Zylai'a

Member created stories, poems, & other creative work.
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Mick
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Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

In a city and quarter brimming with quality bardic talent, an obviously anxious young woman makes her first public offering in the Safehaven, with her violin as scant accompaniment:

First and Last Breath

First breath taken, taken of you
Most splendid joy, this flavour new
Tasted of life, of love, of wildfires we would make
Least favoured wait, until the next I would take

Never once had I gone, scarcely once laughed aloud
Ever I feared the dark eyes of the crowd
Stepping out or within, held unshackled to earth
But sent soaring above by your sweet, savory mirth

You found me and life followed
Held me, blinded by death
Once and again our tastes mingled
With transcendent success

The days became moons became eternally ours
But time unrelents and every spice it must sour
Nevermore would we ever not be we
But never for mortals…
…can ever be seen.

The fever crept in to our house late one night
Valiant fight and efforts at healing light

But dark prevailed and took your taste.
Off my tongue.
From my soul.
From out my lungs.

You were gone, and with…my last real breath.
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Peter_Abelard
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Peter_Abelard »

Great mick, loved it!

Cheers, Peter
Character arcs are sharp, pointy little things. A little blood may spill!

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Past Characters: Valyar Floshin, Sarenna Irithyl, Millicent Riverstone, Dev Revels, Catarina Helms, Fenris Estelmer, Arryn Temple, Penrose Hawke, Kara Ravensfell, Arana Belecthor
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

Zylai'a offers a short dirge over the body of the fallen Rune:

Stature stout with steel gray skin
Worn words and wisdom fond
Though soft of voice, unlike most kin
His actions went beyond

Eschewing link and plate and blade
Ne'er to flee a fight
With wit and heart and training bade
His spirit raised to might

One Fist. Two.
And with both feet.
Step beyond this place.
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

Zylai'a is asked to perform by a group in the Safehaven. She plays her violin and sings the following song of heroes:

Into Black We Track

Into well of Black we track
bats and rats and embracing dark
Threshold sealed and rightly so
But steps beyond we doomed must go

Again with flapping fur and teeth
Then left and left to face undeath
Their bones, though without the slightest flesh
Skills of shield and blade into one mesh

But bones without break just as sure
And our walk plods on as we endure
When last we round the right and right
There stands a beast of near pure night

Burning eyes and piercing bite
Strength of shadow and gods of might
But fell the foe that would have our throats
And back up and out the heroes go!


Conceived on the spot and perform total 37. 8)
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

Zylai'a:

https://www.deviantart.com/art/Moonligh ... -148350988

I have found many variations that could be her, but that one strikes closest.
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gonz.0
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by gonz.0 »

Just read up.. wow. Are these your original compositions?
The real Gonz.0
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

Late in the afternoon, a small group of citizens gathered outside the Tomb of the Homeless in the City of the Dead. They look on as Zylai'a and two of her friends conduct a ceremony to honor five lost infants and see them interred in the Tomb. During the ceremony could be heard the forlorn bard offering a song of honor that alternately featured sorrowful violin strains and lyrics.

Passing of Promise

Whene’er young love is bound at last
When promise seems in hand
And life becomes like breaking fast
Nay! Rain on desert land

When promise finds full plate and cup
Old journeys start anew
Arm in Arm both lifted up
Each walk with brighter views

The years and on and horizons close
Next year you soon forget
But then must end youth’s vibrant prose
And wends the sun to set

Due to that eventual fate
Most hate to find unsung
Most seek and take and rarely sate
Lest found the upper rung

Some hoard treasures, others tales
This one or that craves power
But whether vulgar or regaled
From obscurity they cower

And so, to steel 'gainst pale destiny
And lo, to live beyond
The immortal young now plainly see
Legacy may be spawned

At times arranged or mayhaps chance
No matter which, they birth
Happy hearts the happenstance
Makes hail their mother’s worth

From flowers yon buds find loving breast
New promise born to light
New kindred souls with linens messed
And smiles make sorrow bright

For all their trouble and nightly noise
For all their cost and toll
Cannot be more perfect poised
To seize the promise full

Let not joy consume you, though
For these before were stole
From loving breast and father’s hold
By scourges from below

Back to darkness, but without beat
These fragile babes were sent
Where sewer stench and cold stone meet
Hell’s heat and devils lent

Fortune finds that some few may live
Misfortune finds the most
Claimed are these when greenskins give
Their blood as soldier's boast

And so returned, these babes, these lost
And so unknown they be
We lay ye here, among the host
But bring honor unto thee

Therefore and so, who look upon
These lost, their story tell
Remember well their futures gone
Mark promises now fell
Last edited by Mick on Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Wild Wombat
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Wild Wombat »

The above is an prime example of why WW will never play a bard: the bar is set way too high.

Very well done Mick. Inspiring even.
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Peter_Abelard »

Being there for the performance made it even better! ABAB, 8 beats to 6 in iambic, and lovely verse and theme. It’s wonderful. ALFA’s getting literary fast. Keep this up and I’m going to invite Margaret Atwood to come play with us.

Cheers and please, keep it coming!

Pete
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Cleasor »

Well done Mick!
"Having an adventure shows that someone is incompetent, that something has gone wrong. An adventure is interesting enough in retrospect, especially to the person who didn't have it; at the time it happens it usually constitutes an exceedingly disagreeable experience." Vilhjalmur Stefansson
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

Zylai'a offers up an uncharacteristically upbeat number to a few gathered friends in the Safehaven.

From The Grasp

This life we live where strength of flesh may fall
To claws or maw or even wayward saw
Sinews cleft by zealous or angry steel
Make fear real as layers of life are peeled

If not the blade, still might be found the pain
Of vaned shaft training the point into vein
Or brought low by Art for which mages yearn
It burns or turns thy heart ‘til friends you spurn

As sanguine hearts face exsanguinous loss
The cost and the crossing in thoughts are tossed
Mind works well on one’s days and denouement
‘Til dawns bygone fade to that fate forgone

But! Just when your faith in your friends does fail
And clutching pale makes pledge to snuff your tale
Is, in those moments of dire dread and doubt,
That life found can rescue from out that mouth

As faith, good fortune, or fantastic trade
Crushed frame unsunder and spilled bowels remade
Lifeblood regathers and strength surges round
One more day found to keep sound one’s renown
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Peter_Abelard
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Peter_Abelard »

One more day found sounds like an adventurer’s maxim to me!

Great stuff, mick!
Character arcs are sharp, pointy little things. A little blood may spill!

Now Playing: Luva Si'nede, Olivus Angustian
Past Characters: Valyar Floshin, Sarenna Irithyl, Millicent Riverstone, Dev Revels, Catarina Helms, Fenris Estelmer, Arryn Temple, Penrose Hawke, Kara Ravensfell, Arana Belecthor
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

On a rainy afternoon in the City of the Dead, a funeral is being carried out for Vanfred Assumbar, the patriarch of one of the city's noble houses. The service is well-attended and many pay their respects to the man who many credit with helping the common people of the 'Deep through the Time of Troubles. He was the oldest of three siblings and the last to pass away.

His widow, Tess Assumber, though frail and in poor health, insisted on walking alongside the hearse, holding the hand of her beloved as far as the family crypt.

The service was marked by a young bard offering a dirge commemorating the deceased.

On eve of Lhestyn's bloody whim
As shadows fled the 'Deep
Assumbar's namesake fell on him
And breast milk he did reap

Young Master Vanfred found his legs
And sisters found his side
From him protection they never begged
Their honor was his pride

He grew in years and height and heart
His mother's hand he held
Then father's strength and watch depart
His nature then beheld

His nature all beheld.

Under Wandering Wyrm he gave sister's hand
Though her groom he failed to trust
Four short years later her broken heart
Had Van his jaw adjust
When Lion roared, so did his soul
He took the hand of Tess
Ever since their love and resilient laugh
Has seen them through the mess
When the Crown brought plague to Balduran's bode
Tess's brother near death fell
Vanfred never a moment waited
Went and brought him from that hell
As Harp sounded and the Worm did worm
And Princes fell into Shadow
Van kept his head and wit and faith
Then saw family and fortune grow
Times since have served to shore and prove
The strength of this man's mettle
Mettle held in most high regard
By those great and small here settled

But years must fade and health decline
Though light in eyes kept burning
Van's life would wane, but not his love
For Tess, nor for her his yearning

Nor for you his yearning.
For Tess, you will ever be his yearning.


The young woman, who is known by most as Zylai'a, also played somber background music throughout the service and along the procession route.
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Mick
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Mick »

A dirge sung over the body of Xaveiros in the Plinth.

By Any Other Name

This, a man of so many parts
Some noble, others nay
His mien would land on many hearts
Its roguish charm could sway

How can one begin to decry
One soul so warmly held
Let instead the obeisance fly
For Xaveiros, now fell

Whether wise in his appraisal
Of wine, women, or walk
None could him mistake for angel
Nor scholar when he talked

But lest any here or elsewhere think
This man merely scoundrel
Remember well his work in stink
With no more light than candle

Xav would step light and fairly quick
His hands working locks
Such skills brought by fingers' flick
That traps the rascal mocked

Well...except for one.

With his passing our path becomes
More perilous, plain, and stark
And tavern tarts with pleasing bums
Charmed not again in dark.

But lift your eyes and fill your glass
To Xaveiros the Brave
For he'll bid us all to kiss his ass
If he's 'membered as a knave
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Akivaria
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Re: Zylai'a

Post by Akivaria »

*leaves a few coins at the Safehaven for Miss Zylai'a, and also a note*

Dear Songbird,

Even the melancholy songs you create are so magnificently beautiful. Please accept this meager tribute, and the adoration of your peers, with my thanks.

(Signed with an indulgent flourish)

-Lady Hopper
"This is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."

Current PC: Alora Tuffet-Hopper, foul-mouthed and irreverent bard
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