>Dyrkyn recites:

"This song is nae original,
Yet it has some amusement for me."

Dyrkyn sings:

"A Scotsman Clad in Kilt left the bar one evenin fair,
And one could tell by how he walked that he'd drunk more than his 
share!
He wandered 'round until he could no longer keep his feet,
So he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street!"

"Ring Ding Diddleiddle Hideo!
Ring Dae Diddley Hi-Oh!
He Stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street!"

"About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by,
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye,
"See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built?
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt!""

"Ring Ding Diddleiddle Hideo!
Ring Dae Diddley Hi-Oh!
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt!"

"They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be,
And lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see.
And there behold for them to view beneath is Scottish Skirt,
Was nothing more than the Gods had graced him with upon his birth!"

"Ring Ding Diddleiddle Hideo!
Ring Dae Diddley Hi-Oh!
Was nothing more than the Gods had graced him with upon his birth!"

"They marveled for a moment, then one said, "We must be gone.
Let's leave a present for our friend before we move along!"
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow!
Around the bonnie star the Scot's kilt did lift then show!"

"Ring Ding Diddleiddle Hideo!
Ring Dae Diddley Hi-Oh!
Around the bonnie star the Scot's kilt did lift then show!"

"Now the Scotsman woke to Nature's call and stumbled towards a tree.
Behind the bush he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees!
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes,
'Oh! Lad! I don't know where ya been but I see you've won first 
prize!"

"Ring Ding Diddleiddle Hideo!
Ring Dae Diddley Hi-Oh!
OH! Lad! I don't know where ya been but I see you've won first 
prize!"

>Dyrkyn recites:

"I've still got that ribbon somewhere...."

>Llyr removes a golden oak theorbo from in her midnight blue cloak.
>Llyr clears her throat.
Llyr smiles distantly, looking right past you and into some other time
>Looking mournful, Llyr sets her fingers to the strings of her theorbo 
and slowly strikes a minor chord.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>Llyr builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Llyr sings:

"It was bitterly cold on that fateful morn
Pierced by the cry of a babe just born
But what a world for a child to enter!
For there are far worse things than winter"

>Llyr shivers.
>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"If we had but known how things would end
More would have come to help defend
This poor little town of ice and snow
Partly submerged by a glacier's flow"

>Llyr adds a soft harmony to her melody, doing little to cheer the 
somber quality of the ballad.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"It began with a bleat at the old South Gate
A very strange sound for the voice of Fate
There soon was another, and then a third
Before long naught but bleats were heard"

>Llyr brushes her fingers lightly over the strings, allowing the 
haunting minor seventh chord to hang eerily in the air for a moment 
before beginning her sad melody.
>Llyr sings:

"They trampled the guard, those callous grass-eaters
They bashed in the gate, the unfeeling bleaters
In poured the roltons! A herd of such size
You'd never believe it, e'en with your own eyes!"

>Llyr adds a soft harmony to her melody, doing little to cheer the 
somber quality of the ballad.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>Llyr modulates the harmony into higher ranges, leaving the lower tones 
of the funereal main theme to wander in their dark, mournful journey.
>Llyr sings:

"Some ran to the bakery, and into each table
Killing those seated there, before they were able
To stand and defend 'gainst the brutal attack
What hope for the town? Alas! Oh alack!"

>Llyr builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Llyr sings:

"A second part of the herd to Silvermule trotted
Some unwary folk a'gambling they spotted
Down came the great wheel with a crunch and a whir
The sharp hooves that kicked little more than a blur"

>Llyr strikes a bleak diminished chord, allowing the notes to hang for a 
moment before adorning them with further tones.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>Llyr builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Llyr sings:

"Others closed in on the quiet stucco well
With a couple swift blows the two rogues they did fell
The customers ran, clutching boxes and screaming
"Rolton invasion! We swear we're not dreaming!""

>Llyr brushes her fingers lightly over the strings, allowing the 
haunting minor seventh chord to hang eerily in the air for a moment 
before beginning her sad melody.
>Llyr sings:

"Those on the amunet laughed and guffawed
"Rolton invasion? I'm trembling, I'm awed!"
No one believed, no one actually prepared
How could they have known that they should have been scared?"

>Llyr shakes her head.
>Under Llyr's nimble fingers the song takes on a solemn coloring, grey 
but somehow full of quiet energy.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"
>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"With a flanking maneuver through Magical Burrow
Never encountering more than a squirrel
The roltons snuck up on the temple en masse
Destroying the clerics with one deadly pass!"

>Llyr builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Llyr sings:

"They had cut off the exits, there was nowhere to flee
What was left of the town gathered close in TC
The frozen mule statue loomed over the crowd
All standing there, shivering, heads deeply bowed"

Under Llyr's nimble fingers the song takes on a solemn coloring, grey 
but somehow full of quiet energy.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"To our great surprise a black rolton appeared
Trotted once 'round the group, then elegantly reared
"We now control you," she baa'd with derision
"Serving us will be your only religion!""

Llyr builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Llyr sings:

"They put us in chains and they led us away
Down into the caverns, where we live to this day
The lucky ones toil for the Great Rolton Lords
Others are forced to dig pits and build fords"

>Under Llyr's nimble fingers the song takes on a solemn coloring, grey 
but somehow full of quiet energy.
>Llyr sings:

"The darkest day that ever did fall
Was the day the roltons beat us all
I'll never forget that dreary day
Oh, now the roltons are making us pay!"

>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"We are nothing but slaves to the wooly invaders
We worship them now as our gods and creators
But once, in the past, was a time few remember
When the worst thing to come was the cold of December"

>The quiet, forlorn strains of Llyr's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Llyr sings:

"So many died on that darkest of days
So many fell, and in so many ways
But all of our powers and all of our skills..."

>Llyr deliberately strums an unhurried theme, letting each chord hang in 
the air for a time before striking another.
>Llyr gazes heavenward.
>Llyr sings:

"Were simply no match for the Great Rolton Wills"

>With a final slow chord, Llyr allows the notes to hang in the air for a 
time before their final demise into silence.

>Jalea says, "This is a song I composed very recently."
>Jalea says, "So never mind the rough spots"
>Jalea grins.
>Putting a variation in her strum, Jalea runs through the verse and into 
a catchy chorus that will stick in your head for days.
>Jalea sings:

"A young man fair, of haughty mein
Came walking up one bright spring day
He wore bright armor, bore sharp sword
And swor to Koar the world would pay!"

>Paying complete attention to the lute's strings, Jalea begins building 
an intense melody.
Jalea plucks her instrument's lower strings, adding a driving bass 
foundation to the melody.
>Jalea sings:

"He roared his challenge to the world
Regardless of his folly great
The maden heard as he strode on
And knew 'twas she who'd seal his fate."

>Jalea brushes her fingers over the strings, modulating softly from 
chord to chord as if playing to herself.
>Jalea brushes her fingers over the strings, modulating softly from 
chord to chord as if playing to herself.
>Jalea sings:

"That very night as he did dream
The maiden stole soft to his side
And ere the night became to old
She'd snatched his sword, which was his pride."

Jalea sings:

"When that haughty fighter rose
And put his hand out for his blade
Behold! the hand encountered but
The silken scarf of that quick maid!"

>Jalea brushes her fingers over the strings, modulating softly from 
chord to chord as if playing to herself.
>Using fancy fingering, Jalea embellishes heavily on a simple theme.
>Jalea coaxes rich notes from her lute with a showy variant on the 
common strum.
>Jalea sings:

"Oh warriors all, pray heed this tale
Leet not your pride be your downfall
The fines deds will not repay
What all your pride is made so small."

>Using fancy fingering, Jalea embellishes heavily on a simple theme.
>Giving a final showy circle of her arm, Jalea strums one last chord 
before deadening the strings.

>Dessedemona says, "ok"
>Dessedemona says, "this is but a small poem i wrote"
>Dessedemona recites:

"Everything pales
Fades away
Roses
To ashes 
To earth
Hope turns
flees away
And everything makes you hurt"

"Your heart weeps
There is no sound
Dreams a-fallen
Like ashes of roses
Forgotton 
Unto the ground"

>Dessedemona says, "finis"
>Dessedemona sits down.

>Dyrkyn recites:

"This one's an original work...
In progress... so please don't laugh."

>Dyrkyn chuckles.
>With a somber expression, Dyrkyn begins playing a melancholy theme.
Dyrkyn brushes his fingers lightly over the strings, allowing the 
haunting minor seventh chord to hang eerily in the air for a moment 
before beginning his sad melody.
>Dyrkyn sings:

"A lone and lonely traveller
Came wand'ring down the road.
A sad and sullen look upon me,
When we met bestowed."

>Dyrkyn sings:

""Oh minstrel will you sing for me,
A sad and lonesome tune?
One that speaks to me of miles past,
And the girl I left last June?""

>Dyrkyn brushes his fingers lightly over the strings, allowing the 
haunting minor seventh chord to hang eerily in the air for a moment 
before beginning his sad melody.
>Dyrkyn sings:

"So I sang to him of summers gone,
And the glories of his love."

Under Dyrkyn's skilled fingers the song takes on a questioning tone, as 
if wondering why tragedy must cast its shadow on life and light.
Dyrkyn sings:

"Who had a face angelic-like,
And skin soft as a dove!"

>The quiet, forlorn strains of Dyrkyn's song convey a gentle sadness, 
reminding you of friends long gone and family left to Lorminstra's care.
>Dyrkyn sings:

"Her beauty was as never told,
Her eyes blue as the sky!
To look at her and not be stunned,
Was as to us a lie!"

>Under Dyrkyn's skilled fingers the song takes on a questioning tone, as 
if wondering why tragedy must cast its shadow on life and light.
>Dyrkyn smiles as he adds an artistic flare to his instrumental, 
embellishing his tune with many a trill and a gliss.
>Dyrkyn sings:

"He looked at me a teary-eyed,
And gave to me a smile,
"'Your song you sang meant more to me,
Than every foll'wing mile!""

Dyrkyn builds a soft harmony behind the cheerless melody, as fleeting as 
memory but as insistent as regret.
>Dyrkyn sings:

""But my journey now is not yet done,
To find her I must go!"
And the Traveller waved and started down,
His long, and winding, road!"

>With a soft minor chord of final farewell, Dyrkyn allows the music of 
his mandolin to die away into silence.
>Dyrkyn bows.

>(Quivalin moves up to the front)
>Quivalin says, "Afternoon everyone, I thought I'd do something really 
simple, and maybe a little more complex later, if you like it well 
enough.."
>Quivalin chuckles.
>Quivalin says, "And if you don't, I may do it anyway"
>Quivalin grins.
>Quivalin clears his throat.
>Quivalin removes a worn dark ebonwood lute embellished around the body 
with delicate silvery quarter notes from in his thanot lute case.
>Quivalin begins playing a quiet song on his lute.
>Quivalin sings:

"Excuse me, good sir, but has an angel gone this way?
One with silver hair and eyes of grey?
Pray, tell me, have ye seen her today?"

>(Quivalin looks at you hopefully)
>Quivalin's easy melody loiters through the measures, washing over your 
senses like the waves of a gentle sea.
>Quivalin sings:

"One with a voice so sweet and features fine?
Ye have! Where was she headed, did she give any sign?
Ye see, she has stolen something of mine."

>Quivalin sighs sadly.
>The quiet strains of Quivalin's lugubrious melody evoke memories of 
cloudy autumn days and now-quiet battlegrounds.
>Quivalin sings:

"Twas something I did not intend to give away, 
But she stole it, just the same, this very day.
And of her intentions, I fear I cannot say."

>Quivalin brushes his fingers lightly over the strings, allowing the 
haunting minor seventh chord to hang eerily in the air for a moment 
before beginning his sad melody.
>Quivalin beams!
>Quivalin sings:

"Ye say she went east, towards the rising sun?
Oh, thank ye good sir! Then I must surely run!
Mayhaps I can catch her before this day is done."

>With skilled fingers Quivalin switches from strumming to fingerpicking, 
creating a joyous cascade of vibrant tones.
>(Quivalin turns to go. He suddenly stops and looks back at you.)
>With nimble fingers, Quivalin adds a contrasting countermelody to his 
song, skillfully creating a dramatic effect.
>Quivalin sings:

"What? Ye have a question for me before I depart?
Of course, but be quick, she's had quite a start.
What did she take, ye ask? Oh..."

>(Quivalin turns to leave and calls back over his shoulder....)
>Quivalin sings:

"' Twas just my heart."

>Quivalin makes a dramatic change in the song's dynamics, sweeping from
soft to loud in a sharp crescendo then back into the middle ranges.
>With a final dramatic flourish, Quivalin takes his fingers from the 
strings, letting the notes fade into a profound silence.
>Quivalin says, "Like I said, short enough, Lady Dremerie will tell you 
I can get long-winded"
>Quivalin chuckles.
>Quivalin put a worn dark ebonwood lute embellished around the body with 
delicate silvery quarter notes in his thanot lute case.
Quivalin sits down.

>Aemergin stands up.
>Aemergin clears his throat.
>Aemergin says, "Well, I'm not much for instruments yet, so you'll have 
to excuse my lack thereof."
>Aemergin smiles.
>Aemergin takes a drink from his bubbly champagne.
>Aemergin sings:

"Raised in the backwoods
With a rake and a plow
Worked all day in the field
His best friend was his cow"

>Aemergin sings:

"From dusk until dawn
With no time for a song
He checks on his turnips
To be sure they grow strong."

>Aemergin recites:

""The turnip is good,
The turnip is wise,
A turnip a day
Will give ye good eyes.""

>Aemergin grins.
>Aemergin sings:

"He's just a turnip farmin' man
Doin' the best that he can
In a world gone mad
It's so horribly sad
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands.
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands."

>Aemergin sings:

"And then one fine day
Almost fateful, I'd say
A horrible misfortune befell
Our hero - when his wife drowned in the well."

>Aemergin sings:

"He weeped and he cried,
He thought he'd surely die
Without his dear loved one
To stand at his side."

>Aemergin sings:

"But he'd made it through rough times
He'd lived through much worse.
So he packed his belongings
And rigged up his horse."

>Aemergin sings:

"He loaded the wagon,
With turnips galore.
And headed for town,
A week's trip, maybe more."

>Aemergin sings:

"He's just a turnip farmin' man
Doin' the best that he can
In a world gone mad
It's so horribly sad
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands.
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands."

>Aemergin sings:

"At the gates he now stood
With his wagon of goods
And he started to hock them
Like he'd planned that he would."

>Aemergin sings:

"When all of the sudden,
The ground started to shake.
People started to scream
"Oh god, another quake!""

>Aemergin sings:

"He looked on in sheer horror
As the oncoming hordes
They slaughtered the Ladies
And butchered the Lords."

>Aemergin sings:

"They swarmed all around him
With evil glares in their eyes
And the next thing he knew
He started feeling all wise."

Aemergin sings:

"He's just a turnip farmin' man
Doin' the best that he can
In a world gone mad
It's so horribly sad
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands.
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands."

>Aemergin sings:

"He crawled under his wagon
And pretended he'd died.
The invasion kept raging
Through the gates then inside."

>Aemergin sings:

"He waited for an opening
Then leaped out for a sword
If he killed all the bad guys
He'd collect a reward."

>Aemergin sings:

"He rushed through the gates
Screaming at the top of his lungs
And looked at the carnage
Smashed brains, guts and tongues."

>Aemergin grins.
Aemergin sings:

"He ran 'round the corner
Hoping to clash in a fight
But what he saw next
Was a most dismal sight."

>Karanaya sighs.
>Aemergin sings:

"He's just a turnip farmin' man
Doin' the best that he can
In a world gone mad
It's so horribly sad
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands.
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands."

>Aemergin sings:

"The town center was strewn
With dead bodies and spoils
Both townsfolk and raiders
They littered the soil."

>Aemergin sings:

"He searched and he searched
But all he could find
Was a cowering kobold
Scared outta his mind."

>Aemergin sings:

"He lifted that sword
Up over his head
And down it came crashing
To strike the poor kobold dead."

>Aemergin sings:

"And the adventure began
For the turnip farmer that day
He'd saved a whole town
And now all I can say.."

>Aemergin sings:

"He's just a turnip farmin' man
Doin' the best that he can
In a world gone mad
It's so horribly sad
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands.
That a turnip farmer is defending our lands."

>Aemergin sings:

"The story now ends
As all stories must
But the moral, you ask?
"Give me a title or bust!""

>Aemergin places a hand over his heart.
Aemergin bows.
>Witcheaven chuckles.
>Aemergin blushes a nice shade of off-pink.
Aemergin says, "Thank you all."
>Aemergin sits down.
>Aemergin grins.

Quivalin stands up.
>Quivalin asks, "Ok, folks, a choice... ye want sad, funny, love, war, 
song poetry, what?"
>The grey wolf growls, "Funny!"
>Aemergin says, "I'd like a funny love song about a very sad war."
>Aemergin grins.
>Quivalin says, "Boy am I ever putting myself on the spot here..."
>Witcheaven says, "I agree with the wolf."
>Quivalin exclaims, "Wolf speeaks first, and says funny!"
>Aemergin blinks.
>Quivalin says, "Well, this lil' ditty is called "The 51st Dragon." I  
can't claim the storyline, but the song is an original. I hope ye like 
it."
>Quivalin sings:

"Let me tell you of a warrior I once knew
Went by the name of Billy Barue

Now his logic and thinkin' were on the low end 
(When he trained
Charisma reigned...

He wanted a lady friend!"

>Quivalin sings:

"Billy was strong, but his courage was weak
In fact, he was downright meek.

He trained and he trained in Warrior School

(He hadta ya know,
It was just fer show

He wanted ta look cool."

>Quivalin says, "Hmm, I know lots of olks like that..."
>Quivalin sings:

"Now Billy had 13 majors, but not a degree.
He really didn't wanna graduate, ya see.

(He was happy in trainin'
Ta stay in school, he was strainin'
He was too scared ta go off campaignin')"

>Quivalin sings:

"Well, the teachers got frustrated
Said it was time he graduated.

(But Billy didn't wanna go,
and they couldn't make him, ya know,
Because his Gryphon dad donated lots of dough.)"

>Quivalin sings:

"So his Edged Weapons trainer hit upon a plan
And said, "Billy Barue, my good man,

Here's a-what I'm a-gonna do..
I've got the magic word "Rumplesnitz" for you."

>Quivalin sings:

"It will make ya invincible when fightin' a dragon
I tell ya, about ya, all the ladies will be braggin.

Now I told ya Billy was none too bright...
A warrior handin' out spells.. Yeah right!"

Quivalin sings:

"But Billy accepted his diploma (and 13 degrees)
And more than one trainer thought hell would freeze.

Well, he found his first dragon in Dangirland
And with his sword firmly in his left hand"

Quivalin sings:

"He yelled "Rumplesnitz" with all his might
And charged the dragon ta join the fight.

Well, the dragon was lyin' down, ya see
(Tryin' ta recover from a smashed right knee.)"

>Quivalin sings:

"Billy screamed in, fully offensive that day,
Got a lucky strike and critted the dragon away."

Quivalin sings:

"Well, from that single poached dragon kill
Billy found the resolve and he found the will

He got 49 more dragons with his fake Rumplesnitz spell
(And with the ladies, he did quite well.)"

>Quivalin sings:

"And then he came upon his 51st beast
And Billy wasn't scared in the least.

The dragon recognized Billy's crest
(Dragon rumor had it Billy was the best.)"

>Quivalin sings:

"So the dragon sighed, and acceptin' his fate
Said "Go ahead with yer word, no need ta wait

So Billy walked right up and thumbed his nose
opened his mouth and suddenly - FROZE!"

Quivalin sings:

"The dragon said "What... Do it, would you
Don't be teasin' me, Mr. Billy Barue.

Well, Billy turned white as snow in December
And said "Uh oh, I can't remember."

>Quivalin sings:

"The dragon smiled and said "Is that a fact",
And closed the curtain on Billy's last act."

>Quivalin sings:

"If ye go to da Warrior School's Main Hall
Ya can see Billy's shield hangin' on the wall

Surrounded by 50 pairs of dragon ears
and the inscription "He studied here for years.""

Quivalin sings:

"So I'll end this lengthy tale with a moral or three
First, see what confidence'll do fer ye

Second, it don't matter yer number of degrees
They don't make ya smart, I'm sure everyone agrees."

Quivalin sings:

"Third, If ya go through life jes tryin' ta be cool
More often than not, ya look like a fool."

>Quivalin chuckles.
>Quivalin bows.
>Quivalin says, "I think I see Billy about every day these days"
Quivalin chuckles.
>Quivalin says, "Lady Dremerie, ma'am, ye do fine work. I have a lil 
business to attend to. Then maybe I'll try to recall somethin' from a 
previous bardfest, if everyone has an hour or so to spare"
>You say, "You're always welcome to perform, Quiv."

>Llyr stands up.
>Llyr says, "This is called "Siren Song" and is dedicated to Niima, and  
those of her ilk"
>Llyr smiles.
>(Llyr steals a quick glance down at her golden oak theorbo, almost as 
if to reassure herself, then takes a deep breath and throws back her 
shoulders)
>Llyr clears her throat.
>Deliberately, Llyr wraps her hand around the neck of her theorbo, sets 
her fingers to the strings and begins to play.
>The tempo of Llyr's song slows slightly, taking its time to convey a 
message of gentleness and rest.
>Llyr sings:

"Play a new part every day to go with your shoes
Running fingers down the cheeks of the ones that you choose"

>Llyr makes a dramatic change in the song's dynamics, sweeping from soft 
to loud in a sharp crescendo then back into the middle ranges.
>Llyr sings:

"I can see one wrapped around each finger now
They're not daunted
It's all they ever wanted
They don't know what to say"

>Llyr plucks her instrument's lower strings, adding a driving bass 
foundation to the melody.
>Llyr sings:

"They're not daunted
It's all they ever wanted
They let you have your way"

>Llyr deliberately strums an unhurried theme, letting each chord hang in 
the air for a time before striking another.
>Llyr sings:

"Dressed in shimmering silks and trailing drifts of perfume
Casting lingering looks and gliding out of the room"

>Paying complete attention to the theorbo's strings, Llyr begins 
building an intense melody.
>Llyr sings:

"Sitting by his wife you found a fighter
You're pulling him in tighter
You took him off to dance
He never stood a chance"

>Llyr accentuates her song with emphatic strums, adding to the 
intensity.
>Llyr sings:

"You found a fighter
You're pulling him in tighter
You've trapped him with a glance"

>Llyr smiles and winks at you while bridging into the chorus
>Llyr plucks her instrument's lower strings, adding a driving bass 
foundation to the melody.
>Llyr sings:

"Bane of hearth and home you are
Bane of hearth and home you are
Bane of hearth and home, you're ever so lovely"

>Llyr sings:

"Bane of hearth and home you are
Bane of hearth and home you are
Bane of hearth and home, you're ever so lovely"

>With careful concentration, Llyr draws out a series of notes, allowing 
them to layer into a sweet harmony.
>Llyr deliberately strums an unhurried theme, letting each chord hang in 
the air for a time before striking another.
>Llyr sings:

"What do you do with them once in your snake pit?
How much pain do you give them and how do they take it?"

>Llyr sings:

"Are they happily yours until the final ride
When they are cast aside
Drifting with the tide
Cursing their folly?"

>Llyr sings:

"When they are cast aside
Drifting with the tide
Cursing their fate?"

>With careful concentration, Llyr draws out a series of notes, allowing 
them to layer into a sweet harmony.
>With a final slow chord, Llyr allows the notes to hang in the air for a 
time before their final demise into silence.
>Llyr curtsies.

Harlivan says, "Peam ahn I..."
>Peam nods.
>Peam nods.
>Harlivan says, "We ahm togefher."
Harlivan stretches.
>Harlivan glances at Peam.
>Harlivan asks, "Ready?"
>Peam nods.
>Peam says, "As always.."
>Peam grins.
>Harlivan exclaims, "Annah one, ahnna two, ahnna fhree!"
>Peam says, "hey now.."
With a twinkle in his eye, Harlivan begins a jaunty melody on his lute.
>Peam pokes Harlivan in the ribs.
>Peam exclaims, "Halt!"
>Peam scowls at Harlivan.
>Harlivan glances at Peam.
>Harlivan asks, "Wha?"
>Harlivan nods to Peam.
>Harlivan flails his arms about.
>Peam says, "Me wasnae in the ... mood.."
>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Harlivan mutters under his breath.
>Harlivan says, "Ah needs ah new brofher ah swear..."
>Harlivan gazes heavenward.
>Peam scowls.
>Peam says, "pah"
>Peam says, "likewise"
>Harlivan snorts at Peam.
>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Harlivan clears his throat.
>Peam says, "Pah play yer fiddle"
>Harlivan exclaims, "Anyways... ahnna one ahnna two... ahnna fhree!"
>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Harlivan sings:

"Now here's ah tale ahbout me ahn mah brofher Peam
Hopefully it'll makes ya smile n' beam
Its ah silly tale ahbout where we libed
Ahn tha problems tah our Mummah we used tah gibed."

>Peam beams!
>Harlivan sings:

"Peam ahn I
We nebuh listened
Ahn ah guess dats why
We got so many lickin's"

>Peam asks, "Ye amember that stick?"
>Peam winces.
>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Parius just arrived.
>Harlivan smirks.
>Harlivan sings:

"But dis song am ahbout tha time
Dat Peam ahn I commited ah crime
It wha not so serious as ya fink
We only took a few tarts colored pink!"

>Peam says, "Whut tarts? "
>(Harlivan taps his toes along with the rhythm of his lute.)
>Harlivan sings:

"So mummah asked
Just where did dey go
Ahn we jus' sat dere ahn sighed
"We dunnah know!""

>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Peam says, "Donno what's ye talkin' abouts..."
>Peam shrugs.
>Harlivan sings:

"Din mummah spied some cream on our faces
Ahn immediately got on our cases
"Why do ya gots pink cream on ya nose?"
"Dunnah ask us, we dunnah know?""

>Peam groans.
>(Peam wipes his nose.)
>Harlivan sings:

"Mummah din got so furious
So wif ah shinin' glint in her eye
Ahn a glance in tha sky
She prayed tah Koar tah keep from tannin' our hides!"

>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Peam fidgets.
>You notice Peam slip into a hiding place.
>(Harlivan sighs, a worried look appears on his face as his fingers 
strum faster on his lute.)
>Harlivan sings:

"So needless tah say ah admitted to our act
Peam gave me a glance, he knew ah would crack
Ah sobbed ahn tol mummuh he made me do it
Din Peam slaps me up mah head ahn said "Ah knew yew'd blew it!""

>You notice Peam slip out of hiding.
>Peam scowls at Harlivan.
>Peam exclaims, "Pah ye blew it!"
>Harlivan smiles innocently.
>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Harlivan sings:

"Ahn Mummah wif her face pure red
Ah was completely sure we'd be dead
But din she took us into ah lubin embrace
Ahn din ah felt like such ah disgrace."

>Peam ducks his head.
>Peam exclaims, "Head fer cover!"
>Kamerie glances at Peam.
>Harlivan sings:

"So in tha end our mummah forgibed us
We were mightly happy she didnah scream o' cuss
Bu' for good measuh she scolded us ahn said
"Do it ahgain, ahn i'll schmack ya upside yer lil heads!""

>Harlivan begins building a complex, upbeat melody in a major key, his 
fingers lightly springing over the strings.
>Peam leans on Harlivan.
>Peam grins.
>Harlivan leans on Peam.
>Harlivan grins.
>Harlivan nods to Peam.
>Paying complete attention to the lute's strings, Harlivan begins 
building an intense melody.
>(Harlivan gets more into the song, he smiles brightly and begins to 
dance a jig!)
>Peam's jaw drops.
>Peam exclaims, "Look dem feets go!"
>(Harlivan hops in place as his lute flows with notes, he plays so 
happily you can't help but feel a little good inside.)
>Paying complete attention to the lute's strings, Harlivan begins 
building an intense melody.
>(Harlivan slows down his pace and brings his dance to an end.)
>With a final dramatic flourish, Harlivan takes his fingers from the 
strings, letting the notes fade into a profound silence.
>Harlivan smiles a big smile and bows deeply.
>Peam grins.
>Peam bows.
>Gowain glances at Lorissia.
>Harlivan exclaims, "Tha end!"
>Peam grins.

>Lynda stands up.
>Lynda says, "I didn't write this, but I heard it many times before, and 
memorized it"
>Lynda smiles at Nytebrand, knowing that her singing annoys him.
>Lynda removes a maoral flute from in her white silk cloak.
>Taking a deep breath, Lynda begins to play long notes on her flute, 
slowly developing a melody.
>Lynda sings:

"When dreams enfold me,
Then I behold thee,
See thee, the same loving sweetheart of old."

>Lynda sings:

"Through seasons gliding,
Thou art abiding
In the depths of my heart untold"

Lynda sings:

"For I do love thee,
May God above his guarding care unfold."

>Lynda smiles , gives a small gesture, and a gentle breeze begins to 
swell in the room, swirling around a loving couple in the room.
>Lynda sings:

"Ah! could I meet thee
And have thee greet me
Come to me
Stand by me,
Love me as yore"

>Lynda smiles and gestures again, this time the breeze sweeps in dainty 
pink rose petals, gently blowing them over the couple in the shape of a 
heart.
>Long, drawn out notes emerge from Lynda's flute, her breathing slow and 
even.
>Lynda sings:

"Sadness outdone then, 
New life would come then, 
Such joy never known before"

>Lynda sings:

"For I do love thee, 
May God above thee, 
Bless thee ever more"

>Long, drawn out notes emerge from Lynda's flute, her breathing slow and 
even.
>Lynda sings:

"God bless thee!
Love, Bless thee!
Love."

>Lynda smiles and gestures one last time, stopping the breeze, and 
watching the rose petals settle on the floor around the couple.
>As her last note fades away like a sigh on the wind, Lynda lowers her 
flute.
Lynda put a maoral flute in her white silk cloak.
>Lynda smiles.
>Lynda curtsies.
>Lynda sits down.
>Lynda blushes a nice shade of off-pink.

Gravena removes a deep violet rose from in her spidersilk backpack.
Gravena sniffs at her violet rose.
>Gravena says, "I'd like to dedicate this to all the heroes of the 
lands."
>Gravena smiles.
(Gravena glances at her violet rose, and as she does, a violet mist 
begins to emanate from it, filling the room.)
>Gravena sings:

"When my dreams they lay asleepin'
And I thought I was alone
When my soul she was a weepin'
And I feared my heart was stone"

>Gravena sings:

"Then he came and whispered softly,
"Do not fear. This pain will end.
I'll be with you, dear," he told me.
And I knew he was my friend."

>(Gravena watches as from the mist she begins to see the form of a 
warrior and at his side a wolf.)
>Gravena sings:

"In the night when I was yearnin'
And the ache too much to bear
When my mind and thoughts were churnin'
And I knew no one would care"

>Gravena sings:

"Then he heard my cries of anguish
And he soothed my furrowed brow
"Never mind, dNever mind, dear, it's just livin'.
It's just what you're feelin' now."

>(Gravena watches as the violet-clad warrior pets his wolf and turns to 
look at her through the violet mist.)
Gravena sings:

"So I cried and let him see me
As no other man could do
And I died and let him free me
And my life began anew."

>Gravena sings:

""I'm still with you dear," he tells me
"I'll be here till journey's end.""

>Gravena sings:

"I would lay my life down for him.
He's my brother. He's my friend"

>Gravena smiles softly as her warrior begins to fade into the mist 
again.
>Gravena sings:

""Yes, I'm with you still," he whispers.
"Staying near till journey's end.""

Gravena sings:

"Aye, I'd lay my life down for him
For my brother . . . for my friend."

(Gravena watches as the mist begins to fade away until all that's left 
is the lingering sound of bagpipes on the wind.)
>Gravena sniffs at her violet rose.
>Gravena curtsies.
>Gravena blushes a nice shade of off-pink.
>Gravena sits down.

>Jhernish sings:

"Now, my dear friends, is the time of the year
When a young lad's eye turns to lasses
We spend most all winter drinking down beer
And now we lust out for each gal that passes."

>Jhernish sings:

"Why, my dear friends, must my eye be diverted
I can't shake this longing infernal
It seems that I always get called quite perverted
When the time of the year turns to Vernal."

>Jhernish sings:

"Now i've chased empath gals to heal my pain
I longed for their delicate touch
Now, my wounds gone but emotions remain
They sent me packing an such"

>Jhernish sings:

"So, I sought out a ranger for a time that was wild
I longed for a roll in the grass
But when I asked her to imbue my wand
She told me that she'd have to pass"

>Jhernish sings:

"I wandered down West Road kicking some rocks
When I met a most charming young gal
She was sitting in shadow, picking a box
I knew that she must be a pal
She fell for my charm and laughed at all my jokes
And even agreed to a trip to the inn
I quivered a little when she pulled out some ropes
I awoke with my silver pouch thin"

>Jhernish sings:

"Now I'm downhearted, being thrice scorned
The lasses, they run at my sight
So, my dear ladies, be fairly warned
Who knows whom I'll hit on tonight!"

>Jhernish bows.
>Jhernish smiles with the corners of his mouth slightly curled
>Jhernish renews his songs.
>Jhernish sits down.

>Peam recites:

"Here a lil tale bout how most us warriors get our jobs..."

>Peam grins.
>Without prelude, Peam begins a fast-paced tune on his mandolin.
>Peam sings:

"Oh, Me used to werk in Wehnimer's!
I used to werk thar in a store!
I used to werk in Wehnimer's!
Me don' werk thar anymoh!"

>Peam dances his fingers over the strings of his mandolin to weave a 
driving melody.
Peam sings:

"Ah lady came in fer a hammer!
Ah Hammer from the store!?"

>Peam dances his fingers over the strings of his mandolin to weave a 
driving melody.
Peam sings:

"Hammered she wanted
Nailed she got!
Me don' werk thar enymoh!"

>Peam whistles tunelessly to himself.
>With a final rapid pattern across the strings of his mandolin, Peam 
ceases his breathless playing.
>Peam bows.

>Aemergin stands up.
>Aemergin recites:

"This was written as a tribute to the woman I love, about the day we 
met."

>Aemergin gazes fondly at Kamerie.
>Kamerie winks at Aemergin.
>Aemergin sings:

"Standing tall, back held straight
Adventuring across the lands.
A warrior-bard was he,
With sword clenched firm in hand."

>Ahmeuseng smiles.
>Aemergin sings:

"A wandering soul lost to all
From town to town each day.
A sword for hire, a bard for rent,
Singing for food and fighting for pay."

>Aemergin sings:

"So on his way from Ice Mule Trace
He ran across this lass,
She was laying on her back
While a titan kicked .. the grass."

>Aemergin grins.
>Aemergin sings:

"He pulled his sword from scabbard
Slung low across his back.
And parried with that titan until
He gave it one good whack!"

>Aemergin sings:

"It dropped it's shield and stood there dazed,
It blinked and shook the stun.
But a'fore it could attack the lass
He slew it as it turned to run.."

>Aemergin sings:

"He gazed into her eyes,
And sighed with breath so shallow
It wavered when exhaled -
The sound of autumn swallows."

>Aemergin sings:

"He knew he'd found the one
That he'd known he'd never find,
And as he closed his eyes
Roaring silence filled his mind."

>Aemergin sings:

"Carefuly chosen words
Were spoken then and there,
Pulled from deep within
To convince her that he cared."

>Aemergin sings:

"He pulled her to her feet
And drew her into his arms,
Then asked her if she was safe
And free from any harm."

>Aemergin sings:

"The gaze t'was shared between them
All of history has ne'er known.
The power pulsing on that spot
Would break the strongest stone."

>Aemergin sings:

"With hands interwoven tightly
They walked through wooded vale.
Side by side they strode,
And so begins the Lover's Tale."

>Aemergin gazes fondly at Kamerie.
>Aemergin sits down.
>Kamerie waves to Aemergin.
>Aemergin leans on Kamerie.
>Kamerie giggles.