THE CALL OF THE LIVING SWORDS – Part 1

[Narrator] Granite Respite… Fortress of the Iron Barriers… Last shield before the darkness beyond Valorn. Peace had returned to the kingdoms… …but every veteran standing watch knew the truth. Peace never lasts. For years the Veilleux Company fought demons, undead, warlords, and things buried beneath forgotten ruins. Some battles were victories. Others were survival. And now… new shadows gathered. Orc tribes united. Bugbear warbands moved east. Cult banners rose once more. And somewhere beyond the world… Eric’s demon father stirred the darkness again. Inside Granite Respite… new heroes gathered. Not legends yet. But perhaps soon to become them. [Troy] Look around this room. Mercenaries. Scouts. Healers. Survivors. The Iron Barriers remain here to defend Granite Respite. YOU will travel in our name. You will recruit warriors worthy of becoming the Living Swords. Thirty warriors for the Iron Barriers. Thirty more for the Steel Vanguard. Sixty blades before the next war begins. [Kess] And if we fail? [Troy] Then Valorn dies slower instead of faster. [Dark pause] [Brakka] …simple enough. [Hagan] I hate how confident the giant sounds. [Troy] Queen Marye Anne’s magic identified four recruits already. Dangerous people. Powerful people. Necessary people. [Eric] One drinks too much. One talks too much. One speaks to the dead. …and one may already belong to Hell. [Hagan] So we’re recruiting mercenaries… or opening a cursed circus? [Troy] Kess. You lead this mission. [Kess] …me? [Troy] You protect people first. That matters more than glory. [Brakka] She leads. …I follow. [CHORUS] WE ARE THE WALL BEFORE THE DARK THE FINAL FIRE THE FALLEN SPARK FROM GRANITE HALLS OUR OATHS ARE SWORN THE LIVING SWORDS SHALL CARRY ON WHEN KINGDOMS FALL AND HOPE IS GONE WE STAND WHERE FEAR HAS ALWAYS WON WITH STEEL AND BLOOD OUR FATE IS DRAWN THE LIVING SWORDS SHALL CARRY ON [Narrator] The meeting stretched deep into the night. Maps covered tables. Rumors spread. War routes were marked. And beneath every conversation… fear quietly lingered. Because veterans recognized the signs. The world was preparing for another war. [Kess] We leave at dawn. [Hagan] Can’t we leave after breakfast? [Kess] No. [Hagan] Cruel leadership already. [Brakka laughing softly] [Narrator] Outside… snow drifted across the fortress walls. Mercenaries sharpened blades by firelight. Priests whispered prayers. And somewhere beyond the mountains… something ancient awakened. [FINAL CHORUS] FROM BLOOD AND STONE THE LEGENDS RISE WE MARCH BENEATH FORSAKEN SKIES NO KINGS REMAIN WHEN HELL IS DRAWN THE LIVING SWORDS SHALL CARRY ON WE HOLD THE LINE THROUGH FIRE AND PAIN WE RISE THROUGH LOSS AGAIN AND AGAIN WHEN DARKNESS FALLS WE BECOME THE DAWN THE LIVING SWORDS SHALL CARRY ON [Narrator] The war for Valorn… had already begun.