The hero met the emperor within a secret room

along with several generals who had an air of gloom

the emperor began the meeting as he always had

but what his knights reported made him think that they were mad

“Our army was positioned to patrol the new frontier

the horses were the first to notice something drawing near

then, before we had a chance to warn a single soul

a cloud of poison came and swallowed up the army whole

Few of us escaped and fewer managed to be healed

most of us are lying dead upon that barren field

the poison thinned a little, though for most it was too late

we all retreated to a town, but our losses were great

That’s when those disgusting monsters suddenly attacked

as if the wall between our realm and hell had just been cracked

they slaughtered everyone in sight while laughing at our pain

warriors who fought like demons, practically insane”

The knight broke town in tears and he was led out of the room

another knight continued on his comrade’s tale of doom

“there is something else you all must know about that day

I still don’t fully trust my eyes, but it’s the truth I say

Those who fell were quickly resurrected where they died

there was nothing they could do to stop it if they tried

even as we speak their undead force is closing in

I fear that it’s a sign the end of days will soon begin”

Mages riding dragons, that descended from the sky

and clouds of poison dropped upon our army from up high

an evil force that uses our own army’s fallen dead

I don’t blame you if you can’t believe a word I’ve said”

The knight began to shake as he reported what he’d seen

the emperor looked to the hero as his face turned green

“tell me that’s just nonsense from a man who's lost his mind

surely we shall see no foreign powers of that kind”

The hero was suspicious but the knight had been sincere

and though he wasn’t sure, the explanation had been clear

“I’m afraid that what he says could really be the truth

I once fought an army like he’s mentioned in my youth”

“So would you save my empire from this threat without delay

are you truly strong enough to drive these foes away”

the hero answered with a nod and stood before the men

“I’ve beaten such an army once, and I’ll do it again”

Although the hero knew he wouldn’t fall to such a foe

he feared they weren’t as strong as those he’d met so long ago

still his soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance in such a war

were the monsters half as strong as those he’d fought before

“I can’t tell you much about that evil, but I know

if I fail to kill them, you should pack your things and go

they don’t fight for territory, glory, or their lives

all they want is war until no living thing survives”

The emperor prepared a force in case the hero failed

fearful of the army which his soldiers had detailed

the prince approached the hero once the meeting was adjourned

and told the hero he could throw away what he had learned

“This is not a war for knights, we only need your blade

whether you’re a pirate, we still need you I’m afraid

if you save us from this otherworldly enemy

you will be our kingdom’s hero for eternity”

The prince had never looked so sober, but his words were true

he never lied when honour was at stake, that much he knew

“worry not, for I shall come back home before too long

you should just prepare the words for my new hero’s song”

The prince was irritated but before he could protest

the emperor walked over and he blessed the hero’s quest

“I’ll make my son a bard or jester if you save us now

just go save my empire right away, I don’t care how”

He left that very night for there would be no time to waste

any city touched by such a foe would be erased

the hero worried that for some he might arrive too late

but noticed he was grinning as he ran to meet his fate