Author- Peter

Disclaimer - Buffy and her cohorts belong to Joss Whedon, ME, Fox etc..

1/Of the Bronze and the coming of Evil


In Sunnydale that fated town
On Hell's rim standing, defiant and proud
Our noble lord swore that a palace be built
For dancing and feasting, a bane to the grim


Mighty endeavour, noble the cause
Slowly it raised, roof to the stars
Towering over lesser men's dwellings
Beacon of light in dark noisome gloom


Gilded its fittings, like dragon's hoard plundered
Tapestries hanging, banners of awe
Soft were the seats, for warriors feasting
At gold inlaid tables, fit for great lords


Many the symbols, of might and great power
Many the tokens from far-off lands
Plunder and tribute or gifts freely given
Proclaiming our power, a challenge to Hell


Then for the feasting, great preparations
Bringing the meats for warriors feast
Champions portions, no lesser cuts here
The best of the sheep, of the pig and the kine


As with the food, our great hearted lord
Was open-handed with drink of the best
Jars of strong spirit, wineskins aplenty
Huge horns of mead and flagons of ale


And not just the feasting, did our lord consider
The noblest of bards, from all the lands
He invited performance, with generous bounty
That all should hear songs and stories of old


Then came the night of the Hall's dedication
Our Noble lord's feast day, the day of his birth
So with the sunset, great horns did trumpet
Lights shining out, proclaiming The Bronze


So with the feasting, the riotous clamour
Hearts were uplifted, voice rose in song
Happy the people, the shadows retreating
All praised our lord, vanquisher of dark


But dark forces mustered, in hell's clammy dungeons
Stung into action by this hall made of cheer
One of their number, frightful and fearsome
Made bold resolution to bring back the night


By Hell's mighty goddess, oaths he did swear
That The Bronze should be tumbled, sent into ruin
The people be scattered, happiness ended
Our lord to be flung into chambers of doom


Sun's journey ended, ship of light travelling
Far to the west, heralding night
Then from Hell's pits, crawling and creeping
Creatures of evil came to wreak woe


Forth strode the ogre, fell was his aspect
Evil light shining from glittering eyes
Poison did drip from teeth loathsome and rotten
A scratch from his talons presaged painful death


Past lowly hovels, past houses of commons
Only the bravest would be this wight's prey
Drawn to the sounds of warrior's feasting
Our riotous merriment causing him pain


Outside he waited while sleep slowly took us
As one by one we succumbed to its charms
All save three mighty, refighting their battles
Comparing their stories and great renown


Then in burst the ogre, door wardens fleeing
The three charged to meet him though scarce girded for war
But dark was his element, in dark he did meet them
In dark he did gift them a grisly death
Next morn we awakened in sunlight most potent
Then to be met by these tokens of doom
Loud was the weeping, loud was the wailing
As we beheld the evil's handiwork


Our lord commanded, an end to this horror
Gold he would grant, for monster's end
Then all noble warriors, I first among them
Swore oaths of revenge, swore oaths of doom


Hapless our pride, futile our struggles
Night after night, the warriors fell
Each new morn gave tokens of evil
Each new sunset brought fear of our doom


Dark was the hall, where once there was feasting
Silent the harps and tongues of the skalds
Still sat our lord, stern and most noble
Knowing that he was monster's last prey


Gold he had promised, Gold he had plenty
For many had tried, though all of them failed
Now few the warriors, pledged to his service
Still as our strength lessened, we resolved to be true


Evil returned to Sunnydale's streets
People were fearful, hiding from night
Huddled in houses, close to their hearthstones
Cowering frightened waiting for sunrise


Then did our Lord make last bold appeal
To warriors mighty from foreign lands
Vanquish the demon, for glory and treasure
Vanquish the evil, for the sake of mankind