Empire

Larp Songs

empire

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 is what happens when you want a better recording of one of your old songs and your wife has amazing harmony ideas. Song is Wheel Keeps Turning, my Prosperity based song for Empire. Musically, this extra special edition takes a bit of a departure from the WM musical brief, so it is unlikely to be heard in the field in exactly the same way, but damned if I'm not happy how it came out. Big props to Emma (Malhann) for the sweet, sweet harmonies.

Wheel Keeps Turning (Extra Special Edition)

Continuing adventures in multitrack recording!

This was the second song I wrote for Empire. It's great to get it recorded as I honestly felt it was starting to get a little stale as It represented 33% of my repertoire for a long time. I had a bit of fun with the stereo mix for this, so can recommend headphones for the best creepy-voice effect. At some point I will redo the drums as I'm not entirely happy with them (I'm not a percussionist and we have neighbours which limits re-tries without pissing off the neighbourhood). Aside from that, each track here was able to be done in a single take which is very nice. I mean, there are a total of four chords in the whole song (Am, F, G, E) so it's hard to get it wrong, but still.

Rise Up (Rise Further Edition)

A better version - or more accurately a remixed version done using Reaper.

Lyrics:

Verse 1
Long ago there was a mage,
A master of the night,
who sought Sadogua's might.

And to his arts he would slave,
But while he was away,
His wife, she loved to play,

With all the men, they say,
Throughout the night, and into the day.


Chorus
Lord Sadogua,
Give sustenance and praise.
Step into his domain,
And he'll amaze.

Lord Sadogua,
Gives succulence sublime.
Surrender to his sight.
And slowly slide.

Into the night... night... night... (slowly slide)
Into the night... night... night...

Verse 2
And so the mage, he made a pact:
All secrets be unsealed,
All mysteries revealed.

But when he caught her in the act,
He flew into a rage,
And screamed he was betrayed.

That this was kept from him,
Made him a foe of the Toad King.

Chorus
Bridge
The mage he learnt every ritual and spell,
To enter the night realm,
And overwhelm.

With untold magics, he traveled there alone,
And broke The Black Beasts throne,
All on his own.

But the brother of Wizards said, “Wait!
Look at the power you drew with your hate.
Though you insult me by coming here, still
This was my plan so I bare no ill will.
You got what you wanted, so why bare ill will?

Chorus

Verse 3
Of course, the mage he did reverse,
And The Black Sloth with a laugh
Gave him a magic staff.

But the staff, it bore a curse.
When the mage got home,
It flayed him to the bone.

For the Wyrm-King had lied,
And so the mage, he painfully died...

(Written by Jamie Wakefield)

Lord Sadogua

Still a work in progress, but while I learn how to home record, I thought I'd share.

This one has been done to a click track.  Guitars were recorded using two mikes: my semi-acoustics's pick ups and a shure sm58 placed up close. 

Audacity effects applied: compressor and reverb.

Lyrics:

Verse 1
Under distant skies,
Far from home am I,
A home denied,
Are the grasslands of Segura.

Oh! Those golden plains,
Of my childhood days,
So far away,
How I dream of my Segura.

Pre-Chorus 1
But stand tall.
Our time is nigh,
And we all,
Shall answer to the cry

When the Corsairs come,
The sound,
Will shake the ground,
The deaf'ning pound,
Upon the drum!

Chorus
When the Corsairs come,
With their swords as bright as flame.
When the Corsairs come,
Like a blaze across the plains.
When the Corsairs come,
How the enemy will flee.
When the Corsairs come!

When the Corsairs come,
They're the storm and they're the flood.
When the Corsairs come,
They're the fire in the blood.
When the Corsairs come,
How we'll sieze our destiny.

When the Corsairs come,
Our homeland will be free.

Verse 2
Through these ruined walls
And these broken folds,
I still recall, 
The day we lost Segura

All that still remains
Are the dark blood stains
And shallow graves,
Where we fought for our Segura

Pre-Chorus 2
But that pain,
Will surely disappear,
And our rage,
Will conquer any fear!

When the corsairs come,
The din,
Upon the wind.
Their blades will sing,
And dance as one!

Chorus

Bridge
Hear the Corsairs (x2)
Hear the Corsairs Come!
(Repeated)

Ah! (x7)

Coda – As chorus with finishing on F Dm E Am
Hear the Corsairs come...
(Then as chorus x2)
Our Homeland...
Our Homeland...
Our Homeland will be free.

When The Corsairs Come

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

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

It was a recorded, engineered and mixed at home on my somewhat rudimentary studio equipment.  I would like to add percussion to this at some point. Maybe redo the main vocal and add more guitar.

This is my first proper recording using Reaper - a Digital audio workstation software that I think I am going to stick with because it is awesome.

Lyrics:

Intro
Nigh-anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay
Nigh-anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay

Verse 1
Bold Hercynia,
Where the ancient pine grow,
On the mountain side,
In the dawning light.

Hear the water course,
through the deadly gorge,
See the long shadows,
Where we dare not go.

Cold Hercynia,
Where the rivers run fresh,
As the Northern breeze,
Stirs the mighty trees.

See the hunter stand,
Watching all the land.
Hear the silence fall,
When the Navarr call!

Half- Chorus
Nigh-anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
Hear the cold Hercynian Cry.
Anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
From the tallest treetops on high.

Verse 2
Brave Hercynia
Where the mountain lion lurks,
As the grizzly bear,
Sniffs the morning air.

See the badger stir,
'neath the fallen fir.
See the sly vixen,
In the foxes' den.

Old Hercynia,
Where the many herds roam.
On the valley side,
Where the hunter hides.

See the red deer sleep,
By the river deep,
See them run and flee,
When the Navarr scream.

Chorus
Nigh-anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
Hear the cold Hercynian Cry.
Anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
From the tallest treetops on high.

Anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
Where the mountains reach to the sky.
Anighy-yighy-yah, Anighy-yighy-yay,
Hear the cold Hercynian Cry.

Bridge
Higher than the stars at night
Farther than the bird in flight.
Prouder than the bravest thorn.
Louder than the thunderstorm.

Higher than the curving sky,
Farther than the eagle flies.
Prouder than the raging boar.
Louder than the lion's roar.

Verse 3
So Hercynia,
When your rivers are dust.
And the woods we know
Are a faint echo

When the mountains grand,
have been ground to sand.
Though the world may die,
You'll still hear our cry!

Chorus x2

Hercynian Cry

Gabrielle_Joanne_-_Trees_of_Liathaven.m4a

Only A Matter Of Time

Recorded on my phone because my PC was being a dick. Very basic recordings which I hope to replace at some point soon. All lyrics and melodies are my own, but the chords, rhythm structure and rhythm for Rise Up was heavily inspired by 'Believer' by Imagine Dragons. It's not a direct filk, exactly, but I certainly can't claim it as completely original.  More songs will follow as I complete the songbook. 

From an RP perspective, there is a reasonable chance that you could have heard these performed as Tarik wanders the trods and performs in taverns to pay his way.

Rise Up (Ambition)

Nowhere I'd Rather Be (Loyalty)

Wicker Basket

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

About Last Night (I'm Not Touching You)

Those folks in the League sure know how to party.

Thespian Style

Tanikipari

Lay Me In Fire

For all you crayon faced murder monkeys out there <3

Prick My Bush

A song about Idwyn Splitroot's Past Life Vision

Rise and Build

Originally sung in the prosperity bar, this old Varushkan folk song has morphed into the Varushkan Hearth Bass version that can be heard today.

Bushka has spent time capturing the whispers of his yaks and has let them ferment, to bring you this representation of Ladies From League.

We khope you enjoy that we a make a yes.  A YES!

Lay Me In Fire

Mark Chilvers 2