The Lament of Clangeddin

O stone that stood when flesh was taken,

O wall that watched and did not break,

You held the sky from falling waters

Yet did not shield my hearth from death.

Where are the voices of the morning,

The feet that ran along the hall?

The hearth is cold, the Deepward silent,

And still you stand—you stand at all.

Let fire undo what hands have fashioned,

Let frost take hold of measured stone,

For walls that outlive wives and daughters

Are monuments to grief alone.

Yet if the dead yet hear the living,

If love is stronger than the grave,

Then give them back not to my seeing,

But to a world no foe may brave.

I ask no joy, I ask no glory,

I ask no crown nor final rest—

Only that stone remember flesh,

And loss be forged to guard the blessed

The Devoted and the Queen

I

Beneath the banners pale with dawn,

Where storm-lit shadows lie,

A squire knelt before the silver queen

With steady heart and downward eye.

“My lady of the starlit crown,

Your throne is far above;

I am dust beneath your feet —

Yet dust might dare to love.

“Grant me no oath, nor promise sworn,

Nor place at hand or throne;

Only a kiss before the war,

To carry when I’m gone.

For when the ferry should call my name

And darkness take my breath,

I’ll spend my mortal heartbeat there

To remember you in death.”

II

She heard, but answered not at first —

For queens are taught to stand

Where love is sacrifice, not claim,

And grief holds tight the hand.

Yet in her gaze a tremor stirred,

A softening unshown;

For though she wore immortal years,

She walked the field alone.

And so they rode to battle’s gate,

Where stone and fire met sea;

His shield before her glittered bright —

Her sword fell true and free.

Then dawn cried out, and trumpets broke,

And terror split the sky…

And somewhere in the clash of blades

Her mortal knight did die.

III

No cry he gave, no plea for aid —

Just stillness in the spears.

The Tree upon his shattered shield

Was washed with salt and tears.

They bore him from the reddened field,

And laid him where he fell —

And still upon his silent lips

His final promise dwelled.

It was not till the trumpets ceased,

Till thunder lost its roar,

That she, the Queen of Teraniel,

Found space to feel once more.

Then love, too late, broke through her breast

Like spring beneath the snow —

And grief became the only blade

She had the strength to know.

IV

“O foolish heart, that feared to speak —

O faithful heart, so true.

Had ages all been mine to give,

I would have given you.”

She cast aside her crown of gold,

Her tears like falling rain,

And strode alone into the dark

To kiss his lips again.

No spear nor talon barred her path,

No terror made her yield;

For love had found her in the dark

And marched her to the field.

She held him close — her fallen knight —

And kissed his lifeless brow…

And there the Queen of Teraniel

Found peace at last — and now.

V

So sing, O halls of elven stone,

Of mortal hearts made bold;

For never in six ages’ span

Was braver love foretold.

And when the star-winds stir the leaves

And night is deep and wide —

Two shadows walk the Rift in peace,

Forever side by side.

The Ballad of Boney Filup

Now listen, lads, and fill your cups,

As I sing of Boney Filup—

A thief so bold, with hands so sly,

That went out to rob Richmond dry.

Lord Richmond's hoard he swept away,

By torchless night, not light of day;

Too much to load, too much to hide,

He took Lord Richmond's horse to ride.

But greed makes fools of cunning men,

The steed went lame around the bend;

Filup cursed, and left it behind

With half as much he’d sought to find.

Through swamp he fled with treasure-sack,

The boat near sank and pitched its back;

Silver spilled, and gold went down,

Sunk to feed the river’s crown.

He climbed a hill with what was left,

A necklace bright, his final theft;

Hand and foot, he scrabbled high,

Four slappers chased to make him die.

At cliff’s crown he dared the sea,

Dreamed to flee Richmond’s decree;

But the chain about his neck did cling,

And caught a stone like a strangling sling.

There he hung, the waves below,

A rattling bag of bone and woe;

The lord rode up, and laughed to see,

His treasure hanging like a tree.

And there he left him, bone to bone,

A skeleton, a warning shown;

That all might learn who pass that steep,

Shear the sheep but don’t skin it deep.

The Ballad of the Iron Vault

Come gather ye close and hear now the tale,

Of that band of lads who were born to fail,

Five went down and one came out,

But none were left to sing or shout.

Chorus

No honor among thieves, my boys,

No trust in gold, no lasting joys,

The candle burns, the shadows fall,

And Candlejack will have them all.

The Bowman scaled the vault so deep,

The Charmer cracked the lock in sleep,

The Hugger bled the guards of breath,

The Whisker hauled the king’s own wealth.

But greed it whispers, soft and sly,

“Why share with four, when one may buy?”

The rope was cut, the Charmer fell,

The Bowman smiled and thought it well.

The Whisker’s cord was tight and fast,

The Bowman’s gasp became his last,

But steel is swifter still, they say,

The Hugger took the Bag away.

He climbed to find the night was still,

The Jolly waited, hand to kill,

One strike, one sack, the crown, the gold,

The tale was ended, neatly told.

But down the alley bent the flame,

The whisper came to call his name,

The bag was full, his hands were bare,

For Candlejack was waiting there.

Chorus

No honor among thieves, my boys,

No trust in gold, no lasting joys,

The candle burns, the shadows fall,

And Candlejack will have them all.

The Ballad of Thorne Blackwyd and the Chair

Hear now the song of Blackwyd Thorne,

A thief by night, a rogue by morn;

No lock could bind, no guard could see,

What Thorne had sworn was his to free.

The Gnome-King wept, his treasure lost,

The Adze of Gods at dreadful cost;

A giant kept it, cruel and sly,

Beneath the cavern, ‘neath the sky.

“Go, Thorne,” quoth he, “and fetch it back,

No army stands, no spell, no pack;

But shadow’s prince may dare the feat,

Where crown and coin and hammer meet.”

So Thorne went forth with grin and jest,

He found the giant deep at rest;

Upon its chest he crept so near,

The beast’s great snores he need not fear.

A feather drawn from raven’s wing,

He touched the nose of slumbering king;

The sneeze!—a thunder shook the cave,

And from its grasp the Adze he gave.

Swift as the fox he snatched it clean,

And fled the lair as none had seen;

The Gnomes they feasted, raised the song,

And filled his purse a kingdom long.

But Thorne, he laughed and raised his brow,

“Your gems are fine, but hear me now:

A thief I’ve been, yet I would dare,

To sit, if briefly, in your chair.”

The Gnome-King roared, his beard shook free,

“Then sit, bold knave, and mock at me!”

So Thorne sat high with wicked grin,

And all the hall laughed loud within.

Yet when he rose, the jest was plain,

For gone were studs of platinum chain;

The cushion bare, the throne undone,

The thief had stolen more than one.

The Gnome-King laughed, the court did too,

“For thieves will steal what kings ne’er knew;

Not gold alone, nor gems, nor crown—

But pride itself they’ll wrestle down.”

To Whiskerhaven

[Verse 1]

The moon’s in the sky, and the streets are lit,

The gangs all here and the script is writ.

We’ll slip through the shadows - dance ‘round the flame,

For a lad too careful is a lad gone tame!

With a wink and a nod, we’ll make our escape,

No one will notice the haul we'll take.

For the bold, the sly, and the clever who roam,

There’s a place that's waiting, a place called home!

[Chorus]

So drink, lads, drink, to the ones who outplayed,

Who spun with a grin and who ran unafraid.

The Candlejack waits for the bold and the rare!
He steals his own and takes us... where???

To Whiskerhaven we’ll go! To Whiskerhaven we’ll go!

[Verse 2]

The watchmen are blind, and the sheep can't see,

The lungs don't cry, and the dip is free.

There’s no heaving there, no shadow to pay,

The night don't end with a coming day.

So here's to the lads who don't follow rules,

to those who are clever and laugh at the fools

here's to the slick and the brave and the bold

with tongues that are silver, holding purses of gold

[Chorus]

So drink, lads, drink, to the ones who outplayed,

Who spun with a grin and who ran unafraid.

The Candlejack waits for the bold and the rare!
He steals his own and takes us... where???

To Whiskerhaven we’ll go! To Whiskerhaven we’ll go!

Bound for Dryhook

(Chorus) So haul me down and lay me low,
 Where the tide don’t pull and the wind don’t blow,
 Where the hammocks swing and the sheets don’t bend—
 I’m bound for Dryhook at the end.

 I've sailed between the twenty towers,
 And watched ten thousand nighttime hours

 I swore to Shuro all my oaths, 

 And fed the gulls to calm the ghosts.

 (Chorus)

 There’s a taproom there what's built from bone,
 With a cask for each knot that I've known.
 The stools don’t splinter, the pipes stay lit,
 And the floor don’t sway—not one damn bit.

 (Chorus)

 They say he waits with a weathered grin,
 As Saratan rolls my body in,
 My soles'll go dry, my breath'll come back,
 And I'll drink my grog ‘til the stars turn black.

 (Chorus)

 So lash my bones to a barrel tight,
 And toss me deep in the dead of night,
 Let 'Rita howl and the dark tide rise—
 I’ll float ‘til Dryhook's in my eyes.

 (Final Chorus, slower)

 So haul me down and lay me low,
 Where the tide don’t pull
and the wind don’t blow,
 Where the hammocks swing 

and the sheets don’t bend
— I’m bound for Dryhook at the end.

Lord Paladin's Pint

Oh he rode out in splendor, his armor like gold,
With banners and trumpets, so gallant and bold,
He smote down the orcs and he gutted their kin…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

Chorus
He drank it down, yes he drank it well,
No priest could cleanse, no minstrel could tell,
He may have fought bravely, pure-hearted within…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

He scattered the brigands, put thieves to the sword,
His shield shone so bright in the name of the Lord,
The people all cheered and they toasted his win…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

Chorus
He drank it down, yes he drank it well,
No priest could cleanse, no minstrel could tell,
He may have fought bravely, pure-hearted within…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

He battled a dragon, with fire and with roar,
Split its skull open and bathed in its gore,
They called him a hero, a champion of men…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

Chorus
He drank it down, yes he drank it well,
No priest could cleanse, no minstrel could tell,
He may have fought bravely, pure-hearted within…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

A hydra he skewered, all seven heads fell,
Its poison ran black through the caves and the dell,
Yet when tales are told in the tavern and inn…
—they say he drank a demon’s urine.

Chorus
He drank it down, yes he drank it well,
No priest could cleanse, no minstrel could tell,
He may have fought bravely, pure-hearted within…
—but he drank a demon’s urine.

A kraken he battled from the foam of the sea,
Storm Giants he toppled from skies wild and free,
He conquered, he triumphed, his glory was thin…
—'cause he drank a demon’s urine.

Final Chorus
He drank it down, aye he drank it strong,
And no song can cleanse what’s stuck in our song,
You can fight all the monsters, win kingdoms and kin…
—but you’ll never outlive the demon’s urine!

Lady of Vuelia

Farewell and adieu, you fair Vuelian lady,

Farewell and adieu, you bright-eyed delight,

For we’re bound off to sea, where the stars burn unsteady,

And the shore of your smile fades into the night.

We courted through summer by fountain and fire,

Your laughter was lilting, your kisses were wine,

But duty, like tempest, brooks no soft desire—

So I leave with the tide, though your hand once held mine.

O sing to the wind, you fair Vuelian lady,

Let it carry your song to this weather-worn hull,

And when moonlight lies still on the Bay of Etrady,

I’ll dream of your voice through the night ever dull.

No ring did I offer, no name did you ask,

Just a dance and a promise beneath chapel eaves—

But the sea calls me back to her fathomless task,

And love’s like the bloom that the autumn wind leaves.

So farewell and adieu, you fair Vuelian lady,

I carry no riches but verses and pain—

If I live through the squall and the brine doesn’t take me,

I’ll come sing you this song on the dock once again.

Princess and the Stable boy

She drinks from a goblet all shiny and new,

He guzzles his ale from a bucket or two,

She wore a silk bodice that never got torn,

He’s tangled in hay and smells like a barn.

Oh, the princess won’t fight, and the stable boy cants,

One’s soft as a petal, one shit his pants,

Two claim the crown but neither’s quite right,

One’s scared of the dirt and one’s lost the fight!

So who’ll take Balduren when the dust clears away?

The lad who won’t fight or the girl who won’t stay?

The crown waits in silence, a cruel, stubborn toy—

Between the sweet princess and the filthy young boy!

Oh, the princess won’t fight, and the stable boy cants,

One’s soft as a petal, one shit his pants,

Two claim the crown but neither’s quite right,

One’s scared of the dirt and one’s lost the fight!

So raise up your cups and drink down your sorrow,

For kings made of folly can’t rule us tomorrow!

To horses that gallop, to fights never won,

'tween the brat and the bastard you have to choose one!

Oh, the princess won’t fight, and the stable boy cants,

One’s soft as a petal, one shit his pants,

Two claim the crown but neither’s quite right,

One’s scared of the dirt and one’s lost the fight!

The Scarlet Hood’s Crown

Oh I'll sing ye a tale from the Pass of the Vale,
Where gold flows like mead and the strong take their sail,
Where the gentry rode rich but rode lighter back down,
For the Scarlet Hood robbed ‘em of purse and renown.

So laugh for your kings, and piss on their claims,
A crown’s but a thief’s hat dressed up in fine names,
He rode with a dagger and now reigns with a frown,
But a rogue's still a rogue, though you call him a crown.

They say there’s a blade with a river’s own might,
That dances on water and sings in a fight,
But if rivers could speak, they'd tell where it lay,
At the bottom 'til some knave fished it up from the spray.

So laugh for your kings, and piss on their claims,
A crown’s but a thief’s hat dressed up in fine names,
He rode with a dagger and now reigns with a frown,
But a rogue's still a rogue, though you call him a crown.

The lords swap their seats like a whore swaps her sheets,
With Waldon and Fieldstone fattening their eats,
And when the coin dried and the parchments grew cold,
Why up pops a Hood with a crown bought or sold!

So laugh for your kings, and piss on their claims,
A crown’s but a thief’s hat dressed up in fine names,
He rode with a dagger and now reigns with a frown,
But a rogue's still a rogue, though you call him a crown.

The Hood changed for velvet, his blade for a throne,
But the roads whisper truths that the court’s never known,
That in Oromir’s pass ‘neath the storm’s crying call,
It weren’t nobles who ruled—just a brigand in thrall.

So laugh for your kings, and piss on their claims,
A crown’s but a thief’s hat dressed up in fine names,
He rode with a dagger and now reigns with a frown,
But a rogue's still a rogue, though you call him a crown.

So drink for your kings, we’ll toast them with spite,
For the Hood wears a circlet and robs us at night,
In Wanderhalt’s halls or Peakshadow’s bright crown,
It’s still the same Hood, just dressed up in gown.

So laugh for your kings, and piss on their claims,
A crown’s but a thief’s hat dressed up in fine names,
He rode with a dagger and now reigns with a frown,
But a rogue's still a rogue, though you call him a crown.

So here's to the crown forged in theft and in lies,
To the river that laughed while the true heir dies,
We'll dance and we’ll drink but we’ll never bow down,
For a king born a thief is still king of the clowns!

The Ballad of the Bastard Crown

Oh gather round ye pisspots and drunks,
Let me tell ye of kings and their bastardly funks,
Of silver-tongued laddies who climbed from the dirt,
With steel in their smiles and poison in their shirt.

So waggle your cups, don’t mention no names,
The throne’s full o’ cheats and the court’s full o’ games,
A wink and a knife makes a monarch renowned,
And a bastard’s the one who now wears the crown!

There once was a lad with a face sweet as pie,
But behind Daddy’s back he let poison fly,
His old man went stiff ere the fortnight was done,
And the boy kissed the crown like a good mother’s son.

So waggle your cups, don’t mention no names,
The throne’s full o’ cheats and the court’s full o’ games,
A goblet of venom, a sly little frown,
And a bastard’s the one who now wears the crown!

Then came a wise man with books in his bed,
But a supper too hearty left him stiff cold and dead,
And who do we find with a goblet in hand?
Why a bastard too clever by half for the land!

So waggle your cups, don’t mention no names,
The throne’s full o’ cheats and the court’s full o’ games,
A goblet of venom, a sly little frown,
And a bastard’s the one who now wears the crown!

The kings all did gather with ale in their hands,
But the son bore the guilt of his treacherous plans,
A knight took his due and laid royalty low,
While the bastard looked on with a satisfied glow.

So waggle your cups, don’t mention no names,
The throne’s full o’ cheats and the court’s full o’ games,
When bastards play noble, the high crowns all drown,
And the fattest of frauds now straddles the crown!

So here's to the bastards, the poisons, the lies,
To the crown that was stolen by murder and pies,
Drink deep, my good fellows, but don’t talk too loud—
Lest iron-clad fingers come quiet the crowd!

Song of the Nightstalkers (The Rangers Song)

Verse 1 (Tavern Verse)

In the shadows of the forest, where the moonlight casts its glow,

Whispers tell of silent heroes, moving where the night winds blow.

They guard the wild and keep it free, their footsteps light and true,

Protectors of the woodland, unseen by me and you.

Refrain:

Oh, they stride the hills and valleys, where the wild winds call,

In the silence of the midnight, they are shadows tall.

Through the forest deep and dark, where the rivers run,

They are legends of the night, hidden from the sun.

Verse 2 (Hidden Verse)

In the Gathering of the Brotherhood, where the fire's light does blaze,

We recount our secret stories, of the elder, ancient days.

From the Lords Continuous, our sacred truths were won,

In the night we move like shadows, until the deed is done.

Refrain:

Oh, they stride the hills and valleys, where the wild winds call,

In the silence of the midnight, they are shadows tall.

Through the forest deep and dark, where the rivers run,

They are legends of the night, hidden from the sun.

Verse 3 (8th Age Verse)

When the skies are dark with terror, and the world is bathed in blood,

From the hills and ancient forests, comes a force to stem the flood.

In the 8th Age, when darkness falls, and hope seems lost to all,

We'll rise again, the Nightstalkers, at the final trumpet's call.

Refrain:

Oh, they stride the hills and valleys, where the wild winds call,

In the silence of the midnight, they are shadows tall.

Through the forest deep and dark, where the rivers run,

They are legends of the night, hidden from the sun.

Refrain:

Oh, they stride the hills and valleys, where the wild winds call,

In the silence of the midnight, they are shadows tall.

Through the forest deep and dark, where the rivers run,

They are legends of the night, hidden from the sun.

A Song of Wine

(Verse 1)

In vineyards green where grapes do grow,

The winekeeper tends row by row.

With careful hands and loving care,

He tends the vines with utmost flair.

(Chorus)

Oh, the wine, so sweet and fine,

In every bottle, its secrets entwine.

With every sip, our troubles fade,

In the magic of wine's serenade.

(Verse 2)

From sun-kissed hills to valleys deep,

The wine flows in a gentle sweep.

With every harvest, the grapes do yield,

The nectar of the vine, so richly sealed.

(Chorus)

Oh, the wine, with hues so bright,

In crystal glasses, it brings delight.

With every taste, we raise a cheer,

To the wine that brings us near.

(Bridge)

In cellars cool where barrels age,

The winekeeper tends his heritage.

With oak and time, its flavors blend,

In every glass, a tale to send.

(Chorus)

Oh, the wine, with bouquets bold,

In every bottle, its stories unfold.

With every pour, we honor the vine,

In the winekeeper's grand design.

(Outro)

So let us raise a toast today,

To the wine that lights our way.

For in its depths, we find our song,

In the winekeeper's legacy, forever strong.

The Hendriad

(Verse 1)

In lands of fire and mountains tall,

Cavaliers heed the ancient call.

For in our hearts, a longing burns,

For wine, women, and songs, we yearn.

(Chorus)

Oh, the wine, like liquid gold,

In goblets raised, our tales are told.

With every sip, our spirits rise,

To reach the stars, beyond the skies.

(Verse 2)

And in the arms of women fair,

We find our solace, without a care.

Their laughter rings like silver bells,

In their embrace, our hearts do swell.

(Chorus)

Oh, the women, with beauty rare,

Their gentle touch, beyond compare.

In their eyes, we see the stars,

As we dance beneath the moonlit bars.

(Verse 3)

And let the songs, like soldiers roar,

Echo through the mountains, evermore.

For in their melody, we find our voice,

And in their rhythm, we rejoice.

(Chorus)

Oh, the songs, with power untold,

In their embrace, our hearts enfold.

With every note, our spirits rise,

To reach the heavens, beyond the skies.

Wine, Women and Song

(Verse 1)

In castles tall where treasures gleam,

We Vyrum bask in golden dream.

But above all, our hearts do soar,

For wine, women, and songs galore.

(Chorus)

Oh, the wine, so rich and red,

With flavors bold, like fire spread.

In goblets raised, we toast the night,

To pleasures sweet, our hearts take flight.

(Verse 2)

With arms outstretched, we take to flight,

In search of revelry, pure delight.

For in the arms of women fair,

We find our solace, without a care.

(Chorus)

Oh, the women, with eyes so bright,

Their laughter fills the darkest night.

In their embrace, we find our rest,

In love's embrace, we are blessed.

(Verse 3)

And let us not forget the songs,

That echo through the castles long.

For music lifts our spirits high,

And fills our hearts, up to the sky.

(Chorus)

Oh, the songs, so sweet and true,

With melodies that ring anew.

In harmony, we find our peace,

As our joyous voices never cease.

Valkauna's Song

(Verse 1)

In mountain halls where stories flow,

We dwarves seek honor, high and low.

For in our hearts, a longing burns,

To prove our worth, in love's return.

(Chorus)

Oh, to be worthy of a mate so fair,

With courage strong, beyond compare.

To win her heart, we'll face our fears,

And show our strength, through blood and tears.

(Verse 2)

With axe in hand and armor bright,

We journey forth into the night.

To battle foes and claim our prize,

To prove our love, beneath the skies.

(Chorus)

Oh, to be worthy of a mate so fair,

With loyalty deep, beyond compare.

To stand as guardians, brave and true,

And win her trust, in all we do.

Numli's Prize

(Verse 1)

In halls of stone where hammers ring,

We dwarves toil and gems we bring.

But above all, our hearts do yearn,

For Numli's prize, our souls do burn.

(Chorus)

Oh, mithril bright, so strong and true,

With silver sheen, we honor you.

In fiery forges, we shape and mold,

To craft our treasures, pure as gold.

(Verse 2)

Through depths of earth, we delve so deep,

In search of Numli's secret keep.

For in its veins, our dreams do lie,

To forge our legacy, reaching high.

(Chorus)

Oh, mithril bright, so strong and true,

With veins of silver, our hope anew.

In armor and in weapons bold,

We find our worth, our story told.

Most Noble

(Verse 1)

In Strongholds where mountains rise,

We Lod with noses of noble size.

For our noses are strong and true,

A trait we cherish, through and through.

(Chorus)

Oh, the nose, so proud and grand,

With curves and twists across the land.

A beacon of our heritage,

A symbol of our noble lineage.

(Verse 2)

With noses keen, we sniff the air,

Detecting scents both foul and fair.

For though our noses may be large,

They guide us like a guiding barge.

(Chorus)

Oh, the nose, so proud and grand,

With nostrils flared, a sight so grand.

A marvel of our ancestry,

A source of Lodish revelry.

Glittering Light

(Verse 1)

In caverns deep where shadows play,

We gnomes seek treasures night and day.

For gems and jewels are our delight,

They shimmer and sparkle in the light.

(Chorus)

Oh, the gem, so bright and fair,

With colors rare beyond compare.

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds too,

Our hearts are drawn, our dreams come true.

(Verse 2)

With pick in hand and lanterns bright,

We delve into the earth's dark night.

To find the gem that calls our name,

And add it to our hoard's grand claim.

(Chorus)

Oh, the gem, so bright and fair,

With opals glowing, a wondrous glare.

Sapphires, ambers, a sight to view,

Our hearts are drawn, our dreams come true.