Alfwin Wood of Balamere (song)

This song is based on the ancient hero of Balamere, Alfwin Wood, and how he tricked the Golden Sphynx of Lanternfield into exile. It was written by Boris the Black, a bard from Lotharleach who was a friend of Alfwin's. Boris wrote the first half of the song after Alfwin told him about the encounter with the sphynx, and eventually when Alfwin died Boris travelled the whole country collecting tales of his deeds and chronicled his story in a book called "A Man Who Never Smiled." It was immediately after his death that Boris wrote the second verse.

Lyrics
"'Oh Alfwin Wood of Balamere""The haunted man with the pointed ear""So wide and far did he well roam""That he never e'er did find his home."."Was once a boy and he did find""A scaly beast with a hairy hide""His poor old ma did that beast slay""and thus was he forced on his way."."Oh Alfwin Wood roamed Balamere""In search of that beast he did fear""Defeating villains all the while""Oh Alfwin Wood did never smile."."The Golden Sphynx ruled Lanternfield""To not one hero she did yield""To keep the children in her cave""But Alfwin Wood was ever-brave."."The Sphynx so clever told young wood""That she'd release them if he could""Untie the knot that she did make""And Alfwin Wood did challenge take."."Alfwin Wood - that clever fox""Did then take out his tinderbox""And then the knot he set alight""The Golden Sphynx screamed out in fright"."Tricked was she, that evil beast""So far she fled, much further east""He brought the thing that she did fear""Oh Alfwin Wood of Balamere.'"Verse 2"'So many lives led Alfwin Wood""Both man and beast saw only good""When Alfwin led his boldest fight""Not e'er again did monsters bite"."The demon lord called Kalaflasch""Left balamere a mighty gash""And ravaged every countryside""Defeated men and turned the tide"."All hope was lost, or so it seemed""Til Alfwin's Luwhine blade had gleamed""The demon lord called Kalaflasch""In Alfwin Wood had met his match"."Lying atop dead demons vast""Alfwin knew he wouldn't last""He'd saved the land of Balamere""He'd done all mortal man could clear""And every man for every mile""Would remember Alfwin's final smile.'"