A Land Far Away

Act One Scene I – at bridge (in the morning) (farmer approaches bridge from off stage) [PONT] Good morning, my good man. Got some more vegetables for sale, I see. [FARMER] *nods* Morning, Pont. Stuck on bridge duty again, huh? [PONT] Stuck? Why, this bridge isn’t going to guard itself, am I right? ...

EPILOGUE The fire gathered strength and began sending sparks into the predawn sky. The rocks on the low hill glowed fitfully from the growing blaze. Moments later, the body laying on the pyre was engulfed in flames and Ladellon took a few steps back from the heat. He had spent the past two hours ga...

CHAPTER SIX – Vengeance Ladellon felt icy daggers pierce his lungs with each breath as he labored up the path to the village. His legs were weak with exertion when he finally stumbled to the tavern’s entrance and threw open the door. There were few patrons in the common room – those remaining were ...

CHAPTER FIVE – The Weakest of Heart Ladellon pushed his friend into the snow as Pontes raised a large club and swung where Racarai’s head had been. He lifted his own pack from the ground and brought it hard into Pontes’ face, causing him to twist and drop to his knees. Tunek was coming around the t...

CHAPTER FOUR – Reunion Tunek and Portes soon gave up on their attempt to warm themselves by a fire. The wind was too brisk and the bits of tinder too damp and frozen to allow any spark to catch. Both of the men eventually settled resignedly against the shack and pulled their cloaks about them. As b...

CHAPTER THREE – The Meeting Ladellon climbed the hill quickly and crouched near the top behind a group of boulders to survey the scene below. He was nearly a hundred yards from the large pine. The hut could be seen beyond through the low, thin boughs. He could still see the huddled figures of Porte...

CHAPTER TWO – In the Footsteps of an Old Friend Ladellon sat back in his chair, too stunned to move. Racarai had been a childhood friend from Tiras. They had shared many adventurous evenings together and Ladellon had learned from him several useful tricks on how to get about unnoticed. Racarai had ...

CHAPTER ONE – The Intruders The patrons of the tavern gave a roar of approval and laughed heartily as they rose from their seats. The bard bowed appreciatively and settled down on a rickety chair against the wall. Someone flipped a silver coin and it rolled to a stop against his boot. Another mimic...

Composed and sung atop the hill of Rillifane's Ascent . . . While wandering the woods at night You know what makes me sad? The thought that I might get shellacked Whenever trees go bad. The sudden stirring of the leaves, A snapping branch, egad! A druid’s nightmare come to life Whenever trees go bad...

Sung about the halls of the manor at Olodin's Hold . . . . A lovely miss, the robust sort, Came struttin’ past the tavern’s guests And when she caught some doltish boor Staring at her breasts, She sighed and approached him, oh, so wantonly And . . . kneed him in the stones! She kneed him in the ston...

Heard sung as far away as Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate by a flute-bearing lass. Tales of lost treasures that leave one engrossed Are told in fest halls all along the Sword Coast By spell-binding bards with renown as their aim. But only one legend deserves such acclaim. Much greater than troves of a p...

The Flute of Ash , a lovely tune heard on the mean streets of Baldur's Gate. It was a night of stillness deep When old things could be heard to weep And whispered secrets lingered still Like clinging dew upon the hill. When broken, silvered rays were cast O’er restless dead of ages past As chilling...

Sung by Begor Nightstrummer at the Angler's Inn after the rescue of Curia, the resident songstress, and two other unfortunate captives. A noble feat, the story goes, Occurred near where the Rauvin flows. So, sit back and I’ll tell you all The legend of one Bert the Wall. “She’s gone, she’s gone,” th...

As I was walking along the Rauvin, not two ten days ago, minding my own business, of course, I saw something quite strange on the docks – a mound, you see. A mound right where no mound ought to have been. Right near the entrance to the sewers, mind. I thought maybe some foul creature had crawled out...

We Give Pirates a Good Name When unknown ships call in your ports And unload crews of sketchy sorts You’ll no doubt hide your treasures and your wives. But scornful hospitality, Though based in rationality, Makes pirates question, ‘what have we done with our lives?’ I’ll wager you’ll be wondering H...