Black Prince of Andu

I was the first of the First House born Yet shadow marked my name Bastard blood in a gilded hall No glory, only shame I taught my brothers sword and rein I forged their strength in flame But love restrained by whispered laws Turned pride into my bane They wore the crowns that should be mine While I bled for Andu’s line And every cheer that filled the sky Was stolen breath from mine I am the Black Prince rising From envy carved in stone Denied the throne, denied the right I claim what was my own Let brothers kneel in silence Let false heirs learn my name Through pride and wrath and burning oath I rise in blackened flame I wandered far through war and ash Where monsters learned my blade In southern fields with Sylendara A fleeting kingdom made We broke the gnoll and took their hoard But fate took all from me My love, my son, my fragile peace Buried with memory I came home scarred, yet victory crowned Black Prince in soot and steel But whispers grew behind the throne And love began to chill I am the Black Prince rising From hunger none could see You feared the strength within my veins You feared what I could be Let brothers clutch their birthrights Let weak kings play their game Through grief and scorn and sharpened will I forge eternal claim In dream and fog a voice called me Through empire drowned in grey “Ask, and take the legacy That mortals cast away.” Azrai spoke — and I believed For he alone could see The fire denied by timid hands Was destiny in me I am no cast-off shadow No heir denied by lies I am the storm above your walls The reckoning that rises Let Deismaar remember Let Andu choke on shame Through envy crowned and vengeance sworn The Gorgon stakes his claim I am the Black Prince rising — And all shall bow my name.