The Necromancer's Folly

The Necromancer's Folly is a romanticized account of the Legend of Arrav written by Rosaline Haines in collaboration with Nathvin Trayle, her former lover. It was often performed by the two during their troupe's tours throughout the human kingdoms.

Lyrics

 * Long ago, in ages past,
 * a hero was born without a caste.
 * This child of man, of Sun and Moon,
 * Arrav, our champion - and our doom.


 * "Curse of Goblins," it rang about
 * as Arrav did push the goblins out.
 * In their wake, a kingdom rose:
 * Avarrocka, his city - and his home.


 * And then one night, in the Land of Dreams,
 * Arrav met a foe, one who schemes. 
 * "I know you," he did proclaim,
 * "and this city I will set aflame."


 * Once told, the elders knew:
 * this man, Arrav, would be their doom.
 * And so they sent him to fetch a shield,
 * one whose location remained concealed.


 * For seven days and seven nights,
 * Arrav did travel without plight.
 * In time he found dwarves who held
 * the shield he sought but they rebelled.


 * "We cannot give it away to you,"
 * "for if we do, it will bring our doom."
 * They said he must go away from there;
 * the Necromancer had brought them despair.


 * A heavy heart Arrav did bear
 * as he sought the shield elsewhere.
 * But no one knew it or had said
 * whenever the Necromancer's name was read.


 * Arrav grew weary in his search,
 * and so outside a cave he perched.
 * He watched the sun and moon rise;
 * he watched the grass as it died.


 * In the cave, a beast did wake;
 * with fiery heart, it was a drake.
 * It sensed the man and grew near,
 * unaware its doom was here.


 * For two days and two nights,
 * Arrav fought until he took its sight.
 * And with his own did he see
 * the drake was what he might be.


 * "No more searching," he did state.
 * "I now return home, whatever my fate."
 * And so Arrav trekked the way he came,
 * so that he might relieve his shame.


 * Avarrocka was gone, the whole town,
 * the goblins had burned it all down.
 * Gathering the men, with vengeance at hand,
 * did Arrav plan to make their stand.


 * Only when they made to move
 * did Arrav realize their doom:
 * man and goblin should not fight,
 * for no one wins from this blight.


 * Raising his voice, he called for peace,
 * and only then did the fighting cease.
 * The city was remade and the people cheered
 * for their hero, Arrav, who they held dear.


 * Two years later, and only then,
 * did he meet the Necromancer again.
 * "I come now," he did say,
 * "and you shall be the first I slay."


 * Arrav knew then what to do.
 * He left his home beneath the moon.
 * To the dwarves he did go,
 * and there saw that they did know.


 * Only now, with their doom at hand,
 * did the dwarves deliver the shield to him.
 * Arrav returned as fast as he could,
 * to end the threat of the Necromancer for good.


 * With shield in hand and sword drawn,
 * Arrav met his foe at the crack of dawn.
 * The Necromancer struck repeatedly
 * but Arrav fought on, not giving in easily.


 * But with each blow he knew he could not keep pace,
 * and so his fate did Arrav embrace.
 * Tossing the shield high above the walls,
 * Arrav knew then he'd won after all.


 * Light flared out, the city glowed.
 * As it dimmed, the enemy slowed.
 * The city had won, but at great cost:
 * their hero, Arrav, had finally lost.


 * The Necromancer withdrew, his anger great,
 * his defeat he did create;
 * for in his wake he did see,
 * the hero, Arrav, and his legacy.