Bardbarian Chronicles

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epetrow
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:02 pm

Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by epetrow »

To the stage in the Hanged Man, the tall blond man in purple and red finery ascends. Some know Flynn Vermillion by sight others by reputation. The young Cormyrian has become quite the fixture here at the Hanged Man both for his performances and the incident that happened in the inn the other night. Rumour has it that this might be his last performance as he has been performing at the safer and more upscale Beer Golem.

As is his pre-performance habit, the bard places his great sword and cloak by his seat before taking his lute out of its case and approaching the stage. The rowdy crowd quiets in anticipation a moment before the lad start strumming a boisterous upbeat tune on his lute for a measure before inhaling.

Small Rats

On my way ta the Hang-ed Man
On a fine moonlit eve
'Tis the time the fun began
The Rat my purse did try ta thieve

I turned as I entered the inn
"I'll carve you up" says he
I pull me blade and say with a grin
This will end bad fer ye

Ye Rat, Ye Rat, ye know ye'll run,
So why ye talk so tall?
We both know when the scrape be done
The grave digger's hole be small

A mistake ye made, that we both know
False as any of ye hope o' riches
Cause at me the shyte ye throw
Came right from yer own britches

Ye Rat, Ye Rat, ye know ye'll run,
So why ye talk so tall?
We both know when the scrape be done
The grave digger's hole be small

I tip the barkeep as I leave
And ask pardon from the ladies bright
If the leavings of my cleave
Should spoil their appetite

Ye Rat, Ye Rat, ye know ye'll run
So why ye talk so tall?
We both know when the scrape be done
The grave digger's hole be small


He repeats the chorus once more with some of the patrons singing along and ends with a flourish of strumming the last chord on his lute. Before the applause dies, he has scooped up any coins, his cloak and sword and is out the door. Perhaps for the last time.
Last edited by epetrow on Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
Ladellon
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Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:24 am
Location: just north of Leadfeather

Re: Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by Ladellon »

Hurray! Love the chorus. :wtg:
Final PC: Regor the Valorious, the ONLY theatrically-inclined half-orc androgyne wandering ALFA, Artistic Director for Cormanthor Stage Productions, one-time stand up pirate and self-educated barrister of the bar.

Former PC: Begor Nightstrummer, Executive Stage Writer and Assistant Director of Planned Gifts for the Roving Entertainment Group of Ruith

Current PC: Sheshe Little Eels
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epetrow
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Re: Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by epetrow »

The tall blonde Cormyrian takes the stage in the Beer Golem. As usual when Flynn Vermillion is playing, the inn is crowded. The handsome bard has amassed quite the following of late. He strums his lute and begins a slow almost mournful mix of minor chords setting a somber mood.

City of Splendors
The weather is fine, if ye be a yeti or a duck
Everything can be owned if ye have the gold
But this town be a bitch if yer down on your luck
If yer poor n' can't turn tricks cause yer ugly or old

City of Splendors, where the Golden Dragon rules
Yer streets are plagued with the goblin & rat
Docks and the Warrens be full of poor starving fools
While the all merchants and lords stay fat

Yer wonders are grand though the price be high
All the shops shelves are filled with this and that
Ye can find parasols and perfumes anything to buy
But in all o yer stores not one decent hat

City of Splendors, yer Lords have power and might
But if ye look for a hat you won't find shyte
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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epetrow
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:02 pm

Re: Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by epetrow »

A tall hooded figure all in black enters the Dripping Dagger through the side door. The figure carrying a quarterstaff literally dripping in gore and bone fragments, quickly moves up the stairs to his room before Filare can scream at him to remove his head cover.

A little.while later a tall clean shaven and freshly bathed blonde man descends the same staircase carrying a lute in calloused yet elegant hands. Some of the crowd applauds as he appears. The applause is carried like a wave through the crowded bar as more of his fans recognize the young artist moving toward the Daggers' small stage. Flynn Vermillion pats Doris' bottom playfully with a wink as he ascends the stage.

Without a word he immediately begins to play the lute in.a lively jig tempo. Fingers fly across the neck masterfully caressing the strings. The introduction finishes with a flourish as he begins to sing his latest song:

Singing Shillelagh

Carved from t' lightning stuck oak
My beauty was born for war
I sang to ye spirit and it awoke
A song fer the goblins final encore

Sing! Shillelagh ye song need be loud
Ta be heard o'er the Gobos yips n' groans
Whether yer song make em flee or be cowed
It finishes with their broke skulls n' bones

In t' sewers sounds echo in t' gloom
And yer song makes em dance
It makes their eyes go wide with doom
As they know they have no chance

Sing! Shillelagh I love ye song
Better than any shanty or ballad o' love
T' Gobos all hear ye n' come.along
As ye rain death on em from above
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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epetrow
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Re: Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by epetrow »

Flynn Vermillion once more moves to the back of the Dripping Dagger. A hush falls over the previously boisterous crowd as the tall Cormyrian has quite the following and his performances have become somewhat of an event.

He strums his lute with a skill that is at the same time extensive and effortless. His tempo of this song is his more typical lively jig as he begins to sing in a strong tenor voice:

Brute Squad (Formerly the Raging Trio)

There be a new song echoing tha’ walls under tha’ city
A song o’ blood n’ death sung by the weapons of this quad
Their foes are slain without remorse or pity
Tha’ party they all flee be tha Brute Squad

Brujo from the hot south whose ma were burned for a Bruja
His Greatsword cleaves his enemies almost in two
They run when he spits blood and screams “Hijo de punta”
Though they not know its meaning any more than I do

Aires be tha’ Rager who jumps into tha’ fray
He screams and howls t’ break tha’ enemies’ muster
They seem to piss themselves as often as they run away
Even when he loses his Ax in a ruster

Flynn be tha’ singer who is most truly your own
He thinks his gigs make him popular wit’ tha’ ladies
With his blood up, his Shillelagh crushes bones
And sends all who face him to Hades.

Tha one o' little words makes this quartet complete
Zodloff be tha name that he be known
He's one bald, mean Rashemi piece o' meat
He knocked tha Goblin King clear off his throne

So be ye goblin or rat or imp no matter
These four will chase ye ta yer grave
Yer bones will break and yer blood will splatter
And yer bowels will tell ye not be brave

There be a new song echoing tha’ walls under tha’ city
A song o’ blood n’ death sung by the weapons of this quad
Their foes are slain without remorse or pity
Tha’ party they all flee be tha Brute Squad

Tha’ party they all flee be tha Brute Squad !
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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epetrow
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Re: Bardbarian Chronicles

Post by epetrow »

The crowd was restless in its anticipation of the return of Flynn to the Dripping Dagger's stage.
The bard's performances were always the epitome of rowdy good times. The crowd was looking forward to singing along and dancing to his jigs and reels.

As soon as the singer entered, they realized this night would be different. The usually exquisitely dressed and groomed Flynn that approached the stage could only be described as "shabby".His clothes dirty and two days growth on his chin.

As he sat and began to play, he raised his hollow eyes to the crowd and revealed the bags beneath them. As he began to play, the slow minor chords, he chanted the arcane syables of a Minor cantrip which dimmed the light coming from the scones to complete the somber mood

Siren's Lament (unfinished)
The flash of scarlet, the soft sardonic cakle seen and heard no more,
Replaced by the weeping of the hoards of fans and imagined paramours,
The music and song that inspired and thrilled
Has been suddenly and most cruelly stilled

Siren O Siren where have ye gone
Ye be sorely.needed to bring back the dawn
Siren O Siren bring your music back
Your voice is the beacon against pitch black

The savior of the Deep your triumphs are legion
Plagues, Hobgoblins, Vampire Queens and
Frozen Demons,
Who will protect us from the terrors of night?
How do we replace your bacon of light?

Yer song did tame both citizens and the wildest of beast
Leucrotta, Great Worms and Landsharks on the leash
The First Seeker, the Guildmistress, the Rogue, the Plague Knight counted as friends
Some here and some gone all lament yer end

Yer Caster now fills Tymora's halls with its power chords and notes
I hope the cabin in yer grove eternal marital bliss promotes
May ye never rest without Kal's arm beneath yer head . . .

The bard doesn't finish this song with his usual masterful flourish of his lute but rather makes the strings seem to cry in mournful misery to the end in a completely silent room. The usually boisterous Dripping Dagger remains in solemn silence as.Flynn leaves the stage and moves to the barkeep.

"What in the hells was that?!?" Filare says in a hushed whisper. "No one's gonna spend any coin to drink tonight in this mood. That's not what I'm paying you for.. ." The word dies in his throat from the grim look in the Gray Hand Enforcer's eyes. The trade bar Flynn slams on the bar shatters the reverent silence with a bang as the torches flare back.to normal. "Not a fookin word . . .not tonight".

The tall minstrel raises his hood almost daring Filare to raise his usual objection and leaves by the side door of the Dagger. As he enters the chill Waterdavian night he whispers to himself the final line.of the song, "And I be the fool who made ye dead." With a self deprivating snort, he moves through the shadows of the city to the place.that she welcomed him . . .home.
Current NWN1 PCs: Cyrus Thelvair, Castien Miracaryn, Yargrim Goldbrew.

"Bring out your dead!"
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