Orlanthi Songs
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THE STORM AT OUR SIDE
By Guy Hoyle
Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
For the love of one's freedom is a terrible thing.
No man be our master, nor chains we abide,
With nought but our fists and the Storm at our side.
My name is Orlandon, and I've just turned sixteen.
My tribe was Dundealos, and there I was weaned
Our fathers and mothers, in vain they had died,
To stay the Red Goddess, with the Storm at their side.
There came with vast armies, a great Bat out of Hell,
Which feasted on heroes ere proud Boldhome fell.
With Grazer and Razoress they humbled our pride,
And some traitors turned from the Storm at our side.
The flame of our kingdom too long has been spent.
Our king is a puppet the Lunar dogs sent
To keep us divided, unite as we tried,
To choose our own ruler, with the Storm at her side.
They ravished our daughters; when we sought redress
Our tribes were then slaughtered; the Goddess knows best!
"No swords!" they commanded, so the thunder we hide;
We'll sweep them from Sartar, with the Storm at our side!
And now as I lie here, my body all holes
I think of those bastards who bartered their souls
For Imperial favors, may they wear them with pride,
When their forefathers greet them with the Storm at their side.
(Tune: With God At Our Side/The Patriot Game)
THE LOYAL HOUSECARL'S PRAYER
By Guy Hoyle
[The following song is an Elmali funeral prayer, as recorded by the Lankhor Mhy sage
Trivialis Metaphor before his timely death in 1347 ST. Bits and pieces of his writings
have appeared over the decades since then, in unlikely places such as Eol and Dorastar,
that Trivialis never visited while he was alive. The song recalls Elmal's long watch
during the Great Darkness.]
Though my soul be torn and ragged and my patrol be turned about
Though the night wind chill me to my very soul
Though temptation seek my eye and the stars no sight provide
Give me just enough morning light to hold.
CHORUS
I will not lie me down, this rain a-raging
I will not lie me down in such a storm
And if this night be unblessed, I shall not take my rest;
I'll stand on until relief comes with the morn.
If the only well is bitter and I cannot quench my thirst
I will drink the rain that falls so steady down
If night's blindness be my gift, if from my fire the heat is rift
I will strive against the Darkness and the doubt.
CHORUS
If my friends be drained and weary and it seems their hopes are lost
We shall the Night endure for sight of Dawn's first blossom,
And if Death should take us now, it cannot contravene our vow;
We'll stand on and face the morning light without him.
CHORUS
Lyrics copyright © Guy Hoyle 2001.
This song is based on Rod MacDonald's THE SAILOR'S PRAYER
STAND TO YOUR SWORD-ARMS STEADY
By Guy Hoyle
A Humakti funeral song
We meet 'neath the sounding rafters,
And the walls around are bare;
As they echo to our laughter
We all know that the dead are here.
CHORUS
So, stand to your sword-arms steady,
For honor is all we prize;
Quaff a cup to the dead already
And one to the next who dies.
No dread of the dead returning,
We fight through the field of gore,
With the high and haughty yearning
For the battle that we adore.
CHORUS
Cut off from the kin that bore us,
Betrayed by the Storm we strive,
When the keenest have gone before us
And the dullest remain alive.
CHORUS
There's blood on the blade congealing,
And a warrior's mortal breath,
And 'tis thus that the warmth of feeling
Turns ice in the grasp of death.
CHORUS
There is many a word half-spoken,
There is many a song half-sung,
There is many a sword that is broken,
And a final cheer to be drunk.
CHORUS
There is not time for repentance,
'Tis folly to yield to despair,
When a shudder may finish a sentence,
Or steel put an end to a prayer.
CHORUS
Time was when we fought each other,
In many a king's campaign;
But now let us all be brothers,
For in Hell shall we meet again.
CHORUS
But a truce to this fateful story,
And death is a final friend.
So here's to a life of glory,
And a laurel to crown each end.
CHORUS
Based on HERE'S TO THE LAST TO DIE
Raise the Tribes for Starbrow
By John Hughes
With the news out of Boldhome and all the rumours and counter-rumours, I am
also hearing a new boasting song sung round the sweat lodges and in the
cattle pens, a song about the Kheldon Queen Starbrow and all that is
happening in the south. It seems I have heard it, or at least a song like
it, sometime in the past, before my father died. But the singers do not
admit this, nor will they speak of Kallyr Starbrow's first rebellion, or
what happened afterwards.
Redwheel the trader has also heard this new song. I spoke to him this
evening as he packed up his wares. He had made a thane's ransom trading
henna and whetting stones, but wanted to return early to Ironspike, not even
going on to BearWalk as originally planned. For some reason he would not
even stay for the clan weapontake called for tonight, even though I know he
loves the cuk fighting that usually occurs afterwards. Redwheel said that
the song is ironic, especially the lines, "the battle thanes have given
their word", and "swear the clans will never forsake". He is always using
strange words, and I am not sure what he means. Perhaps he means it has
magic in it, like the other songs the warriors sing.
Redwheel said he had first heard the song sung locally by a Vingan, the
woman called Cradledaughter. The words were different then, and she sang it
as a cult song. He said that some of the people in the song were allies of
Starbrow, and that different tribes had different verses, or changed the
words. He did not seem pleased that there was a new verse about Harvar
Ironfist. I wanted to ask him more, but he left in a great hurry.
Sartar's sons, lift up your face,
Stop brooding o'er the old disgrace
When the Red Shields stormed your place
And drove you to the highlands.
Sartar's daughters, bind your breasts,
'Tis not the time to weep nor rest,
The Kheldon Queen has set us the test:
Take up your spears and follow!
Sons of Air!
Loose your hair!
Heroes do what heroes dare;
Fiends and traitors, have a care
Darkened is your Moon now!
The wind is free, the storm will break;
The thanes all at the weapontake
Swear the clans will ne'er forsake
Good Kallyr in her quarrel.
Thunder crack!
Storm will roar!
Soon the kingdom we'll secure:
Crush on hill and plain and moor
Chaos' cursed army.
Swing the swords of Sartar red!
Wreak vengeance for our noble dead,
As on we march from town and stead
To join King Broyan's army.
Hear the winds of freedom call
We gather true from heroes hall
The Red Moon from the sky will fall
The White Bull swiftly follows!
Up with spear and out with sword!
On we'll go, by Orlanth Lord,
The battle thanes have given the word,
Raise the tribes for Starbrow!
Now from Boldhome to Duck Moor
Flows a stream of Lunar gore
Great is Vinga's Daughter pure
Defeating Lunar powers!
The traitors and the taxers dead:
Now for Fist-of-Iron's head!
We shall raise it dripping red
Above his glassy towers.
[Declaim]
Rooster of a fighting stock
Would you let some Lunar cock
Perch upon a Sartar rock?
Fly up and cast him down low!
[/Declaim]
Up with spear and out with sword!
On we'll go, by Orlanth Lord
The battle thanes have given the word:
Raise the tribes for Starbrow!
Tune: Follow Me Up To Carlow.
Words: John Hughes.
Improvements: Nick Brooke & Massed Red Army Choir.
The River
Translated by Jeff Kyer
Tell me, Andrin for I think you know
All that has ever happened.
What is the name of Lorion
In all the myriad worlds?
Lorion, the Fire folk call him.
The Storm folk name him Engizi.
Skyfall River, River Titan
All these names we know.
To Aldrya's folk he's Contant Water
Manthe calls him Son
Natea calls her Daughter
Darkmen call him Hissing Rain
By these names is Lorion known.
LIGHTBRINGER
By Ken Allen
Above us lie the walls of stone
Below us mud and mire,
Back to back we stand alone
'Gainst spear and claw and fire.
We question not the sacred call
That bids us mount and ride,
Through narrow pass of misty pall
Where horrors lurk and hide.
Lightbringers, we of bronze and blade,
We honor our command,
And as we are we would not trade
For power, wealth, or land.
So falls the man whose blood is spilled,
Sword grasp'd unto the death,
By foe and blow the flesh is killed
And Death takes the final breath.
But here among companions born,
These whom Orlanth does decree
Shall never from their brows be torn
The Rune which set them free.
Let Chaos bellow its soulless wail,
And the Pipe its legions fill,
In death, even, we will not fail
For as Iron is forged our will.
Our deed is done before the morn
Has cast its shadows long,
Victory or death, which'ere is worn
Shall be told in hearthside song.
The War matters not who stands to fight
The Chaos and all its kin,
So long as the heart steers to the Light
And together we stand as men.
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