A Ballad of Samurai

The Many Assassination Attempts of Koyo-Te

Read in Landscape!!!

Now elder master served his liege though lacking love for man
Yet still he rendered service ask as mage himself had planned
And loves command that man he hates had given forth that day
So elder warrior works himself to find a way to slay

The wizard claiming all the hold to hurt of folk about,
And looks for way that eldritch powers warrior sure could route
For sake to teach the man this petty truth before he dies
So warlock knows the errors made before in grave he lies

On grave of son the master blade this very thing had sworn
That vengeance born by death of love's no little thing to scorn.
To prove this fact but single time to wretched foe who earned
The ire give by man who ways of warrior current spurned.

So months did come and go across the fabled rolling lands,
And elder thought of many ways to go about his plan.
At first he thought to try his blade the crooked saber wrought,
For many foes in life that's long it early death had brought.

In halls the master bid his time and waited well for task
Until the magic worker came and close to elder passed.
From shadows lept the feeble man his form buttressed by rage
With foul intent in hopes that foe might die by wrack he waged.

But lo the flowing robes the man did always wear in court
And also any time he ever set himself to any sport.
By fellest spells of ancient fame that wizard surely craft
No blade could pierce or ever harm no matter wielder's wrath.

So elder once again's now forced to think of diff'rent plot
To give the man his vainest wish the one he long had sought.
Now long on thing he ever thinks about the task at hand,
And over time begins to rest on sure but lowborn plan.

Despite the fact that path he choose's not worth his station give
Nor heeds the law that man for all the days of life was bid
To follow forth performing will and heeding well it's cause
That ancient code they high do hold the ancient warring law

Yet still those laws are mortals' laws that over mortals reign
Whenever man against his foes does seek a mortal war to deign,
And surely one that holds no part in any human woe
Is grant not guard that law is gave for any slaying goal

A foe might seek to bring atop the head of such a man
He doubted well if any great forbidden path or plan
That ancient law would deem against this great and ancient fiend
To harsh and dread to ever long against his person deem.

So man did search the whole of yard and gathered many herbs
That long he ground inside his room and foul together stirred.
Until a poison dread and vile his hands had finally claimed
A potion wrought and soon in tea of wicked man he'd deign.

But lo when time did come to make his move most dire and fell
Inside the halls of all the house where patrons live and swell,
He learned the wizard never ate or long consumed a thing
Removing long ago the need that all that live must bring

To end through taste of any food or any water drank
And hearing thing this elder man's own heart now dread had sank.
But still he worked again at all his plots and plans he made
To grant the wizard well what's ask, immortals early grave.

So long he thought on task he's give to bring about an end,
And down to depth of deepest hell the wretched one to send.
Then after while a diff'rent course the man decides to chart
A different tact to work his will and help him play his part.

He waited well into the night when darkness fell on land
Then went about to try and bring to life his daunting plan.
So through the halls of castle man now went about his way,
In hopes to catch the fiend in sleep so elder man could slay