Many fantasy-themed games lovingly pilfer from Tolkien and add orcs to their indigenous species. In Hex: Shards of Fate the orcs are a comparatively benevolent race. (Think new school Klingons rather than old school.) In writing their theme I was careful to balance the sense of martial culture with a heroic undercurrent.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

	Advance of the Orcs

In the movie Siren, a groupie comes a little close for comfort to a married band member. I scored the abortive moment of temptation with ambient electric guitar and vocals, respectively performed by Tom Strahle and Hilary Hearty.

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	With the Band

The next music cue from the Hex series, this week’s selection is both a darker and more energetic take on the traveling/map view visual. The game’s main theme has been transformed into a repeating phrase in the flutes which dances above the slower brass and string statements.

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	The Journey Underway

This week’s selection is from Cryptozoic’s forthcoming game Hex: Shards of Fate. This ambient theme, partly a variation of the game’s main title music, accompanies aerial maps and other “big view of the world” occasions.

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	Journey to Entrath

To provide some perk to your Friday, here’s a bit of upbeat quasi-ragtime. This is the end title music for David Kiang’s dark comedy about a man afflicted with something halfway between divine inspiration and Tourette’s Syndrome. Performed by Alan Steinberger (piano) and Ludwig Girdland (violin).

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	Better Off Said