THE LORE OF DOVER THE BOLD

Those simpler days come to mind
Soft clover beneath our hooves
My brothers and sisters and I
Running windswept plains as youths

The taste of milk thistle upon our tongues
The feel of sunshine upon our manes
Wild ponies we were, so free and young
Running those windswept plains

Till the day the bandits arrived
With their cruel and snarling hounds
Using ropes and snares and fire
They sought to keep us bound

My brothers and sisters, not I
Kicked and bucked and brayed
“Fight back, Dover!” they did cry
But I was too afraid

Too wild and brave to be tamed
My brothers and sisters broke free
Dover the Timid I became
Too paralyzed to flee

Upon my back placed heavy loads
I was prodded with a whip
Forced down long and hardened roads
Till my hooves did split

With a brand they seared my side
Starved me till my ribs were showing
Still I dared not fight, I was resigned
While lathering and blowing

Till one night my captors spied
A lone wizard in her camp
With just a small dog at her side
The bandits did attack

Seeing her fight with just a staff
My fear broke like a fever
I reared up and joined the raff
And managed to retrieve her

We raced away into the night
Across the windswept plains
We found a cave in which to hide
Beneath a sacred flame

The rescue now was over
I lay heaving on my side
With the memory of clover
Of my brothers and sisters and I

I closed my eyes, let out a sigh
It was time for me to go
But felt a touch upon my thigh
A warm and tingling glow

The wizard then transformed my brand
Into a rune of strength
Beneath her gentle guiding hand
My spirit returned at length

“You were so brave” she said to me
“To risk your life and soul
From this day your name shall be
My dear Dover the Bold"

No longer a youth, remade anew
As witnessed by flame’s light
We roam the lands in search of runes
My wizard, her familiar and I

Entered by: 0x4C97…3f86 and preserved on chain (see transaction)