In the Shadow of the Gnar

[Verse 1]
For months the watchfires burned at night
Along the broken walls
They said the eastern banners marched
To answer desperate calls
Mothers prayed and soldiers swore
The dawn would end the war
For somewhere past the desert winds
Rode armies by the score

[Chorus]
But the day the east came riding
Something felt all wrong
The horns were cracked and hollow
Like a broken battle song
We waited for salvation
But dread was what we saw
On the day the east came wrong
In the shadow of the Gnar

[Verse 2]
A thousand shapes upon the ridge
Through smoke and morning haze
But banners hung like ragged ghosts
And eyes burned in their gaze
They staggered down like wounded men
Yet none cried out in pain
For worms had burrowed deep inside
And twisted heart and brain

[Chorus]
Yes the day the east came riding
Something felt all wrong
The horns were cracked and hollow
Like a broken battle song
We waited for salvation
But dread was what we saw
On the day the east came wrong
In the rising of the Gnar

[Verse 3]
The gates held fast, the cannons roared
As terror filled the air
For friends we prayed would save the world
Were monsters standing there
Yet through the smoke the young ones stood
Where braver men might flee
The blood of Strongcastle in their veins
Still fighting to be free

[Bridge]
Richard lit the thunder’s roar
From Donna’s stolen flame
Zach leapt high in Jack’s old boots
And cursed the Gnar by name
And Amanda’s rose-tinted eyes saw truth
Where lies had gone too far
She aimed where worms lay hidden deep
And struck the heart of Gnar

[Final Chorus]
Yes the day the east came riding
Hope nearly fell apart
But a few still held the line that day
With iron will and heart
For kingdoms fall and armies break
And darkness travels far
But courage lived in stubborn souls
Against the rise of the Gnar

[Outro]
So the old ones tell the children now
Where watchfires burn like scars
Of the day the east came wrong to us
In the shadow of the Gnar

Dark cinematic fantasy folk, haunting female vocal, acoustic guitar, fiddle, slow epic war ballad, tragic tone