Ami Bowsown
Backstory
Ami Bowsown awoke in a dimly lit cavern and stiffly looked around to gain his bearings. Looking around, he found himself with only the memory of a male voice calling his name amidst the sounds of violently crashing waves. The memory was comforting and brought a smile to his face. Except smiling felt different… When looking down into a pool of water in the cavern, Ami was greeted with a cracking stone face with a thin smile. The myriad statues that surrounded Ami stood guard to a long-sealed tomb beneath the sea off the coast of the Reach. All of them looked like him. Ami soon realized that without hunger, without thirst, and without companions the single feeling that crept in was loneliness. After a length of time that could have been days as easily as it could have been years, Ami heard a high-pitched sound and followed it through the halls of his de facto home. Caked in dust and soot, a small sparrow laid in a grand hall. After some water and a rinse, Smudge the sparrow came to rest on Ami’s shoulder. When rested, Smudge led Ami through seemingly endless hallways until suddenly a flash of light appeared and Ami tasted fresh air for the first time. Overcome with joy, Ami leapt with glee and thanked little Smudge. The cold, exhausted sparrow looked up at his friend, now safe, and closed his eyes with a flutter for the last time. Ami knew what was happening, as he saw the soul of the little one rising to the sky, and he asked the only thing he could think of “do you want to stay a bit longer with me?” When the soul tried to fly back to him, Ami furiously began to sculpt a bird out of the clay at his feet. His soul had to stay, and Smudge’s wanted to, so why not? Ami failed. But before the soul was gone Ami felt it reach out to his own. No words, just a feeling of happiness and calm love that gave him hope and a purpose. If a little one like Smudge could help him just by being a friend, he would find more friends and help them. He was going to befriend as much of the world as he could. He learned to change his shape so he could befriend animals and after a while of walking along, naming the friends he made of varied forms, he came upon the Last Rest Tavern. It was full of potential friends and people to help, and with a small clay sparrow riding on his shoulder, Ami opened the door with as big a smile as he could muster.Ami's Lament
Child of stone, whither do you wander?
The empty earth groans in anguish
Lamenting the one who will never return Like a bird in flight, your soul descended
Falling from the heavens, called to being
You roosted deep within a lithic vessel Child of stone, whither do you wander?
The stars veil their light as a widower
Mourning the one who will never return Petrified veins woke as craggy flesh stirred
Crashing waves composed a heartbeat
Pounding as your coarse chest could not Child of stone, whither do you wander?
Those who remain beat their breasts
Longing for the one who will never return Surrounded by your ilk, you awoke alone
Rocky faces unmoving, voiceless in the dark
Still you smiled, your visage cracking with joy Child of stone, whither do you wander?
Petrous kin awaken in a cavernous womb
They know not of the one who will never return Eternity passed as one unending day
Until cries echoed through empty halls
Songs of distress from a feathery chest Child of stone, whither do you wander?
The survivors wail, their sorrow harmonized
Weeping for the one who will never return You rushed to minister the creature aid
Battered and expiring, a fallen sparrow
Your first friend, wrested from death Child of stone, whither do you wander?
A house of healing, a sanctuary is built
A memorial to the one who will never return Happy was the time you spent in company
Traversing the winding halls of your home
Until you emerged to taste the open air Child of stone, whither do you wander?
Breath comes bitter to forsaken friends
A vestige of the one who will never return Savoring the sunlight, your joy was brief
The sparrow had guided you to safety
But there was no strength left in its wings Child of stone, whither do you wander?
The saved are lost, adrift in darkness
Gone is the light of the one who will never return As its soul took to the skies, you called out
Moulding a clay avian beneath your fingers
You held aloft the lifeless loam, imploring Child of stone, whither do you wander?
They call you by name, a supplication
Pleading for the one who will never return Though you entreated, the soul did not return
Yet you felt its love, and conviction filled you
You would bring help and hope, a friend to all Child of stone, whither do you wander?
Broken upon the Dark Blade, you are devoured
O, Ami, the one who will never return
~ Sung by Eliana Quilaren (Rachel)
Children
