The following poem was published in The Elanthian Times
Vol1,Issue2 Spring 1998
Ta'Vaalor
By Calan Pavilon
Seven cities of the Elven Empire,
Ruled with might lands entire,
But the finest knights of Elven lore,
Served the House of Ta’Vaalor;
Home to the best, the Sabrar legion,
Hand picked knights of Vaalor region,
A military tradition proved and true,
Bolstered by century long servitude;
Trained in battle and skilled in
war,
The single goal of all Vaalor,
To give their life as meager trade,
And wield the Sabrar arming blade;
Shining swords of Elven steel,
Hilt imbedded by Vaalor seal,
Forged by might and dragon fire,
Blades well worthy of their Sabrar sire;
But Aramier’s light outshone them
all,
A blade more valiant none could recall,
Veil-iron forged and tested by time,
Woven in legends of Bardic rhyme;
Grasping in hand the veil-iron
weapon,
Was Taki Rassien, the knight of legend,
Victor over a thousand foes,
Regal as the desert rose;
Whether by day or dark lighting
stars,
Defeat was unknown to elite Sabrar,
Ever victorious in expert fashion,
Spiting death with glorious passion;
Challenged in battle by Despana’s
horde,
Eager preparation began in Vaalor,
Brandishing weapons of unequal make,
ShadowGuard fortress, none shall take;
Led by Rassien, the Sabrar rode,
For ShadowGuard fortress and honors code,
On Vaalor land stained crimson red,
Sabrar confronted the living dead'
Piercing screams froze all with
fright,
Banshee clashed with Sabrar knight,
Centuries training could not compare,
With the tortured spawns of Despana’s lair;
Overwhelmed by undead hordes,
Vaalor warriors fell in scores,
Left to die on bloodied stone,
Sabrar knights soon stood alone;
Unblinking in the face of defeat,
The remaining army refused retreat,
For every knight who fell that day,
A score of undead must repay;
Before the end Rassien would lead,
A final strike of fatal speed,
Undead guards were quick to part,
As Rassien charged the army’s heart;
With a roar he challenged the Lich
Dharthiir,
Despana's general for the army of fear,
Aramier flashed brilliant in the light,
Dharthiir fell to Rassien’s might;
At battles end the land would cry,
Blood flowed freely on ground once dry,
Vaalor knights once thousands brave,
Lay in death on battlefield grave;
Sunset fell upon ShadowGuard,
Aramier lay in broken shard,
None survived from Sabrar reign,
But death could not best a time proved fame.
