The Lament of Eriados

The Lament of Eriados, also known as "The Ghosts of Forgotten Wars" or "The Lament for Eriados" is a song written at the end of the War of the Twins in 68 A.S. The author of the song is unknown but it grew quickly in popularity at a time when the people of the Sulirien Empire needed to heal from a eight years long war that had caused a great number of losses in both noble families and the common people's ranks.

Eriados is however a fictionnal character as no knight of the time was named Eriados, nor wore a sigil of a crimson rose. The common people created the figure of an ideal knight who gave his life for the good of the Empire, thus ending the age of heroes. The song grew into such a great popularity that in 290 A.S, under Emperor Nadir's rule, a statue of Eriados the Crimson Knight was built in Sulireï, facing the Senate Chambers.

The song goes as follow :"'There was an age of heroes,""When Gods among Men roamed.""Bold Eriados, of oaken shield and rose""In crimson cloak, the marching song intoned.""What of the sound of the horn""That echoed under the stars?""Faded in the winds who mourn""The ghosts of forgotten wars.""As dawn rose under tears of snow,""Many had answered Death's call.""Only the winds and stars know""Where fair Eriados came to fall.""A broken sword and shattered shield""Laid atop his crimson cloak.""Brave Eriados rested on the icy field,""Emerald eyes blind in mists of smoke.""What of the sound of the horn""That echoed under the stars?""Faded in the winds who mourn""The ghosts of forgotten wars.""The skies shed tears of frost""Over Eriados copper curls.""The last of the heroes was lost,""Glorious blood spilled like scarlet pearls.""Proud Eriados, who never kneeled,""Rode into the fray, crimsom silk upon his breast.""And Eriados, atop his oaken shield,""To the dust and peace was laid to rest.""What of the sound of the horn""That echoed under the stars?""Faded in the winds who mourn""The ghosts of forgotten wars.'"