The Ballad of Sir Bah’Rane and Dragons of Darkness
… and as Sir Bah’Rane threw down his shivered lance and turned his charger to look upon the death throes of the fearsome beast, a brief instant of terror took him. The dragon was not gasping its last, but instead swelling to an even larger size and screaming its rage into the sky. As his gaze followed the beast’s change, an even more stunning and fear invoking transformation took place. The giant, black dragon became a dark mist which then poured out into three forms. In mere moments, Sir Bah’Rane was facing not one, but three devilishly dark dragons. Through sheer force of will, he quenched the flickering thoughts of flight, drew forth his sword, Silver’s Flame, and spurred his destrier into a valiant charge…
Dockside Chant
And it’s haul boys, haul
Make fast those ropes to the pier
Help the river lads stow their gear
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
Roll those barrels down the dock
Winch that crate, carry the crock
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
Drive that stock to the stall
Care with that casket and the pall
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
Shoulder those sacks of wheat and beans
Move and load those bundles of greens
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
Pushing that freight for a hard day’s pay
Spent on drink, soothe the pain away
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
With a smile and a wink and a touch of luck
You’ll charm a pretty wench, and get a fuck
And it’s haul boys, haul
And it’s haul boys, haul
An hour before dawn, it’s back to the quay
Heaving those bales for another damn day
And it’s haul boys, haul
Kell Na’dar City Guard Cadence
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
One, two, three, four,
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
You wanna walk the highborn runs,
Gotta ‘ave the birth or get the funds,
First you’ll have to gain the rank,
Then wash off the city’s stank
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
If you get the Floaters, you are made,
A fine bit o’ walkin on the promenade,
Guard those bridges, check those cards,
Do your work, gain the rewards.
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
You might just get a Trades patrol,
Learn the merchants, know your roll,
Watch for the thief, watch for the cheat,
Don’t let ‘em scoot on your beat.
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
In the Commons, you’ll earn your truck,
Good or bad, it’s all about the luck,
A common place for the common man,
Pace the streets, stick to the plan.
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
The Docks are nice, by the day,
Not a bad place to earn your pay,
If by night, keep a wary eye,
You’re tossed in the river if’n you die.
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
Skirt the Dregs, if you can,
It’s not worth the life of a man,
If you have to turn that stone,
Don’t get caught on your own.
Hup, hup, hup, hup,
One, two, three, four,
Hup, hup, hup, hup.
River Ditty
And it’s down the Kell we’ll go,
Driving cargo to and fro,
Tie off the ropes and grab a pole,
Catch the wind to ease the droll.
Smell the scent of the river clean,
Enjoy the time in the shaded stream.
Don’t get fooled by the tranquil sound,
It’s a whole lot of work ‘fer where we’re bound,
Toil and trial awaits the hand,
A day on the river is rarely bland,
‘Ware ye be of the sunken log,
‘Ware ye be of bandits in the fog.
With a fine crew, we’ll make the dock,
Unload the goods, roll out the stock,
Grab our pay, brush off the mist,
To the tavern, ‘n get good and pissed.
If those dockside boys want a row,
We’ll show them all, with a heave and a ho.
Mally’s Ride
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
A late one morning, did sleepy Mally rise
To spy the army’s dust hanging on the skies
His armor and his sword he did don in haste
And off to the stables Mally he did race
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
The stalls were all but empty, and Mally did cry
The hand saw his plight and to help he would try
For a wild willed pony was kept out in the yard
And a close fight it was, to saddle that wee pard
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
And off down the road strong Mally he did ride
For that wicked little pony she had a wicked stride
Nigh shaken to bits, when the army Mally saw
Taking cover by a fence behind the stony wall
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
Mally pulled the reigns to slow his hurried gait
But the little pony whinnied and speeded up her rate
O’er the stone fence the pony she did take flight
And Mally’s face fell as of the enemy he caught sight
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
The soldiers sounded a cheer as Mally led the charge
And o’er the wall they went, the tiny and the large
T’was the adversary’s face then that darkly did fall ill
As Mally on a pony led the army down the hill
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
The rival line then chose to scatter, break and run
As Mally crossed the tattered ground on his minute dun
Again the army cheered as their charge came to a halt
But great Mally kept on riding, at the pony’s fault
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys
Ride for the boys, Mally, ride for the boys