The Words of the Forest-King on the Eve of the Nexus:
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I am the immortal King of the Deep Woods,
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Servitor of the Old Gods of the Forest...
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I hear the whispered words of the trees...
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Such ancient secrets they sing...
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Swaying serpents ring my oak-hewn throne,
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Night and shadow are my hunting dogs...
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Ravenous, they howl to be unshackled,
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That their maws may be glutted with the blood of my foes.
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Raven's claw... tooth of the wolf
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Ancient trees my brooding sentinels,
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Gnarled branches clawing the nighted heavens.
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Spirits who dwell in shadow, unfurl thy darkling wings...
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Awaken, o' elder creatures of this sylvan realm,
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Stalk once more this ebon-cloaked eve.
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I hear the whispered words of the trees,
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Such ancient secrets they sing...
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I stand now at the anvil,
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Adamantine hammer in my hand,
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In thunder-song the steel I smite,
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A clarion heard throughout this land.
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(Yawning wide beneath me...) the jaws of the worm...
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(hearken, the spell is woven...) the call of the worm...
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Raven's claw... tooth of the wolf
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Ablaze upon the Altar of Stone,
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The Sigil of An-rayuth, the summoning!
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Folk of the Mist, Dwellers in Shadow,
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The thrice-blessed wand of the Wood-Gods is beckoning!
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At the aeon-swathed Shrine of the Oak I kneel,
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O' Oracle of the Great Forest, hear me this night...
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[The Sylvan Oracle Speaks:]
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The gods of the earth and sky are watching, the circle is nigh on
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complete... the nexus is at hand. But hearken... for a new enemy approaches
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from the east... an enemy who hide their poisoned blades behind words of
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falsehood sweetened with the ichors of carrion, to bind men's minds with
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fetters of deceit. Speak now, o' Liege of the Deep Woods, Master of
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Darkenhold, and the enemy shall hear you...
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[The Forest-King:]
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Yes... I behold now the face of the encroaching foe... Hear my oath! You,
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clad in gleaming robes of sparkling saffron, engorged with the mindless
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adoration of countless thralls who bend the knee in flaccid obeisance...
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'neath thine vestments hides the ra nk stench of leprous corruption! Bring not
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thine cursed icons into my ancient realm... your words of untruth shall not be
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heard here! My steel is honed and thirsting for your life-ichors... aye, and
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with my dying breath I'll spit defiance in your face!
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Upon my great throne hewn of ancient oak I brood...
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My mantle, the leaves stirred by the whispering of the winds.
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The elder gods of the Deep Woods gaze grimly down upon me...
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My blood courses through the trees and the earth...
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And I watch in silence, ebon-eyed and raven-winged.
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From every bough of my kingdom...
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[The Lament of the Trees:]
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Can you not remember? Have you forgotten the magic?
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Sing to us your spells once more, and the ancient forest shall dance to your
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words...
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[The Forest-King:]
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I stand now at the anvil,
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Adamantine hammer in my hand,
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In thunder-song the steel I smite,
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A clarion heard throughout this land.
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Can you not see the coils of the worm all about you?
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Can you not hear the writhing of the worm beneath you?
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Can you not scent the breath of the worm riding the wind?
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Can you not touch the skin of the worm in all that surrounds you?
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Can you not taste the ichors of the worm upon your tongue?
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Do dreams of the worm not haunt your slumber?
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[The Forest-King:]
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I hear the whispered words of the trees,
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Such ancient secrets they sing...
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[Lyrics: Byron]
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[Music: Jonny and Chris Maudling]
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In The Raven-Haunted Forests Of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign And The Hues Of Sunlight Never Dance
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| Bal-sagoth |
