This is the song of Mora the Crane, Kerhan the Silent, Shadow the Hooded, Tekal Hammerhands, Reuben the Smith, and Brawldefor the Warrior-Poet and their hunt for forest bandits who'd claimed the lives of many a traveler.
The Rogue Camp Battle
"Here I sit and tell you dear
Of the heros that hunted bandits near
And their night of fire full of fight
Before they camped in the bandits site.
Living in this very town
Were the men who took the bandits down,
A kind man big as a house
Who spoke little less than a mouse,
A dwarf whos hands were made of hammers
Whos approach sent villains into stammers,
An elfin lass whos eyes was good
As they peered through you from under her hood,
A shadowy man with a snake in his robe
Who silently through the forest strode,
And a simple warrior-smith
Whos fight was good as any gift,
And finally a warrior poet
Humble, strong and never gloated
They gathered in the silent sky
Black as pitch as night drew dark,
Stopping once to eat and take a nap
For they had no fear of evil's bark,
Instead it yipped and sent them dogs
With legs of men to try and fight
From shadows with bows and frightened eyes
Even as they stalked the heroes heard
The padded feet of the foolish herd
As the arrows flew the heroes lept
From beds where their weapons were kept
Firghtned now the dog men drew
But the heroes cut their steel in two
"Surrender now and we spare your lives
Surrender not and widow your wives."
The beasts paused and their teeth they bared
Unable to see they were badly impared
By lack of skill and experience
That the heroes all had learned of hence
The dog men leapt into the air as one
But landed as two and they were done
They stayed a day to take in the air
And the sun and moon now unimpared
By the threat of dog men that lay on the ground
Cut in twane from round to round
But the next nights eve the six set out
And rid the bandits of their clout
They reached the river and there in wait
Was a monster whos hands and nose were great
Proportions one could never half
But laid to rest with an elfin shaft
But the evil creatures knew they'd come
To take the bandits to their tom'
With glowing eyes and ferocious growls
They tried to test the Heroes bowels
But still they stood with eyes so bored
For before them stood a weakling hoard
Weapons flashed up
Weapons flashed down
Six and four foes on the ground.
The heroes looked with annoyed repor
As the villains charged them again once more.
The largest one over eighteen hands
Gave a blow he'd never landed
The power so mighty and full of strength
He thought the warrior was at the brink
But our quiet giant looked much vexed
As when stung by bee or low insect
He lifted his sword and brought it down
The ogre's head fell to the ground
The hooded man reacher out his hand
His snake moved from arm to land
It coild round a greenish brute
Whos blood could not dare dilute
The venom with which he was gifted
And from this land his soul was lifted
Shaft after shaft broke the hoard
Squeeling in fear and great discord
Goblin-fiends tried to run
Bolt and haft saw them done
Calm of eye and swift of hand
The elfin queen stood her land
With a cry of war the dwarf pressed on
His hammers crashing ithrough the throng
Around he could see the foes
One by one sent to their throes
He raised one hand and smote the earth
Which raised against the orcish girth
The foes were thrown from the grass
Into the sky and black morass
The warrior smith as strong as ever
Found each bandit he could sever
Head from neck, limb from chest
No blow they sent his way could best
The rounded shield he bore in hand
Slaying each of the evil band
The warrior poet burst into song
And lightly hacked his way along
Downing each foe in his turn
Dodging fires that would burn
Flung from the hands of evils god
Whos toes on which they'd began to trod
The battle itself was short and sour
No challenge for their heroic power
The strod into the camp and made their tents
Where they lay their armor without dents
They looked around them with much dismay
For once the brutes had had their day
Scattered around the camp did lie
Possessions other persons buy
So on their shoulders they took up
Each bag and shoe and shirt and cup
They brought them back into our town
And before the palace laid them down
"To their owners you must these take"
And with the the heros found their brake
They lay themselves down in the shade
And watched their wisdom be obeyed
Still they await in the town,
For a quest of great reknown,
Sleepy, quiet, and bored to death
Wishing theres was a strong foe left."