Abandoned Halls

Introduction: Codicil, another bard I played for a time, wrote this song. It is rather gloomy, fitting his personality well. However, there is also a measure of hope, for the theme of the song is that cold stone does not make a place great, but rather flesh and blood is what lends greatness to a site. Note also the rather complex rhyme scheme, which consists of alternating rhymes within each stanza with the second rhyme holding constant throughout the entire song.


Beneath the earth, in darkness sleep
those chambers wide and tall
where, in olden days did smithies keep
treasure great and bauble small
silent now in gloomy deep
no longer Dwarven hammers fall
now only rats and cobwebs creep
throughout the long abandoned hall

Upon the heath, a house of wood
where clansmen heard the hunting call
the chieftain's seat on platform stood
attended to by captured thrall
but now not even embers could
lend spark to charred and ruined stall
for rain now soaks the tattered hood
that once loomed o'er the meeting hall

High in the mountains, 'mongst the peak
covered in a wintry shawl
the souless moan of winds bespeak
like the settling of a funeral pall
of a town deserted by those who seek
in mines and shafts their fortune's call
they're all long gone, just remains the creak
of the sign before the tavern hall

And somewhere stood the palance grand
where once did reign the king of all
a mighty sceptre clutched in hand
topped by fiery golden ball
where minstrels played atop the band
and courtiers milled about the mall
until disaster came to that great land
and brought down low the mighty hall

And so my friends you would do well
to remember and recall
that no matter what the tales may tell
of the grandeur of proud roof or wall
do not fall sway to the tempting spell
that assigns glory to any hall
for without the lives that within them dwell
there is, in fact, no life at all

But only an abandoned, lonely hall

 

Script [may be used by any bard as long as Codicil is credited]

#Song-Abandoned Halls

put say Here is a song by the bard Codicil

pause 5

put sing Beneath the earth, in darkness sleep;those chambers wide and tall;where, in olden days did smithies keep;treasure great and bauble small;silent now in gloomy deep;no longer Dwarven hammers fall;now only rats and cobwebs creep;throughout the long abandoned hall

pause 27

put sing Upon the heath, a house of wood;where clansmen heard the hunting call;the chieftain's seat on platform stood ;attended to by captured thrall;but now not even embers could;lend spark to charred and ruined stall;for rain now soaks the tattered hood;that once loomed o'er the meeting hall

pause 27

put sing High in the mountains, 'mongst the peak;covered in a wintry shawl;the souless moan of winds bespeak;like the settling of a funeral pall;of a town deserted by those who seek;in mines and shafts their fortune's call;they're all long gone, just remains the creak;of the sign before the tavern hall

pause 27

put sing And somewhere stood the palance grand;where once did reign the king of all;a mighty sceptre clutched in hand;topped by fiery golden ball;where minstrels played atop the band;and courtiers milled about the mall;until disaster came to that great land;and brought down low the mighty hall

pause 27

put sing And so my friends you would do well;to remember and recall;that no matter what the tales may tell;of the grandeur of proud roof or wall;do;not fall sway to the tempting spell;that assigns glory to any hall;for without the lives that within them dwell;there is, in fact, no life at all

pause 27

put sing Though the hordes of hell us assail;they shall break upon our walls;and united shall we prevail;if you heed my song's true calls

pause 15

put sing But only an abandoned, lonely hall

 

Return to the Main Song Listing