Najm at Hastati Gate: a Song by the Chroniclers

 Rather a while ago as it seems now, Najm ibn Marwan commissioned Gan ad-Din of the Chroniclers to write a ballad for him--a ballad for his own glory, an heroic deed-song! It was to commemorate the victory at the Hastati Gate, but also to be a song glorifying Saint Iskameen, whom Najm claims as a spiritual ancestor, or perhaps a direct ancestor.

Gan, happy to take Najm's money, complied with alacrity--rather more alacrity than the Scribes in recording it. He developed the song during the jaunt to the Denyan Isles that, though only entered recently into these chronicles, actually happened about three months ago (around the beginning of September).

Najm is most pleased with this lied, and will have it sung at the launching of his new ship, the Rihha, as part of his private celebration for that occasion.

As always, as an in-character accounting of events, this earns Gan 100 xp per character level.

Najm at Hastati Gate

(aka Ballad of Najm, or Ballad of Hastati Gate)

(sung to the tune of: “Am'rekan Pye”

by the ancient bard: D'ahn Mk'leene)

Not so very long ago, the gods rained down their favor
Upon Najm ibn Marwan.
He gathered a fine company
Of mystics and great warriors
To join him on a journey into Hell!

Tsurr al Qadim made us shiver
With every blow we did deliver,
Undead from the doorways,
Fell before our fair blades!
I remember when we almost died
A s'ro called out and burned my hide,
But something healed me deep inside
The day St. Iskameen arrived!

So, HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

A Stygian was on the prowl,
Collectors crept along the roads,
A s'ro commanded in the clouds!
The minions of Tsurr al Qadim
Corrupt and desecrate your soul,
And animate your corpse as something foul!

Cultists ply their evil trade,
Raise undead beasts with shield and blade
They'll track you to your homes
Then flay your skin from bones!
Hundreds stood against our host
Zombies, skeletons, and ghosts,
They tried their best, our souls to roast
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

As we fought in a poisoned land,
Lightning flashed from Najm's hand,
And fire burst forth from Heijo's wand!
The s'ro lashed out with bane and blight,
The cultists cast their spells in spite,
As the Stygian and Sesel there did fight.

The Barcidae rushed out with swank,
But the undead moved upon our flank,
Their arrows fell like rain.
All the Barcidae were slain!
As Durham laughed with sheer delight,
'Sun Forger' flew from left and right,
With Najm lighting up the night,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

The carnage grew at Hastati gate,
The undead s'ro there laying waste,
Our only plan to act in haste!
Bart sent Gan ahead through space,
And undead burned in gouts of flame,
'Cause fire is Heijo's one true friend.

And as we watched the fight unfold,
Gan and Sesel, fast and bold,
Najm opened his mind
And St. Iskameen did bind!
The poison storm the Saint did quell,
And daylight burst asunder hell!
The s'ro then slain, before us fell,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

We passed Poor Brothers on the way
And told them how we won the day
They all smiled and stopped to pray.
We arrived at Cothon Gadeed
Intent to share our heroes' deed,
The throng there gathered 'round, our tale to heed.

And in their joy, the children danced
The Souffets cried, and the Hansemen pranced,
The pall of death was broken
When our success was spoken.
And the gallants I admire most
Najm, Bart, and Durham's host
Cried out to all there, “Hear our boast!”
The day we almost died.

“HAIL!, HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down fro the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

“HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”