A Valediction, Forbidding Diablerie35

And the enemies of dine were great,

and fell to fighting over his trail

like hounds, the scent would not abate

through flood and moon. and much travail

The hunter's skill was great,

as they looked for their Father, and they did see

... ancient Discipline used they to find

the road to Shal-ka-mense

They came at last to that secret place

where Caine hid, amongst the waters

Showing himself, Caine called them under,

"Gentle sons, gentle daughters,

Why do you disturb my slumber?"

And they tried to embrace their Father

with steely things and things of wood,

but lightning Caine, fast-moving Caine,

would not be stopped by such as them.

Under the curling, blasting waters,

beyond the pool of Veyd-sah-me,

in the grotto of Shal-ka-mense

did they gather, did they gather,

to embrace their sleeping Father's form.

Found him sleeping? Found him wakeful,

battle-ready, eyes abright,

smiling at his ancient Childer

waging war in the waxing light.

Now the stars they one by one

blot their ways into lightning sky

Now the fires burn hell and cinder

Now the heat reveals the pyre.

Too long! the hunters waited further,

Too long! They did by Veyd-sah-me,

tarry long enough to see the

light of Dawn upon their Father's Face.

And in the turning, burning Mark,

they saw the Finger of Gods own hate,

twisting, curling, God's own Word it

Set apart Caine's lonely fate

And as they burned in hell-bright fires,

as they saw the melted flesh

as they burned with their own Kindred

Caine blessed more funeral pyres

Taking in his bloody Sacrament.

Seek not the blood of thine own Elder

Seek not the blood of thy Sires Sire

Seek not the blood that made thee Kin

For thou will feel the funeral pyre

When thou dost pay for thy immortal sin.