Be Wary, Be Merry, Don't be Contrary

Fire teaches to be passionate, cheery and loving
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Lust tempts to be obsessive, dreary and seek numbing,
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Entropy teaches to be calm, wise and fear naught growing old.
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Cowardice tempts to be scared, frail and a cowering dolt
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Air teaches to be smart, quick, and nimble-minded
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Sloth tempts to be lazy, slow and dull-witted
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Shadows teaches us to be observant, be creative, and adaptible too
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Envy would tempt us to not grow ourselves yet instead become you!
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Water teaches us to flow and dance, seeking wise paths of least resistance,
Hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Greed would tempt us to take what is not ours, and have no conscience,
Hey-ho, away we go!
Thats why we are always told,
be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Nature teaches us to live, to breathe, to be part of the world,
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Gluttony would tempt us to consume and destroy our home,
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Earth teaches to be brave, loyal, courageous and bold
hey-ho away we go!
Yet Wrath tempts to be angry, violent, hateful and cold,
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Spirit teaches us to be humble, compassionate and kind, for memories will be all any of us leave behind.
hey-ho, away we go!
Yet Pride would tempt us to be cocky, cruel, and mean. To look down at others as lesser beings,
hey-ho, away we go!
That's why we are always told,
Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!

Be wary, be merry, don't be contrary!, a common nursery rhyme all around Valerick

This little children's rhyme, which most children on Valerick learn over their lives, has a cyclical structure. It can start from the top of any verse, and so long as you go through all eight in order from there, it would be a complete rendition. The rhyme itself, on its face has a shanty like feel, but can seem innocous enough, about morality perhaps. In truth it is a cultural relic, likely traceable to the Sundering itself, when the world broke apart, and Nightmares roamed the darkness, hunting those whom exhibited the negative traits noted in the rhyme, seeking to feed on adults, but seeking children for a far darker purpose. Children could be infected if they had enough of any of these negative traits, twisted and turned into dark and fell spawn, horrors and terrors, soldiers in the eternal wars with the Primordials, their innocence utterly taken and twisted in the fell mirror of the Void forever.

Content warning, objectively, kinda a bit of body horror and general nightmare fuel, read at own risk:

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This was particularly true of female children, because once thusly twisted, they could be utilized to bear many more horrors and terrors, the reproductive ability twisted beyond recognition into something truly heinous and evil, this strange essence where they could just will minor Voidlings into existence, nurtured within their bodies, dozens of them, and allow them to grow and feed until their body ruptured, sending their essence into the realm of nightmares forever, and birthing many new Voidling creatures to reap and sow terror and destruction.

As such, it seems this little nursery rhyme, this shanty like tune, is likely a cultural artifact of parents trying to help children understand morality, and the dangers of losing any parts of it, in a world gone mad, whilst still trying to be parents and avoid discussing the horrifying matters with their children in such a way as would shatter their youthful innocence.