All songs written for the EMPIRE larp system. Collected here for convenience. Added to as I find them. 

Empire Larp collected tracks

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.

It was recorded in my front room in one take, so it is very rough.  Thanks to Jez Lawrence for recording equipment and expertise.

Redhound

A track to commemorate the deeds of a nation unsung in its altruism and loyalty: the Imperial Orcs - so may their nation sing this song to remind their neighbours, allies and foes that they are always a force to be reckoned with.

LYRICS

Ancestors, oh hear my deeds,
This is what the orcs have done for thee,
Died in Zenith to provide retreat,
First into the fray and the last to leave,
Give our weight in resource and steel,
Ball of death on the battlefield,
Loyal to the throne as a promise made
Loyalty’s a chain that an orc can’t break

When the singing caves were tamed,
All of the resources the Marches claimed,
“Share the wealth” said those in Dawn,
Arguing until the point of civil war,
Then the orcs said “fight no more”,
We will share the wealth of the brilliant shore,
So the Empire gets resource,
Price been paid by Imperial Orcs

We’re the loyal steel of the Empire’s stone
And we’ll break the bones of the Empire’s foes
Died in war to protect the throne,
So we earn our place in the Empire’s home
Nations fight over land and greed
We will give our wealth for the Empire’s peace
Blood unbroken in loyalty
This what the orcs have done for thee

Empire nations hear my deeds:
This is what the orcs have done for thee!
Mustered armies, mustered fleets,
Saved poor souls from the Feroz sea,
Freeborn who were trapped ashore,
Told by orcs they could come aboard,
Circumventing the Grendel threat,
Saved by orcs from the Grendel net!

Once we struck a pale orc down,
Looted back a treasured crown.
Though the treasure earned was ours,
We gave it back to Wintermark,
When the time came to repay,
We turned and looked the other way,
But the Markers’ won’t say no,
So they gifted Skarsind as our home!

We’re the loyal steel of the Empire’s stone
And we’ll break the bones of the Empire’s foes
Died in war to protect the throne,
So we earn our place in the Empire’s home
Nations fight over land and greed
We will give our wealth for the Empire’s peace
Blood unbroken in loyalty
This what the orcs have done for thee

Ancestors, oh hear our call!
We are orcs Imperial!
Few in number we stand tall,
Fighting for the nations we call home.
First in, last out is our creed
Charging to the front for loyalty.
Stoic in our deeds are we,
This is what the orcs have done for thee!

We’re the loyal steel of the Empire’s stone
And we’ll break the bones of the Empire’s foes
Died in war to protect the throne,
So we earn our place in the Empire’s home
Nations fight over land and greed
We will give our wealth for the Empire’s peace
Blood unbroken in loyalty
This what the orcs have done for thee

Ancestors, oh hear our call!
We are orcs Imperial!

Journey On

Hear Our Call

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

This song was originally written as part of my 30 day songwriting challenge raising money for Bardfest 2016 - and was first uploaded on Day 11 of the challenge. The challenge was by John Gathercole and it was to write a song entitled "Eagles over Therunin" which was to be set in the Empire LRP gameworld and be about Eagles seeing a massacre of Orc barbarians perpetuated by the nation of Navarr.

This is version 2.  The lyrics have changed since earlier versions.


Lyrics:

Verse 1
When the wind, in the South
Blows across the peaks of Morrow
See the eagles setting out
Gliding down into the bayou

There they soar, there they hunt,
For the snakes and eels they're fishing
But there's something in the swamp,
That they never were expecting

Chorus
Eagles, they’re gliding
And Eagles, they’re soaring
And Eagles, they’re climbing
For they are, flying over, 
Flying,

Over the fighting,
And over the falling
And over the dying
For they are, flying over,
Therunin.

Verse 2
There’s Navarr, in the trees
And they swing across the river
To a group of upon their knees
Waiting for their foes to follow

And the sound of the screams
Echoes to the cloudy heavens
Oh how strange this scene must be
To the eagles o’er Therunin

Chorus

Verse 3
There a flash, a sunlit blade.
There a spurt of blood projecting
Out across the sunken glade
Stains the mangrove deeply drinking

There it falls, and it sinks
As the arrows they are flying
Draws the creatures of the creak
Who will soon of orc be dining.

Chorus

Bridge
Through & through, Therunin
(repeated)
 
Chorus

Verse 4
When the wind, in the South
Blows across the swamps tomorrow
Breaks the stillness all around
And the silence in the bayou.

For the orcs, they have run
And the dead are disappearing
Fodder for the beasts and bugs
Soon the eagles will be feasting.

Eagles Over Therunin

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.

Original song by Idwyn Splitroot (Gabrielle Falquero).

Empire 22

Call to the Labyrinth

A song about Navarri oath tradition, including one of my own oaths.

Painted

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

A song written by Narelle as she yearns for her home, Hercynia. Having recently been reunited with her long lost friend, Artek, he and Narelle reminisce over the memories of their past and the home they once knew...

Narelle Brídín is an original character created for Empire, a festival larp in the UK. 
These are her songs, her tales...her legacy.

Call to the Mountains

A filk of the beautiful song "Wayward Wanderer" From Enderal Bards (An extensive mod revamping some of the bards songs in Skyrim)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns5syuFgbjo
Idea for Filk given by: Artek Emberune 

THE STORY:
This song tells a cautionary tale about a brash, young Navarri woman. Sick of her mundane life in her quiet Steading, she defies her guides and those close to her and decides instead to try and make it alone on the trods. Her freedom is short lived however when she is captured by a roving band of Jotun who exchange her life in return for her servitude. During her time in captivity she meets a fellow thrall, and falls for her completely. Yet again, her joy is short lived. For the woman who had stolen her heart chose instead to become a Jotun warrior to escape her enslavement, and left the navarri woman alone yet again, her heart in pieces.
Narrowly escaping with her life the Navarri woman returns to her Steading, pleading forgiveness from her people. They welcome her home with open arms. Not long after, she becomes a guide herself. She begins helping others along their way in the great dance and teaches the young members of the Steading that strength is found in those around you.

Wayward Wanderer

Wayward Wanderer (Filk)

"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.

Redhound

Jamie Wakefield

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