Grip of Grief

## Lyrics

The dashing young lord, went out for a stroll

In a city of unrest, without guard, he was bold

But so was the mob, that found him alone

The struck him down till he joined those below

His father in madness, an adage to grief

He sealed his own city and demanded relief

The gates were locked, the produce hid

And in glee, only for him, began lord Starver's Siege.

They first hid in their homes, then plead in keeps

As wells dried up, so did the pantries.

For two months it lasted, to the dread of all

It was indeed quite worse, than a measly Vorthid squall

A city half culled, for the monarch to calm

Was indeed quite the debt, for a thrown stone.

## When did you hear it

When resting in the Copper Lady of Stoneburrow the party met and listened to the performance of a Satyr bard called Delian.

## Song Themes

The song was a rebellious tune sung in the northern parts of Skyhope in response to the Starver's Siege an even that occurred nearly 50 years ago that marked the first cracks in the façade of power High Clan Colinfer held. During particularly lean years, filled with unrest and large Vorthid incursions an unaware Dreknas Colinfer ventured out to the outer districts of first landing spend a night in decadence. His venture was cut short as he was recognized and harried until death by a mob that formed that accused him and his family of being corrupt and the reason for their woes.

His family was enraged, but his father Castyer Colinfer was beyond actions. A ruler with an already iron disposition became ruthless, and in time, mad. He isolated each district of the city, fearing a rebellion that he would inevitably start. As time progressed so did his paranoia and abuse of resources. Food was rationed then cut off and travelers where turned away at the gates even with Hiverock on their tails. Troops were mobilized and imposed martial law on the surrounding holdings as the situation in the area kept distabilizing.

Supplicants gathered near food warehouses and noble houses but non dared defy the mad lord. The select few that did where lauded as heroes, but only if they escaped his notice until his rule ended. His own younger son Amerion Lotharin stood up to his father who in turn burned his face with an heated iron fork.

As quick as the escalation was, so was the response from the other High Clans, who elected to conduct a rapid war meant to convince the Colinfer satellite Clans that they would run a bigger risk by resisting their advance rather than expecting their mad lord's mercy. The campaign was lighting quick, but as troops approached First Landing they found a dying populace and a recently replaced High Lord Castyer. Wearing his bloodied vestments and crown a scarred young man stood at the top of the Palace Tower, trying fervently to breathe life into his dying city.

Whether he killed his father remains a mystery, but his persistence in correcting the forever soiled image of his Clan remains present in those that survived the ordeal, as well as in those that later heard the stories told about him. Years later, he still has the mantle of Patriarch and High Lord, his face forever unhealed as a reminder to all that would see him.