The Song of the Hale Prince

The Song of the Hale Prince Volume I

Written by anonymous halfling bard of The Lakering c. 870s AR

Chapter 1: Introduction

Hail to Bleddock! Hale and Strong, broad chested, and steady hand. He scattered bones of dragons for birds to pick, and sent his foes screaming into the House of Dread. Why should we remember thee? O Bleddock stout and tall, who crushed trees like grass underfoot and face shone with the morning sun. The Angels and Saints sing eternally your praise, and the spirits of the land do not forget your passing. Leave it to us then we mortal men who sing your deeds remembered for our memory is song and our joy is the tankard full.
Chapter 2: Birth and Childhood of Bleddock

Born to Imbara of eastern house and elder Prince Bleddock whose mother was the Sword Queen Eurydice. She of Saint’s blood was borne from dragonsfire by river flames to the house of Archibald and Yvone. She who married Horatius and swore the oath at Dyfeds Rock had blessed him thus with blood of dragons and saints to be no lesser man. But bastard son was he and shunned by the Drunkard Prince, his father who scolded him well and scorned his approach. The tide was high in the flood of the scaled minions of the Red Wyrm, that the whelpling learned from little age living is to fight and struggle, and struggle did he. Three boys would pounce, and three boys would gain bloodied nose. Later four would come and four then would run weeping. Then again five.

Little storm of rage he was, later still he bloodied six more, and biting the last like an angry dog, his grandmother the Sword Queen came upon him. She rapped him across the head with her scepter and took him up by his ankle. “Foolish grandson of mine, If a prince would behave like a dog then I shall cast you out and make you Prince of Mongrels!”  and tossed our Prince out from her tower to live amongst the beasts. His head struck stone and he knew no more.
When sharply pain and then awareness crept back our Prince then nursed his wounds, and sat by the riverside to weep.

Chapter 3: On his meeting with the Antler Man

In his sorrow he fell into slumber. When he awoke again he heard faint, the song of the Man of Antlers. And lo he beheld the Antler Man, who is called Dyfed the Green. “Little child, why do you cry?” Said Antler Man, “Don’t you know the forest hears thy sorrow and weeps as well? Be joyful now and behold! For the All-is-One has given us today's beauty!”. Our Prince could only feel rage, for he was hungry, tired, and a mere child lost in the woods. Screaming he flew, his fists and teeth bared. The Antler man, quick as a ghost, with staff of blackthorn swung down and smote Bleddock on the brow. Bleeding, though caring little, rage red he flew, again biting and gnashing. The Antler Man smiled and danced so that wherever our Prince struck he met only air.

 “Indeed you are Bleddock Hale and Strong, though your wisdom lacks.” said Antler Man after Bleddock with his truest aim, barely brushed side against Antler Man’s cloak, “Like your ancestor before you, Take my blessing and use it well, for the forest will teach you and you will grow wise.”, and with his blackthorn staff rapped Bleddock twice again upon the head. Thrice struck today, and with two angry blows to his head the day before, Bleddock went to sleep for a longer time. “He is one who would stride across the world like that man who challenged the Almighty One in ancient days. Were he not so doomed otherwise.” Said Antler Man before departing from this place. When our Prince awoke he found that he was hungry and the forest provided. He hunted rabbits with the wolves and drank with the deer by the river. Friendly were the bears whom he would challenge to wrestling, and the birds who took him under their wings. He spoke to them and they knew him as their own as he grew.
Chapter 4: How Bleddock became a Knight and on his Deeds

And grew did he, to the height exceeding seven cubits. Bleddock, “Hale and Strong,” Our Prince left the wilds of the forest and journeyed to Thefena to become a goodly knight. But the lord there rejected him for Our Prince was known far and wide then as a “Wild Man.” Tell me bards who now sings of Roddarc beloved Lord of Thefena? Son of Lydia and her husband who was also Roddarc. Before his father lay in his tomb he had been a hostage in the Sword Queen’s court, but survived the poisoned wine and daggers to live his comfort as Lord of the humble city. But now today, Lord Roddarc’s beloved daughter was a prisoner to the scaled brigands of the Red Wyrm’s Host and so he said; “Bleddock who is Bastard Prince, and Wild Man, Son of the Woods, I cannot allow you to serve me yet. You must first bring me my daughter who scaled robbers took from me during her charities. Do this and you will be a knight.”

 “I shall do this!” said Bleddock, and fleet foot, he departed from this place. Bile however rose in him and he was quickly angry at his being rebuked and called bastard, though he did not strike the Lord of the city, for in his time in the forest our Prince had gained much wisdom. He searched the marshlands for he knew them well and found the hideout of the scaled robbers. The lizards slept at first but not long, for Bleddock was upon them. One screamed, and was throttled and silenced, another broke in two, and a third tasted only their own spear down their gizzard before his ending. The Lord’s daughter Metilda screamed shrill for she did not know of what had happened, and thus herself was nearly killed as well. Our Prince, silent as night, left the camp with sleeping Metilda who later scolded him for his treatment. But the Lord Roddarc, ever grateful Knighted our Prince on the spot so that he became Sir Bleddock “Hale and Strong!”

Great were his deeds in those times. A Wild Knight who walked among men as a giant. He cared not for sword, spear or shield, and only wore cuirass on occasion where his lord demanded it. He cared not for these things for our Prince “Hale and Strong” used bare knuckles and steely sinew to win his glory. Once the enemy unleashed werewolves and he out paced them racing through the woods he called home. An army of orcs and trolls surrounded him and he did take the neck of their captain and twist it until his limbs were unstrung. Down he went to sleep and the army of orcs as well, batted aside as if children by Bleddock the unstoppable son!

 Chapter 5: On how Bleddock defeated Knuthuphal the Black Drake.

And the morn came when Our Prince was called again before Roddarc who was his Lord and said unto Bleddock, “O Wild bastard son of the forest who is strongest of my Knights, go and give your strength to the marshlanders who sorely need you.” Our Prince went away, though he disliked the insults, did as his Lord asked and went to the Marshlanders. They were halflings, men of stature small and feet hairybroad. Though wicked clever they were outmatched by Knuthuphal the black drake most cruel. The Marshlanders kept flocks of sheeps, and goats, one hundred and sixty three of each kind, on which the black drake did feast. Hark, ringing sharp the ox horn pierced the glade, and Bleddock came running down hill at a gallop, for no horse could carry him as fast as his own stride.

The drake did bark angry, and then vomited forth its poison spew. Bleddock’s cuirass melted and he discarded it. Stripping off his greaves he challenged Knuthuphal to battle and the dragon did roar angry again and snap down onto where Our Prince was waiting to turn from the biting jaws and buffet the dragon upon the nose. Howled at the sure strike did he, the black drake, unfurled his wings sweeping trees aside. But our Prince did stand fast against the whirlwind, and the Black Drake took into the air and our Prince with him. Turning like quarrelsome birds they flew high till they reached beyond the clouds and returned to earth, plummeting into the lake below.

Splash! And down into the depths, where Neidon’s minions dwell. Half an hour without breath he remained and did battle with the drake who breathed effortlessly. But Knuthuphal could not prevail for Bleddock “Hale and Strong” pinned the drake’s own wings back around him. The drake begged and offered ransom for his life, a hoards worth of treasure, but Our Prince, being unable to say much underwater merely said, “Nay!” and then he did tie Knuthuphal’s head and neck around into a tight knot and pulled strong and hard. With loud choke and last gasp the drake was strangled to death and Our Prince, breathless and greatly injured, slept beneath the waves. But drown he did not! For it was a school of mermaids that came to his aid and tended to his wounds beneath the lakeshore so that now to this day that place is named the Mermaid’s Rest.


The Song of the Hale Prince Volume II

Chapter 6: On how Bleddock found his home

Our waterlogged Prince washed like driftwood onto the shore. Land bound again he set off towards the home of his liege. “O Bleddock, your watery deeds have saved our people once more.” Lord Roddarc said to our dripping Prince upon his entrance to the city. “Wild one, bastard son, I asked thee for one more task. Dragons haunt our dreams as they haunt our skies, and not even Bleddock, ‘Hale and Strong’ who ties knots out of serpents could stand alone against their host.” to this Bleddock did scoff and spit which displeased the Court of Thefena, and Metilda the lord’s daughter demurred, but Lord Roddarc did presently speak, “I ask thee find the Knights who were lost, Dragonslayers they were called, and served the queen when the seasons were steady and we knew not the tyranny of dragons. Search the high mountains of the east, for they went there before the misty time and became invisible. Since then men have known naught but ruin and loss!”

Bleddock scoffed again and spoke with enmity, “Why should I do this for you ,supine lord, who orders me into mortal struggle yet calls me bastard?”, and the court recoiled from insolence unheard of. Lord Roddarc kept himself and answered, “O Bleddcok whose anger is great, yet whose fortune is ill. I could give thee my entire fiefdom if thou could accomplish this.” and Bleddock, head shaking said, “Nay for I desire only the forest and freedom!” and the court did cry out again in horror. “You saved my daughter Metilda.” said Roddarc, “It is only fitting that you marry her and take a great dowry from me. Will you do this?” and our Prince considered this but then said again, “Nay! I desire neither the riches of man nor a wife who will tie me to the world of men. I am not a trinket to be bought, for the Wilds are my companion and my wealth. I need nothing else.” Metilda smiled, most pleased for though she was saved by our Prince,her favor she did not give the oafish wildman.

Roddarc did lament, “Woe! I cannot give you any greater gift then, save for one. Would you then accept my love? For while you are my strongest knight, you are also a most beloved son to me.” and Bleddock did weep, for this is what he had desired for many years since he was cast out. His lord said, “It is written that a bloodline does not steer the ship of fate, for both the wind in thy sails and thy oarsmen at their benches are by the grace of the All-is-One.” Embrace they did, and Roddarc offered again all the things he had promised Bleddock, but our Prince again denied them for he truly needed them not and only desired the free peaceful life of the wild. On next morn he set out for the mountains.
Chapter 7: On his Journey to Tambora and how Bleddock found the Hidden Temple

Stark was the land of bleak ruin that awaited him. Great Tambora the mountain stronghold of the men of that name, land of winter’s breath and the frozen death upon the heights. He journeyed there a fortnight from his home, and through those barbarian lands whom he subdued along his way. He came to find the cliffs of the Hidden Temple, walls made not of mortal men reaching through that clouded sky. Our Prince made to clamber up the wicked face, for hours he reached with bloodied hand to broken granite until he found a cave to rest for the sun had quickly set. He slept there with the mountain goats who were masters of this place, and they gave him shelter.

He awoke therein to a new day and clear dawn to finish the climb. Gleaming white like a polished pearl against blue sky, the Temple greeted him in silence at his approach. Voiceless were the dead who were buried here in those ancient days, eyes staring glassy upward, seeing yet unseeing. They were once kept in such desperate care by those whose memory was now dust, waiting for the day when the new world would be born. “Begone! You will not find what you seek!”

The voice made our Prince wake with a start as he tread lightly amongst the silent dead. A great light accompanied the voice and it spoke again clearly. “Begone! For you profane this place of rest!”, and lo it was an angel, white unfolded wings and flaming sword drawn. Our Prince made to answer, “Nay! Who are thou to deny me-!” but had his words stolen by the white hot fire of the angel’s sword. The very light burned him and he was injured great, yet saw nothing but rage red and flew at the angel. His strikes landed true and even wounded its form but that mattered little for like lightning bolts the Angel smote our Prince again upon the head and neck and he was brought low. His limbs were unstrung, and he slept the sleep of death. Yet he was raised up again and made to hear, “What you seek is beyond this place! Yet Harken to me when I say hope is coming as a trio of phoenixes descending upon this mountain! Return to your land and fulfill your duty! Remember to love always for that is the commandment of the All-is-One!”
Chapter 8: On his return to Thefena and his meeting the Sword Queen
Trudging slowly and bitter our Prince made for his home, yet started again quicker when he saw a shadow pass over him. A great Red Wyrm, immense and terrible, it was he who had consumed Patronicus in ancient times, and many saints and kings after. He in whose name the scaled host harkened to and plagued green Ambrosia thus. That name we dare not sing for it curses mortals to peril most darkly. Our Prince took to a run, for his heart knew without knowing what awaited, ere before black smoke crested over trees. His fair Thefena was no more, burned and blackened. His lord, family, and retainers, were naught but ashes and bones. And Bleddock did weep bitterly, salty tears slowly turning to crimson rage. Madness took him and in those days it was said no strength of men could restrain him as he cut swaths through friend and foe alike in his grief.

He later then came upon the camp of the Sword Queen, and evil entered into him. Anger colored his mind red and revenge blackened his heart, for it was she who had cast him out into the dark world of grief and loss, and it was she who had long ruled the kingdom of men they call Ambrosia which invaded the wilds and brought war to his peace and freedom. He did not move as a shadow silent as night now but rather with the burning fury of a rising sun as he entered the camp. Swords broke and spears bent as knights were tossed aside, blown away as if swept by winnowing gale. Our Prince did enter the Queen’s tent and sitting upon the curule chair was she who was our Prince’s grandmother. His hands halted just before her neck as she spoke, “Bleddock, son of my son, Hale and Strong, much wisdom have you gained. Grown like a shoot did thee who I once cast out, but grow even more did thee as a wise and goodly knight.” and our Prince did rage then, but did not strike for she spoke true and presently, “The love you have shared is more real and lasting than the songs they shall sing long after our passing from this world. But for us who still live we must aim at our duty and strike hard and true, for our efforts ripple in eternity. As it is written, ‘The spark of eternity is the love of the All-is-One everlasting.’ Now thou might wring thy grandmother’s neck and depart from this place son of my son, or thou may join my host that our duty be fulfilled to that which we love dearly. Country and home, fair and green Ambrosia, Your Queen asks this of you.”

Our Prince felt the evil flee from him and he fell to his knees, “Grandmother,my violent strength has undone me! Forgive me, I beg you!” and the Queen smiled, “Bleddock son of my son, I call thee no longer Prince of Mongrels, but Hale Prince, goodly and wise knight whose potent strength is terrible, and yet he is so loving gentle. Go and take up my banner there and bring it to my host with my favor.” and then Bleddock did take up the banner of the queen and call those in arms to it so that they may take the walls of the place called The Lakering. That city upon which the strange seasons passed and the Red Wyrm’s Host lay claim for nigh on years of maybe two score passing. And so we went to the Lakering, we men and halflings, led by our Hale Prince who’s face shone like the morning sun! For Sword Queen and fair Country green we marched to the high walls of The Lakering for those towers had risen like teeth of black obsidian where the enemy Host held our brethren in cruel bondage.
Chapter 9: How Bleddock fought at the walls of The Lakering
For once Bleddock arrived at the mighty Evon, great ancient river, whose current is strong and waters wide, our Prince did ask the forest for the branches and timber they could spare. And lo it provided to the wonderment of our host. A great barge he fashioned out of rope and sinew and then called our host to embark upon it. Our Prince laughing with joy then dove into the river for a swim, and pulled the barge across its mighty current with tow rope held between teeth. Our Host cheered greatly. And we asked, “Who shall take the banner so it does not get washed away?” And our Prince did toss the banner to his host.

Tell me bards who now sings of Amalf the spearman? He who caught our Prince’s banner was born of Barnbow, green of earth and fields of plenty, to Bambo and Enad, son of the shepherds and tender to the herds. The black drake had come and scattered his flock of three dozen, and thus his home had come to ruin. Yet his mother’s sister took him in and bade him not to leave her lest his doom come to him. She asked him to marry Delia who had promised her heart to him. But like our Prince his own heart burned now with revenge not red but bright white with righteousness. And so Amalf came carrying the queen’s banner to the walls of The Lakering with our host. And we sang together in glory until that dreadful first arrow came and caught Amalf, so he slept forever most piteously holding still and fast to our banner.

Whistling death would blacken the sky at our host’s approach. We saw fire and ruin. That bitter day when we came together in misery and blood crystalized ruby red in memory. Our host stopped short as we crawled under shield and corpse to that scarce safety for which we prayed for succor. A burning shot of stone fell among us and all became oblivion. When next aware we could hear our Prince weeping for he cradled the small spearman Amalf who had died. Greatly lamenting he said, “Woe that I am not worthy of this love that one lays down their life for me.” and he laughed as if taken by madness, “What shall we do lord?” we asked, and he answered, “I am going now to my doom, beyond these walls. Those that follow me shall surely perish.” LIke chorus we answered “We follow you for you are the Hale Prince and in thy path we shall surely find eternity!” and our Prince did smile and turned upon the castle, “Climb then you eternal fools! For we take these walls and beyond to eternity!”
Chapter 10: Death of Bleddock and Epilogue

On ropes and ladders they did climb for no tower could be made. Even the great barge of our host was swept away and her timbers useless. But climb we did for still there was yet nothing else. Mailed limbs and heavy weapons drew us down to earth but our Prince who carried ten men upon his back boldly strode as if a casual walk upwards and vertical towards those black battlements. In doing this he so lightened our limbs that we found our courage and anon we climbed. Never did the arrows cease and our shields would collect broken shafts like greedy merchants collecting their coins. Ever upwards and forever seeming the walls stretched but grueling minutes later we reached their heights. Many were slain and the battle drew fierce as the crack of shields meeting shields sounded upon the parapets. Scaled ones who bore weapons of black steel and jagged edge did assault our host and we bled greatly.

But our Prince was no longer with us presently for he had overtaken the walls and now wrestled with a great red drake, spawn of the Red Wyrm. The duel went over the walls and crashed into the murderhole where arrows and spears awaited. The drake struggled fierce, and rending stones as he did but our lord did take that serpent by its neck and break it with fury, like all whom before had faced our Hale Prince. Ere he rested but a moment and with a steely eye spotted our brethren, Mothbang, Truckle, and Ortragg too, their families held in bondage and used as shielding by the enemy host most cruel. These halflings he gathered up and searched for their salvation but found none. He then gazed upon the rend in the wall made by the drake and began to pull. With mad desperation and the greatest might he could bring forth he pulled until the rend became a crater. Large enough for a man to fit inside yet still the wall remained standing.

Arrows then pierced our Prince and he became undone. The scaled archers most foul in their deeds poisoned their arrows and quickly shot again landing three more. He looked and saw our host, and the queen’s banner with them and said, “Go now and take these halflings who are your kin and flee this city of death. I go now to eternity, knowing after my death a trio of phoenixes will descend upon the mountains. In their coming you shall find victory!” and despite our protests we did as our Prince asked. He climbed into the crater and placed his feet upon one wall and his hands upon the other then began to push with all his force. Bleddock the “Hale Prince” with the last of his strength that we sing of in legend broke the walls of The Lakering. Rolling thunder and cracks of broken stone shook all the land around for miles as they came down upon our Prince and he was no more. In that breach our host did flee with our kin, to live and sing of this tale.

Woe, that our Hale Prince should pass from us thus as this tankard runs dry. As our seasons turn and men forget, know that we shall not. Forever we sing, thy wild man of the woods, bastard son of the prince, and blessed knight of our realm. For your deeds we may again fill our tankard and sing once more, Hail to Bleddock! Hale Prince and Strongest Son!