Written by Tsalth anla Sequoia, Summer 1100.
I heard a man the other day say ‘How do I know if I belong
In this land of dreams or nightmares, this wartorn place called Avalon?
Why should I fight and strive and suffer? I could let it all go by...
There are lands beyond the Mists but I’m fighting here, so tell me why?”
I said, “This is a war-torn land of nightmare, in what you say you speak some truth,
But it’s also a land of dreams and wonder, look around and you’ll see the proof.
It’s a land where the legends are still being written, a land where Unliving fear to tread,
It’s a land that won’t yield or surrender till the last Avalonian drops down dead.
I swear I won’t bow down or kneel to force of arms or a tyrants fist,
For I was born in the land of Avalon, the mystic world beyond the Mists
And I am heir to the heritage of all those folk who fought and died
To preserve a land of truth and freedom, a legacy of hard won pride.
For Avalon’s soil is soaked with blood shed by those men in freedom’s cause
And the tears of women left behind made widows by the Chaos Wars
But I am the child of those survivors, I know what the fallen did for me
So how can I pledge any less than them to keep this country proud and free?”
“But I hail from another country. This means nought to me.” he said,
“You say your forebears died with honour; truth remains that they’re all still dead.
And the soil of this land has a dreadful thirst that is only quenched by blood it seems,
So why should I stay and fight these battles or give my life for a land of dreams?”
Then I looked at his his sword with its stainless edge, and his armour that shone with a blinding sheen
And I looked at his shield with its crest unscratched and I looked at his spear yet sharp and keen,
And I realised the man who was so complaining was a knight by dress but not by cause
And I saw he lacked the heart for battle but sought excuse to flee from war.
So ask yourself, if you live in Avalon, will you stand in the battle line?
Or will you be a hollow knight and only ever cringe and whine?
For the brave folk who are making legends have already steeled up their hearts
And marched to war in the name of freedom. How can you simply play no part?
For Avalon faces dire peril; this may be our final war,
But Avalon stands for truth and freedom, a dream that’s well worth fighting for.
So stop your bickering and arguing and lay your rivalries aside,
Unite as one against the foe and fight as one in strength and pride.
And I swear that I will neither fall nor falter till the threat to this fair land is gone
For we are heirs to a land of dreams, the proud children of Avalon.