Don’t Stop Believing
(25 Charlatos 5115, The Landing) A single stanza sat in her music notebook for over 3 months. It was good, and the bardess knew it. But it was a hook, and nothing else. Every time she picked up her book and thumbed through it, she would read the stanza again, and smile. Then turn the page. Lately, her confidence was sagging, her spirits were even worse. Truth be told, she was a wreck. The Cittern had not helped the situation at all....
Unhinged
(23 Charlatos 5115, The Landing) Last week she accepted a precious gift from Lady Inurtia. She knew the cittern was special the moment she touched it. Made from ebonwood, it was eahnor-inset and came in its own beautiful, matching case. As she gently smoothed her hand over the wood, she wondered if the instrument had its own song, or just its own voice. She gazed at it in wonder … Stemming from the bridge of the cittern, thin...
Inside A Silent Tear
(22 Charlatos 5115, The Landing) Someone handed the bardess a peach. Her favorite fruit, peaches. How were they to know there was only one other person who brought her peaches since she left home? She stared at it. She knew everything was about to come crashing down, and she did not feel like explaining any of it. Not that she had any kind of explanation, not while she was caught somewhere between worry and feeling foolish. But...
Intermezzo
(18 Charlatos 5115, The Landing) Back in her room, the bardess drew the harp into her arms. She dropped the smile that had helped her through the past several days, and sat there for a moment. Her head was swimming in so many layers of confusion. She had no idea what she had done wrong this time. Her faithful harp comforted her loneliness, and she began to idly pick at the strings, looking for an outlet to the doubt and mounting...
Icy Mountain Breakdown
(16 Charlatos 5115, On Glatoph) Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the ancient ice troll approaching … and it was on! She’d had success here with the ice trolls; the snow crones, however, were quite another story. But if everything went well, she could put a snow crone down before the creepy hag hurt her too badly. Once before, she’d taken on a job to put a particularly dangerous ice troll out of commission. But...
Random Acts of Kindness
(10 Charlatos 5115, The Landing) I passed the Warden as he quickly left the Pawnshop. I was going in to check Kilron’s tables for a crystal amulet. I did not even have time to curtsy out of respect, he was moving with quite the purpose that evening. As I walked into the back room of the Pawnshop, I noticed a Giantman. I did not know him, but I curtsied politely to him. Really, Kilron’s tables are a delightful place to meet...
Her Answer
(Kelfour’s Landing, back in the day, circa 1993) {Backstory: The dark mage gave no deadline to the bardess, but bade her send word when she could, with her answer. Once she was free, this was her reply. She delivered it in person. ~D.} From the moment first I met you, There was something in your eyes compelling My every glance, the guide I could not resist against; And I welcomed your eyes’ very warm bespelling. Oh, most...
Words Of Love
(Kelfour’s Landing, back in the day, circa 1993) {Backstory: The bardess wrote this for the dark mage. It was also something much requested for weddings. ~D.} Words Of Love The words of love make a circle complete, The sacred binding, spoken softly and true. One heart to another, life’s most precious gift, And these words are more than “I love you.” In the elements of love the circle is held fast, The man, the...
Under The Dreaming Tree
(Kelfour’s Landing, back in the day, circa 1992) {Backstory: The bardess met a man under the Dreaming Tree… need I explain anything else? ~D.} Under The Dreaming Tree My journey brought me here alone, Dreams to weave, songs to hone. But elusive was every dream I tried, No songs there were for me to guide. Until one midnight he came to me, And we met under the Dreaming Tree. Who can say now just who charmed whom When we...
Exposition
(3 Charlatos 5115; moments after midnight, an aside from the Harp) Her arms rock me with every measure; her fingers graze across my strings, fated to lift me to heights I could never reach without her. I hear her queries to me: in her voice, in her music, in her body. I offer her my best, and there, she sings the descant with me, moving around my offered notes with a tender grace. Ach! I reach once more for her… “Yes...