Solemald by Zachary Farmer

STORY:

"To the heavens cry, ye men of Solemald! Hearken and be glad! Rejoice, ye men of the western wood! Rejoice, ye beasts of the steppe! Fallen is thy spineless king - that pitiful fool and his court of gluttons! In heaps of ash lie his banners, and empty are the halls of the Citadel! May the throne be redeemed of his tainted line! Hark! Hark, ye sons of Solemald! Relief, like soothing rain, has come! Thy land heaves a heavy sigh..."

Such were the words that groaned forth from the land that day. From the very earth did they come, and unto its every corner did they carry. The wailing of knights and noblemen and the ringing of clashing steel rang out unto the sky above as the Battle of Broken Order came to a close. The sound thundered across the blistered crags and volcanic plumes of the Blasted Steppe and echoed in a suffered whisper among the western forests of the Pleading Isles. Yet, despite the cacophony it brought, the horrific display lasted only the morning. By eventime, all had fallen still. The Mourning Sun, as it is now called, was as brief as it was violent.

Heaps of mangled bodies adorned the foyer and Great Hall of the Citadel in the aftermath. Little streams of blood trickled from every small hill of the dead and branched out like the veins of a leaf. Each coalesced into puddles and coagulated into sticky goo which heavy boots trod across the alabaster floors. Shattered glass, silver eating utensils, and half-broken candelabras of gold were strewn about the walkway which led to the dining area, which had met with similar wreckage. Overturned chalices dribbled wine from the enormous rosewood table in the center. Linen table-dressing of the highest quality lay in tatters on the ground, quickly wicking up the spirit and turning shades of scarlet.

The once immaculate stained glass windows of the throne room were reduced, almost entirely, to colorful and finely smashed rugged chips, which littered the entire area. The tiny would-be weapons rendered the room unwalkable for any surviving maids or servants, few as they were, in lack of sturdy footwear. Thick smoke issued forth from a pile of burning fabric which once flaunted the proud crest of house Tygon. It filled the air of the throne room and the lungs of all therein who still drew breath, obscuring visibility of all but the most prominent shapes. Its excess bellowed out from the gaping remains of the now empty window frames, and was wisped into the courtyard by occasional gusts of wind.

Towards the back of the room, and among those claimed by the silence, lay the lifeless body of his majesty, Bruce Tygon II - his head not far from it. The pitiful scene was encompassed about by men in gold plate and white capes, whose armor seemed to snatch away the rays of sunlight, converting them into a brilliant gleam. Even with visage obscured, these six men shined through the hazy enclosure with unmistakable presence. Each suit of armor carried with it the clear indications of masterful craftsmanship, and each found itself resting upon the frames of men boasting equally impressive constitution. These six were the betrayers - The king's own royal guard... Paladins of The Holy Hand. Chief among them stood the man who would be king... Ser Edmon Cantor... The very same man the late king Tygon had given the benediction to the office of Lord Commander a fortnight before. Cantor's rebellion was a bloodbath and all of Solemald awaited his reign.

DESCRIPTION:

Solemald is my homage to all of my favorite soundtrack music! It is directly inspired by soundtracks such as Skyrim, the Final Fantasy games, World Of Warcraft, Lord Of The Rings, and All of The FROM Software games. You will hear many references to songs from these games throughout the OST and it is intentional! I hope you enjoy it! Comment any references you catch in the music!

I make soundtrack music. You get the picture. Lol