A graying man with a stylish hat in the Silverymoon Market

[epetrow]

“ I was there I tell ye” he announces to the growing crowd in a voice that carries across the market while simultaneously conveying the feeling of a whispered secret shared.

“The scarred one with the dark hair sure as I be standing here told us that he be hired by the Silverknights to scout the pass. The fair haired pretty lass of a Dawnbringer smiled as if we be going to a Flamerule picnic she did.” The storyteller removes his hat, crouches down as his voice drops to a gravelly ominous whisper, “ but ‘twas no stroll among the trees that we were going to, by my word. There be orcs in the pass according to the scarred one and Corio shows me and the lass his new scars to prove it. `I owe them some blood’ says he with a smile that ne’er touches the lads steely eyes.”

The bard straightens “So off to the pass we go and cold as Auril’s teets it is in those mountains, me old bones suren were feeling the chill. Corio signals for the lass and meself to form a line on the road while he disappears into the overgrowth of a small path heading off the main road. We know the plan is for himself to lead the brutes into our ambush. I nock me bow” he stated as he brings his right hand to his cheek and adopts the archer’s pose “I glance at the lass as she readies her crossbow for the bloody work ahead.”

The bards voice suddenly booms across the market in an excited rapid staccato “Corio bursts out of the bushes with two of the orcs on his heels One of them already bloodied by his wicked Karaturian blade named Dragonfly. He dives into a forward roll that would make any acrobat proud and the lass and I loose taking down his pursuers. More of the beasties burst onto the road and the scarred one becomes a blur weaving his sword in and out of their defenses like a skilled dancer. I drop me bow and join the fray as the bolts from the lass whistle around us wreaking havoc.” The minstrel leaps into the air deftly touching down with his blade drawn fighting the unseen foes around him.

“As the last of our foes fell a terrible war cry came from the shadows surrounding the road. Out rushes the biggest hulking beast I ever did see. He move with freakish speed belying his huge bulk. I barely caught the two handed downward chop of his axe on me blade in time and the force knocked me to me knees. Then I heard the lass’ voice as sweet as any bird I ever did hear. As Corio engaged the chieftain, I rose and risked a glance over me shoulder. What I saw gave proof to the lass’ name for the Dawn had come! The brilliant daylight that I saw surrounding Dawn lanced forth and struck the beast. Staggered by the blow and blinded by the light, the brute’s throat was swiftly opened by Dragonfly. Then all was silent as our foes lie on the ground around us.”

The bard then slammed his sword into the earth and shouted “ As me name be Evander Grist I swear. . . ‘tis the truth . . . for I was there.” He releases the blade and turns and walks away dramatically. As the crowd’s collective gaze travels from the still quivering hilt to the end of the blade buried in the turf, the bard’s hat is seen lying on the ground awaiting their coins for the tale they just heard.

[Ithildur]

A tall, lithe figure with golden locks looking recently clipped eyes the tale teller with his head slightly cocked, a mixture of appreciation and slight skepticism turning one corner of his lips upward in a faint smile.

As the tale ends he picks up his pack, pauses briefly before the hat and tosses in two gold coins.

"Well told, and well earned, regardless of it's accuracy..." he muses to himself as he walks away.