Brawlers, Bastards & Broken Men - Song 2

[NARRATOR] Morning came slowly to the Wild Bull Tavern. Broken chairs. Sleeping mercenaries. Blood on the floorboards. And at least three men waking up beside gambling debts they did not remember making. [NARRATOR] But in the courtyard outside… steel already rang against steel. [BROGAR STONEVEIN] Again! [NARRATOR] Brogar Stonevein trained alone beneath the cold morning rain. Brann’s warhammer turning through the air like a weapon born for war. And nearby… the Riders of Westmar planned the company they would need to survive what was coming. [DARIAN] Queen Mayre Anne gave us enough gold to hire killers. [LYRA] Good. Because saints rarely survive invasions. [BAND] DRINK IT DOWN AND PLACE YOUR BET THE DEAD DON’T SPEND AND WE AIN’T DEAD YET! [Crowd Chant] HEY! HEY! HEY! [NARRATOR] Darian and Lyra crossed the tavern floor slowly. Watching. Judging. Looking for warriors dangerous enough to matter. Not soldiers. Survivors. [NARRATOR] At the fighting pits… Drogath Skullbreaker smashed another challenger flat onto the sawdust floor. [DROGATH] NEXT! [Huge Crowd Roar] [LYRA] I like him. [DARIAN] You like anything capable of property damage. [LYRA] Correct. [NARRATOR] The half-orc cracked his knuckles as Darian approached. [DARIAN] We’re riding north against the Githyanki. [DROGATH] Good. Been getting bored down here. [DARIAN] Pay’s dangerous. Odds are terrible. [DROGATH: grinning] Now you’re speaking my language. [NARRATOR] Near the gambling tables… Lyessa Vane calmly cheated four merchants at cards simultaneously. [Merchant] THAT’S THE THIRD TIME! [LYESSA] Then statistically this one should go better for you. [Laughter] [LYRA] She’s absolutely coming with us. [DARIAN] If we can afford her. [NARRATOR] Lyessa looked up slowly. [LYESSA] You can’t. [LYRA] Fair enough. How about revenge against monsters burning half the kingdom? [LYESSA] …Now you’re negotiating properly. [BAND] ROLL THOSE BONES AND COUNT YOUR GOLD WE LIVE TOO FAST TO DIE TOO OLD! [NARRATOR] At the far end of the hall… Father Malric Thorn slammed a silver dagger through a tavern table while shouting scripture at terrified gamblers. [FATHER MALRIC] THE FIRES OF DARKNESS SPREAD ACROSS VALORN! [Dealer] Sir… you are upsetting the customers again. [DARIAN] I’m honestly afraid to ask. [LYRA] Yes… but imagine pointing him at the enemy. [NARRATOR] Darian approached carefully. [DARIAN] Ever killed Githyanki before? [FATHER MALRIC] Not yet. [NARRATOR] Malric slowly pulled the silver dagger free. [FATHER MALRIC] But I’ve prayed about it extensively. [Music Builds] [NARRATOR] Near the fireplace… old Garrick Vale drank alone beneath a wall of mounted monster skulls. Watching exits. Watching hands. Watching everyone. [DARIAN] You fought at Hollowford. [GARRICK] You fought Black Hollow. [NARRATOR] The old mercenary studied the Riders quietly. [GARRICK] Most men don’t survive that road. [DARIAN] Most men didn’t. [Silence] [GARRICK] …Good answer. [NARRATOR] Then suddenly… chairs crashed backward near the tavern doors. [Music Stops] [NARRATOR] A hooded traveler stood surrounded by drawn steel. Strange features. Ash-gray skin. Burning yellow eyes. [Mercenary] GITH! [NARRATOR] The tavern erupted instantly. Weapons drawn. Crossbows raised. Then the hooded figure slowly lowered his hood completely. Not Githyanki. Githzerai. [VAEL’KIR] If I wanted you dead… you would already be screaming. [Dangerous Silence] [FATHER MALRIC] ABOMINATION. [BROGAR] Hold. [NARRATOR] Brogar stepped forward gripping Brann’s hammer. [BROGAR] I’ve seen enough war to recognize hatred when I hear it. [VAEL’KIR] Then hear this clearly, dwarf. I hate Xar’thul the Destroyer more than any man in this tavern ever could. [Music Slowly Builds] [NARRATOR] For several long moments… nobody moved. Then Darian pulled out a chair. [DARIAN] Sit down. [NARRATOR] The Wild Bull Tavern exploded into argument immediately. [Loud Tavern Chaos] [BAND] BROKEN MEN! BROKEN STEEL! BROKEN BODIES NEVER KNEEL! FROM THE ALE TO BATTLE CRIES WE RIDE TO WAR AND WATCH THEM DIE! [Crowd Chant] KILL THOSE GITHS! KILL THOSE GITHS! KILL THOSE GITHS!!! [NARRATOR] And as storm clouds gathered above the capital of Valorn… the foundations of a new mercenary company finally began taking shape. [FINAL CHORUS] DRINK IT DOWN AND MAKE YOUR STAND THE DARKNESS COMES FOR EVERY LAND! FROM TAVERN FIRE TO KINGDOM FALL WE RIDE TO WAR WHEN VALORN CALLS! [NARRATOR: slow gravel voice] In the Wild Bull Tavern… legends were no longer arriving. They were forming.