In my series, Scar of the Downers, the inhabitants live in a land they call the Northern Reaches. As most lands, the people have formed their own customs, habits, languages, and songs. It is what makes each land unique. So, as I’ve concentrated on the series, I wanted to create the same sort of feeling in this world. I wanted readers to feel the that land has a real history, a real people. So, in this blog post, I’ve compiled all the songs that have been sung in the two books that I’ve written thus far: Scar of the Downers and Rise of the Branded. I’ve also included one new song that is in the third and final book. The working title of the book is called War of the Reaches. Again, that is just the working title. Crik comes across this first song as it was sung in an inn called Briars and Thickets. As you can see by the lyrics, the citizens of Ungstah have, in their past, faced starvation as well. Not just the Downers. My wine skin is empty My loaf of bread is gone A man of my size can't linger on and on My stomach's been a-rumbling My tongue is parched and sore Just give me one crumb that has fallen on your floor The dog, he doesn't like it He growls and bares his teeth To me it's but a drop; to him a royal feast We fight and bite, and bark Use claws to scrape and scratch And while we weren't a-looking it was eaten by a rat This next song is a song of history and a lost hope. Downers have known about this song by the tale it tells - a city that once welcomed them. Long ago in the Glooming East Lay a city of old where oppression ceased Freedom burned in that mountain's realm In hope of shattering slavery's helm But the sword forged in steel and war Was lifted high 'gainst Ahminnon's door That city burned; the smoke now reigned The hope of the Downers began to wane And in the blackest night of the darkest age, The fires of war continued to rage Swallowing the night; veiling the dawn When the day had come, the city was gone This next song was taken from Rise of the Branded. It is a nursery rhyme sung to the youngest Downer of the group, Jak. Now most Downers wouldn't know what a nursery rhyme is. But Chaser does. This song was sung by her. Seven little birds hatched from their eggs The first one tried to fly but broke its leg The second little bird perched in a tree Sung a little song that went tweet, tweet, tweet The third little bird lived in a hat Laid a dozen eggs that were eaten by a cat The fourth little bird flew to the sea Caught a little fish and brought it back to me The fifth little bird broke its wing Cried for help but found it couldn't sing The sixth little bird flew away from home Lost its way and died all alone So the seventh little bird puffed its chest Mourned for its brothers and stayed in its nest The last song I'm including has been written for my third and final book following the Downers. All I'm going to say about it is that it is a song sung for the dead. The north winds bore you away To where mortal man cannot follow The sons of dust mourn their fate Toiling upon this darkly hollow To where you go, we cannot So our tears and sorrows rise to thee The young man’s life, the grave has bought But it swallowed death, and set him free So fly, fly to where old men dine Away from time and bone and earthly groan The dead will toast and cheer, and drink their wine And cry, “Our son, alas, you’ve come home.” So, if you haven't read the stories that these songs are found within, I would urge you to do so. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
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