SCHOLAR: Our history tells of The Great Advent War, In which our ancestors’ tribes conjoined in alliance And won independence from The Great Republic, Thus ending a century of fear and compliance. While the war is well-known, its heroes have faded, Consumed by the ashes of time’s dying embers. Their names and their faces snubbed out by the eons. But rare as they are, there are those who remember. For some know the Tale, the Tale of the man Who by adverse occurrence of Fate was thus beckoned. From his journey, we learn of the warrior’s path, And of what makes a man, and of what makes a legend! Our story begins on a dark, moonless cove Where an army of raiders have a town subjugated. The last fleeing ships are now leaving its ports While those left behind for the battle awaited. And inside the walls of that city surrounded, A peasant militia prepared to fight back, And a mother hid clasping her newborn in fear As their fearsome invaders commenced the attack.

CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: Creaking, snapping, walls collapsing, catapults release Pouring fire from the sky, the siege is now unleashed. The eyes of greedy men are brightly shining in this raid As the burning of the buildings turns night into day. Murderous intent, destruction intertwined with lust As fire chokes the sky with ash ember and dust. These raiders will burn our homes until there’s nothing left. Our kingdom now sits in the hands of death! No! There is no backing down! We fight until the end! It is our homes that we defend. They rise up from the night Like ghostly cowards avoiding sight. Arm yourselves and on your life Defeat their wicked strife. No! There is no backing down! We fight until the end! It is our families we defend. There is no retreat. To leave now means certain defeat. These raiders are not the ogres they seem, We’ll thwart their wicked scheme. Attack! On the far side of the besieged city, the last fleeing boatmen escape the harbor. As one prepares to cast away, a woman holding a child runs to him frantically, with much grief in her eyes. MOTHER: Please take my son from this burning city! BOATMAN: My cares and loyalties are not with this land. Who are you to ask such a thing? MOTHER: Please dear sir, I beg of you. Across the sea where your kin be. Where he can grow and live in peace. BOATMAN: I have no use for your begging and pleas. I know not you or the boy. Women, you’re gravely mistaken, This burden I cannot employ. MOTHER: Oh god, can nobody save him? Must he die at the hands of fiends? BOATMAN: Enough crying now, I shall take him. Now leave here and keep your voice low. MOTHER: My son, cry not. Now stop your tears of sad dismay. You will live on and grow in lands so far away. Prosper, beloved child, keep your heart free of sin. May God hold you in the palm of his hand until we meet again. As the battle rages on, the guardsmen find their ranks rapidly diminishing. Now engulfed in a pyre of destruction, the city seems sure to fall to the ensuing hordes. CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: Cataclysmic obliterations, building smeared with death, Men are running, men are dying, there is nothing left. The walls around us burning, there is no hope for escape. Once they’ve claimed our lives there is nothing left to take. Murderous intent, destruction intertwined with lust. To see my city fall fills my heart with disgust. Annihilation of all I’ve known at these evil hands, I fear this may be my final stand! No! There is no backing down! We fight until the end! Our very lives we will rescind! For the glory of our king We’ll crush the fear these heathens bring! Kill as many of them as you can To defend our land! Though we fall, with their blood, they’ll pay They have won the day. MOTHER: A nightmare! I have failed! My son, we won’t ever meet again! Crushing, breaking, lights are fading. I die tonight. This cannot be right! Though we may fall my son will live on! My son will carry on!

Far from those war torn battlegrounds, We find the boy alive. Fading memories shift and his Past set adrift as a bird on the northern sky. But his fate, it would seem, would end this dream; For a path before him lie. In lands beyond the torrent, within forests of old Dwelled a camp of mighty nomads Fierce, strong, brave, and bold. Among them was a fine young man Who had come from across the sea. He’d grown into a strong lad, Though his past a mystery. For many years, the nomad tribes had fought The Great Republic, And for three generations they had sent their sons to war. Death and loss had run their course, And prophecy foretold the day when bloodshed is no more. For now was a time of rejoice! For a convoy has come from across the sea Calling for a convocation. At last our lands, shall be set free! THE BOY: Let us drink in celebration, For at last we shall have piece! Let us begin merry making, On this night we shall feast! Let us bathe in happy revelry And let our sorrows be gone! Let us drink until dawn strikes us Then overseas we journey on! Here’s to brethren near and far Who join us in this feast! Grab your tankards! Hey hey! Raise ‘em high! Here is to our mead and wine, To hops, barley, and yeast Grab your tankards! Hey hey! Drink ‘em dry! As I stumble around the fire, The mead was passed around. Wenches fill my desire, No one sober to be found. The music flows loudly. The women bat their eyes. The men approach them boldly, Gazing upon their sweet prize. Here is to our living kin And those who are no more. Grab your tankards! Hey hey! Raise ‘em high! Here is to new times of peace That ensures the end of war. Grab your tankards! Hey hey! Drink ‘em dry! SCHOLAR: The tribe assembled twenty men, A peace envoy enthralled, Who left at daybreak to answer The convocation called. The boy set out among their ranks For the great meeting ‘cross the sea. A strange compulsion drew him thus To face his people’s enemy. They boarded deck upon a ship Known as The Vagrant Heart, And soon would find their journey’d prove Eventful from the start.

SEA CAPTAIN: Set sail! Crashing through waves, plowing through the sea, The men of the Vagrant Heart begin their journey. Our course now plotted! The Wind at our backs! Setting out to help our people, there’s no looking back! Sail On! A squall approaches Sail On! Be at your ease. Sail On! Men at the ready Sail On! Through stormy seas. We’ll meet these men and barter for our lives. We won’t return empty handed; freedom is our prize. Liberty or nothing! We’re free or we fight! I see my peoples’ future come into sight. Sail On! Boarder down the hatches Sail On! Be at your ease. Sail On! Tighten up the bowline Sail On! Through stormy seas. I hear quiet mutterings of whiskey and beer, The work now done until first light. Ten large barrels are raised from the stores. They unveiled to me their hidden delights. The Wind begins to break. The ship has safely passed. The night goes still and now We celebrated at last. Come here lad, I like your hat. Sit down with me and have a drink. Did you hear the one about the ghost of Abigail Macree? Said she’s thrown right off the ship into a whale’s waiting mouth! Now she haunts the seas, Looking for her husband, the drunken’ lout. Have you heard the one about the monster that swallows ships whole? Says it smells like depths of hell And ten times the size of a troll! I’ll just dance and dance and sing and drink until I’m sick. Then no ghousties will get me, that’ll be me trick! But wait! Off the port bow! Tentacles as long as ten men, And the stench of death upon it! This is it lads! The worst creature in the sea! Man the harpoons and let’s test our metal! Fatal and gory, Blood and glory, Harpoons and spears attack! Lacerations, Minor abrasions, Its skin is just too thick! Step up boy! THE BOY: Creature from the depths of hell, I’ll gut you from head to tail! You will be my first kill! Creature bleeding, Someone’s screaming, I slash blindly away! Berserker rage, I cut away, Covered in its blood! CAPTAIN: The creature’s dead, boy. Now come aboard. Our destination approaches. Land ho!

THE BOY: Now we dock on these foreign shores. Weigh the anchor and ship the oars. At last I feel the ground and sand, And we begin our journey inland. The guide was there to greet us and show us the way, And we journeyed on throughout the day. The men are cheerful, laughing with their stride As the journey makes their sorrows subside. Several days of traveling pass. Path ahead unknown, devoted heart journeys on, Whispers in the distance of lullabies foregone. Then they came upon a town long burnt and decayed, And nostalgia took him as a radiant cascade. This is his home, the village where memories where born. Now this place lies forsaken, destroyed, and forlorn. THE BOY: I somehow remember this path we walk, but how could I have been here before? The seaside cliffs and fields we stalk Seem so familiar since we’ve come ashore But now within these ruins I see the home I once lived in, And here, before my eyes I realize how my mother died. Right before my eyes, I find where once ended her life. I must go on for my country’s liberation, But I won’t forget this place. Where once I lived with my family I now come to make peace. SCHOLAR: After Eighth day’s ride, the men now found Their destination reached. The Republic’s soldiers greeted them Adorning flags of peace. Other tribes had also sent Great leaders from their shores, All hopeful that this gathering Would ensure the end of war. And so they entered the great hall, Unaware of plans untold. And the treachery in store this night That the pale moon would behold.

THE BOY: As we walked into the room, We saw no one inside. The room was barren of any light, Not even from the night sky. Suddenly the doors slammed shut And panic began to arise! Then we saw the foreign light As the building was engulfed in flames! The men attempted to break down the door, But their efforts were in vein. Others tried to break through the windows and run, But men with spears awaited and skewered them all! The ceiling begins to collapse, And through the smoke I see A hole showing the faint moonlight. I knew it was the only way. I raise myself upon a pillar, which burns my skin away. But through the flames I crawl out the hole And alone, I escape. Collapsing in pain and exhaustion under the cover of a nearby forest canopy, he watches helplessly as the towering inferno consumes the hall and everyone within. Of what the fate of the man Whose life is dismantled thus by death’s accost? Of what the agony of the mind that reflects Upon all which was lost? A crippling despair eclipses man’s worth. We reap what we sow, by friend or by foe. If mercy exists in hell or on earth, May you never know this ballad of woe. To stand alone upon the precipse Of the vast and endless night. To plunge into the depths that Hasten the mind to think there were not light With grief stricken heart he bids a farewell As time mends the blow, its ebb and its flow. If mercy exists, on earth or in hell, May you never know this ballad of woe. He stands not to be swallowed by the darkness but to rise with new resolve. Of what the fate of the man who even when All the world round him dissolve, Stands not to be swallowed by the darkness but To rise with new resolve? With courage unbound he ascends the pit, And sorrow subsides as hope takes its stead. The darkness absolves as he now commits To not turning back, but moving ahead. With courage unbound he ascends the pit, And sorrow subsides as hope takes its stead. The darkness absolves as he now commits To not turning back, but moving ahead. If mercy exists, may you never know this ballad of woe. Awaking from the throes of exhaustion and pain-induced delirium, he finds that many hours have passed. With the setting sun, he happens upon a steed of his kinsmen slain. Bereft with anger and driven by vengeance, he rides into the night.

THE BOY: As the sun begins its retreat, I follow and flee this defeat. Though looking back I fix my gaze On the hall now set ablaze. Their lives I shall claim. I’ll hunt them down, until none remain. Their bodies I shall maim. My brothers will not have died in vein. It’s early in the hour but the riding must endure. Horror will befall and suffering will conquer. The decaying echoes mutilation will embrace, Where foes eternally silent, ever solemn be that place. Onward I ride For my brothers who before me died! Now looking back I can still find Their screams dwell within my mind. Now I travel towards the sea, This path of hatred leading me. I shall return by whatever means, And pledge my life to avenge thee. The ship is in sight for the voyage over the sea. Seeking vengeance for this plight, No mercy will there be! Now I travel to my homeland. I shall soon return and bring their end. I will tell my people of their treachery And plea for them to fight with me. Though the others have been betrayed They shall have retribution through my blade. For the lives they have took, they’ll pay And regret what was done this day There are no redemptions for the wicked. Light a candle for the dead. For these murderers will behold Demons that need to be fed! Years pass. Consigned with the duty to relay the egregious acts of The Republic to the peoples of the nomadic lands, he gains more rallying support for his cause of alliance, and ultimately the cause of all.

THE BOY: As we journeyed through the land, searching high and low For those who would stand against These evil men across the sea Whose legions stood mighty and vast, We came across the tribes of valiant men, Who were ready to stand and fight To avenge our slaughtered brethren Even if it meant their lives. Join our ranks and let us prepare for war, For our forces would be great! If our forces were combined I know we could change our fate. If we are to do battle and survive To defeat this common foe, We’ll have to unite as one. Now, what say you? MATRIARCH: Stranger, what care I Of your suffering or your people? I have my own people’s lives to protect. To attack is to die, to abide is security. You are young and reckless, And know nothing of war! I know the heat of battle and the taste of blood And you’d sacrifice my men for your ideals. Would you also suggest that I pick up the pieces? I will not call for the drums of war! THE BOY: Lady, I implore you to reconsider, For without your aid all hope is lost. Wait, who’s this man running towards us? TRIBESMAN: My lady, we’re under, attack! This creature, whose scales are pitch black, Has run through the entire camp. THE BOY: Ready your spears, your swords, and axes, For this monster we shall destroy! Archers to positions! Men, surround him! On my order... Attack! Dust starts flying, men are now screaming, Charging forward, their armor gleaming. Bodies falling, their blood is spraying. Men are dying, others are praying. One man stands without flinching, In his hands he is clenching His blade, now sharp and ready. He approaches and says, Fiend, you shall meet your end this day. Prepare to die! MATRIARCH: Hark! This man has been misjudged! He is valiant, brave, and true. Life for life and blood for blood, We’ll call for the drums of war! Vita pro vita Cruo pro cruo THE BOY: As the dust cleared all the men did cheer, For we had slain the beast! Now let us go to the nearest tavern Where we can drink and feast! For the battle had shown all of the men That combined our strength in arms Would defeat any armies of any land. So let us fight united as one! We shall sound the drums of war! As the throngs of Fate reach their pivotal moment, the boy returns to the lands of The Republic, but this time is accompanied by an army of his kinsmen under a unified alliance. On the march, they are met by the army of the enemy. As the last of the war drums fade into the horizon, the men prepare to decide the final fate of their people.

The light is ending And hope is darkened. Rain falls on sword and hand. This dispute will end. Here the men stand, Their heads held high. Patience is wearing thin, The time draws nigh. THE BOY: Now, my brethren, we stand upon The chance to grasp our freedom! On these proving grounds Our valor’s unbound, And through their recession We’ll thwart their oppression And reclaim our lives! Death reigns from the skies As volleys are fired upon us. Raise your shields high, Let them fear our cries, For our homes and lands we stand! Their reign shall end! We shall fight, Fight on together! We shall fight, And slay them all! We shall fight, And stand forever Until every last one of them falls! MATRIARCH: Now here we stand in scene surreal, Amidst the clash of tempered steel, To write a story with my sword Of fate fulfilled, of legends forged. I lead my men on armored horse, Encourage them to stay their course. My presence victory foretells. Now push their line and give them hell! Through mighty horde We hack our way. Our strength afford This is our day! THE BOY: Through dirt and steel I carry on, With my armor torn and shield long gone, Covered in blood from my foes before. But by our blades we shall win the war! A solemn silence of reflection breaks through the carnage… In visions of bloodshed over hills and trees The acrid screams are reined. Scarlet bellows and souls depart as The fallen landscape is stained. The light of valor and strength Raise swords and spirits high. From the shadows of night Comes a final battle cry. Shields and weapons are dropped While foes are met with defeat. The austere victory Was solely bittersweet. THE BOY: The battle rages on and neither side shall yield, As the carnage from the battle is spilled upon the field. With my axe and sword I cleave my enemy, And lead my men onward towards victory. Their ranks begin to thin, and dawn beckons near. The men's spirits rise as our foes fall to fear. Stand together, it’s our finest hour! Stay strong and watch as our foes cower! We shall fight, Fight on together! We shall fight, And slay them all! We shall fight, Now the battle is over, And the war is gone. Upon these proving grounds Our freedom we have won! Though the war is over, Many now are gone. Though in this field they lay, Through us their legends live on!

THE BOY: Tonight we find ourselves in a setting full of charm, In the old familiar pub with our brethren in arms, As we celebrate our triumphant reunion once again; Clinking mugs and laughter in a symphony of sin! Tonight we raise our tankards high with whiskey, beer and rum To the warriors of old, and the ones that are to come. And as our cares disperse we will take another swig, With a penny for the folk and a jug for the jig! TAVERN WENCH: Look at all these men of honor come to grace the bar, Back from trying battles now that raged in lands afar. But the gracious gods have returned them safe I see. So drink tonight young warriors, the first rounds on me! BAR PATRONS: Hails! BAR MAIDENS: Beer and wine flow thick throughout the night. Whiskey and rum heal wounds from the fight. Warriors from distant lands, they chant and raise their mugs. We'll need a few more barrels, lets crack another jug! BAR PATRONS: We cheer tonight for the porter and the stout! We drink and sing 'till all the beers are sold out! Cider, mead, brandy punch, wheat ale and lager! We all drink and sing with a healthy swagger! Here's to a long life and a long pour! Here's to new lands to explore! Here's to pretty wenches to adore! Here's to this night and many more! SCHOLAR: And so our journey reaches end, And truth restores our sight. A tale unearthed from Time’s decay, Of darkness turned to light. And so you join the honored ranks Of those who do remember, And your duty thus, dear listener, Is to keep alit these embers. By recounting of our heroes past, Their deeds live on again. And as we close this page of history, Another shall begin…