[Violet De Camp]

** A ballad, composed by the Loremaster of Tel-Quessir, Celebrithrade Dedralein // it's to the tune of "Battle Cry of Freedom" **

Ballad of Skaarbrand’s Folly
By Celebrithrade Dedralein

Far beyond the plains, and O’er the many hills,
Howl, howl the battle cry of Skaarbrand!
Their motto was revenge - “our kin we shall avenge!”
Howl, howl the battle cry of Skaarbrand!
Call forth the demons! Summoned from abyss!
Down with the humans, dwarves and Tel-Quessir!
We’ll rally ‘round Skaarbrand, we’ll rally to the end,
Howl, howl the battle cry of Skaarbrand!

They then went forth, summoned their many allies,
Shout, shout the allies of the Fire Paw!
Their motto was resistance - “To humans we’ll not yield!”
Shout, shout the allies of the Fire Paw!
Fight them in life! Feed them in death!
Down with the humans, dwarves and Tel-Quessir!
We’ll rally ‘round Skaarbrand, we’ll rally to the end,
Shout, shout the allies of the Fire Paw!

They cut down the farmers, their mothers and their kids,
Scream, scream the victims of the Fire Paw!
Their motto was despair - “we must abandon all our hope”
Scream, scream the victims of the Fire Paw!
Feeding the bloodlust, and demons of abyss
Doomed to oblivion, their souls fo’er amiss,
Will no one save us? Will no one come to aid?
Scream, scream the victims of the Fire Paw!

Hearing their pleas, feeling their rage,
Charge, charge the adventurers of Hadrian!
Their motto was muddled - for all seemed to disagree,
Charge, charge the adventurers of Hadrian!
Fighting disjointed, efforts thrown in chaos,
Cooperation became a second thought
I know what’s best! How dare you doubt me!
Charge, charge the adventurers of Hadrian!

For many days passed, the continued blood shed,
Shout, shout the allies of Fire Paw!
Their motto was slaughter - “Our demons we shall feed!”
Shout, shout the allies of Fire Paw!
Stronger they grew, the demons and their crimes
Though the worse it became, the more united their enemy
Will nobody stop us? Our victory is assured!
Shout, shout the allies of Fire Paw!

Too many victims, too many sins,
Sing, sing the Loremaster of Tel-Quessir
Her motto was judgement - “They’ll pay for each their sins”
Sing, sing the Loremaster of Tel-Quessir
Raiding the monsters, leading the charge,
Hoping to spark an allied front
We must not falter! We shall not yield!
Sing, sing the Loremaster of Tel-Quessir.

Powering the wards, expelling their magics,
Cast, cast the wizards of the Guild
Their motto was knowledge - “We’ll uncover their secrets”
Cast, cast the wizards of the Guild
Quietly they stood, quietly they watched
Aiding their allies, with enchantments and more spells
Learning their enemies peculiar use of rites
Cast, cast the wizards of the Guild

Construct the outposts, man our stations men!
Yell, yell the legions of Duakarrus
Their motto was battle - “we’ll drive back the dogs”
Yell, yell the legions of Dukarrus
Steadfast they stood, at home and on the roads
Protecting farmers, their families all the while
Push them back men! We’ll break each their ranks!
Yell, yell the legions of Dukarrus

Securing their relics, studying their artifacts
Scour, scour the protectors of Skettus
Their motto was retrieving - “Ancient items they’ll not use”
Scour, scour the protectors of Skettus
Promptly they set out, stealthily they tred,
Hunting down their weapons that aided in their crimes
Securing them each, locking in their vaults,
Scour, scour the protectors of Skettus

Supplying the efforts, assisting capturing of foes,
Clank, clank the Traders of Rischotti
Their motto was commerce - “We’ll supply our forces true”
Clank, clank the Traders of Rischotti
Swiftly they helped out, with slavers and provisions
Handing out their potions, weapons and steel cages
Come at us dogs! We’ll bring you to heel!
Clank, clank the Traders of Rischotti

Dying on the plains, bleeding in the swamps,
Cry, cry the allies of the Fire Paw
Their motto was desperate - “This is the only chance we have!”
Cry, cry the allies of the Fire Paw
Depending on their demons, trusting in their leader,
Yet something wasn’t right - the demons came in weak
Their sacrifice in vain, the hopes went down the drain,
Cry, cry the allies of the Fire Paw

The battle finally over, the battle finally won
Silence, silence o’er all Hadrian
Their motto was victory - “The war was finally won”
Silence, silence o’er all Hadrian
Once they were disjointed, now they stood as one
The gambit of the soul rite had thankfully paid off
Foes lay wasted, Skaarbrand’s soul banished e’er’more
Silence, silence o’er all Hadrian