Chapter III: Grimbane - The Forging of Fate

Past the tombs of those who answered, Past the names erased by time, I enter where the mountain’s anger Sleeps behind a door of iron. No common fire lights the chamber. It seems to know that I have come. Shapes of kings and fallen bearers Move across the walls as one. At the forge, an ancient figure Waits within the furnace glow. Last surviving son of exile Last who knows what lies below. He does not speak my name or question. He lifts the Steele with blackened tongs. The buried metal starts to tremble As though it recognizes what I am. Hear the vow of sons of stone. One shall bear the blade alone. What the mountain gives this night Shall bind the hand and claim the life. Grimbane! Answer the flame. Let the mountain remember my name. What blood awakens, no hand can release. No road behind me, no covenant of peace. The wyrm waits where the lost halls descend Grimbane! The Forging of Fate! The first blow shakes the buried kingdom. The second wakes the ancient dead. With every strike, the molten metal Draws another vision through my head. I see the gates consumed by fire. I see the oathbound turn and flee. I see an empty throne among them A waiting place prepared for me. The hammer falls. The Steele is screaming. Runes ignite along its length. No lifeless weapon leaves that anvil; Something watches from the blade. Do not call it yours, young bearer. It has chosen what you’ll be. Those before you sought to wield it. In the end, it carried them. Hear the vow of sons of stone. One shall face the dark alone. What the mountain forged in pain Shall drink the fire and break the chain. Grimbane! Answer the flame. Let the mountain remember my name. What blood awakens, no hand can release. No road behind me, no covenant of peace. The wyrm waits where the lost halls descend Grimbane! The Forging of Fate! By the halls that wait in darkness... Take the hilt. By the names the stone has swallowed... Take the weight. By the kingdom left in silence... Take the blade. I take no crown. I claim no throne. I ask no song to bear my name. Give me the fire. Show me the way. Then bear the oath... and bear the end. Carry the blade! I carry the burden. Carry the oath! I carry the dead.