Beldwhig's Concert (Open to all)

[Norin Beldwhig]

Brightening 10 of Imperos in the Season of Summer, of Era II of the Celestine Mandate (Current Pattern) Era XI Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening, the Mageocracy of Julos the Mad. Paradigm Shift: Schism in the Church of the Faith!

In the only brick and wood built building in Acumin there bustled many customers this speciel evening. This establishment was well known and called "The Sooty Cavern Inn and Tavern". Mila, the owner, was busy in her own establishment. Despite a few nicks here and there, her body was mostly unharmed. But mentally she was not the happy-go-lucky person she used to be. There were many gray hairs in the once seamless black, and her eyes had a tired look about them that had nothing to do with physical fatigue. The tavern was especially busy this evening for there was supposed to be a specific concert by a dwarf who had performed only in Zerdargia.

Norin was dressed in his casual dwarf clothes. His brown kilt matched his leather boots and vest and only dwarfs would be able to point out the specific shade of brown that coloured his clothes. Norin came into the tavern unnoticed and strode up to the counter to speak with Mila when she had some time.

Norin wanted an ale and some info conercing the harpist taht Bork had been sent out to find. Was there going to be a harpist for this evening? Norin needed a drink before the gig. He had been warming up most of the brightening and was now looking forward to performing in a new tavern. He was looking forward to perform in a whole new city, a new part of Centripax.

[Desmodus]

For the second time that summer, practically the entire population of Acumin had piled into the Sooty Cavern Tavern for a special event: this darkening, instead of a contentious town meeting, the occasion was supposedly a concert. While not everybody was sold on the notion that a dwarf could sing, they were happy to be proven wrong, and there was an air of expectation in the inn as people drank their ale and nibbled at the remnants of their pracenda.

Bork Valding, Trade Master of the Acumin Ranger Hall and only dwarf resident of Acumin, had certainly done what he could to talk up the occasion, excitedly stopping every Acuminite who would listen, as well as every one who wouldn’t, extolling the virtues of Zerdargian lyric, and urging everyone to come to the Sooty Cavern this evening to hear the musical event of the pattern. It was not clear how pivotal Bork’s salesmanship had been in filling the tavern tonight, though. Perhaps Mila had also played a role in ensuring that her inn was full.

That same Mila was ready with Norin’s ale. While she may not have understood much about music, she certainly seemed to know what at least some of the required ingredients to a successful performance were, and which ones a host and innkeeper was expected to supply. As long as he kept his end of the bargain, Mila would keep hers, and Norin would not want for ale at any point this darkening.

The front door banged boisterously open, and Bork walked in, seemingly unaccompanied. Norin might have felt a splash of disappointment at that moment were it not for the strangely elated look on the older dwarf’s face, as if he had great news for his younger fellow. Norin could see no harp or harpist; why was Bork so triumphant, then?

The answer followed not far behind, although the sergeant-turned-skald might not notice right away. When he did, Norin might have been forgiven for wondering, for a moment, whether Bork had decided to have some sort of joke at his expense: out of the dim Dolwood twilight framed by the tavern door emerged a male faerie, not half a cubit high, hovering about eye-level to a dwarf and sporting a harp no larger than Norin’s palm. As soon as the fae noticed the other dwarf, he darted across the room towards him, parking himself right next to Norin’s ale mug and leaning his back on it, transluscent wings positioned so that the dwarf could just see the foamy head through them; little eyes twinkling with mischief, the fae looked up at the dwarf with crossed arms, as if defying him to take a swig while he was reclining against the mug.

”It was the greatest, most improbable stroke of luck, Norin!” Bork called out excitedly. ”I’d been all over Acumin trying to find a harpist for you. Not a one. Nor a harp, for that matter. Well, then I pull guard duty this morning, and I’m walking along the Barrier, muttering to myself out loud about not being able to find a stupid harpist out in the middle of the Dolwood, and this guy shows up!”

As if on cue, the faerie stood upright, leaving Norin’s ale-mug free once more, and gave a deep, graceful bow. ”Serale, Master Dwarf! Dewdrop Flutterflea at your service. I shall be your harpist for this concert.” He picked up his tiny harp and made as if to strum it. The harp had a frame of silvery wood, and its strings were as gossamer and barely visible as cobwebs. To Norin’s amazement, however, the sounds that issued from the instrument were not tiny, weak, or impossibly high-pitched, but encompassed both the volume and range of a man-sized harp. It also quickly became apparent that Dewdrop was quite skilled at his instrument. Norin had his accompanist.

Bork cleared his throat. When he spoke next, his tone had grown noticeably more subdued. ”Erm, there is one catch, though, Norin.” A sheepish look had come over the older dwarf’s face. It was obvious that he did not really like what he was about to say next: ”Dewdrop agreed to play tonight on one condition, erm.. ahem:” Bork hesitated ominously. Before he could speak again, a tinkling chorus of tiny voices laughing sounded just outside the inn door, and moments later, seven or eight more faeries swept into the Sooty Cavern, gleefully laughing and calling out ‘Yippee!’ as they darted about the room, swooping the inn’s startled patrons. Mila rolled her eyes in exasperation.

”Dewdrop insisted,” Bork explained lamely, giving a helpless shrug as he did so: ”He said he would only play if he could invite his friends.”

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin got his ale, something he clearly needed to stabilise his nervs. He had done this before, but he had been nervous every single time and this time was no different. Ale usually helped. Mila had already prepared Norin's drink and handed it to him, but before he could take a swig at the mug, he noticed Bork enter. A wave of disappointment hit Norin but only for a short time for he noticed Bork's expression.

There was nobody with Bork, but it seemed he had good news anyway. Before he reached Norin, a male fae came into the tavern and as he noticed Norin, he flew over and settled himself next to the mug. Norin was looking both confused and astonished at the little man. Then, Bork called out to explain about the fae and Norin looked up from his mug and grinned at the other dwarf. This was perfect.

Dewdrop Flutterfea was his name. He seemed like a competent harpist although Norin wasn't sure if the harp made enough noise. Still, he would just have to sing accordingly. Norin enjoyed a challenge. Norin grinned even harder and this time at the fae. Then, he was struck by surprise for the fae showed off his talent with the harp and unexpectadly it was no tiny sound. It was almost better than Rongar's harp, although much too small for him.

Bork came up to the counter as Norin took his first swig of the ale. There seemed to be a problem with the price of hirering Dewdrop. Bork looked sheepish and hesitant to explain to Norin the catch of hirering the fae. Suddenly, more fae came fluttering into the tavern just as Norin had put down his mug. They seemed cheerful enough but Norin had a bad feeling about them. Even Mila didn't seem to enjoy them too much.

Bork explained that Dewdrop insisted on inviting his fae friends. Norin pulled his shoulders in a gesture of carelessness. He didn't mind Dewdrop's friends attending the concert. But, Norin understood the catch. He drank from his ale yet again, looking blankly into the air, thinking. He was hoping these fae were not going to be disruptive or annoying, but he doubted that such small mischiefous characters could hold themselves. This was indeed a challenge, a challenge Norin was willing to take.

Norin put down his ale and looked at Bork, "I appreciate your efforts. I'm greatful you could find me a competent harpist. It's also only fair that his friends attend the concert as well. I mean, Rongar's friends attended the concert. The entire challenge of the gig lies in the fact that they are faeries. Hopefully, it won't be a problem, and if it is going to be a problem... Then, I'll handle it. I'm up for the challenge, Bork."

Norin drank from his mug again with more confidence. A challenge was even better to relax his nervs than ale. That's how his first two concerts had been easier, because the challenge of the Veldar were upon his shoulders. Now, he would endure the challenges of a real professional artist.

Norin looked at Dewdrop, "I can hear that you are skilled in playing the harp. However, I have written my own songs with a friend of mine, and they have their own music. I hope you understand the tongue of song so that I may just tell you how to play it. Ofcourse, feel free to make any fitting adjustments. This is almost as much your concert as it is mine." Norin grinned at the fae.

If the fae could understand what Norin was saying, he would explain how the gig was going to go and what songs were going to be played along with how to play them. Meanwhile, he would drink his ale and listen to imput from the fae. If the fae didn't understand the tongue of song, then he would be set with a problem. Norin had never written down his songs before, although he had the skill. He just didn't have the time.

[Desmodus]

Bork was greatly relieved that Norin was being a good sport about having the fae crash his concert. He, too, hoped that they would curb their mischief long enough for his fellow dwarf to bring his concert to completion. As a symbol of his hope, Bork ordered an ale for himself.

Dewdrop's friends were not really focused on Norin, although a couple insisted on coming up to talk to Dewdrop while the dwarf was trying to explain things to his would-be accompanist. The fae were too busy exploring the rafters and corners of the Sooty Cavern to bother Norin, at least for the moment.

Dewdrop himself remained comparatively attentive and serious while Norin spoke to him, even though he was clearly as delighted to see his friends as they were to see him.

"Yes, Norin, I am familiar with your music terminology, I think. The toungue of song you call it."

"I'll show you the tongue of song!" a small voice pealed out next to Norin's shoulder, followed by the distinctive sound of somebody giving the raspberry. If the former Veldar were to turn and look, however, there would be nobody there. A chorus of high-pitched giggles followed.

Dewdrop nodded as Norin explained his plans for the concert, and went over the songs, pausing to deal with periodic interruptions from his friends. "Yeah, it's a beaut, isn't it?" he said to one fae who had flown up to admire Dewdrop's harp and strike up a conversation with its owner, as if Norin weren't even there. "And no, I am *not* going to let you play 'Stairway to Aetheria' on it tonight." A disappointed "Awwwww!" greeted this last announcement. Dewdrop turned back to the dwarven singer with an apologetic shrug, then indicated that he should continue.
In spite of the distractions, and the fact that the fae harpist did not seem to consider them entirely unwelcome, he listened to Norin with interest and understanding, and some of his questions and comments about the songs were quite incisive and helpful to the aspiring bard.

Dewdrop's abilities and attitude were going to be no problem for Norin's concert, and indeed the faerie seemed poised to help make it remarkable and successful musical evening. Wheter his buddies would oblige was a different question...

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin did turn when the fae on his shoulder spoke only to find himself embarrased by the small creatures. He tried to focus on Dewdrop but his attention was constantly being diverted to the other faes. Then, he focused. He thought about what he had learned in the Veldar and he began concentrating on the task at hand. He started to concentrate on Dewdrop. Slowly, he ignored the other fae.

Once everything was told, Norin commented, "Oh, and a last thing. You have to teach me that Stairway to Aetheria one of the next brightening." Norin grinned. He took his drink and made his way to the scene. Norin hummed and was warming up one last time. He then took a view of the tavern to see the crowd he would entertain this darkening. He was hoping for more familiar faces but he knew that there was nobody here he would recognise. He had only had a few gigs in the past and they were all in Omally's tavern.

Norin's heart was pounding in his dwarf chest. This was almost as bad as a battle against some vile creatures. Norin raised his arms and yelled out to the crowd hoping that some would listen. "Good evening everybody. Welcome to a good evening of song and music."

[Desmodus]

Dewdrop returned Norin’s grin when he requested to be taught ‘Stairway to Aetheria’. ”Sure thing, Norin.” It was clear that the faerie enjoyed music, and took what was, by fae standards, a serious and professional attitude towards it.

An air of expectancy fell over the patrons of the Sooty Cavern as Norin addressed them. Could a dwarf really sing? The fae, although not quite as accustomed to polite listening as the Acuminites, fell relatively quiet and seemed to pay attention, even though they fidgeted and occasionally whispered and snickered like barely-behaved children. One of them called out aloud: ”Can a dwarf really sing?”, and was promptly ‘sssshhhed” by its fellows even as they tried to suppress their own giggles.

Eventually, his audience fell silent, and the only sounds one could hear were that of the breeze from outside, and the bustling of Mila quietly going about, ensuring that Norin’s concert would, at very least, not be interrupted by any complaints of hunger or thirst from her guests. Dewdrop exchanged a glance with Norin and quietly picked out some arpeggios from the mode/key in which their first song was to be performed. The stage was set for the dwarf to begin his concert.

[Norin Beldwhig]

The tavern fell completely silent after Norin's greetings. In Omally's the patrons just seemed to ignore him as if it was completely normal that a dwarf would spend a night entertaining, but here Norin seemed to be in a place where it was something new. One of the Acuminites called out "Can a dwarf really sing?" and Norin felt out of place.

In his last concert, Norin had grasped the attention of the crowd first before he went over to the introduction, but it seemed that he already had the attention of the patrons and didn't need to work on that. Still, he needed to start slow, give them a good impression.

Norin looked at Dewdrop and nodded as a signal for the fae to start playing. The short tones from the small harp enlightened the tavern with the beginning of what seemed to be a slow but happy song but slowly, Dewdrop picked up the pace, using more than a single string at a time. The deep booming voice of the dwarf sounded more like a bass guitar or like a drum, until words came out of his mouth. The music became majestic and powerful with the combination of the harp and the booming voice.

"A song I shall now sing,
From the Age of Darkening,
In the Empire of Alleria,
There were heroes adventuring.

Gyarmon is the hero of this tale,
And it is not as grim as the moon is pale,
For with this tale comes his mighty Troll-Bane sword,
With which it is impossible to fail.

Galeron from Alleria Prime in the days of old,
Journeyed out with Karteth and Gilead with gold,
That brought them all three to the Charisma Pass,
Where they met Gyarmon as north they strolled.

The pass was closed but Gyarmon came to their aid,
Only with the retrieval of a precious heirloom he got paid,
Dolwood was their aim,
But Daltina was where Gyarmon them laid.

Over Khadrans he them brought,
To find his heirloom which he sought,
It was guarded by Trolls,
And they could not be fought.

They slipped into the cave at night,
Through a hole in the roof out of sight,
And beheld the Troll-Bane sword,
All admired the blade of might.

Fire leaping from the sword,
And into the cave came the Troll hoard,
Galeron and Gyarmon fought them off,
Only Troll-Bane cut through the Troll lord.

All strategically withdrew out of the cave and into the light,
The cave was blocked with the help of nature’s height,
For an avalanche was called for,
Alas the trolls still came out without a fright.

All fled but Gyarmon and the Troll-Bane blade,
Hours passed as they all waited for the night to fade,
Then came Gyarmon with broken ankle,
And supported by a splint but Troll-Bane blade still his aid."

At the end of the song, Dewdrop drew the music down to a sorroful ending while Norin finished the tale with a slow booming voice that illustrated the magnificence of the tale that was sung that evening. This was the first of the half dozen songs Norin had prepared, this was the introduction to his concert.

[Desmodus]

The patrons of the Sooty Cavern listened for the most part with polite curiosity to the odd musical couple singing the tale of Gyarmon and the Troll-bane Blade. Even the fae, for the most part, suppressed their mischeif, although at least one pause was punctuated by grossly exaggerated snoring, followed by a chorus of tiny snickers. Bork, for his part, went from being beside himself with excitement to being rapt with appreciative attention to the skill of his fellow dwarf. Mila, for her part, was satisified as long as her guests weren't pelting their entertainment with table scraps.

The reaction from the crowd once Norin had finished was a healthy dose of applause, a bit more than just polite, but still not quite what one would call enthusiastic either. Judging from some of the murmuring, it was clear that many had shared the earlier heckler's scepticism about the dwarf being able to pull this off at all, especially with a silly fae as his accompanist. But it was just as clear that the villagers were mildly favorably impressed, and were at very least not regretting their decision to come here tonight.

"Ewwww, trolls!" one of the faeries exclaimed when the song was done. "Who would want to go out and fight trolls?"

"Well, obviously, Gyarmon *was* a dwarf," chimed in another high, childlike voice loudly enough for Norin to hear, "so that would explain a lot,"

A brief burst of tinkling laughter greeted this, but it fell silent quickly as the other patrons and Mila gave the fae rather sharp and dirty looks.

Dewdrop quickly suppressed a grin at this last comment, hopefully before his fellow performer would notice. The faerie seemed pleased with how the first song had gone, and gave Norin a confident wink and a smile while the applause dissipated to clear the air for the sounds of Norin's next song.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin felt a bit insulted that the patrons didn't enjoy his music as much as the people of Zerdargia, but then he reminded himself that these were not dwarfs. He had to entertain them in another fashion. He would need to improvise. Indeed, there was something he had to do, which he had not done at any of his previous concerts. He thought about asking Dewdrop but then adviced himself against it. He didn't want to show his weakness to the fae, although he might have been some help.

"That's it," Norin thought to himself, "The faeries. Entertain the faeries and the others will probably follow. How do you entertain faeries?" Norin kept on pondering and thinking to himself knowing that the patrons were waiting for another song.

Norin motioned to Dewdrop that the next event was going to happen without any instrumental accompaniment. Then, he stood erect and faced the crowd. He closed his eyes and calmed down. He hoped that his strange behavior would attract the attention of all those strange people who were listening to his entertainment. Indeed, he thought them strange because they did not come from Primus Gaudeo nor from Zerdargia, and still... these people were from Centripax, they should not have been strange in Norin's eyes. For a moment he wondered how people from other provinces were like. Were they even more strange? Norin let his head slowly drop downwards. He began murmuring something, which meant nothing. It was the effect that was important. He wanted everybody to think that he was praying. He was actually praying, not to a god but quietly singing a very low prayer to nothing more than a fictional character made for nothing more than entertainment.

Fear is the sun. The light. Carried by the watchman in daily traverse. Great is the light of his torch, it conceals his presence. Fear is the moon. It's ghostly light. It's grey scarred surface, a spoiled gem. Bring me a jewel from the nightsky. One that twinkles in the wathcmans light as he walks behind the world and set it upon my tomb.

[Desmodus]

Norin's second number was imaginative and well-done, but it was probably the right idea at the wrong time. With the audience still trying to decide whether or not they liked him, the dwarf would probably have been better off singing something more accessible, updeat, and entertaining. The patrons frowned and mumbled in response to this somewhat dark chant; mostly they were confused about whether or not this was part of the act, or whether Norin was pausing to issue a prayer onstage.

The response from the fae was even worse. If the aspiring bard were looking for a way to entertain that section of his audience, he could hardly have done more things wrong. First, the faeries were here largely on account of Dewdrop, so having him sit out this number already alienated them somewhat. Second, faeries generally preferred things that were light and amusing, where Norin's number was dark and somber. Dewdrop himself frowned at the dwarf as he sang his fictional prayer. Perhaps if Norin had really wished to find something to a fae, he should consult with an expert on the subject matter. Bored by the faux prayer, Dewdrop's friends began to heckle, with mocking counter chants of their own:

"Ominus dominus, argumentum ad hominus" came an artificially deepened tiny voice, its affectation of gravity considerably undermined by irrepressible giggling.

"Tenebras et lux, dwarfus ipsus really sux" the chant came again, and to Norin's dismay, even the humans in the audience began to titter sympathetically. Norin was about to get upstaged by his own hecklers. What was he to do?

[Norin Beldwhig]

It worked. It worked better than Norin had expected. He had the crowd on the leash more than he had ever had control over the patrons in Omally's Tavern. It was perfect. For once, the dark prayer had indeed illuminated it's content. Every time Norin had tried to use it he had expected two outcomes although none of them ever happened. The first one was the most preferable where the patrons would recognise the meaning of the prayer, although Norin doubted that it would ever happen. The second one was to get the public outraged so that the song he was going to sing now had a larger impact on the patrons than otherwise. In Omally's, none of these two events ever occured but now at least one of them had and Norin only hoped that it was going to work and that he wouldn't be upstaged by this little gamble.

It was now time to sing a merry song, something that would greatly cheer up the audience. Unfortunately, Norin knew only about dwarf songs but then again, this gig was a Zerdargian gig in Acumin and the people were here to hear a dwarf sing about dwarfs and a fae play faery tunes. Norin's music was perfect for this since Rongar had specialised himself in faery tunes and dwarf music. Norin looked back up and ignored everything that was going on around him. He needed to act fast, he looked over at Dewdrop and gave him the signal to start playing the next song. It was time to pick up the pace and give a kick to this party. Usually, everybody knew this song but somehow, Norin doubted it. The important thing was that this was a merry and a funny song. It was a catchy song, a song that was easily memorised, a song that was easy to sing along to. Dewdrop had started playing a light and faery tune, which had a fast pace so to get the patrons into the mood for the song. Norin sang, he wanted their attention and he sang trying to gather the crowd so that THEY were part of the song and could relate to it and even sing it.

Oh, the tale of which I will sing,
Has a very ancient beginning,
It was way back when in the mists of time,
When dwarves were bold and women were women.

Oh, Frathir was young and hearty,
And a bold young dwarf was he,
He only had one manly failing,
His face was as smooth as smooth can be.

Frathir, Frathir, the beardless dwarf,
How could he woo the lasses?
Frathir, Frathir, his life was sad,
He lost himself deep in glasses.

Now Frathir needed to solve this,
He must become more hairy,
He needed to grow a big bushy beard,
To make himself more scary.

He thought about his problem,
Of how to grow more hair,
To make the maidens notice him,
So he could put it there.

Frathir, Frathir, he had an itch,
One that he couldn't scratch,
Frathir, Frathir, needed a... maid,
But his face it needed a thatch!

Now Frathir thought he had a way,
To make his beard grow thicker,
He'd rub his chin with horse manure,
From a basket made of whicker.

Frathir bent to get the stuff,
But the ale did make him drunk,
He tipped himself into the pot,
And into the mire he sunk.

Frathir, Frathir, the poor dead dwarf,
Only wanted a maiden,
Frathir, Frathir, lost his life,
Drowning in a midden.

Norin was thinking while singing. What would be a suiting legend to tell? There were the stories of the Veldar, there were his own experiences during the summer, or there were even Veleraen's summer adventures. None of these legends seemed fit for such a tavern as this one and Norin hoped that Dewdrop could help him with what legends to sing about afterwards.

[Desmodus]

It was not until well into the dwarf's next song that anybody, including Dewdrop, realized that they had been set up by the previous number; the initial response was one of surprise, giving way gradually to an overwhelming sentiment of "Now *that's* more like it!" as Norin swung his song. By the time the song was nearing an end, the audience was quite into it, clapping and singing the chorus themselves. The faeries were also quite delighted; they clapped and laughed, and at some point, little signs seemed to appear magically out of nowhere reading: "We love Dewdrop!" "I want to have your baby, Dewdrop!" and "Maybe not all dwarves are complete dolts!"

The end of the song was greeted by animated applause all around. Norin had pulled it off for sure. A little voice was calling out jeeringly: 'Dwarfus ipsus really sux! Dwarfus ipsus really sux!', but when he looked, Norin would see that the mockery was not directed at him at all; rather, the faerie who apparently wished to have Dewdrop's baby was poking her fellow fae who had coined that particular quip and was now force-feeding him his earlier words.

Now of course the question was how to follow up on this success. If Norin looked to Dewdrop for advice, the fae would suggest trying something fun for the audience like a drinking song or a round next, followed by something lyrical, like a love song or something in praise of trees. "I dunno, take a break from that narrative stuff while you have the crowd worked up. Maybe if you give 'em a round and a love song, then they'll be in the mood to hear stories about fighting trolls again."

[Norin Beldwhig]

"hmmm. Norin said and pondered over what Dewdrop had suggested. He was only happy to have a harpist with him, it made it so much easier for him. He was specialised in the telling of tales, because that's what he had started out doing when he began to learn songs. He hadn't learned many new songs since then because his training had covered the tongue of music instead. This was also the reason why he was travelling to Zinn'Sunn. Norin followed Dewdrop's suggestion but he needed time and quickly whispered to Dewdrop, "I have only problem. My training in Zerdargia didn't teach me any songs, which is why I'm going to Zinn'Sunn. If you don't know any good ones then I have one that could go as a round, it's a song about Dargis. I'm just not sure that will help. Afterwards you'll have to teach me the songs you know."

Norin noticed that he was sweating and that the audience was getting restless. If Dewdrop didn't have anything on the spot to help him, he would have to try to sing his song about Dargis, improvising a little although it did have some kind of round trait. The problem with the song was that it only inspired dwarfs whom ancestry came from Dargis. Norin doubted that the people in this tavern would enjoy the song as much as the dwarfs in Zerdargia. He definitely didn't know any love songs, which was an even greater problem. It seemed that he would have to improvise for some time now, but for a second he waited for Dewdrop's response.

[Desmodus]

Dewdrop gave the dwarf a slightly disgusted look. What sort of dwarf didn't know lots of upbeat drinking songs? Of course, there were songs popular throughout the region that Norin could not have helped having heard, training or no; he need only be reminded. The fae helpfully played a couple allusive snatches to help jog his vocalist's memory.

One song that would no doubt tug at the dwarf's memory was a song that he had must have heard somewhere, sometime, in some tavern: it was a slightly macabre, yet incongruously upbeat drinking song about a cat being eaten alive. At any rate, Norin's choice was practically made for him, for as soon as the audience heard the familiar bits of catchy tune issuing from the faerie's tiny harp, several voices, fae and human alike, began clamouring for the dwarf to "sing 'Here, Kitty kitty!'". It seemed Norin would have little choice on this one; the Dargis round song would have to wait a bit. He might strike up with gusto, or start only reluctantly, but assuming he valued pleasing his audience at all, he would soon find himself singing this staple of tavern doggerel:


I saw a cat upon a shelf
Being eaten by an elf
And yet it didn't call for helf
Which I don't understand, myself

Here, Kitty, kitty
O where is Kitty, kitty?
The mice all play this ditty
'cause Kitty's gone away

The elf was busily at work
Carving kitty up like pork
Eating it with knife and fork
While sucking wine out of a cork!

Here, Kitty, kitty, etc.

Several more verses recited the somewhat grisly misadeventures of Kitty at the hands of the felinovore elf, to the delight of the Acuminites, whose sensibilities seemed untroubled by singing the chorus of a song celebrating a poor cat being eaten alive. The song concluded with:

And once the cat ran out of life
The elf cleaned off his fork and knife
Then, to avoid domestic strife
He took the rest home for his wife.

Here, Kitty, kitty, etc.

A raucous applause followed the last tipsy crooning chorus of "'cause Kitty's gone awaaaaaaay!"

There was also another song, similar in theme and identical in melody, about a fish that had somewhat better luck in its dealings with its humanoid predator, and somebody in the tavern inevitably belted out snatches of it:

I had a fish upon a hook
'twas giving me a fishy look
It wished that it were in the brook
Instead of bound for shore to cook.

Here Fishy, fishy
O where is fishy, fishy?
My clothes are wet and squishy
Yet fishy got away!

and so on.

It was anybody's guess as to which song was the original and which one the parody, and judging from the animated discussions that ensued among the villagers during the interval, several people had managed to transform their guesses into deeply-held convictions. At any rate, the audience was definitely livelier now, and in the mood for more.

Now they would be well-primed for Norin's Dargis round, should he choose to go that way. After that, he could probably venture a more sedate song. One of his more serious pieces, or perhaps a tender love song. If he was considering the latter, though, the dwarf was on his own, for a questioning look over to Dewdrop on the subject of love songs would only be met by a "no help here" shrug from his accompanist.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin was nervous but Dewdrop saved him. The faery knew songs that Norin had not heard since his young brightenings in Primus Gaudeo when he was a young lad. The dwarfs of Zerdargia were indeed boring when it came to assortment of songs, but they were much fun when it came to drinking. Dewdrop did indeed refresh Norin's memory, although the song was so far into the past that he had a hard time recalling it. It took a while but the audience helped him as they sang along. Norin quickly forgot everything about the Dargis round and got into "Here, Kitty kitty!"

I saw a cat upon a shelf
Being eaten by an elf
And yet it didn't call for helf
Which I don't understand, myself

Here, Kitty, kitty
O where is Kitty, kitty?
The mice all play this ditty
'cause Kitty's gone away

The first verse was good and got the people into the mood. The crowd sung along at the chorus louder and louder and by the second verse they didn't seem to care that they were singing a song about a cat that was eaten alive. Even Norin lost all concept of the song and just followed his musician instincts.

And once the cat ran out of life
The elf cleaned off his fork and knife
Then, to avoid domestic strife
He took the rest home for his wife.

Here, Kitty, kitty
O where is Kitty, kitty?
The mice all play this ditty
'cause Kitty's gone away

cause Kitty's gone awaaaaaaay!

There was a raucous applause. Norin was sweating and in his trip. Adrenalin filled his body and he had completely forgotten everything about Dargis. This kind of song was his type of song. For a minute he stood on stage and let himself being admired while he quickly thought about, which songs he had already sung. He quickly found out that he really didn't know that many drinking songs, but Dewdrop had ravaged his memory and songs came popping up. The only problem was that he didn't recall most of them completely and thus he stood on the stage for a while before he continued over to another exciting song.

The Little Boy to the war he went,
In the hall of the dead he was sent,
His father's sword he did hold tight,
And on his back was harp of light.

Land of Song! said the warrior bard,
Though all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, they rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!

Norin was nearly sure he had something wrong with the song, but it didn't appear as if the crowd noticed. Maybe they didn't even know it. This was yet another old song Norin had heard in his youth and maybe it wasn't well known, but at least it had spirit, it had war, and it had a beautiful tale that the faeries would enjoy.

The Small Boy fell! But the foeman's spear,
Could not bring that proud soul fear,
The harp he loved will tell no more tale,
For the foeman made the chords fail.

Land of Song! etc...

No spear shall ever sully thee,
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
Thou soul of love and bravery,
They shall never sound in slavery!

Land of Song! etc...

"PRAISE THEE!!!" Norin sang to finish off the song and with his arms in the air and the sweat beading off his forehead, he looked out at the crowd to see their reaction to his improvisation. He had even forgotten everything about Dewdrop, although he could hear the harp and it fueled him with inspiration and creativity.