[Bardic Conservatory] Seeking an Education

[Sebastian Denovansson]

Brightening One of Melora of Era XIV p.f.

Seby had found a few elves to be more than friendly with their cute little voodoo word that he figured meant serale. He'd not spoken with many elves and definitely had not lived in an elven culture such as Natura before and found the diversity to be quite intriguing. Elves acted as if they were a noble race very graceful if not somewhat arrogant in nature. No matter for they were all attractive, both men and women, and could see why so many had fallen head over heels for creatures of the elven race.

Iseult was half elven and had some of the same features and beauties as the full bloods, but she had never carried herself in this manner and instantly wondered what she would be like if she had. It brought a smile to his face thinking of family while feeling a bit lonely. Even the ever grump Lyn was missed by her younger brother.

It was one of the elves that pointed Seby not to the inn, but to the bardic conservatory which had apperently been hidden from one's view for eras and just recently, not even two cycles ago, had removed some hidden illusionary visage to reveal itself to the public eye. The story was awefully entertaining to a would be bard in training who used life's experiences to write his own songs about. Instead of finding a place to rest, he followed the direction to the location and proceded forward.

He stood in awe for a moment at the two story grey structure with it's twin spiralling towers and magnificent color arrangement of vegetation overgrowth. It was how he imagined a true castle would look for some reason. The garden was like icing on a cake adding a final touch of beauty to an already wonderful creation. Seby looked at the stage and imagined himself playing there with a crowd of people who truly came to listen to great music instead of beer chugging bar flies looking to get laid.

Seby finally followed the main path and walked through the open door into the grand structure. Immediately his ears were filled with the sounds of incredible music of varying instruments all playing together. He heard fellow string intruments and wonderful brass and woodwind tones all playing in harmony, and he knew right away this was the place. He was in a reeption like area but could not find a receptionist to ask questions too, so he had an idea.

"I have journeyed from a far away place
to learn from an instutite of amazing grace.
My feet have brought me through your door
and I beg from any here who can tell me more.

For I am a straving musician
having trained over this past era
I've picked up an instrument
that is called a kathira

I hope that one brightening
I will have fortune and fame
and will brag to all
of this place where I came."

Seby strummed his kathira ensuring to show off each chord he'd learned from his past training. He knew he was not as good as the music he could hear in the background, but then that was why he was here in the first place. He just wanted to show whomever would listen what he already knew and that he had the ability ot create songs on a whim.

[Viola]

It was music, pure music. A combination of mathematical precision, talent, passion and some undefinable element that scholars could not comprehend. It was music, and Thorn first heard the Bardic Conservatory before catching its magnificent sight.

"Just follow your ears and your heart will lead you." A local citizen told him when he inquired about the location of the Bardic Conservatory. At first, the black-haired, young man couldn't comprehend it, probably because the local citizen was an elf and he spoke in the language of the elf which Thorn wasn't learned yet. It took him a long time to understand it and part of him was dubious that he could find the place, but after a few flickers of being lost in the woodland area of Natura, he heard the Conservatory and his heart leapt with pure bliss and when he had seen the place, he was struck in awe and he couldn't stop the tears falling down his cheeks.

Oh, Viola, you are so totally emotional! His inner voice gently chided him. "I can't help it! I'm an emotional person!" He muttered to himself between sniffs and tried to calm himself down. With a last sniff, Thorn looked at himself, at his tattered appearance, gently fixed his black hair, smoothed down the wrinkles of his vest and with a last nervous breath, entered the edifice, like a young boy entering the principal's office.

Originally Posted by Sebastian Denovansson

“…a far away place
to learn from an institute of amazing grace.
My feet have brought me through your door
and I beg from any here who can tell me more.

For I am a starving musician
having trained over this past era
I've picked up an instrument
that is called a kathira

I hope that one brightening
I will have fortune and fame
and will brag to all
of this place where I came."

Thorn found himself hearing someone singing and he followed the voice, silently walking along the entrance corridor until he came upon a blond-haired man playing a musical instrument, the clear voice obviously coming from him. The song was taken directly from the heart, it speaks of passion, ambition and love for music and the young man smiled boyishly and felt his cheeks reddening at the sight of the blond-haired man. He couldn't help it, inside the palace, he found his true home and his heart soared and carried by the continued strumming of the Kithara, Thorn found himself humming. His voice was pure and it softly carried over the sound of the Kithara, he then slowly closed his gray eyes and his boyish feature seemingly radiant and slowly, he found himself singing in a clear tenor voice:

“For I am a starving musician,
Having trained over this past era.
I've picked up an instrument,
that is called a kathira.”

“My soul is yearning for music,
A song of pure love,
That would echo endlessly,
Through the depths of time.”

“For I am a starving musician,
Having trained over this past era.
I've picked up an instrument,
that is called a kathira.”

And then he opened those clear gray eyes once more.

[Sebastian Denovansson]

Sebastian hoped that his little outburst of music might catch the attention of any person at the academy to direct him on how to register. He had come with everything he owned strapped to his person. All he could do was hope to be able to enroll and find a place to rest that kept him warm at night, be it a woman's bed or a simple box to block the wind.

He'd grown up poor and had run away on a few occassions having never gotten along with his mother in the slightest for she was a whore and seemed to take her frustration of men out on him when he was a youth. Seby had slummed with other run away boys and girls and found comfort in their mix. Considering they were children, they fought all the time bickering and fueding as kids did. This was probably why Lyn never really made him so mad that he hated her ... the arguing was an environment that he was used to. The streets had made him partially immune to the insults and ridicules of others ... but only partially.

Early on around the sisteens pattern of his life, Sebastian began to realize that he was more attractive than the average lad. Really attractive compared to the other men and boys around him. It had grabbed the attention of a local pimp who taught him how to be a manwhore over the next two eras. Seby had not liked it because the women were not always the best looking or attractive, but it did put money in his pocket and helped him to find his own place to sleep.

Then he got the news that his mother had died ... whores always knew everything about other whores especially in a small village like Tearsfall. He decided to return home and be with his family once more. He'd missed his four sisters: Iseult, Lynessa, Ava, and Tilu something aweful. The reunion wasn't as pleasant as he'd have liked but their bickerings were no different then life on the street, so Seby stuck around this time. He'd been seventeen pattersn old by this time.

Seby wanted to contribute more to the family, so he went out in search of a job. He walked the streets singing a little ouder than he'd realized ... a habit from being a street urchin and always ignored ... and caught the ear of Tanner Leafsong, a local bard. Tanner was an elf from Sylrosia around three hundred patterns old with long reddish brown hair and sharp green eyes. He was travelling through Tearsfall looking for work himself when he'd taken an interest in the lad. For one, he had a decent voice and could carry a tune rather well, and for two, he was a handsome youth even in the eyes of an elf. These were two good qualities for being a bard, and Tanner had decided right then to apprentice the lad.

Over the course of an era, Tanner took in Seby and taught him about music. He taught him the fundamentals of the Kathira, notes, chords, and all the basics to be able to play himself. He gave him a few tips on singing but felt that Sebastian had a good enough grip to go further on his own. The Bardic elf had also landed a job at the Orc Tavern in Tearsfall and got Seby a job bussing tables, cleaning, and going general labor. Seby did not mind because he watched Tanner like a hawk learning all he could from a far.

When Tanner had taught Seby enough to strike out on his own, He said goodbye to the Tavern, Tearsfall, and Seby to journey to his next destination. Seby took over Tanner's spot playing music at the Tavern of whores and earning a little respect. From time to time he would still whore but grew extremely picky of his choice of women. He was full aware that in most establishments, there was none better looking than him. Sebastian never let anyone know, but he was picky not about looks but by money. Money was a sign of desperation, and Seby found that such desperate women really were in need of compassion not passion. He'd spent the evening just listening to them and learned quickly how this earned him a few crowns and did not involve sex (sometimes). This was his built in subconscious kicking in to aid women with a need for such compassion because his mother had never received any. On the outside, he'd hated his mother ... bot on the inside deep where he did not want to look, he loved and missed her dearly.

Sebastian was an era shy of eighteen when Tanner had left and remianed at the Orc Tavern in Tearsfall for two patterns. Now nineteen and a half patterns old, he was ready to see just what his musical talents could excel to. Seby had grand dreams of playing music more professionally knowing that there was something bigger in life than playing taverns and inns for coins. He wanted an audience so he could hear the roar of the crowd when he finished playing a piece he'd created. Seby wanted the respect of being one of the great musicians of this time where people respected what he did and wanted to be around him ... true fame and fortunes!

Here he was, playing in the hall of a true musically gifted school seeking aid to enroll ... and out of no where another voice lifted above his katthira as he strummed. The voice sang in tenor and mimiced his own lyrics but with a twist. Seby was not the kind of person to take offense and chose to stop singing himself and strum to the beat of the new voice. Now a duet was heard in the great halls as Seby turned to look at the male before him. This newcomer was a handsome fellow himself with dark brown hair of shoulders length and grey eyes ... not too typical of a human. He held a viola and obviously could carry a tune too. Seby said nothing as the music was always more important than the conversation and simply bowed in respect to his new partner.

[Viola]

ooc: *sheepish smile* er-- Thorn's not carrying any viola, Seb.

...and Thorn found himself staring lost at a perfectly handsome face with deep green eyes. For a brief flicker of a candlemark the young lad was totally at a lost for words and he felt his cheeks flaming.

"Oh," he began and heard his own voice squeaked like a small mouse. Coughing mildly and face turning deep red, he turned his boyish face around, trying not to look at the man's green eyes.

"It is..." Thorn began once more and took a quick glance of the man's face and found himself stammering. "Um... voice... sing... good... bard..." What pure nonesense are you talking about, Viola! He thought as he tried to calm himself by taking deep intake of breath.

"Quite 'ot in 'ere, no, M'sieur?" Glad that he was able to utter a complete sentence, Thorn gave the blonde man a boyish, lame grin. "I'm looking for the Bardic School and I 'eard your voice outside." He continued with his fake exotic accent though his gaze was concentrated on his old shoes.

"Pardonnez-moi, I didn't mean to barge in on your singing, M'sieur. But..." He paused and took a quick peek of the blonde man's face to check if he was insulted. "...Your music is good and inside this place, I can't seem to stop myself from singing..." He stopped and then blushed once again, unable to continue talking as he nervously fidget with his ring upon his finger.

"Um... Er... Are you a professor 'ere, M'sieur?" Thorn asked. "I would like to enroll myself. I am named Thorn." With that, he stepped back, dashingly took off his plumed hat and gave Sebastian a florid, sweeping bow. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, learned M'sieur." He boyishly squeaked and held his bow.

[Nimh]

The two found themselves in the center of the front entrance hall, their voices and Sebastian's instrumentals not out of place at all, but merging with the miscellaneous music that flittered about the hall and rooms along the hallway. As such, they were relatively unremarked by a spare student or two and a teacher that trickled in and out, carrying instruments or a jumble of papers, and all seemingly focused on one thing: the music that they had immersed themselves within. There was a distinct lack of traffic, however, and for all the noise that filtered around the pair, the large building felt strangely...empty.

So they found themselves relatively ignored until a door along the left hand side of the wall cracked open to release a young elvish man with curling, golden hair that swept down to his shoulders and skin that seemed to spark gold as light brushed over him. His eyes were a soft honey-brown, almost too pale to be brown, and his mouth curved into a soft, bemused smile as he shut the door behind him. He took note of the two strangers instantly, his blonde brow arching even as he smiled. "Vedui, travelers, and well met!" His voice was sugary and sweet, musical even in its spoken timbres.

"Thou hath both come searching the bards, I wouldst wager should I be given a guess. Good sir, he is not who thee might think him. A professor of these halls, not at all, but surely one whose music might yet prove him worthy of an honor if the voice and music I hadst heard be of any indication." The Master Bard strode forward until he was but a span away from them. It was easy to see he was a charmer, no less handsome than the two men before him and a voice that oozed seduction--imagine if he should sing to a crowd of women then speak with them in his lilting thees and thines?

"I am Auhren, sole Master of this Hall. I believe I hath heard two voices risen in song, good sirs. Wouldst those voices belong to thee both?" He looked between the pair of them, intensely curious.

[Sebastian Denovansson]

Seby watched the man stumble for words and for a slight second rembmered how some of the women at the Tavern in Tearsfall reacted when they first came around him. Could this male possibly be one of those 'types' of men who likes men? Nnnoooo. Seby almost shook his head not wanting to think about how such men existed. Sebt was a lover of women, all women, and found the hwole men on men think quite disgusting. The man must be a stutterer. His old master had told him how music helped those with speech problems speak clearer and were actually some great singers themselves. That must be it.

He looked patiently as the Thorn stumbled across each word before managing things well enough. He was a foreigner of some type with a rich accent that sounded Jaedaxian, the city around the corner from Tearsfall. He'd heard it plenty enough and then understood the complications in getting the words out initially. He almost hit himself for thinking the guy liked men. It was absurd to have thought such, and Seby knew better.

Before Sebastain could resond to Thorn, a new voice entered his ears. It was a male voice but very elegant, a typical voice of the elven society given his opening statement began with Vedui. Sebastain turned around to look at the newcomer and offered a smile and nod to the elven males greeting. The two shared similar hair of golden blonde like hair though Seby did not have an equally golden skin tone to match. Auhren was a handsome fellow as most elves he had met held a look of beauty.

"Vedui to you as well, Sole Master Auhren. It is a pleasure to meet you, and you are correct in hearing both mine and Thorn's voice rising in song. Though He and I have only just met each other here in your great halls, I think he has a marvelous voice that added to my simple melody. I pray that your statement is true for I have come seeking instruction in the art of spellsongs and do hope that you could guide me in the right direction."

He then looked at Thorn and spoke. "Serale Thorn and well met. I am Sebastian Denovansson and tis an honor to meet you. As the sole Master has said I am no instructor but do wish to meet and learn form one. We are neighbors in a sence, you and I, for I come from Tearsfall and if my guess is correct from your accent, you are Jaedaxian."

[Viola]

And when Auhren came, Thorn's gray eyes centered and focused only on the ultra-handsome elf. Great gods of paradox and bards! He exclaimed to himself, forgetting all about Sebastian as his eyes almost bulged out off its sockets. Are all the men here in Natura an aboslute hunk? I almost peed my pants!

He almost forgot and he caught himself about to heave a flirtatious bosom at the Master Bard. Take good care of yourself, Viola! He mused out, though he couldn't help himself giving a very boyish, shy smile at the handsome elf. This is a person who dips his pen on a dozen or so inkpots. You wouldn't want yourself expelled for violating the teacher and student relationship. Behave yourself!

Fearful of his virtue, Thorn drew from himself a theatric calmness, bouyancy and mannerism of a boy and cloaked it around him, believing himself a real one. He had to think and talk like one, he had to separate Thorn from Viola in order to fulfill his goal and life-long dream without any hindrance.

"To be a bard," the young lad replied with his theatrical exotic accent as he stepped forward and caught himself from giving the Master Bard Auhren a graceful, feminine curtsey and without breaking a pause, he continued with a florid, boyish bow, sweeping his plumed hat over the floor and gave the elf a boyish, dimpled smile. "That is all I ever dreamed of, M'sieur Au'ren. To touch people and their lives and create musical 'armony that would echo through the endless time."

"If it pleases thee, Great M'sieur Bard," he continued with his passioned speech. "Please accept me and my meager talent, for meager it may seem at first, with passion and your 'elp, my talent shall blossom like a spring flower."

With a small nod, Thorn turned to Sebastian and gave him a sheepish smile. "Well met then, M'sieur Denovansson." He replied and frowned, not understanding his talk of neighbours and he suddenly understand that Sebastian was fooled by his accent. But what the heck is a Jaedaxian? He mused and covering his ignorance, the young lad nodded somewhat hesitantly. "Er... Um... Sacre bleu! But, oui, M'sieur Denovansson. Of course, I am a true blooded Jaedaxian." He lied through his teeth without batting an eyelash. "My father and his father before him, counting from generations to generations were Jaedaxian. It is a very elegant and manly... um... lineage, is it not?" He asked both Sebastian and the Master Elven-Bard, hoping that his guise was able to fool both of them.

[Nimh]

Auhren's delicate lips curved into some semblance of amusement as both spoke. The one seemed eager, excited, and generally comfortable with speaking as he greeted Auhren...as Sole Master Auhren. Sebastian, for that was the name that he had given, had clearly misunderstand Auhren's introduction and the Master Bard could not help but smile broadly at it. As for the other, Thorn, he seemed somehow uncomfortable, although he did his best to hide it...only for it to dissemble again as he stammered towards the end. But Auhren saw pupils of all types and was not at all phased by what stood before him...nor suspicious. Bards were, after all, a strange lot.

"Ah, yes, a very noble lineage, Thorn," he responded with amusement, but the amusement remained a smile rather than a laugh that might have other burbled forth from someone else. He cleared his throat, however, and proceed, "It would indeed please me well to see what promise thee might possess as Bards of this Hall, Sebastian. Thorn." He glanced between the pair of them. "Striking that the pair of thee should happen upon my Hall at the same time. Thy voices mingle together as sweet as the flowers that bloom beyond our walls. Though I must say, Sebastian, that thee hast erred some in your address. I am Master Bard Auhren. I am but the only master to be found here and hence my introduction as the sole Bard of these halls. It would please me should thee both address me as Auhren. I do not wish potential students to believe my station too far above thy ranking, muchless what thee hope to achieve."

He stood there for a moment, looking between the pair of them. "Why dost thou take thy company and blend it with my own? I wouldst retire to the sitting room here and speak with thee at some length as to thy expectations and aspirations before I take thee under my wing." He motioned to them as he turned and took steps towards a closed door along the righthand side of the entry hall. The room into which he led them was dappled with sitting chairs that had been upholstered for comfort...for candlemarks spent 'idly' working away at music, at their craft. It was clearly a well-used room with a small cluster of students--three of them--seated at the far back. One plucked at a harp that rested in his lap as they spoke among themselves, laughing easily.

"Come, there is tea and water on the table, should you wish it." He gestured to a set of couchs that flanked a carved, wooden table that seemed to hug the ground. A small grouping of porcelin cups and a teapot were nestled upon a glass serving tray and Auhren sat down to pour himself a glass, motioning for Thorn and Sebastian to do the same. "So, wouldst thou tell me thy tales? There is much to be said of a Bard and his ability to tell a story, afterall."

So. A test. Would they pass it?

[Viola]

Thorn found himself focusing more to what the Master Bard wanted to say. There was something... strange about his manner of speech, as if Thorn could find himself being lost at all the tumble and jumble of words put together.

Slowly, the young lad followed the Master Elf, looking back at Sebastian if he'll be able to follow, and entered a room full of chairs, a slight harmony of harp, followed by laughter filled the room and Thorn sweveled his grey eyes to the back of the room where three students were idly talking and bantering.

A wave of giddyness washed upon him, any moment now, he'll be a student of the Bardic College and he'll be closer to his dream. With a full, boyish grin, his anxiety washing away from him, Thorn seated himself and nodded at the master Bard, settling comfortable as he gracefully poured a tea for himself and slowly lifted the cup to sip it.

Unfortunately, he almost choked when he heard the Master Bard asked for their story. "It's 'ot!" Thorn lied glibly, raising the cup apologetically. Coughing mildly, the young lad frowned at the handsome elf, wondering if he should tell the truth or lie through his teeth and the turned to look at Sebastian, hoping he'd start first as he frantically racked his brain for a tall story. He'll have to come up with a story as he goes along with his tale.

"My tale, Great M'sieur Bard?" Thorn asked, trying to buy some time, his grey eyes distanly looking at the handsome elf, his mind busy churning with plots and sub-plots. "Why, 'tis a noble tale to tell." He exclaimed eagerly, although his young face was watched with worry.

"It all began..." Thorn started and then paused, unable to continue, frowning worriedly. "It all began... It all began..." And then as if something clicked, his grey eyes twinkled as they settled upon the handsome face of both Sebastian and the Master Bard.

"I was born,
In a palace by the sea..."

Thorn sang his tale, his voice a clear boyish soprano of pre-adulthood, his voice floating around the room and he stood, turning to look at the three students at the back, at the harp idly strumming, trying to join in the tempo of the music to his broadway musicale, a combination of musical tone and simple conversational tone

"[Yes, that's right]
And I rode horseback,
when I was only three.
[And the horse? He was white!]"

"I made faces,
And terrorize the cook.
Threw him in the brook.
[Was I wild?
I'm a crook!]"

"But I'd behave,
When my father gave that look,
Imagine how it was,
My long, forgotten past.
They taught me lots and lots like..."

Thorn began to theatrically walk around the room, like a young boy being taught in school and then turned to look at the Master Bard.

"[Are you ready?]
Shoulders back and stand up tall
And do not walk, but try to float.
You give a bow.
[What happens now?]
Your hand receives a kiss!"

Thorn then theatrically kissed his own hand, dancing in his own broadway musicale.

"[And most of all remember this]
If I can learn to do it,
you can learn to do it.
(Pointing his hand at Sebastian and Auhren)
Something in you knows it --
There's nothing to it!
Follow in my footsteps, shoe by shoe!
(Thorn then theatrically marched around)
You can learn to do it...
You can learn to do it..."

The young lad then knelt before the two and threw his arms wide and wriggled his fingers open to his finale lyrics.

"You can learn to do it, toooooooo!"
-------
ooc: Song is derived from Learn to do it, taken from the cartoon musical movie, Anastasia

[Nimh]

ooc: Seby is going to back out for a short bit while he gets some modly things together, so it'll be just you and me

ic: What Auhren had been expecting was not exactly clear, but Auhren's eyes lit up as Thorn launched into a song regarding his history...or at least what Auhren believed to be the history of Thorn. It is often the trick of bards to be able to convince their audiences that what they sing is truth rather than fiction, and whether or not Thorn's was true, he carried the tune well and with gusto...his performance entirely believeable.

Auhren swallowed it easily.

At the end, Auhren was laughing, clapping as the tune concluded, his applause and elated cheers joined by those in the back, who had also stopped in their converastion to listen. A young woman in the back seemed to be eying Thorn like he was a platter of meat...would he have trouble there? It was a good thing to start thinking about, should Thorn continue in his current guise.

"Very well done, Thorn," Auhren approved, his laughter trailing as he tried to sober himself. "Most would have taken such a challenge and spun a story of prose rather than taking risks and bending verse to their tongues. Ah, such is the mark of a good bard, I assure thee, to be able to sing a song on whim, stringing words together at the mere request of them."

He sipped his tea, brows furrowed as if he sat in thought. "How long hath thee been singing? Dost thou also play an instrument? Or have any such interest in doing so?"