By far the most musical theatre of any song I've ever written. Make of that what you will. This was a rare occurrence of the chords and the melody coming together with surprising ease and then the words taking months of frustration. In the end it was a collaborative piece with my wife Emma (Malhann to those of you in the field), without whom I would still be banging my head against a wall.

The Moments In Between

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.

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

Love Mist (Mastered with Aurora at 50pct)(1)

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

This was recorded at my home. I need to add bass drum and some more guitars, but I wanted to show the work in the progress.

Lyrics:

Wait, silent, and still.
Kneel, watching, ready for the kill.
Feel, the forest, beneath you.
Wait, we're holding, hidden from view.

It's time. There's a sign, from the left,
And we're moving.
Rise, from the ground, with no sound,
And we're making our way.
And we're picking up pace.
The touch, on your skin, of the leaves,
As they brush past your face
And we're picking up pace
Aware, the front lines, of both sides,
Have begun to engage,
But we're moving,
And we're sneaking,
And we're flanking.

The crunch, of a twig, on the floor,
It seems deafening.
The whip of the trees on our sides
But we've not been seen yet,
But we're picking up pace.
Catch, the first sight, on the right,
As their moving in place.
And we're picking up pace.
To stop, and disrupt, interrupt,
All their strategy and planning,
And we're moving,
And we're running,
And we're flanking.
Flanking.

Charge! We're running.
Whistling wind as the arrows are flying.
Charge! We're running.
Screaming out threats as the bloodlust is filling,
Our minds.
And we're picking up pace.
The fear, in their eyes, as their caught, by surprise, 
As we're running, 
And we're leaping
And we're bursting out the wood,
Spears colliding.

Duck, to the left, block the right.
Keep on moving.
Thrust, to the chest, and their lives,
You have taken away.
And they can't match our pace.
Weaving our way, through their lines,
Bringing death in our wake.
And we're picking up pace.
Sever, and break and dismember and take
Now we're leaving.
And we're running.
And we're breathing.
And returning to our wait...

...silent, and still.
Kneel, watching, ready for the kill.

Flank Attack From The Forest

Gabrielle_Joanne_-_Trees_of_Liathaven.m4a

A lament for the lost city of Terunael

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

Terunael

Ambient recordings from the larp Empire, by Profound Decisions.

Original song by Idwyn Splitroot (Gabrielle Falquero).

Empire 22

Call to the Labyrinth

A song about Idwyn Splitroot's Past Life Vision

Rise and Build

"Stop! Please!" 
The Cambion woman begged. She looked on as her daughter held a blade to her own skull and began sawing through one of her horns under the command of the brutish Thule orc standing over her. Gritting her teeth Narelle forced the rusted metal through the ivory. Trembling, she held out her hand. Still clutching her bloodied horn. His grey face peered down at her with a sickening joy painted across its features. He paused for a moment, and grinned. And without breaking eye contact he said, quietly,
"Take the mother away."
 Narelle felt her stomach drop. She watched helplessly as her mother was dragged kicking and screaming through the dust-choked hallway. Overwhelmed by rage, brought to a crescendo by the pain in her head, Narelle hurled her broken horn at her captor with an almighty cry striking him square in the back of his skull. The orc turned to face her once more, a terrible fury burning in his eyes... 

Ivory Daggers is a song set and written within the world of Empire, a festival larp in the UK.
It tells the tale of a Cambion woman and her family, living under the tyrannical rule of the Thule when they seized the Runeforges of Treji in 373YE.

Inspired and derived from "Age of Agression" From The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Intro and outro clips taken from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTM9lQncKc&t=34s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBD0GjGP6Ew&t=19s

Ivory Daggers

"Wear your tattoos, your scars with pride; they're proof that you've come this far and survived."
Life as a Navarri is not always easy, dangerous moments can spiral quickly and leave us beaten and broken. But we are never ones to give up.

A song written for and dedicated to my bestest friend and the strongest person I know.

Flank Attack From The Forest

Jamie Wakefield