Tyre’Negoth: Unheard Urgings

Long lasted that lamenting night,

For mourning breaks when morning breaks

And none too soon did it come too late.

Yet Andaras brought himself from his sleep

To see the glowing sun rise o’er the hills

And bathe the world in the hopes of better days,

So he struck up the heroes and had them gather

Within the edge of shade between the heaven of the plains

And the bitter ruin that swept and fell within the trees.

“Two we have lost before their time, two too good

To have backed from their appointed path

And thus we honor their deaths as decency dictates.”

All bowed their heads, some let tears flow down their cheeks,

Unashamed to display the sorrow, too honorable to fake stoicism.

Moments passed in memory then Andaras brought head up,

Staring forth with his crisp icicle eyes and demanding attention.

“Ten days marching within the swamps and stagnant trunks

Of the once pristine forests, ‘cross bridges of rock and raging rivers

All bent against us and bowing to the behemoth’s will,

Five more days crossing the snowy rise to find the hidden sanctuary,

Then three days up the mountain to clash with the great beast.

Eighteen more days to pass in darkness and danger, with horrors

That Acumenius’ words cannot describe so well as their sight.

Thousands of lost souls crying out to drag us under into their world,

Yet on we must drive ourselves with horse and blade

So that all may live to see the world God gave.

Here heroes must not bend and break, but bid their allies

Turn back to live what life remains with their hearts content.”

Andaras set his hand hard upon Heregal’s shoulder,

His eyes seeking his three other noble knights,

“You four have served by my side and under me well,

Thus do not fear God’s wrath but turn back to the sun

And save thyself the sight of your own blood bathing you

Til the torrents rush you down the river of death.

To all who serve the eight, rush back and tell what you’ve seen

And pray but do not follow us in….it is folly to fight a battle

Not meant for sure victory, this is my bid to all thee who follow.”

Andaras stood and gazed out amongst the men whose eyes

Did not so much meet his own as the eyes of Nature’s turf,

Their minds twisting and spiralling with duty and dread.

Dallimier drew first his blade and drew a line through the dirt,

“This line shall divide those who turn back rightly from those

So foolish as to march on into the abyss and maw of Hell,

Count me one that cannot count well enough to know better.”

Dallimier took two great steps forward and turned to face the crowd

By Andaras’ fallen side, though the noble soldier smiled weakly

And whispered a thanks and a prayer subtely from his lips.

Heregal, Vergent, and Ridgard drew themselves up with haughty breath,

Each crossing the line as Ridgard smirked and shrugged,

“Dallimier may have got the drop on us but we’ll make sure

That we get the drop on Dallimier when he least expects,

For we won’t leave that man’s side to have the fun of four for one!”

Bahlros crossed the line without a word, turning with fierce eyes to observe the others.

Acumenius, too, drew himself across the line, holding Gimnal close

As Monmoth strode across the line with solemn face and eyes focused on the dark woods.

Boneshredder strode up to the line and knelt before it and back at those still debating,

“To not cross this line would be to deny the wishes of those who have fallen,

Whose corpses litter the mountain side and make devil’s snow,

To defile the spirits of the two who have already past and I shall not,

Nor shall any man in my command, turn back from fear of being blind.”

His men crossed with solemn nods and weapons drawn, as Boneshredder

Rose with imposing height and strode across the line like a mighty titan.

Umaeus, in his flowery robes, moved across the line, turning to his two guardians,

“Follow me not, I pray. I have set out upon this mission to uphold law,

Not bring down the just with their own nobility, no true man would call you coward.”

The magistrate glanced sidelong at Boneshredder who gazed out,

Though those who noticed saw the barbarian’s hands clench twice in anger.

Lydian and Badran, the silent guardians who had done but little thus far,

Shared a moment’s silent glance then crossed the line without a word.