Haggard Tales of Ithiria 1. The Origin It had already become day as he opened the big wooden door and stepped out of the shadows. The sun had shown behind the eastern forest, bright and warm in a cloudless sky. As his eyes closed, he slowly raised his head. Gently, the morning wind caressed his face and rustled through his long hair The chatter of the birds had become one with the whispers of the black elders, melding with the rhythmic babbling of the little brook, which wound its way to the distance behind the humble grange. But it has not always been like that. One thousand seven hundred years ago, during the celebration of the two moons, the enemy forayed over powered the villagers under the cloak of darkness. Brave men were cut down where they stood in the cold crisp autumn night. The ones who still had life in their veins escaped in despair, but regathered quickly and formed a resistance. Many among them, women and children, only armed with axes, torches, and pitchforks. And it seemed as if all hope was forsaken... 2. Chapter I - Tales Of Ithiria Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem [English translation: When the heavens and the earth shall be moved When you will come to judge the world by fire] My son, now listen what I say: Keep in mind what you have learned Wrap your fingers 'round your sword Maybe you will not return Thousands that we once have been Only a few are still here I've to give this sacrifice... ... oh, the autumn brought us fear! My life, my blood, my tears, my pain I'm the guardener of thee Through an axestrike I have lost The ability to see Now my child, your time hath come Mercy - not with those you'll harm Wrap your fingers 'round your sword... (And the ones we love will fall Like autumn leaves On these endless fields) ... as the horn sounds the alarm! Und als der Sturm begann Als Fleisch auf Eisen traf Hell wie der Glocken Klang Die Schreie derer, deren Glück versagt Mit Wunden übersät Der Eichenhain ihm Schutze bot Wie die Legende sagt War dies des Vaters sich'rer Tod Now that all silence was disturbed The Ground, as red as autumn leafs Father Frost, the last they feel On these mighty, endless fields Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem Hush hush, my child Mother death is your bride If you listen her song you will follow So better beware Let your senses take care Your innocent mind will be hallowed A step in the dark (Miserere Dominus [English translation: Lord, have mercy]) A secret to hide (Rex tremendae majestatis [English translation: King of tremendous majesty]) A legend to tell (Libera eas [English translation: Free them]) Drowned in the waters of time (Miserere Dominus) A secret to hide He holds Wisdom of ancient times A parchment with numbers and rhymes Fear speaks the spell to survive The circle of druids - alive! They all gathered in the night Within the torches light As their slumber did awake So I did wish a thousand times Mother Death would come to me In her arms I will entwine And I'm rising up to thee Now my child, my time hath come Mercy - not with those I'll harm I wrap my fingers 'round my sword... ... as their horn sounds the alarm! Now the winter begins On this endless fields 3. From Deep Within Arriving at his farm house He saw his fathers lifeless body Pinned to the front door by two arrows He could feel his anger rising... ... From Deep Within 4. Chapter II - Upon Fallen Autumn Leaves Moonrise On my path... Als ich nun wand're auf dem Pfad Und die Dunkelheit verhüllt Den Mondenschein der Licht mir gab Der das inn're Toben stillt Suddently Along the mountainside Fog demons slowly rise Oh wanderer you'll see Your fate seems to be sealed by thee As magic did weave On sanctified grounds He fell on this knees where he stood And blinded by those That have passed long ago Here in Gildeon's Woods As he turns his head Hurt by the beasts His heart - filled with fear For this is the end Or will he find The way out of here Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine Et lux perpetua luceat eis Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Ithiria Sanctus Dominus Quid sum miser tunc dicturus Requiem aeternam Il mistero Valli di Ithiria Deep inside the forest's heart Enchanted by the ones of ancient times Magic be their light That dimmers deep within Night at Gildeon's Woods Did you ever wander? And you got lost on secret paths? Did you ever see them? Is purity within your heart? Then trough the trees A light you may have seen That saved you from the dark Moonrise Wenn auch die Hoffnung in mir schwand Mit zitternd Hand mein Schwert ich zieh' Unterm finst'ren Himmelszelt Der Wölfe Hunger nie versiegt Ein Hieb, ein Schrei, ein Schmerz, ein Licht Doch es ist des Todes düst'rer Schatten nicht Gazing at the moons' silvery light Here, where history may fall Enter the realm of darkened mimght Courage may now be with us all In times of freedom, times of fear Mother death stands by their side An unicorn so proud and clear Ride, when all the worlds collide On my path... Als ich nun wandre auf dem Pfad Folg' dem Lichte, das mich führt Als der Taverne ferner Schein Tief mein ängstlich Herz berührt... 5. In Des Konigs Hallen (Allegretto Siciliano) 6. III - La Terra Santa So we're all the letters In a mystical tale While the hours of my kingdom Do rapidly fade Deep clouds bear thunder Like a dark poem's rhyme And now is the dawn of all times Concealed behind old castle walls Will the grim one return, will Ithiria fall? "Bring me the seer, may true words he speak" As nightfall has murdered the last rays of light Oh god, don't let my heart be weak tonight Now as morning nears Farewell they fear There is sadness in her eyes Out on misty ground, as all gathered 'round And their banners reach the sky I hope you don't fear Neither do I Bring me my sword And kiss me goodbye This time I hold you Here in my arms Will be the last When Ithiria falls When Ithiria falls 3000 men scattered at the first break of dawn "Now unleash the dragon to lead me on" His wings shall bring storm to these bloodred skies And fear will be brought by the thunderous hooves Oh horses, so heavy, now ride Now ride! Now as morning nears Farewell they fear There is sadness in her eyes Out on misty ground (Affondate la) As all gathered 'round (In quest'era) And their banners reach the sky (Unitevi tutti!) Unitevi tutti In questa era Senza timore Affondate la lancia In terra santa I hope you don't fear Neither do I Bring me my sword And kiss me goodbye This time I hold you Here in my arms Will be the last When Ithiria falls When Ithiria falls Now as morning nears Farewell she fears There is anger in their eyes Out on misty ground As all gathered 'round And their banners reach the sky Unitevi tutti In questa era Senza timore Affondate la lancia In terra santa 7. Vor Dem Sturme Marching long and far Day turns to night Scattered campfires flicker on three thousand mighty warriors who the sharpen their swords and axes Never knowing if they will return... 8. Chapter IV - The Sleeping Child Starlight twinkles mighty As they celebrate this night Distant clatter of the horses hooves Heralds their demise "Bring oaken barrels, rise your horns Lay weapons all aside" A golden shimmer throws its trail Upon the tavern's light Mors stupebit et natura Cum resurget creatura At midnight's stroke When two moons rise And storm awakes The sleeping child When two moons unite Silent tears will fall Once upon time Like a dream long ago The sleeping child Then a storyteller awakes the realm Of dragons, wizards, knights As mighty men and servants Are sitting round the fire side by side No one knows the evil Out of the forest's deep Mother death is soon to sing Her melody so sweet Mors stupebit et natura Cum resurget creatura Under the cloak of darkness And within the dim haze As mighty and servants shed Their lifeblood on their blades When two moons unite Silent tears will fall Once upon a time Like a dream long ago At midnight's strike When two moons rise And storm awakes The sleeping child 9. Hijo De La Luna [originally by Mecano]Tonto el que no entienda Cuenta una leyenda Que una hembra gitana Conjuró la luna Hasta el amanecer Llorando pedía Que al llegar el día Desposara un calé ["Calé" = "Gypsy" in Gypsy jargon] Tendrás a tu hombre Piel morena Desde el cielo habló La luna llena Pero a cambio quiero El hijo primero Que le engendres a él Que quien su hijo inmola Para no estar sola ¿Como le iba a querer? Luna quieres ser madre Y no encuentras querer que te hagan mujer Dime luna de plata ¿Qué pretendes hacer con un niño de piel? Hijo de la luna De padre canela nació un niño Blanco como el lomo de un armiño Con los ojos grises en vez de aceituna Niño albino de luna Maldita su estampa Este hijo es de un payo ["Payo" = "non-Gypsy" in Gypsy jargon] Y yo no me lo cayo Luna quieres ser madre Y no encuentras querer que te hagan mujer Dime luna de plata ¿Qué pretendes hacer con un niño de piel? Hijo de la luna Gitano al creerse deshonrado Se fue a su mujer cuchillo en mano ¿De quién es el hijo? Me has engañao fijo Y de muerte la hirió Luego se fué al monte Con el niño en brazos Y allí le abandonó Y en las noches que haya luna llena Será porque el niño esté de buenas Y si el niño llora Menguará la luna Para hacerle una cuna Y si el niño llora Menguará la luna Para hacerle una cuna [English translation:] Son Of The Moon Fool whom don't understand Tells a legend That a gypsy female Summoned the moon until the break of dawn Crying she was asking At the break of dawn Spouse a gypsy But in exchange I want The first of the children You sire to him 'Cause whom inmoles her son For not being alone How was she supposed to love him? Moon, you want to be a mother And you can't seem to find wishes To make you a woman Tell me silver moon What do you pretend to do, With a child made of skin? Son of the moon Of cinnamon father born the child White as the back of a ermine With the eyes grey Instead of olive Albino child of the moon Cursed your resemblance This kid is of a non-gypsy And I don't save it for myself Gypsy for believing dishonored Went to his woman with knife at hand Whose this child? You have cheated me well And wounded her deadly Then he made it to the mountain With the kid in arms And there he abandoned him And when the nights of full moon Will be 'cause the kid has the mood And if the child cries Moon will diminish itself Just to build him a crib And if the child cries Moon will diminish itself Just to build him a crib 10. On These Endless Fields Their horses heavy In clad and chain armor March into battle Man against man Sword against sword Hammer and axe against shield Let the banners fly high Mortal screams pierce the cold air As steel meets flesh and the strong rule the weak And then, the great rains set in And but for a moment it seemed As if all the blood had been cleansed by the Gods 11. Chapter V - The Hidden Sign As the rose did nearly wither The five ones might have failed Then hearts would turn to iron And gradual night'd prevail Fear did wrap the land The mighty mourning bells are stirred And northern winds carry their screams To a place they'll never be heard Beneath a moonless sky Within the candles light Runestones witnessed a thousand years Archaic rites Of taken lives Let the circle be the gate! Secret rhymes A parchment full of signs Written in the book, so long ago Gives mortal power to the ones defiled Withered life Becomes revived Let the circle be... the gate! Als des Nordwinds schaurig Flüstern Hüllt wie Schatten ein mein Herz Kälte längst erfror'ner Tränen Welch entrissen mir mit Schmerz Quantus tremor est futurus Quando Judex est venturus Cuncta stricte discussurus As the clouds divide And starlight falls On sacred grounds The eternal call Now see the light As the druids rise To the one that has been born With the hidden mark of the unicorn As sigh of those who descent from royal blood For thou shalt ride, do never rest And search the beast that keeps the magic chest Unleash the secret that slumbers In the dark Reveal the hidden mark! As the moons last rays Slowly fade away Where the peeks meet the sky horizon is in flames Clouded seas and gusty trees Let the circle be the gate At the awaking of the sun The ritual is done Another place, another time The galleon will rise again The druids' bane slumbers again Let the circle be the gate Als des Nordwinds schaurig Flüstern Hüllt wie Schatten ein mein Herz Kälte längst erfror'ner Tränen Welch entrissen mir mit Schmerz Quantus tremor est futurus Quando Judex est venturus Cuncta stricte discussurus As the clouds divide And starlight falls On sacred grounds The eternal call Now see the light As the druids rise Line-up: Asis Nasseri : Vocals / Growls / Guitars Danny Klupp : Acoustic Guitars Florian Schnellinger : Bass / Vocals Andi Nad : Bass Hans Wolf : Piano / Cembalo / Keyboards Luz Marsen : Drums / Kettledrums Susanne : Soprano Kathrin Hertz : Cello Steffi Hertz : Viola Kerstin Krainer : Violin Robert Müller : Clarinet Christoph v. Zastrow : Flute Bartl : Oboe Kathrin Pechlof : Harp Fiffi Fuhrmann : Crumhorn 2008 Drakkar Records