NineMoons and the Band of the Red Hand

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain - It's Time to Toss the Dice.

In this blog entry I am proud to unveil my latest plan in the New World of Granado Espada: to be a faction leader.

Yes, I've been part of at least four factions already - in Cervantes, Æphemeral and WrathOfGod; in Carracci, Takhisis and Covenant - but I've always been just a member or, in one case, deputy leader, but without the glows.

The entire point of me undergoing this exercise is to experience the Levels 51 and 52 faction quests, and, yes, to wear the glowing light rings o' doom.

So, without further ado, the faction:


Shen an Calhar: the Band of the Red Hand, the guerrilla army of Matrim Cauthon, and a major military force in the deceased Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy book series. By virtue of his marriage to Tuon Kore Athaem Paendrag, who was once the Daughter of the Nine Moons and is now Empress-presumptive of the Seanchan, Matrim, or Mat, is now the Prince of the Ravens.

The Band of the Red Hand fell in the final defense of the ancient country of Manetheren, and was said to be "the thorn in the Dark One's foot, the bramble to his hand". Its original incarnation had been composed of a large number of brave and valiant heroes, who fell to the last man as they bought their civilian compatriots just enough time to escape slaughter.

Now, the Band has been revived by Mat as an all-new army, with tactics borrowed from many of the world's greatest generals. Its symbol is a large red hand; its motto is Dovie'andi se tovya sagain, meaning "It's time to toss the dice", an ironic homage to Mat's love of gambling and seeing battle as the same; and its unofficial anthem is "Dance with Jak o' the Shadows", this being an idiom for "going to battle - and death". ["Jak o' the Shadows" is an in-universe name for death.]

Dance with Jak o' the Shadows [The lyrics have evolved as Mat and the Band accomplish more and more great deeds.]

We'll drink the wine till the cup is dry,
and kiss the girls so they'll not cry,
and toss the dice until we fly
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

We'll dance all night while the moon runs free,
and dandle the lasses upon our knee,
and then you'll ride along with me,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

We'll sing all night, and drink all day,
and on the girls we'll spend our pay,
and when it's gone, then we'll away,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

There're some delight in ale and wine,
and some in girls with ankles fine,
but my delight, yes, always mine,
is to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

We'll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

There're some delight in ale and wine,
and some in girls with ankles fine,
but my delight, yes, always mine,
is to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

We'll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow Lord Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o' the Shadows.


Anthy NineMoons as the leader of ShenAnCalhar Faction.

I hope to be able to tell the tales of my own faction's exploits as the days go by.