Forests of Shadow 2017 Released November 30th, 2017. All music and lyrics composed by Federico Lucchi. Recorded and mixed at Dolfin Studios, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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Forests of Shadow
by Federico Lucchi
1. Adelmund’s Curse - Lament of the elder trees recalling the times long gone when the Spirit of Life walked in the Forest of Light and all the valley flourished with life and joy. They repent their shameful indifference towards the Spirit’s love and cares, and vow to accept whatever fate their own selfishness brought unto the forest.
2. The Black Wolf - Dedrick, evil spirit of corruption and decay, enters the valley in the shape of a black wolf led by the treacherous fox, inhabitant of the forest. He chains Deifilia, guardian of the valley's lake and Spirit of Time, and enters the Forest of Light, turning it into shadow and fear. Time is thus stopped during a cold winter night, imprisoning all the inhabitants of the forest. The only way to break the spell is to defeat the evil wolf and free Spirit of Time of her painful bonds.
3. Where is your Hand - Chained into endless suffering, the Spirit of Life helplessly watches the Forest of Light plunged into a timeless and restless slumber, unable to move or wake the trees, fast asleep. In her distress she calls for help from her father, Adelmund, begging him to forgive the trees’ sinful behaviour and come back to his beloved valley to free it from evil.
4. At the Silver Spring - Tuan the old crow calls all the birds of the forest to meet him by the Silver Spring, dried out since the coming of the wolf. Not bound by any spell, the birds prepare to leave the forest to return to the lands they left long ago. The old crow bids them not to, for only their singing can now soothe the trees in their painful sleep. Tuan reminds them of an old prophecy that when the valley shall be plunged into a sunless winter, the Spirit of Life shall come back to his valley and dwell therein forever after. Not heeding the crow's warning, most birds leave the valley to find comfort and abundance once again.
5. The Tree and the Wolf - Waking from his cursed slumber, Orrick, the eldest and strongest tree of the forest, confronts the wolf in a duel. Although his size and strength are considerable, he knows the wolf’s black magic will easily defeat him. He nonetheless challenges Dedrick, preferring an honourable death to a shameful life of slavery. He is eventually killed and uprooted by the powerful black spirit. After his merciless victory, the wolf claims kingship over the valley and the total submission of all life within.
6. Dedrick’s wrath - Having chained the Spirit of Time and destroyed the eldest tree, the Wolf gathers his powers, deepening the shadows to total darkness and filling the hearts of all creatures with terror. He mocks the prophecy and the Spirit of Life, disbelieving his love and compassion for his people. He claims the defeated valley as his own, and vows to leave it, should Adelmund ever come back to claim it.
7. One Day - The remaining birds and beasts of the forest regroup and try to revive their courage and hope by remembering the love and care their father gave to them long ago. Although light and bliss seem gone beyond return, their trust and faith in their father shines as a glimmering white star far above the horizon, promise of better times to come.
8. Sun Will Rise Again - As the forest is plunged into utter darkness and blind fear, the sound of Adelmund’s harp rings again in the cursed valley, bringing light and warmth to all dwelling therein. Playing on a large golden harp and singing uplifting rhymes, the Spirit of Life comes dancing down the forest's paths. He radiates a blinding white light and treads noiselessly the hard ground with his soft shoes. Although the sky is black with Dedrick’s anger, the warmth of Adelmund’s dancing and singing brings certainty to see light again soon. Without even fighting, he expels both the wolf and the fox from the valley and revokes the wolf's magical powers. Defeated and helpless, they leave in anger and fear.
9. Song of Forgiveness - Having removed the evil from the forest, Adelmund now removes the evil from the trees and beasts by forgiving their cold hearts and shameless behaviour. He gives his love back to the valley’s inhabitants, who repented their disregard for their father and accepted the punishment inflicted on them.
10. Banished Into Night - Hearing the news of the fall of the wolf and the fox, the birds and beasts who had fled the valley come swiftly back. But as they reach the high mountains surrounding it, Adelmund stops them and forbids them ever to enter his kingdom again. Thus are punished those that were the first to leave in times of trouble, and first to come in times of plenty and ease.
11. Song of Remembrance - The trees and beasts of the forest gather to sing once again. This time, they raise their voices in songs to remember their shameful behaviour, the punishment that ensued, and the selfless love Adelmund gave to them yet once again. They also praise Adelmund’s beautiful daughter, Deifilia, for the care she always gave to them, and for selflessly accepting the pain inflicted on her because of their own sins. Thus ends the tale, with both joy and melancholy. Joy for the restored peace, melancholy as a remembrance of the valley’s wrongdoings.
2. The Black Wolf - Dedrick, evil spirit of corruption and decay, enters the valley in the shape of a black wolf led by the treacherous fox, inhabitant of the forest. He chains Deifilia, guardian of the valley's lake and Spirit of Time, and enters the Forest of Light, turning it into shadow and fear. Time is thus stopped during a cold winter night, imprisoning all the inhabitants of the forest. The only way to break the spell is to defeat the evil wolf and free Spirit of Time of her painful bonds.
3. Where is your Hand - Chained into endless suffering, the Spirit of Life helplessly watches the Forest of Light plunged into a timeless and restless slumber, unable to move or wake the trees, fast asleep. In her distress she calls for help from her father, Adelmund, begging him to forgive the trees’ sinful behaviour and come back to his beloved valley to free it from evil.
4. At the Silver Spring - Tuan the old crow calls all the birds of the forest to meet him by the Silver Spring, dried out since the coming of the wolf. Not bound by any spell, the birds prepare to leave the forest to return to the lands they left long ago. The old crow bids them not to, for only their singing can now soothe the trees in their painful sleep. Tuan reminds them of an old prophecy that when the valley shall be plunged into a sunless winter, the Spirit of Life shall come back to his valley and dwell therein forever after. Not heeding the crow's warning, most birds leave the valley to find comfort and abundance once again.
5. The Tree and the Wolf - Waking from his cursed slumber, Orrick, the eldest and strongest tree of the forest, confronts the wolf in a duel. Although his size and strength are considerable, he knows the wolf’s black magic will easily defeat him. He nonetheless challenges Dedrick, preferring an honourable death to a shameful life of slavery. He is eventually killed and uprooted by the powerful black spirit. After his merciless victory, the wolf claims kingship over the valley and the total submission of all life within.
6. Dedrick’s wrath - Having chained the Spirit of Time and destroyed the eldest tree, the Wolf gathers his powers, deepening the shadows to total darkness and filling the hearts of all creatures with terror. He mocks the prophecy and the Spirit of Life, disbelieving his love and compassion for his people. He claims the defeated valley as his own, and vows to leave it, should Adelmund ever come back to claim it.
7. One Day - The remaining birds and beasts of the forest regroup and try to revive their courage and hope by remembering the love and care their father gave to them long ago. Although light and bliss seem gone beyond return, their trust and faith in their father shines as a glimmering white star far above the horizon, promise of better times to come.
8. Sun Will Rise Again - As the forest is plunged into utter darkness and blind fear, the sound of Adelmund’s harp rings again in the cursed valley, bringing light and warmth to all dwelling therein. Playing on a large golden harp and singing uplifting rhymes, the Spirit of Life comes dancing down the forest's paths. He radiates a blinding white light and treads noiselessly the hard ground with his soft shoes. Although the sky is black with Dedrick’s anger, the warmth of Adelmund’s dancing and singing brings certainty to see light again soon. Without even fighting, he expels both the wolf and the fox from the valley and revokes the wolf's magical powers. Defeated and helpless, they leave in anger and fear.
9. Song of Forgiveness - Having removed the evil from the forest, Adelmund now removes the evil from the trees and beasts by forgiving their cold hearts and shameless behaviour. He gives his love back to the valley’s inhabitants, who repented their disregard for their father and accepted the punishment inflicted on them.
10. Banished Into Night - Hearing the news of the fall of the wolf and the fox, the birds and beasts who had fled the valley come swiftly back. But as they reach the high mountains surrounding it, Adelmund stops them and forbids them ever to enter his kingdom again. Thus are punished those that were the first to leave in times of trouble, and first to come in times of plenty and ease.
11. Song of Remembrance - The trees and beasts of the forest gather to sing once again. This time, they raise their voices in songs to remember their shameful behaviour, the punishment that ensued, and the selfless love Adelmund gave to them yet once again. They also praise Adelmund’s beautiful daughter, Deifilia, for the care she always gave to them, and for selflessly accepting the pain inflicted on her because of their own sins. Thus ends the tale, with both joy and melancholy. Joy for the restored peace, melancholy as a remembrance of the valley’s wrongdoings.