Empire

This album is a collection of songs inspired by spending time in an imaginary world. And, it is an album inspired by some of the best people that the real world has to offer. For over twelve years, I have travelled all across Britain to live role-play in the magical lands of Mauritanja. In that time, I have seen great tales and legends play out before my eyes. I have fought in last stands. I have mourned the loss of comrades and I have sung songs to remember heroes and friends.

This is their music. This is the music of everyone who has shared my dreams. This is the music of a people who took the Unicorn as their standard and fought to be free...

Hit and Mist

On the Wall

This is a song for the Profound Decisions' live-roleplay system Empire.  It is meant as a duet for a male and female singer, so this recording is a placeholder until I can record a duet version.

This Version 2 recorded in 2020 at my home using Reaper.  It is a placeholder until I get a proper duet version with another singer.

Verse 1 (Navarr)
Into the eve'ning,
My lover, we're leaving.
No time left for grieving.
Our oaths we fulfil.

Our lives we will offer.
A step to here-after.
A future made better,
For Terunael

Chorus (Thorn)
Aye, my lover. 
A sudden farewell.
Aye, my lover. 
A sudden farewell.

Verse 2 (Thorn)
Long we've provided,
Our people we guidance,
Without us, their stridings,
Will travel a far.

Our future decided,  
Before we're divided,
Let's lie here united,
As Thorn and Navarr.

Chorus (Navarr)

Bridge (Thorn)
Hear me x4

Verse 3 (Navarr)
We should be preparing,
And what you're suggesting,
Would use, though its tempting, 
What time we have ill.
 
Soon, when we're long gone,
Our people embark on,
An exodus begun,
For Terunael.


Chorus (Thorn)

Bridge x2 (Navarr then Thorn)

Verse 4 (Thorn)
Your hard dedication,
Is all to your credit,
But we've done all we can,
and we have to let go.

Let's show we have no doubt,
For soon we will bow out.
But the dance will continue
With other heroes.

Verse 5 (Navarr)
Then let us make our rest,
And lie in the forest,
And let us show our trust,
In those who follow.

Let this be a lesson,
To trust in your brethren,
As our fore-bearers once did,
For Terunael.

Coda (both)
Aye, my lover,
For Terunael
 (Repeat to end)

A Sudden Farewell

This is a song for the Profound Decisions' live-roleplay system Empire.

This was recorded at my home.  The percussion and guitar were meant to be guide tracks only, but I liked the sound of the track with them included, so I left them in this version.

I also had a lot of fun with the backing vocals for this song and Navarr Running Song.  I even created characters in my head for the four singers  with very different voices, because... you know... roleplayer.  I think doing this helped to keep the sound ugly and brutal.

Call
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Response 1 (repeated after each line)
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Calls
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

In the day or in the night we take our victory.
In the dark or in the light we're running through the trees.

Sure and swift, our arrows fly.
Upon our spears, all will die.

Know no mercy, heed no plea.
You cannot betray your enemy.

The blood will flow!

Response 2 (repeated after each line)
The blood will flow!

Calls
The blood will flow!

From the wounds of our foes!
From the wounds of our foes!

Their guts we'll spill!
With every kill!

KILL! KILL! KILL!
KILL! KILL! KILL!

As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Response 1 (repeated after each line)
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Calls
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Know no mercy, heed no plea.
You cannot betray your enemy.

As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Thorn Battle Cadence

Christmas Gift (2)

A re-mix. Drums have been removed (for now). Levels changes and some backing vocals nudged to make lyrics clearer.

Lyrics:

Blood of the Empire

Verse 1 - Am
When the world was young our home,
Was an empire called Terunael.

Through youthful folly it did fall,
That then set us on this road so long.

Bridge 1 – F Em
On and on the road we strode.
Like blood without the heart.
Like blood without a heart.


Verse 2 – Am F G Em Am x2
The heart of all Navarr's the throne.
Since the Empress came and made us whole.
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.

In life we move through the great dance.
In death we walk the labyrinth,
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.


Bridge 2 – F G
From the sacrifice of Thorn and Navarr
(From the sacrifice of Thorn and Navarr)
To the sacrifice of Merryn and Carr
(To the sacrifice of Merryn and Carr)


Verse 3 – Am F G Em Am x2
The heart of all Navarr's the throne.
(The heart of all Navarr)
Since the Empress came and made us whole.
(Since the Empress made us whole)
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.

In life we move through the great dance.
(In life we move through the great dance)
In death we walk the labyrinth,
(In death alive in virtue)
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.

Coda - F G F G Am
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
We're the blood of the Empire's roads
And the blood of the Empire flows,
From the Throne.

Blood Of The Empire

A lament for the lost city of Terunael

Please forgive the dodgy mix, I'm still getting the hang of it all.

Terunael

A song to remind the Navarr that we have had great victories in Liathaven and we will one day again. Big thanks to The Norths for backing vocals/shouting ;) and backing vocals & drumming from Chris North.
IC names will be edited in when I know the spellings of them all...

7000 Thorns (original)

Ambient recordings from the larp Empire, by Profound Decisions

Empire 22

Last of my Striding

Ambient recordings from the larp Empire, by Profound Decisions.

Original song by Idwyn Splitroot (Gabrielle Falquero).

Call to the Labyrinth

Voice of Navarr

Wicker Basket

A love song for the wedding of a bride from Wintermark and a Urizeni groom. The groom selfishly died before the wedding.

Blood Of The Empire

Jamie Wakefield

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