The Scourge Of Man

Darkness awakened
Arisen with the moon
Hallowed soil now exhumed.

Bloodshed unending
Each night slept in fear
Since the old King first appeared.

He is the one who walks after death
The shifting shape that hungers for flesh
Passing through the stone of his ancient shrine
Beyond the forlorn throne
To live is to die.

Arriving from Northlands, he strode
A champion of valor and strength.

“Go now", the chieftain spoke
"Return this mare from whence it came”.

With sword in hand; axe, shield, and spear
At dawn, he mounted his steed.

The hero's pursuit of the aptrgangr
To bring back the head of a King.

Crimson is the forest
Tracks in the snow
Where the restless spirit roamed.

Entered the barrow
The corpse rest inside
On decayed lips grew a smile.

He is the one who walks after death
The incarnate curse, the scourge of man
The bringer of madness, invader of minds
Beyond the forlorn throne
To live is to die.

At once, the torch extinguished
Frost and twilight filled the vault.

Quickly, he reached for his sword
Before the lich could grasp his throat.

Swinging with force, he cut through the air
Like the will-o-the-wisp, ‘twas was no longer there.

Gripping his steel, he turned to attack
Feeling its breath on the back of his neck.

Bringing the bastard down.

From stab-wounds came forth
White worms and dust.

Along with the gilded crown
Fell the eldest of blood.

Slaughtered limb from limb
The King fell to his knees
Writhing with the sound
Of a thousand screams.

Fire!
Fire consumed the headless remains
Scorching, burning, conquered by flames.

Silenced at last
The smoldering ashes were cast
Into the sea
(Into the sea)

He is the one who walks after death
The incarnate curse, the scourge of man
The bringer of madness, invader of minds
Beyond the forlorn throne
To live is to die.