EPTI lived a life generic: no calumnies nor praise
Were sent my way for decades, till darkness set its gaze
Upon my poor existence. Without a second thought,
I stood against corruption; I drew my blade; I fought.
Do not oppose, do not resist,
Ye nobleborn or knave!
Lay down thy sword, desist, desist,
Unclench thy scarred and battered fist,
Release thy polished glaive!
From every of my struggles its strength it does derive:
I slay a single tendril - and face another five.
For every drop of effort my will and muscles bled
The hydra of the darkness attained a fresh new head.
Thou cannot win, thou cannot win,
Ye nobleborn or knave!
Abandon hope, preserve thy skin,
Defeat, like cancer, lurks within –
Stand down if life thou crave!
Exhausted and defeated, I stand in darkness sly.
It asks for my compliance, and I with haste comply.
Its energies forsaken within my muscles surge;
It is a kindly mistress, though it was once my scourge.
Try not to dwell, try not to think
Of thy defeat, my knave.
Commit thy soul with spectral ink
And swear off light’s polluting stink
Until thou fill a grave.
I swear. My tongue is craven, envenomed, slightly proud.
The darkness clings about me as though it were a shroud.
It rectifies my body, of scarring leaves no trace;
My features, once misshapen, become a noble face.
The job is done, go on, go on,
My lordling and my slave!
There are more battles to be won,
More nights to live, more light to shun,
More lowborn scum to save!
I live, and in so living, I beat this darkest drum,
And set a dark example for many lowborn scum.
My noble face most pallid resides within a hood,
Atop a raven cloak that hides
That which is tearing at my sides –
A soul with self-contempt imbued.
