Not by kinship were they kin,
But by their hearts we mark them Men.
Their hands were raised against us, once,
But our hearts now bear the encumberance
Of their spirits–which were large–
And headlong, heedless, did they charge–
And now we find we came too late
For us to save them from their fate.
By blood and blade were they laid low:
With blood and blade do we now go.

We who here remain, at length,
Garner from them some new strength.
Though filled with grief found at the sight
Of brave souls’ ending of year-long plight,
We name them brothers and sisters now,
And build them a pyre of sap-rich boughs.
The light of sacred fire burning;
The heat will set our blood to churning.
By blood and blade were they brought down:
By blood and blade will vengeance be found.

So, my merry fellows all,
Do not shirk this siren’s call.
We know what we are called to do:
To pay back blood for this fine crew.
Though they fought, and though we bled,
Here they fought to stall our dread.
They died for our homes in the vale;
For this, my friends, we must not quail.
By blood and blade they died for us;
By blood and blade we’ll pay them much.

Let their corpsefires light the night!
Let our fury burn too bright!
I bid you RIDE! now, on to ruin!
And let your blades be their undoing!
The cursed strangers from deep below
That rose in dark, and darkness sow,
Will know their error by these staves,
When we send them to their graves!
By blood and blade they’ll know the score:
By blood and blade they’ll rise no more!