“Rusted Oath” - a Rusted Knight song (DnD Homebrew)

A kingdom burned. A final stand was made. “The Rusted Knight” tells the story of an old warrior who fought not for glory, but to give his companions the future he knew he would never see. When the gates fell and the order to retreat was sounded, he chose to stay behind—holding the line so they could escape. They returned at dawn hoping he had lived… but what they found became legend. Lyrics: Verse 1 Along the roads of Korlain’s lands Where wandering heroes ride, There walked a knight in weathered steel With rust along his side. His armor bore the weight of years, His plume was torn by fight, Yet still he rode with steady hand— An old but faithful knight. His sword was worn, his shield was cracked, His strength not what it had been, But still he swore that justice stood Wherever he had been. ⸻ Chorus Oh sing of roads where heroes ride Through shadow, flame, and night, Where weary souls still find their hope Behind the Rusted Knight. Though time may dull the sharpest blade And dim the brightest light, Still honor walks the world of men Beside the Rusted Knight. ⸻ Verse 2 Then fate would bring him younger souls Who walked the selfsame road, A band of friends with fire and hope Who shared the burdened load. Through ruined halls and shadowed caves Their laughter filled the night, And many evils fell to steel Beside that rusted knight. Though years had carved his weary face And slowed his step in fight, He watched them grow with quiet pride— Their mentor and their knight. ⸻ Chorus Raise the horns and sound the drums, The kingdom calls to fight, For walls and fields and burning skies Depend on hearts of might. And though the storm may break the land And drown the world in night, Still steel will stand against the dark— The Rusted Knight will fight. ⸻ Verse 3 But peace was never meant to last For kingdoms built on stone, The banners rose, the war horns cried, And war claimed every throne. So to a crumbling castle keep Their weary band was sent, To face a rising tide of war No mortal strength could dent. The gates gave way with thunder’s roar, The halls were drowned in flame, And through the smoke the horns of retreat Called broken lines away. Yet cut off from the fleeing host They ran through fire and fright, With armored shadows close behind And steel raised for the fight. ⸻ Chorus So stand the line though kingdoms fall And burning skies ignite, For hope still lives where steel is raised By one who holds the fight. Let darkness come with all its wrath, Let armies flood the night— But none shall pass while one still stands: The Rusted Knight. ⸻ Verse 4 They found at last a narrow door Beyond the shattered wall, The final road to safety left Before the keep would fall. The old knight turned to face the dark Where enemy banners came, And firelight danced upon the rust That marked his battered frame. He looked upon the friends he loved Like children in his sight, And saw the years that waited still Beyond this final fight. “I’ve walked my road,” he softly said, “My years are near their end— But yours still wait beyond this war. Go live them, my dear friends.” ⸻ Bridge They fled while steel behind them rang In fury through the hall, Their comrade standing all alone Between the door and all. The clash of blades, the shouts of war Rang out into the night, Until at last the battle cries Fell silent from the fight. ⸻ Final Verse At dawn they climbed the broken keep Through ash and shattered stone, With hope that maybe still their friend Had somehow held his own. But there beside the battered door His rusted armor lay, His sword still held within his grasp As though he fought that day. Around him lay the fallen forms Of every foe in sight— No soldier passed the final stand Of the Rusted Knight. ⸻ Final Chorus So sing his name when fires grow dim And shadows claim the light, Of one who stood when all had fled— The last and Rusted Knight. For though the years may turn to dust And kingdoms fade from sight, The dawn still comes because he stood— The Rusted Knight.