Jaycol recalls a ballad he has heard from his travels, and tells the tale to the company within the tavern.
The Thousand Stood Firm
The morning fog clears,
an' the sunlight shined through,
dancing across assembled spears,
The thousand stood firm.
Standing as one, strong, fearless,
In single motion they moved together,
each one at his best.
The thousand stood firm.
In duty dedicated,
one to the other,
in arms they are mated.
The thousand stood firm.
On hilltop they stood,
like pillars of cold stone,
still as they could.
The thousand stood firm.
As the great fog passed,
coming clear on the plain,
Ten thousand swords amassed.
The thousand stood firm.
Outnumbered in cause,
A great battle comes,
a day without pause.
The thousand stood firm
From the mass came a roar,
a sound to chill the bones,
hallowing to the core.
The thousand stood firm.
Another great cry,
movement stirred from the plains,
liquid to the eye.
The thousand stood firm.
With the dark hulk coming,
a deep breath drawn,
Heeding the Sergeant's warning.
The thousand stood firm.
Up the sloop they charged,
giving single face to the form,
soon to be merged.
The thousand stood firm.
Shields raised a single wall,
Spears dropping in unison.
making the lead edges fall.
The thousand stood firm.
as the numbers piled high,
Death smiled in glee,
many more yet to die.
The thousand stood firm.
Long through the day,
flesh met tempered steel,
a true warrior's way
The thousand stood firm.
Swords sheared through armor,
through flesh and through bone,
Till the body bleeds no more.
The thousand stood firm.
For each one that fell,
another moved forth,
keeping the ranks filled.
The thousand stood firm.
In long grueling battle,
many hearts wane,
and fall short of mettle.
The thousand stood firm.
The mass falls apart,
leaderless and defeated,
It lacks in true heart.
The thousand stood firm.
The plains clear of the living,
leaving as dusk approaches,
lost in their misgivings.
The thousand stood firm.
Spears are laid aside,
beaten swords sheathed,
they count those alive.
The thousand stood firm.
The wounded are seen to,
The dead are burned,
they embrace those they know.
the thousand stood firm.
long into the night,
many dreams are troubled,
recalling the fight.
The Thousand stood firm.
The season soon ends,
the invasion has failed,
in time they'll come again.
The Thousand stood firm