Copper Compendium, Page Three

The Ballad of Fippy Darkpaw

In Antonica's land there was a gnoll
Whose size was small and deeds were bold
Fippy Darkpaw from Sabretooth Clan
Whose land was stolen by the human man

His entire being did yearn for revenge
And on one thing did his plan hinge
"To free my people I must kill Bayle"
"And when I do my clan prevails"

When human travelers he did meet
He left them bleeding at his feet, saying

"YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP AROOOO!
Fippy Darkpaw will slay all of you!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP BAAARRRK!
Fippy Darkpaw must leave his mark!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP GRRRRR!
For Sabretooth Clan I will endure!"

His plan was not yet fully formed
The Qeynos gates had never been stormed
He did not know how to reach Bayle
To find out how, he must travail

Fippy would travel to other clans
And ask those gnolls to help him plan
The best defenses born of man
Against the wisest gnolls found in the land

As he traveled o'er the broken ground
He shouted out to all around

"YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP AROOOO!
Fippy Darkpaw will slay all of you!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP BAAARRRK!
Fippy Darkpaw will leave his mark!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP GRRRRR!
For Sabretooth Clan I must endure!"

First north to Blackburrow--no help there
They were beseiged inside their underground lair
That clan was not concerned with humans
For them the threats were barbarians

Next east to Highpass where he'd heard
A soothsayer might have a helpful word
But those fine gnolls they were enmeshed
In the seige of a keep they couldn't best

His final trip was down to Paw
And there his plan became most flawed
His brethren with their skin of white
Had little feeling for his plight

They were jealous of his skin of blue
For they were outcasts for their hue
This Sabretooth gnoll they would mislead
And take revenge through treacherous deed

"What your clan must do is charge the gate"
"We Splitpaw gnolls will lie in wait"
"When you announce their doom is near"
"We'll take their guards out from the rear"

Fippy's joy he then could not contain
He broke into this glad refrain

"YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP AROOOO!
Fippy Darkpaw's dream will come true!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP BAAARRRK!
Fippy Darkpaw will play his part!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP GRRRRR!
Gnoll victory is now assured!"

Fippy went back with all due haste
He was told his brothers would be in place
"Bring your clan to Qeynos straight away"
"Do not delay another day"

Fippy did not go to his home
He would sound the charge all on his own
His place in his clan would be assured
They'd make him chief if he gave the word!

As Fippy approached the Qeynos gate
He bellowed out, he could not wait

"YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP AROOOO!
Fippy Darkpaw will slay all of you!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP BAAARRRK!
Fippy Darkpaw has left his mark!
YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP GRRRRR!
Your doom is nigh, of that I'm sure!"

Upon pronouncement of their doom
The Splitpaw gnolls he expected soon
As the guards approached in all their might
Fippy did yip a sound of fright

His gnoll brothers abandoned him
His chance of survival seemed quite slim
As he was surrounded by the knights
Fippy attacked, he'd give them a fight!

Then steel rained down upon his head
And Fippy Darkpaw was quickly dead
"Halt in the name of Antonicus Bayle!"
Are the last words of Fippy Darkpaw's tale.

by Daithi Sìochaint of the Soerbaird