by company.
At the entrance to the Garden is a plaza, centered around a great Brazier that has never once been extinguished. The pillar it stands on has what appears to be a poem carved on it, although more recent translations indicate it may be a series of commands. With respects to the area, a small Warden's shack and some tables for picnikers have been added to better facilitate those who have come to visit. A great iron fence surrounds the entire garden. Curiously, the metal is actually an alloy of iron and
Mystm's Bane.
Eternal Guardians of the Dead
The People of [Village], who have safeguarded and tended the Garden since its inception, have many traditions regarding the care and respect of those buried there. Chief of which is the Unknown Tomb; a man of the village stands guard around the clock, a cycle unbroken since the tomb was first sealed. Gardeners carefully tend the topiaries and trees that have sprung up around the Mausoleums, and the Chief Warden works with Mira's Archeological Society in regards to preservation of the Historic site. Unfortunately, The Archeolgical Society has very different views regarding preservation-those being 'don't look, don't touch.' It has made upkeep of the paths and the mausoleums themselves extremely difficult.
Whispers of the Dead
Those who walk the Garden at Night, keeping the eternal watch of the soldiers, have mentioned hearing whispers amoungst the tombs. The Warden has taken note that this only occurs in the fall, when the nights grow longer and colder. Had he been equally vigilant in tracking the stars during these reports, he would notice something very different indeed...
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