Ballad of Dusk

Duke Dravulean
The lord of Sinofis
Leading the rebellion strong!
Southward they travelled
Enemies unravelled
As all their army came along!

Their army encamped
In Robardon fair
Civilians cheered as they came!
The Vosti came swarmin'
With magic a'stormin'
To set the whole city aflame!

The city held out
For many a month
Till dire news came from the north.
New troops weren't coming
To face the oncoming
Soldiers the empress brought forth!

The duke then decreed
The civilians leave
And the army begin to retreat.
The new plan was hidden
From spies come unbidden
Defeated by guards in the street.

As occupants left
And soldiers disembarked
The duke was left almost alone.
Then tragedy struck!
He found himself stuck
By killers fighting for the throne.

Muuhónum the wise
And Glori the brave
Came valiantly to his aid!
The duke fought on fiercely
Found himself severely
Injured by way of a blade.

Yet he did not falter
He fought on until
Every last killer was slain!
Then his sword dropped
And his body flopped
To lie on the bloody lane.

His son became duke
Though merely fifteen
And took up command in his stead.
For though he was gone
His cause lived on
In the hearts of those he had led!

His son would go on
To found the great kingdom
Of Telziad we all adore!
And what was that king's name
When time for choosing came?
Dravulean, that was for sure!

---

The Ballad of Dusk is a song of unknown origin, believed to have been written circa 340 AC. It presents a quick telling of The Dusk of Duke Dravulean, specifically a Telziado variant where Dravulean successfully defeats the assassins before succumbing to his wounds. Unlike many other songs based on this story, it touches on the effect of his death on his family, and of how his son became king of Telziad and took his name.