V. Horde’s Ride [Tanric, exiled and rightful ruler to the Imperial duchy of Lokstad]: Following the siege of Lokstad and my escape aided by Dragomir of the hill-men whom I had now elevated to the rank of general of the rabble still loyal to the black banner of my house, I travelled east: Moving at night when able and swathed in rags of itinerant beggars and pilgrims, we pressed on until, at last, we were in lands free from influence of both Emperor and Cleric. The Steppe lay before us and, in the vain hope of finding the might which may one day lead me to regain my lands, we continued across that barren waste. Within days, with sparse vegetation and little hunting to be had, the few loyal men I possessed began to flag and we left a trail of corpses in our wake. I began to fancy I heard the sound of hoof beats on the wind and the cries of charging warriors, the howling flurry was the only sound to be heard – that and the thunder of my own heartbeat and panting breath. The Lost Hordes of the Steppe, we sought, yet found nothing but veiled mentions and cloaked reference to the venomous band still said to rage across these benighted lands. [The voice of the raging winds of the Steppe]: I bear witness To realms beyond the void Swirling shadows Surround riders deployed I have tasted Of the flesh of man Forged in hatred I summon their souls Again the pyres shall burn With demonic winds ride Steel by my side Vengeance to claim The hordes shall ride once again... Into the mountain snows Into the night Hearts aflame and eyes alight With Hatred’s ravishing inferno Upon sweat-lathered ethereal steed, I shall sweep as storm winds - personified ire Eternal vengeance on the unredeemed. Pick your targets Hold the line Loose your arrows For this stolen bride With desire’s all-consuming fire A demented dash on a dying steed I shall lay waste to all that would conspire To rob me of that one I need By what foul cosmic jest Am I now beset? With immortality now blessed I attest to her last exhale Onward through mounting snows And deeper night Hearts aflame and eyes alight With Hatred’s ravishing inferno A demented dash on a dying steed, Bring storm winds and harness your ire Vengeful jaws on their flesh to feed. Targets aligned – Arrows loosed Through mists of blood, we charge By rage seduced "By the spirits – I shall ignite an inferno To blacken the flesh of these treacherous foes! And unleash such a torrent of terror That all men will tremble to behold!" We built the pyres, we built them high And fed to them the condemned, Honourless men who dared steal a bride From me who did ascend To the height of Khan of the tribes unified Who to the fire threw screaming men, Whose guile granted forfeiture of their lives And on whose blistered flesh I fed, Devouring meat and soul both Consuming malevolence and strength, ‘Neath the gaze of their screaming comrades, Blood and fat ran down my neck Incantations unbidden came, From where the Sky-Father knows, Denying their souls the grace of whatever rest Elysium may hold, ‘Neath baleful gaze of the cold, screaming stars, I felt the change within, And the coldness grew within my flesh, Despite the flames searing heat. I arose, mortal sweat still glistening, Upon my metamorphosed form, Bitterness and hatred in a crucible sealed Of humanity forlorn. Beneath benighted tread To walk this cold earth’s soil Countless to behead My eternal, bloody toil Cursed by gods hatred sublime the deities’ blood Shall wet my lips as wine My flesh now cold As the lips which ignited my soul. If this be the gods’ curse, Then I curse the gods in turn! A new banner now billows Over barren plain I'll taste sweet vindication Ere my essence wanes. This is no redemption I seek Further vengeance I shall wreak With this Argyr-Lyrrian spawn The walls of heaven I’ll storm! [Tanric]: The Plain now empty - I stare as if in a daze - Though the thunderous clamour Of hoof-beats still remains! What arcane powers Have granted fealty? Soon all nations Shall bend the knee to me!