Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

Paint still bright on wooden toys
speaks of laughing girls and boys
but here there is no joy
where silence holds no happy noise.
By two small ruined beds
lie two small broken heads
a broken closet stands to tell
the story of how these two fell.

Two windlings still of tender age
heard the nearing creature's rage,
doing as their elders bid
in their playroom closet hid.
But mantids live to slay
and one soon found this tender prey.
Breaking down the wooden door
two windling children were no more

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

Broken crockery tells a tale
of fallen meat, bread and ale.
Broken shelves let you know
the size and strength of the foe
Among the breakage was found
a bottle still whole and sound:
keesera wine passed its prime
remnant of a happier time.

Chilling a bottle of Keesera wine
shopkeep and friends prepared to dine.
Over laughter they did not hear
the danger that was coming near.
As the mantid approached and slew
away from the table they rose and flew.
But faster were the obsidian claws
than windling wings within walls.

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

A statute of Astendar the fair,
still stands over a public square.
Her hands and eyes turn to the sky;
at her feet, bones pile high.
A few mantid are among the dead,
but windling blood stained the square red.
Two skeletons lay side by side
pierced by a single claw they died.

Holding fast to matching blades
into battle the lifemates wade.
Horror constructs have come to roam
and destroy their happy home.
Too tired to take to flight,
back to back they stood to fight,
then at last death proved kind:
a single strike, both hearts did find.

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

From below the wizard's retreat
is surrounded by a carved stone wreath.
It shows winding branches and blossoms gay
and windling musicians that dance and play.
From above a different face is shown
as the opening is surrounded by bone.
Here they had their final chance,
but lost at this deadly dance.

Though the windlings extracted a bloody cost,
at the last they knew the Kaer was lost.
So the remaining windling band
chose this place for a final stand.
Side by side the windings fought,
and with their lives a few hours bought.
As they drew their final breaths,
they hoped for meaning in their deaths.

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

At the top of the wizard's tower
is a door sealed with magic's power.
In the ceiling this rounded door
is inscribed with magic lore.
"Enter only with pure heart
touched by evil's greatest dark."
By claws the words are scraped and marred
but this door, the evil barred.

Frantically they closed the door
thinking of him within no more.
A great task before them lies
to seal the door before they die.
Three last windlings pool their power
and gave their all in this desperate hour.
As they sealed this final gate,
the mantids came and sealed their fate.

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.

Kathleen's pain our passage bought
and behind that door was what we sought
The windling wizard had died there
and still sat within his chair.
Within his hands he held the book
for which we had come to look.
The means to end a horror's reign
and the cause of all this pain.

Just in time they had sealed his tomb,
now he sat in this tiny room.
The claws that scrapped at the door
did not concern him any more.
A final spell he had to cast,
to make sure the knowledge he held would last.
Forging his power with his will
he cast the spell and then fell still.

Water drips a steady sound
Falling on this hallowed ground.
Pieces of shattered lives surround
The broken bones we have found
Lying in uncounted mounds.