Dawn of the Living Swords

Granite Respite stood silent beneath the dawn. The Living Swords returned home bloodied and changed. Fen Hollow. Dren Marr. Gone. Spider venom stained armor. Broken weapons hung from exhausted hands. And war was coming. [Troy] Bring them inside. [Narrator - ultra deep cinematic bass narrator] The Great Hall fell silent as the survivors entered. Maps covered the war table. Spider sigils marked roads across Valorn. [Troy] The Githyanki are real. The spider riders are real. And something worse commands them. [Kess] Then we prepare faster. [Troy] You already have. [Narrator] Troy stepped toward Kess. [Troy] You held frightened mercenaries together during impossible battles. Granite Respite needs leadership. Kess Stone Hand… you are now Commander of The Iron Barriers. [Kess ] …me? [Eric] You already led them. [Troy] Granite Respite needs you here. [Kess] Try not to die. [Hagan] Historically… that feels unlikely. [Narrator] Then Troy turned toward Brakka. [Troy] The Living Swords continue beyond these walls. Smaller. Faster. Deadlier. And they require a leader people trust. Brakka Stonefist… the Living Swords are yours now. [Brakka] …I’m not Troy. [Troy] No. You’re the man who carried wounded mercenaries through spider fire while others ran. That matters more. [Ziddelgzt] He protects people before himself. That is rare. [Narrator] Brakka looked away awkwardly as the hall quietly agreed. [Troy] Good. [Narrator] Brakka slowly nodded. [Troy] The Living Swords shall be: Brakka. Ziddelgzt. Dom the Fat. Aelric Vael. Hagan Two-Step. Lira Green Veil. Jaska Grave Whisper. Malric Dune. [Narrator] The room shifted uneasily. [Varn] So that’s it then? [Narrator] Varn Blackblade stepped forward. [Varn] The disciplined stay behind… while reckless fools become legends? [Troy] The Iron Barriers need veterans. [Varn] No. You need shields. Because shields die quietly. [Varn] I held lines while half these idiots burned taverns down. [Hagan] …fair. [Varn ] And HIM?! That knife-spinning gambler makes the Living Swords?! [Malric] I’m charming. [Lira] That is not the word I would use. [Laughter] [Varn] You’re suspicious. [Narrator] Varn removed the black pike from his back. [Varn] I didn’t survive frontier wars to guard walls while glory walks away carrying a lute. [Aelric] This lute is magnificent. [Varn] Keep it. [Narrator] Then Varn looked toward Brakka. [Varn] You should’ve been surrounded by soldiers. Not chaos. [Brakka] Maybe. But they’re my chaos. [Narrator ] Varn stared silently. Then turned toward the gates. [Varn - bitter disciplined veteran male] Good luck. You’ll need it. [CHORUS] RISE NOW LIVING SWORDS BORN THROUGH FIRE BORN THROUGH WAR FROM THE ASH THE LEGENDS RISE STEEL AND STORM AND BURNING SKIES WHEN DARKNESS COMES WE HOLD THE LINE SIDE BY SIDE UNTIL WE DIE FROM BROKEN ROADS TO KINGDOM FALLS THE LIVING SWORDS WILL ANSWER ALL [Eric]] History remembers those who stood when kingdoms failed. [Narrator] And so the Living Swords stood beneath the banners of Granite Respite… ready for the darkness ahead. And somewhere beyond the mountains… the spiders were already gathering again.