)......"On the eastern tip o’ the Earthfast Mounterns, sits the ghostburg o’ Stavoren. It be nay two score years past that it were one o’ the great tradin’ ports o’ the Easting Reachs. Its ships plied the Seas o’ Fallen Stars ‘n’ the Moonseas as well an’ brought great wealth to the merchernts ‘oo did live there. But fer the wickedness an’ arrogance o’ a very rich wench, Stavoren migh’ still be welcomin’ Faerun’s great merchernt ships an’ sea farin’ adventurers.
The wench o’ which I be speakin’ were the young widow o’ the wealthy merchernt Vurnus Stavos. Lord Stavos were far an’ away the richest merchernt o’ Stavoren, but this were nay ‘nough fer to please the wench Stavos. She were often heard t’ spake tha’ Lord Stavos’s cap’ns, o’ which me cap’n Red were the most trusted, would be bringin’ more riches home t’ port if we were adventurin’ an’ pillagin’ rather than tradin’ in goods.
She did much enjoy ‘er status as the wealthiest wench in Stavoren. She were forever givin’ parties an’ havin’ feasts an’ wha’ nay fer the other merchernts. She took great pleasures invitin’ ‘er rivals t’ gaze upon the many treasures Lord Stavos an’ his cap’ns had amassed fer her. O’ course human nature bein’ as it be, they tried to mimic her an’ match her possessions wif treasures o’ their own. Ever an’ anon they did succeed, an’ this would cause ‘er nay end o’ foul tempermernt.
At one o’ these gatherin’s wench Stavos did make show o’ a great diamond ring Lord Stavos ‘ad jus’ given her an’ when another wealthy wench did show that she be sportin’ one e’en bigger, the Lady Stavos flew into a rage an’ bade all guests leave at once.
The very next morn Lord Stavos were found dead in his bed from nay cause tha’ could be seen. As nay proof o’ foul magics ‘r poisons could be found his great fleet o’ trading vessels were left in care o’ the wench Stavos, an’ anon the morrow she sent fer me cap’n Red, who were the most rough ‘n’ randy captain o’ the fleet.
“I be ‘avin’ a special task fer ye”, said ‘erself. “I be wishin’ ye to perpare yer ship as quick as ye may. Set sail an’ bring me back, ‘The most precious thing ‘n the world!’ tha’ none may best me e’er again.”
“As yer wish madam”, replied me cap’n, “an’ what’d that be, if yer please?”
“If I were knowin’ that”, spake she wif venom, “I would be havin’ it a’ready! Ye be my most randy cap’n, ‘n a stalwart adept of Umberlee, ye be having many contacts throughou’ these seas. I dinna be caring what be the price, yer just be finding it an’ bringing it back to me. Ye an’ yer crew will be well rewarded fer yer success in this ‘ere endeavour” The cap’n were left a bit befuddled wif this but this wench were as ruthless as any she-devil an’ our ship were ‘ers t’ command so fer t’ sea we made ready.
The next day we commenced our make readies fer the long voyage ahead. News o’ our quest did spread like spray afore the winds an’ by the time our ship were trimmed fer sailin’, a large crowd had gathered at quayside to watch us set out. Great were the imaginin’s as to what we might bring back. “A religious icon!” spake one. “A pearl as big as an egg!” spake another. “Mayhaps a golden treasure chest from the Bitch Queen’s hordes!” spake someone else. None o’ ‘em course ‘ad any idea….an’ nor ‘ad we.
The rich widow were right pleased with all interest being displayed. She were certain that when we did return with ‘the most precious thing in the world’, that it would firmly ensconce her as the supreme wench of the burg.
The moon turned more than dozen times as we plied the Sea o’ Fallen Stars from port to port. And ever as we went the tale o’ our searching’s did sail afore us until as we did fight the’ currents o’ the river Lis a great horned serpent rose from the swells afore us with a trident in it’s scaly claws , “Ye have been a staunch and randy jack and always gave me Queen her due Cap’n Red. For yer faithful service the Bitch Queen does offer ye this boon”, the wyrm did hiss, “When ye reach the mouth of the river Lis, wey anchor and look ye to the eastern shore. Ye will see a great gnarled oak atop a fingered crag pointing due west toward the burg o’ Elmwood. This be a shrine o’ Jannath. Take this offering and place it at the foot o’ the tree and yer quest will at last be o’er” The beast then did draw from the water sack rove fast wif a golden rope. “Dinna ye open this sack afore ye make yer offering and spake nay of whence it came to ye”. Wif that the beast did drop the sack upon the poop deck at me cap’n’s feet and fell back to the depths.
As we all be knowing Umberlee be nay friend o’ the Earthmother we did suspect there were mischief afoot, and we all knew well the Bitch Queen be fond of vengefulness.
Many a jack did urge Cap’n Red t' open the sack an' see what were in it, but the cap'n stood fast, "It be nay wise t' trifle wif gods, lads, we be havin' nay choice but do as we be bid do".
So we did tack on upriver and rove fast as we were told. Cap’n Red, meself and the boson climbed that crag and laid the sack to rest afore the oak. In a swirling mist a nymph did appear, “Whae boon ask ye of the Earthmother?” spake the nymph.
“Me mistress wishes me to bring her the most precious thing in the world”, spake Cap’n Jack as bold as ye please, “Will ye tell me where to find it?”
The nymph did survey our randy crew fer sometime afore she spake, “Return to yer ship as it does now lie within her hold, take this gift to yer mistress for there is nothing more precious in the world”. With that she did vanish even as she dad come.
As we rowed to our ship we did see that she sat heavy in the water. When we looked in the hold we saw it was full, so we weighed anchor and came about for home.
It had been fifteen months since we’d set out, but as we entered the harbour we could as a crowd gathering as if none had forgot our quest.
The rich wench swept down to the quayside to meet cap’n Red as we rove fast to dockside. “Madam, I have done as ye asked. I visited many lands, met ‘n’ spoke with kings and high counselors. Many were the suggestions ‘n’ much advice did I receive. But none o’ it convincing’ so on we did sail. Then I met with the Earthmother’s chosen and she did truly give me the most precious thing in the world to bring to ye!’
“Well, and where be it then?” her eyes were fierce with greed.
“It be in me good ships hold, madam” spake me cap’n, “a gift from the Earthmother herself”
“Bring it forth at once”, spake wench Stavoren, “I wish to see it”
“I will be needing a great many sacks and some time, madam”, said the captain. “It be a cargo of wheat.”
“Wheat? Ye have brought me a cargo of wheat? Do ye dare to mock me, Cap’n?” She nearly choked with rage.
“Nay madam, what could be more precious than wheat? Without bread, half the world would starve!”
The wench heard one or two sniggers of laughter from the people in the crowd. “And this wheat be mine, a gift from the Earthmother, to do with as I will?” she said quietly.
“Of course madam, even as I said”, spake cap’n Red.
“Then pour it into the sea!” she said.
“Pour it into the sea?” The captain couldn’t believe his ears. “This be a gift from a god and there be enough grain here to feed all the poor in the province. Why nay give it them, if ye dinna want it – after all, we may all be poor one day!”
“I poor? How dare ye!” She pulled the diamond ring from her finger. “This ring will return to me hand afore I am ever poor!” She turned ‘n’ threw the ring far out into the harbour. “Now do as I say” she continued, “Pour me wheat into the sea or I’ll be taking me ship from ye and giving it to a cap’n of worth!”
The captain himself was now angry, “Cast off!” he shouted, ‘n’ the crowd watched as we slipped dock ‘n’ sailed to the mouth of the harbour. We all did know we were trapped between two gods as we dropped anchor ‘n’ set about shoveling the grain overboard, but such be the fates of seafarers since time began. Even as we finished tossing the last grain overboard, the great wyrm rose to starb’rd and spake, “Ye have fouled me mistress’s waters wif Jannath’s filth, by Umberlee’s word never again will this ship rove to dockside nor any who stand upon her decks ever disembark. Ye will ply the seas without respite until the day ye kneel before my queen in her depths and beg forgiveness”. Cursed as this we set out to sea never to return. That were our penance fer trifling with the gods. But the spiteful wench had been cursed as well we learned from one of her ships see sent to pursue us. Her boson told us the tale that nay two days after we set to sea, keen to show that she was still the richest wench in Stavos, sent out invitations to all her wealthy rivals to attend a feast at her palace. The day of the banquet arrived ‘n’ all were seated. A silver salver were placed afore the rich wench ‘n’ the cover removed to reveal a roasted sea bass. She picked up a knife to cut into the fish ‘n’ as she sliced through the meat, the knife struck something solid. She cut the fish open, gasped ‘n’ turned white as death, for there, laid in the flesh o’ the fish was her diamond ring. The one that she had hurled into the sea four days earlier!
Worse were to follow. After a few weeks, the wheat we had tossed into the harbour took root and began to grow on the sea-bed where it had fallen. Umberlee strove to cover it with sand, but it just grew taller. Within tenday a sandbank, held fast by the wheat stock, had sealed off the harbour. But the Earthmother were displeased as well, for the wheat bore nay grain.
Stavos’ fleets were now landlocked, and without trade the port city of Stavos died in poverty and despair.
Me Cap'n and me mates were forced to ply the seas without repite for two score years, doing good for any we did meet, until our once stout ship did come apart from wind, wave, and worm. I dinna be knowing why Umberlee allowed me to float from her bossom to shore, or if I ever will be having her leave to return to the sea. As best I know all me mates be in her cold embrace."
*nearly all of Rugo's tales and songs are adapted versions of traditional folk tales and songs*