Fenris Estelmer: At The Podium

[Peter_Abelard]

Fenris walks slowly up to the podium in The Hanged Man, and after pausing to take in the crowd, begins to speak:

“Good women and men, patrons of our fair city’s art, and lovers…yes, I am looking at you two…lovers of song. Please, raise your tankards. Yes, good. Before I say anything more, a toast. Let us toast the spoken word. Yes, word. But not just any words, no…I want to toast all that has been sung and spoken over this podium, my friends. To words! Please, drink.”

“I love words, as you will hear. They are important, yes? Of course. Words can soothe, and cut. They can inspire, and tear down. They can uncover what is hidden, or hide what is obvious. Words, my dear Waterdhavians…words matter.”

“Some words about me then. I am Waterdhavian born, much as yourselves. What does that mean to you? Does it ease your mind to know I was born where you were? That I have walked among you for many years? I have been here among you, nameless before now, and have caused no hurt. Ease, then. The comfort of the familiar, as the smell of salt on the air is, or the sound of carts on the High Road. I am Waterdhavian. Three simple words, and yet packed full as South Gate on High Harvestide. And yet, how swiftly our thoughts can turn with only a little more knowledge.”

“I’ve come here from the Watchful Order, to speak to you of dragons. Of one in particular, who may be among you right now.”

“Look, my fellow Waterdhavians, look at the faces of those around you. Where has their ease and comfort gone now? Vanished? In the puffed breath of a few scant words. Take heart, and heed me. I have not come here tonight to harm, or frighten, but to strengthen, and prepare you for the challenge that lies ahead.”

“Dragons are very real, as is the danger they and their minions pose. But we are not defenseless. Any mage of the Tower will tell you, great power can be commanded, if you only have the right words, and understanding. Come back tomorrow evening if you would hear more, and I shall tell you.”

With a graceful bow to the gathered, Fenris departs.

[Rumple C]

From the crowd, Juan listens.

From the door the next day, he returns to hear more.

[Akivaria]

Gods above.

Not another fookin' bard.

[Peter_Abelard]

My dear sisters and brothers, goodmen and goodwomen of this, the greatest city in all the ‘Realms, I pledge myself to you, and your wellbeing, and sing your praise.
For if this is truly the greatest city in all of Faerun, and I assure you it is, then what makes it so? Its history? This city is old, certainly, and I delight in hearing the tales of all that has come before. But no, it is not its history. Its walls then? This city’s mighty magic and defenses, that protect us as we sit here from so many threats? Stone and mortar alone do not make this city. No, you are clever folk I know, and have guessed already. The greatness of Waterdeep is its people. It always has been, and ever shall it be.
Those dragons and their thralls that lie outside our walls; they are moths to the flame of your greatness. Yes of course, you scoff, and laugh. Your modesty prevails. How can I, a simple baker you say, be so glorious that dragons covet what I am? Or that drunkard, or that lout that still owes me thirty Dragons from two moons ago?
It is very true. None of us alone in this city can claim such glory, or be deserving of the praise I am bestowing. None of us who will sleep tonight within these high walls, from the pauper lying on the cobblestones of the Docks, to the Masked Lord upon her curtained bed, can alone claim to be the essence of Waterdeep’s greatness. But it lies within you…and you. Within this man, and that man. When we each of us use our gifts, and seek to make better this city we are blessed to call home, we are part of the glory of Waterdeep.
I promised you before that I would tell you of dragons, and I vow that I will, but tonight I wish to celebrate a small but vital part of our City of Splendours: the adventurous souls who call the Quarter home, and by their boldness inspire all of us to reach farther. I brought my lute tonight, which was recently reclaimed from the goblins that scurry in our sewers, by myself and the two brave men I wish to sing of. Raise your cups and toast our adventuresome folk, if you would. To Aiden and Korsan! I call it This Man, That Man.

This Man, That Man

This man, that man
How far is too far?
If you push to the edge
Will they show you their heart?

When the air that you breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
Can you trust who you walk with?
Do you know who they are?

Korsan and Aiden
The Charm and the Grace
They promised me succor
When we entered that place

A Crypt full of darkness
Where horrors abound
Where bones rise in fury
That should be in the ground

“This place has no mercy”
They said evenly
“We must know that you choose this
So our conscience is free”

This man, that man
How far is too far?
If you push to the edge
Will they show you their heart?

When the air that you breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
Can you trust who you walk with?
Do you know who they are?

They couldn’t have known
My childhood of dreams
That the Life they had chosen
I wanted for me

But a lifetime of longing
Is different indeed
When your fingers are trembling
When what you want is to scream

I buried the fear
I lied with a grin
“I know what I’m doing”
We pushed farther in

This man, that man
How far is too far?
If you push to the edge
Will they show you their heart?

When the air that you breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
Can you trust who you walk with?
Do you know who they are?

Down a dark hallway
A corner appears
Beyond it a clicking
My pulse in my ears

Korsan looks onward
And swiftly returns
“It’s a horde that awaits us”
My fever it burns

When death runs to meet you
What will you do then?
Will you flee where you came from?
I trusted in them

This man, that man
How far is too far?
If you push to the edge
Will they show you their heart?

When the air that you breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
Can you trust who you walk with?
Do you know who they are?

Skeletons, zombies
An undying flood
They came without mercy
They came for our blood

Wights and the corpses
Of folk I had known
They clawed for the marrow
That lay in our bones

But something shook free then
From deep in my soul
And fused with my will
Now courageous and bold

This man, and that man
How far is too far?
I will push to the edge
I will show them my heart

When the air that I breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
They can trust who they walk with
I will be as they are

I asked Korsan after
When the battle was done
When we sat in the ‘Haven
When our safety was won

“I’ve seen these folks’ faces
I’ve heard what they say
I know trust is hard won
That doubt is their way”

“But I trusted in Aiden
And I trusted in you
How is trust forged
In what you both do?”

“This man, and that man
Who knows who they are?
But we fight for the living
And that is our Art”

“When the air that we breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
They can trust me to save them
And that is a start”

This man, and that man
How far is too far?
When they stand on the edge
Will you show them your heart?

When the air that you breathe
Smells of fear in the dark
Can we trust who we walk with?
Do you know who you are?
Do you know who you are?

[Stormbringer]

*claps and whistles from the back of the room*

That was an awesome read.. good job Pete!

[Akivaria]

*something invisible throws a tomato*

*and then another*

SPLAT

[Mick]

Very Nice.

[Peter_Abelard]

For those of you with Spotify and the inclination, here is the link to the Lute pieces that Fenris plays from time to time: https://open.spotify.com/user/kamoney-c ... bOExQqazXQ

I like to imagine the Spanish ones are pieces he learned while he was in Tethyr, and the others are local.

Cheers, Peter