The Keeper and the Key

Field Notes from Diamonds Hadder: On the topic of Master Medlins Death and the Keeper and the Key.

Zabble sits by Master Medlins bed in his personal chambers high in the 3rd tower of kilwaughter Castle.

Medlin: “Master Zabble, I’ll be leaving very soon. I’ve been preparing for this day for a long time. You’re ready as you could ever be. I’ve done my best to prepare you for what’s to come. The rest of your journey you’ll have to take alone. Shed no tear for me as I have other plans beyond this place, as you will someday as well. I hope I’ve trained you well and fair and that you always trust the light in the darkness. I’ve seen your path through the woods Zabble, if you only knew what I have seen.”

Medlin struggled to lift his head and reach for a necklace he was wearing. It was a medallion of the sun etched in Bokonian text that translated to, the keeper. Medlin waved his hand over the medallion which seemed to activate and open a strange puzzle mechanism that was perfectly hidden and woven into it’s design. Inside the medallion a strange red glow could be seen spilling out as the 2 halfs cracked… inside was a tiny but ornate key.

Medlin: “Take this.. it’s the key to the forbidden lower level of the castle. You’ll find things down there that will keep you busy. Secret things, old words, forgotten spells, magic books and enchanted wooden cats, lost things… old coins and hidden trinkets. Even a smart mouse or two. It’s time you know everything and maybe more. The castle is yours Master Zabble. I’m proud of you, I could not have had a better student or friend. You’re like the son I never had. You’ll serve this place well in my stead I’m sure… I’ll be watching over you. Before I leave… I have one last request my friend.

Zabbles eyes opened wide.. his chest lifted with his spirits… his tone strong and clear.

Zabble: “Anything my lord… just say the word.”

Medlin: On the first winter moon, after the dream, you MUST go to the edge of black forest… you MUST… there you’ll come upon something that is of great importance to me and the fate of this world. It’s you Zabble, the new keeper, who MUST go. You’ll know what to do then.

Zabble: I don’t understand Medlin, what dream, what is it in the forest I will find.

Medlin: You’ll know when you see it… my son.

Zabble eyes began to water, and tears fell from his face.

Medlins voice went soft and quiet… to a faded whisper… his hand on Zabbles hand… he was saying things as he drifted off…. smiling… something about a coin book and a queen…. A prince… and a hidden city… but it was to faint to understand or make sense of. He was smiling while his voice suddenly began to softly whisper the song of the warmoths… and then he was gone.

Zabble took the key from Medlins hand, a strange thing it was, polished silver with strange red etchings on it that seemed to glow to his touch. He starred at it a moment then placed it in the medallion which suddenly closed perfectly with an odd and complicated puzzle like clicking sound.. “Hmmm… the keeper” Zabble said in a faint grumble… he wondered if it would ever open again. A tear came to his eyes as he held Medlins hand.. one last time…

Zabble: “My lord” he said, “I don’t feel like I’m ready.”

His voice fell in silence.... other than the faint echo of his last trailing words as they echoed through the empty hallways of the castle... "I'm ready... I'm ready.. I'm ready."

A keeper of what… he wondered. As he stood and headed for the lower levels of the castle and the door that such a key might unlock.

#diamondshadder #fieldnotes #medlin #thekeeper #johnhadder #thekey #zabble

Ramsay Evermore Project: Update

I’m back from Holiday readings. Just a quick Monday update on the Ramsay/Evermore project. We did a photoshoot over the weekend, a little promo shoot for some of this DEMO material I’ve been posting on the front page the last few months, which now seems to be three songs to date. Along the way I wasn't really sure where this material was headed. It was created for simple reasons with minimal effort and great intention and so I answered the call so to say as it was presented to me. I was considering it for the Diamonds Hadder record, but now I am leaning more towards keeping it as a separate side project… outside of Diamonds Hadder.. for lots of simple past Hadder related reasons that have been rattling my moth cage for the last month or so. I think that would be best. At the moment I’m knee deep in 2 other songs for the 1st official Hadder record, which should occupy my tower time till well past good old St nick’s arrival and departure. At that time, mid January or so, I’m guessing I'll have all this figured out. Reminds me of a lyric from one of the newer tracks I’m sleeping with:

“Time, is a ladder

up to the shine

every step we take

leads to another why

and hope is the only thing that keeps us alive

while we reach for the gold

long is the road.”

I’m in no hurry to get nowhere fast. Staying the course.

Happy Holidays.

-j

#diamondshadder #johnevermore #evermore #ramsay #hellfall #lastlight #lordofthegoldentower

The Hurtful Tongue

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/77466a_f0c4882936d5490d97a19254d63af30c/360p/mp4/file.mp4

All work and no play makes johnny a dull boy. It's almost midnight somewhere. I enjoy reading and I think the words we read and say and think for that matter live amongst us on this earth. I have many books with many words. I'm hardly bound to one. Without thought I opened to this passage in one of my favorite books.. on a recent snowy afternoon on white mountain... without an audience or time, no cause or why, no reason or rhyme, no things to hide, no purpose or lie.. but just to do or to die.... I read... and now I ponder what I have read that day. I read and write in many strange places, perhaps I'll start to share some other readings... for fun.

Psalm64;

Hear, O God, my voice of complaint;

preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

Hide me from the scheming of the wicked,

from the mob of workers of iniquity,

who sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their bitter words like arrows,

ambushing the innocent in seclusion,

shooting suddenly, without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose;

they speak of hiding their snares.

“Who will see them?” they say.

They devise injustice and say,

“We have perfected a secret plan.”

For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

But God will shoot them with arrows;

suddenly they will be wounded.

They will be made to stumble,

their own tongues turned against them.

All who see will shake their heads.

Then all mankind will fear

and proclaim the work of God;

so they will ponder what He has done.

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD

and take refuge in Him;

let all the upright in heart exult.

#diamondshadder #johnevermore #evermore #hadderupdate #words #readings