Pactbound and Proud

[Verse 1]
Ink on the contract
Blood on the quill
I whispered a question
The dark answered
“I will”
Cold hand on my shoulder
Voice wrapped around my spine
“You’ll never fall again
If your shadow’s tied to mine”
[Chorus]
I made a pact for power
They say my soul is sold
But my friends stand closer
Than any god I’ve known
Blades
Prayers
And poison
We’re broken
Brave
And loud
I may be pactbound
But I’m pactbound and proud (hey!)
[Verse 2]
Cleric keeps on glaring
Paladin loves to preach
Rogue just checks my pockets
Says
“You’re weird
But you’re with me”
Wizard takes my pages
Marks the margins red
“Your patron’s kind of twisted
But so is every spell
” she said
[Chorus]
I made a pact for power
They say my soul is sold
But my friends stand closer
Than any god I’ve known
Blades
Prayers
And poison
We’re broken
Brave
And loud
I may be pactbound
But I’m pactbound and proud (oh yeah)
[Bridge]
When the caves start shaking
And the dragon blocks the door
I feel that cold grin waking
Crawling up from something more
“Say my name
Little warlock
Let me pull you through”
I just look back at my party
And I say
“We’re enough—
We’re enough
Not you”
[Chorus]
I made a pact for power
But my heart is mine to hold
Every hit we take together
Turns our stories into gold
Blades
Prayers
And poison
We’re broken
Brave
And loud
I may be pactbound
But I’m pactbound and proud
Yeah
I’m pactbound
And I’m staying with my crowd (hey!)

Cinematic rock ballad with male vocals; slow, moody verses over tom-heavy drums and tremolo guitars, then an anthemic, shout-along chorus with gang vocals from the “party.” Strings swell on the bridge, then drop to half-time for a big final hook. Touches of eerie synth shimmer around the edges for arcane flavor.