The Undead Folk Band

The Undead Folk Band is a team formed of Tome Knights to compete in the Game of Tomes Challenge Week, which is a special event that occurs during every writing challenge month (April, July, and November). This team competes every April and July during their lower stakes Tourney of Tales, but does not compete in November during the Word War, as team members are often split between both sides of the conflict: the living Literomantic Houses and The Undead Horde.

The Story of the Undead Folk Band

In The Fourth Word War, November 2024, the Undead Horde was lead by Bard with No Names. That year, he was joined in his efforts by AttorraRu at the start of the war. During first week, HappyHappySad failed her mission and became the first of those to choose to fall. Bard christened her as “Misty” when she stood at his side.
Bard as a Night Monarch was cold to the touch, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel the absence of warmth. As the three undead sat around a campfire, someone brought out a ukulele and started to sing.

WIP

This article is a work in progress, and may be subject to changes.

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Missing

Status: Location Unknown

Deceased

Status: Deceased Character

Retired

Status: Retired Character or Article

House Meles

Meles Minor House Crest by Shyredfox

House Ailurus

by Moonflower

House Avis

House Avis by Misades

House Chiroptera

House Chiroptera by Dani Adventures

House Lapin

A salmon pink banner with a white rabbit head in the center. Text:

House Lapin by Dani Adventures

House Mollusca

House Mollusca by Dani Adventures

House Sauropoda

House Sauropoda by DaniAdventures/ShyRedFox

Undead Horde

Undead Horde by Dani Adventures

Awards and Honors

A badge or medal of a book - the Iron Tome - on a navy background. Text:

Defender of the Realm by Misades

A shining gold medal with a silver ribbon, showing a design of a laurel wreath with stars overhead. Text: Warden of the Risen Shore, and in a circle beneath, July 2025

Warden of the Risen Shore medal by ShyRedFox

Founding Date

November 2024

Related Ethnicities

Literomancers

And just for a moment, the paralyzing anxiety of what they were and all they represented, the emptiness of no longer beating hearts, the knowledge of what they would continue to need to do, all faded away, and the Undead Folk Band was born.
They sang together, a haunting melody that called to others: forget your pain; lay down your burdens, just for a little while.

Ru, Nova, Misty, and Bard around the Undead Campfire by StoryArcs&Subplots

Soon after, House Sauropoda fell, and with it, their House Meles supporters. From the ranks of the Dinos, AuthorBeth joined the Folk Band, and from the Badgers, Darkened Fay joined the choir.
Next to fall was House Ailurus, and to the Folk Band came Novamoonlight.
As House Chiroptera and House Mollusca fell, the ranks of the Undead swelled. But they were ultimately defeated by the remnants of all the Houses fighting behind House Lapin’s banner. All those who had died had been revived.

Ostensibly, they had been saved. So why, then, did everything feel colder than it had while their bodies were literally the cold of death? Why did they yearn for the darkness, the coldness, where at least they were together?
And thus, the Undead Folk Band planned a reunion. In April 2025, they decided to get together again to jam across House boundaries, connected by the bonds of forgotten stillness. They had so much fun that they accidentally went on a worldwide Revival Tour, performing in every House Protectorate and picking up several new members along the way.
Every Tournament of Tales since, the Undead Folk Band has Revived again and gone on another whirlwind music tour. The band members may change, but that just makes the music they play all the more ephemeral.
No matter who plays with them or how big their crowd, their hearts’ desires are always the same: to bring a smile in the dark stillness, and to do it while holding the hands of their fellows. Because Death is Not the End, and none of us are ever alone.

Tour Dates and Rosters

Band Roster for April 2025:

The Undead Folk Band Revival Tour

Bard of Ailurus on Guitar and Vocals
Nova of Ailurus on Flute
Happy of Ailurus on Keyboard and Vocals
AttoraRu of Lapin on Violin
Cathryn Dalton of Avis on Violin and Vocals

Ru, Bard, Happy, Nova, and Cathryn performing onstage by StoryArcs&Subplots

Band Roster for July 2025:

The Undead Folk Band Revival Tour Part 2: The Electric Boogaloo

Bard of Ailurus on Guitar and Vocals
Nova of Ailurus on Flute
Happy of Ailurus on Keyboard and Vocals
Liath of Meles on Triangle
Cathryn Dalton of Avis on Violin and Vocals
Levi Morgan of Ailurus on Bass

Happy, Cathryn, Liath, Nova, and Bard Performing Acoustic in a Field by StoryArcs&Subplots

Band Roster for April 2026:

The Undead Folk Band Revival Tour Part 2: The Electric Boogaloo RELOADED

Happy of Ailurus on Keyboard and Vocals
Nova of Ailurus on Flute
Liath of Meles on Triangle
Neko of Ailurus on Trumpet
Bard of Ailurus on Guitar and Vocals
AttoraRu of Lapin on Violin
Cathryn Dalton of Avis on Violin and Vocals
Guest starring Sir Trashy of Saurpoda on drums

Cathryn, Neko, Happy, Liath, Nova, Sir Trashy, Bard, and Ru Performing by StoryArcs&Subplots

Band Roster for July 2026:

The Unfortunate Return of The Undead Folk Band Revival Tour Part 2: The Electric Boogaloo RELOADED

Happy of Ailurus on Keyboard and Vocals
Nova of Ailurus on Flute
Liath of Meles on Triangle
Neko of Ailurus on Trumpet
Bard of Ailurus on Guitar and Vocals
Lenore of Ailurus on Guitar
Cathryn Dalton of Avis on Violin and Vocals
Foxx of Meles on Tech and Glitter Duty

Liath, Neko, Happy, Nova, Cathryn, Lenore, and Bard Performing While Foxx Sprays Glitter by StoryArcs&Subplots

Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2026

Answering: "A faction that employs questionable methods for the love of their people"

Visit StoryArcs&Subplots's Competition Page Check all other answers to this prompt Competition Homepage