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On
wings of war we five flew fast,
the
pages, all in sable clothes,
to
face the dragon Shadowcast,
the
cause of Warwick's untold woes.
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'Twas
not fair Warwick we did see,
whose
sun-soaked hills we love and know,
but
rather, a shade of what would be
if
we failed to stop Madam Widow.
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Through
blackest day, through darkest night,
across
the monster-haunted land
we
came, not to the Court of Light
but
to Shadow's Court, a Court gone mad.
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This
evil Court was not our own
but
a mockery cruel and twisted foul,
for
Time had reaped what Widow'd sown
and
birth'd one from Hell's deepest bowels.
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At
the table's head there sat a creature
dressed
all in black, much like ourselves.
His
clothes reflect'd his heart's true nature
for
he was Marduk, king of Hell.
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As
our hands strayed towards our weapon hilts
we
five pages sat, shocked and aghast.
King
Marduk said, "you won't be killed
if
you swear fealty to Shadowcast."
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Our
hearts sunk in our chests
as
we were led up stairs to our doom.
Our
courage faced a mighty test
as
above us foul nightspawn'd evil loomed.
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The
wyrm stood tall as fifty men
and
nearly half again as wide.
Its
eyes burned red as if afire
with
a hatred black as its midnight hide.
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We
stood transfixed 'fore Shadowcast's might,
enveloped
by its noxious breath.
Muscles
rippled 'neath scales black as night
as
it spoke, promising reprieve from Death
if
we would just renounce the Light.
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To
this day, I know not whence
the
strength of will or courage came
to
stand fast in purest Light's defense
and
give our lives in Eld Magnil's name.
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As
we five pages were led away,
Shadow's
laughter filled the hall.
This
was, it seemed, our darkest day,
our
desperate play's last curtain call.
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But
alas! Eld Magnil smiled upon us
and
delivered us from evil's grasp.
With
the aid of a goodly sorceress
the
Pages in Black escaped the trap.
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As
the hour of battle grew nigh,
we
returned to our own Eleven Lands
with
strength renewed and spirits high,
the
fate of Warwick rest'd in our hands.
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On
wings of hope we five flew fast,
our
hearts strengthened against despair
as
we neared the end of our long quest,
to
confront the Widow in her lair.
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That
day we claimed a victory
against
forces dark and an evil vast,
but
forever burned in my memory
are
the flame-limmed eyes of Shadowcast.
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