[Open] A Bard's Tale

[Aesha]

Timestamp: Evening, 11th Brightening of Junctior, Autumn of Era III of the Celestine Mandate, Era XII Post Fractum.

It was not unusual to see a bard sitting in one of the many corners of the Crown Inn and Tavern, strumming his lute and trying to exchange stories for coin or alcohol, and this night was no such exception. He said in a corner, one that was nicely lit, with his chair beside a table rather than behind it. Upon the table rested a few tankards, suggesting that said bard was slightly in his cups already. He was human, and young, probably no more than twenty five patterns old. He had a mop of shaggy, slightly curly mousy coloured hair that he kept braided down his shoulder in order to keep it out of his eyes when playing his preferred instrument. His eyes themselves were blue, a slatey kind of colour that held a twinkle in them that suggested he, like a lot of bards, probably had a roguish side to his character.

His clothes were not particularly of good quality. Many bards, particularly those often seen in higher circles liked to wear silks and velvets of outrageous colours to show their success in their profession, but that was not so for this particular storyteller sitting in the crown on that night. His clothes were wool and cotton, boots of leather, hat of a felty looking material, in drab colours, brown and grey, colours that were cheap because the dye was easy to come across. His leather boots were cracked and worn suggesting that he either could not afford to replace them, or had recently undertaken a rather intensive journey by foot. His lute was just like any other lute you might find in a semi-decent tavern across the realm. Not of master quality but not a piece of junk either.

The bard frowned, obviously a little tipsy and attempted to tune the instrument a couple of times, eventually giving up when he decided the sound wasn't too off key. He gave it a few experimental plucks before holding it in one hand and rising to his feet in order to appeal to the crowd of the tavern.

"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, a song, a tale! But no ordinary tale, oh no! You may never have the chance to hear of this again. Gather 'round, gentlefolk and I will tell you of my travels! My journey, you see, to a wondrous place, a place were dreams come true and other, more sinister things."

Naturally most of the crowd went back to the own conversations, since the bard sounded a little tipsy, and in any case, his tale sounded rather unbelievable. But there were a few, a few who crept around and pulled up a chair and waited for the bard to tell what he knew. The bard asked no payment, but assumed, by the end of the tale, the crowd would be willing to buy him a drink or two, or perhaps offer even more for the information he was about to divulge to those willing to listen.

OOC: I'm going to leave this for a week or so without replying, to give everyone a chance to join, so don't be alarmed if my next post is slow.

[Kilan'tos Nia'mnyth]

"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, a song, a tale! But no ordinary tale, oh no! You may never have the chance to hear of this again. Gather 'round, gentlefolk and I will tell you of my travels! My journey, you see, to a wondrous place, a place were dreams come true and other, more sinister things." The words drilled themselves into Kilan's head as he sat in the corner of the Tavern. He was into his third mug of tea, and was seriously considering leaving, but the voice was a welcome intrusion. His face turned to look at the Bard, his silver eyes blinking slowly. Was that a Human or an Elf? He was still unsure, and it was too far away to notice his ears. His black wings flexed reflexively, then tightened around his back, his tail curled more tightly around his ankles, and his tongue traced a line along his teeth. He set his mug on the table and prepared to listen, and only hoped the entertainment was worth the listen.

[Elros Ancalímon]

Elros entered the tavern as the Bard was preparing his song and speaking to the crowd. He was glad, for he wished to relax first, then maybe eat a small diner the Tavern was so good at providing. But, the distraction of a good song would be a nice way to transition into the Evening. He went directly over and pulled up a chair in front of the Bard and waited for the tale to begin.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal was sitting in the corner and had smiled, more than once, at the drunken Bard for a little while, now. When the Bard announced his Tale to-be-told, Kaetal was more than a little interested to see how a drunken Bard sang his song. He got up from his seat and pulled a chair up by a Medonian Elf and gave a corner smile and slight nod to him and then the Bard. He waited, patiently, until the Bard deemed he had enough spectators to start his oh-so-unique tale.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil fluttered into the tavern, and began looking around for his friend Kaetal. He knew he was in here somewhere.....

Getting sidetracked by this loud human, Rúmil couldn't help but stare. He loved watching people, especially humans, and this one was on his way to a drunken stupor.

"This out to be a load of fun," Rúmil said to himself, rubbing his hands together, "I hope this bard is worth is salt. I AM in a tipping mood, but then again..." Grinning to himself, Rúmil recalled the last drunk human he saw. "He stumbled all over the place, what fun!"

He fluttered toward the ceiling, and began to look for Kaetal once more, to tell his friend of the fun they were about to witness.

[Aesha]

The Bard beamed round, slightly tipsily, at the three men who had decided to hear his tale, though it took him a moment or two to spot the small form of Rumil. He waited another couple of minutes to see if anyone else responded to his cry, because he did not want people to miss out on the beginning of his tale. Once he was sure no one else was immediately interested, he played another little rift on his lute, and launched into the story.

"Gentlemen, I assure you, this tale will change your life! And, I assure you that it is absolutely a true story."

The bard took an unusual approach to his storytelling. Instead of shouting loudly so everyone could hear his tale, he instead, leaned forward and lowered his voice to a level that made Rumil, Kaetal and Kilan'tos the sole benefactors of his wisdom. He played another chord on his lute, and continued to do so at certain intervals through the story.

"It happened, I tell you, not more than twenty brightenings ago. I was on my way from Abestat to no where imparticular, deciding to roam the empire for a while and delight people with my tales and song. But, parts of the river Abestat are not kind to lone travellers, oh no! And I was soon lost in the mist and dank gloom that covers the riverside as it winds into the Khardran mountains.

"It was there I spied a village, aye. And I thought to myself, 'well, I should stop and ask for directions, and perchance, spend the night in the local tavern!'. But, my friends, that night was one I will never forget. For there is a both curse and a blessing on that village, and anyone who enters, will not be the same when they depart.

"Well, the folk were friendly enough indeed. And the tavern was like a little piece of home, with good food and heavenly beds. Being tired, I did not spend time to explore the village, but settled down to eat my chicken and veg, and drink my tankardful of ale. As I ate, I got talking to the innkeep, and he told me a mysterious tale. He told me that his daughter, and another villager, had been miraculously healed from the feeble pox when that terrible disease still plagued our lands. 'Course, I didn't believe a word of it, but I humoured him, and eventually, led my tired body up the stairs, to bed and to dream."

At this point, the bard paused the story, both for dramatic effect, and to play a little tune on his lute once more. He gave his listeners time to digest and think over the first portion of the tale before he began on the latter.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal smiled, like he always does, from the corner of his mouth as the bard told his tale. He listened intently in order to hear the story and to drown out the noise of the surrounding crowd. As the story unfolded, he became more interested and leaned closer in, placing his elbows on his knees and intertwining his hands together in front of him, cocking one eyebrow up slightly, with the other one down and continued listening to the tale.

[Celion Evangelist]

ooc: hope im not intruding....

ic:
Celion had decided to go to the local tavern for some interesting chat. He needed someone to talk to and since that there was noone waiting at home for him he decided to go to The Crown.

Celion opened the door and as usual the tavern was a bit noisy. But at one of the corners Celion notice that a small group of persons started to gather. He decided to go check out the commotion. As he neared the small crowd he notice that someone was storytelling and was accompanied by some music. A steadily played chord on the lute.

"I was on my way from Abestat to no where imparticular, deciding to roam the empire for a while..." The voice started. Celion neared and saw a bard. Celion decided to stay for a while and listen to this bard's words. As the bard finished the first part of the story he started to play his lute once again.

[Z'kron]

Listening in a corner with his carrots, Z'kron nodded at the bard's story. It had been a slow night for him; unlike the events of previous nights in the inn; and hence he had little better to do than to simply enjoy the talespinning.
Fingering the chain around his neck, the druid considered the first part of the story. Thus far, very little had been said. But why was he so intrigued? Contemplating this, he pulled his chair closer to the bard in order to hear the next portion of the tale.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal had become so interested in the tale that he nearly forgot of his engagement to spar with some of his fellow soldiers. He blinked a couple times once he remembered and knew he couldn't just not show up. Besides, it's was getting closer to dark and he wanted to get his blade shined up before he retired for the evening.

Kaetal got up and replaced his chair where it had been and tossed 2 crowns onto the bard's table, nodding to him as he left the tavern in a dignified walk.

[Elros Ancalímon]

Elros waited patiently for the rest of the story with a wide smile on his face and a very interested look on his face. Or, was that "amused"? Either way or the other, he was obviously enjoying himself and couldn't wait for the remainder of the tale.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil grinned really big. He couldn't help but to love stories. Especially ones set to music. All the better. "I will have to make a point to come down here more often. If I ever get wealthy enough, I shall hire a bard for all my parties and gatherings." Leaning forward, he tried to get a better view. He then saw Kaetal, who looked in a hurry, so he let him be. Besides, a good story is always a bunch of fun. He listened closer.

[Aesha]

The Bard, taking the pause as an oppertunity to take another swig of ale, nodded to Celion, the newcomer, then proceeded with his tale once more, determined to keep the audience interested in order that they might tip him as much as possible. He strummed his lute briefly once again and continued the not-so-tall tale.

"Well folks, I dreamt the strangest dream that any dreamer could've possibly dreamt. I tell you, just thinking about the thing gives me the shivers all over again. It was one of those dreams that seem real. I found myself in a strange place, on a beach all covered in pure white sand, and if that place exists anywhere in Telath, then I don't know about it. The sea was a horribly, violent red colour.

"Well, gentlemen, you can guess that I did not want anything to do with that sea. But I was drawn to it, somehow, and my legs dragged me towards it despite that my head was telling me to run like the wind out o' there. But my feet led me in the opposite direction. And when I glanced on that sea, well, my eyes discovered is was red with blood, the blood of the dismembered corpses and limbs that scattered the water for as far as the eye can see.

"And you may think that horrendous enough gentlemen. And if so I suggest leaving right not, because my tale certainly won't get any better. As I watch, unable to look away though I wanted to dearly, the bits and pieces that used to be living beings began to surge towards one another, as if they were attracted to one another as I was too that see. And in the end, this horrendous creature was standing before me, towering over me. It had a dozen heads, and twice that in arms and legs, and they weren't all in the place that Orod had intended them to be.

"Well, at that point, gentle listeners, I did manage to finally get my feet together and run, but not before the thing brought down a great clawed hands and attempted to kill me. Would have too, but I jumped back, and instead it only left four nasty gashes on me chest. Well, as this point I wasn't aware it was a dream see? And I ran, ran as fast as I could, and though I left that monstrosity behind, it was as if, though I was moving, the world was staying still. And I pushed my legs faster and faster, and still nothing moved, and in the end, I collapsed into a heap, and lapsed into unconciousness, or so I thought.

"For at that moment, I awoke to sunlight, a cosy bed and flowers in a vase on the window ledge. Aye, that was a relief, I tell you, but my heart was still pounding so, I thought it might rip right out of my chest. But still 'It was just a dream', I thought to myself, and moved the coverlets to get out of bed and start the new day. But as I did, my hands touched something wet and sticky, and I saw that the pristine white coverlet had been covered in an oozing, red stubstance. Only then did I look at my chest..."

The bard lowered his voice to a conspiritoral whisper, to give a dramatic effect to his next words, and thus the end of his tale, unless his audience had questions afterwards.

"And that was when I saw four gashes running down me, and my nightshirt in tatters, and that my friends, was when I knew that the villagers were right. Kaimeliana they call it, a place where a man can find his wildest dreams... or his doom."

[Elros Ancalímon]

Elros looked at the drunken bard with a face of interest and he was obviously trying to visualize the grizzly scene he had been described. He mentally took note of the village's name. Kaimeliana, a place where a man can find his wildest dreams... or his doom. Hmm,....

Elros leaned back in his seat contemplating and digesting the whole story as he reached into his coinpurse and pulled out a few crowns, handing them to the strange bard.

"Pray tell me, kind bard, where is this village exactly? I have never heard of such a village."

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil fluttered over to the bard, and handed over a note he had been carrying for 10 crowns. It was all he could carry, being nine inches tall.

"Please do tell, I am quite intrigued about this place. I have a few dreams I would like to have come real..."

Thinking about a certain faerie lady, he began to dance in the air. twirling about, he twisted and turned, and even dipped his invisible partner, fully lost in his little daydream.