A Land Far Away

A Human woman with sky blue eyes sings in the tavern of rivermoot.

"Hey all, happy to hvae you with me tonight. So today I have a song I want to share with youI call this song: The wrong mine!

So this song starts,
right in a bar,
A dwarf with an ale
and a lost brother.

(lute solo)

We came around
and said it won't be long
Cause we're gonna bring him home

To Bring him home...

So we start up
just a bard and monk
Staring up a hill of grass.

It can't be far just
got to find that place
just how hard can it be?
No time to rest!

We find a door with not a key
so started cutting and ramming,
punching and slamming,

but the door just gave a ding.

(dings on lute- more solo!)

"It was sheening most obstinately."

So we continued on up
found a new cave
goblins were grinning with glee

It got lucky and we
sounded a retreat
Not much to say
just had to run away!

"Yeah so we ran from goblins... we didn't want to be a treat."

Returning back with a tail between our legs
seems we got the wrong place
There wasn't much thinkin'
but we got back to drinkin,

"Hey, at least this parts easy"

Still there's a bro
and he's still undergroud
Still hasn't been found

"We'd do the same for you"


"hey, maybe you can help... why don't you help us out eh?"

Very good . . . . you get a round of applause from the room


However Grimrock seems a bit unhappy while deep in his cups . .

After the drink, the human woman pauses, noticing Grimrock, his face matching his namesake. After the applause and when things die down a little, she walks up to him, sitting down on the table with a somewhat more serious expression.

"Just a bit of publicity to get a larger group. Don't you fret, we will find your brother."

A bard's life could be so difficult. For every emotion charged, it can come at the expense of another. Certainly that was the way of Jesters, and she didn't want to be -that- to Grimrock.

She would encourage hearts, that was all... she vowed that to herself.

'A failure unsaid is a victory to the masses'

A human woman makes her way to seek Grimrock and provides the grim news. Her heart is heavy with sadness but more so given that all they encountered in the end, was a wall.

"My good dwarf, I wish I could bring you better news. We traversed the hills, enduring armies upon armies of armed goblins, knee deep in filth at times- higher for our brave halfling scout." She bit her lip slightly, remembering how close to death everyone had come, for in the end nothing but the attempt to bring some closure to Grimrock. "Alas, all we could find was evidence of a cave-in, with no way into the blocked off passage."

She paused a moment composing herself. Even though this had cost them in healing elixers, as well as time and effort.. risking life and limb, she could not really bring herself to ask for gold- certainly not for a failed mission so she continued her report. "I'm afraid we have no means of accessing the passage... and the chances of survival are slim. The goblins have claimed many of these caverns, making rescue attempts even more hazardous. Each of us who tried to help nearly died.... and while we gave everything we had it was... not enough. Once our resources- very limited resources- were depleated we were forced to turn away..."
We can not conclude your brother has passed with absolute certainty... but it is very likely now. I will... see what else can be done.". ... she had no wish to give up but... there was nothing they could do.

The woman takes a deep sigh and takes her leave. Outside she practices a new song as she tries to convert the emotions of the day. A day of failure and cowardace... or perhaps just wishing she could do more.

Journey up the hills,
Hails of arrows that kill,
Grim bloods bodies still,
Deathly cold chill.

We worked so hard
I'm just one bard,
A face maimed and charred,
Reputations marred.

Failure is just a word,
Not enough was learned,
How much risk and reward,
Who is the last coward...

What more can be done,
Without a healing salve
They fled all gone,
Without an experinced one.

How can I inspire,
When I fear expire,
They fear this fire,
I fear... I can not aspire...

A few people listen and nod their heads knowingly as they listen to the song


Grimrock shakes his head muttering " Bloody idiots is all I can find here. . . . .. Girl this place you say you saw all caved in doesn't sound like no mine to me. Was their mine tracks? Mine carts? Picks even? or any evidence of a camp about? . . . No I didn't think so . . . ."


LATER
This carefully crafted note is hung in place of his previous quick scrawl in Rivermoot, High Hold & Silvy
(( looks like he had someone professionally write this for him))
Grimrock Battlesmasher

Jaxon and the singer vs the Goblin Chief.

Upon a hill one must be wary
What lurks is a goblins fury
A held prisoner starts this story
Gather around it's not to scary.

Jaxon had a punch of might
It gave the goblins fright
he set about to do what was right
our quarry a mine lost in sight

Briefly speak of his companion
She's a woman of good intentions
Though she had many exceptions
Singing songs of inspiration

Jaxon fought with precision
Striking blows that caused incision
though certainly minded of his decision
Something of a burden in his position.

Dead-weight held him back
Singer beaten dead and black
Goblin armor barely cracked
Just something she lacked

The Prisoner held by iron
A key held by the chieftain
Jaxon had guile and Deception
The hoard suffered decapitation

To a heroes welcome he did find
To song and laughter blessings kind,
taking now a moment to unwind,
the words a singer had to find

- - -

Quietly and to herself.

Words come easy to her
Actions a string of failure
I only brought him danger
Maybe I am no adventure

I do many things wrong
I can only sing my song
With no place I belong,
My brother wishes I was gone

What in this world can I offer
when a single goblin makes me suffer
The goal always stretches further
Further Further and Further

A bard can be very little,
songs are just a penitence,
does my presence inspire grievance
How do I achieve reverence

Today I saw a man decimated. Drawn by words like a noose upon his neck, dragged through mud staining his soul... the one they call Toby, who's arts have placed a price. I am... no stranger to ugliness or taint. Perhaps I will wonder why humans born pure would dirty themselves ... perhaps excuses are made or they want it?

I shall call this song, the trial of Toby. Judged as he was by his peers.. a sentence awaits.

By rocks and shores we did gather,
A flickering flame lit of fire,
The gathering of ladies and sires,
For someone has hidden something dire.

Enter the accused! Bring him now!
Remove his clothes His soul to bow,
Let truth be seen in gaunt hide,
That magic illusion is despised.

The monster is revealed,
His hand bone and pealed,
Deathly eyes they did reel,
For shame was what he feels,

The debate was made with Very few clues
Of morality such that we must cling to virtues,
what is right and wrong just and good,
Of his fate and time to come soon.

Perhaps knowledge comes at a price or he did fall,
Under a powerful thrall while learning evil spells,
Yet his name is spoken with reverence and ringing bells,
Though now his peers they did see a great evil

What do I do when I wish no grievence,
When friends should not be a hinderence,
To allievate him from such deliverance.
Making such achievements in ignorance .

Pretty good OT. I think your PCs perspective is generous and naïve, but the song/poem is pretty good.

You should have your ingame bard do some poems. Might win over an elf or two... maybe

Shadowy friends. A song of paranoia.

Walking in the daylight sun,
Cast in shadows on this land of faerun
My friend is following me,
Just perhaps a bit awkwardly.

Hello my friend where are you? I really want to get to know you.

Don't be minding if You can't see.
I'll walk near you in ways shadowy
Silently stalking it's quite normal for me.
I rather not be beside thee.

My friend is a shadow!
Figment of my mind!
What a conundrum
How will I find?

Hello my friend why don't you stay? I really want to know about your day.

Oh Don't be minding, there be beasts to slay
You can come but will get flayed
Bring your best stuff to get donated
It gets me a step closer to my full plate

My friend is a shadow!
Is this not right?
Maybe they just like giving me a fright.

Hello my friend jolly good day. Back from an audience with the queen its claimed?

Oh don't be minding these are not worth saying
These are secrets you can't be knowing.
Now excuse me for this song be slowing,
Just keep walking ahead while I keep towing

My friend is a shadow.. walking behind me.
Walkng now and... is she still there?
My friend my friend... my friend?

Very pretty but sad.

Child born not from woman,
Oh holy baby in my unworthy hand,
Why do you not speak or react
Is love is not sufficient an act?

To judge me now oh holiest of holy,
Cast me down to a fate most gory,
My crime is that of my body,
Bearing horns The center of my story

Yet the holy child does not,
Staring with red eyes hot

It does not move or show her grace
My presence is just a disgrace.

For I am but a ghost with no emanations
Unseen,unworthy even for condemnations.

Would that I was someone of consequence
Instead I speak only to myself in solace.

Let not my words impede her destiny,
I continue to seek my own reality,

Let her be with those that are special
I am not born so entitled.
I will not accept such divIne judgements

For if there is Light against Darkness
it can only be found in Infinite kindness.
May a child one day show such true diviness.

Not for you to know...

In a crowd I hear the rabble,
I'm safe somehow in my bubble,
The words are becoming a jumble

Garagara! Ra Ra Farama Zen! (infernal: Rage and Hate Destroy them!)
The words... I no longer comprehend
What... what do they intend
How do I know if we are friends

Garagara! Ei Margoth'a! (infernal: Rage and Hate: they are not your allies.)
They speak it and whisper into my ears
Poisonous words filled with fear
yet... exhilaration as it all becomes clear

Garagara Garagara Gara! (Infernal: Rage and hate Hate and Rage Ra!)
Why do they speak their secret!
Must friends be as discreet,
while walking on the street,

Words I can not know or sing,
Words that have no meaning
Words that might about killing,
words of possibly mocking...

Excluded and outcast for that is what they do
They do it intentionally, purposefully to you
Feel the rage and the hate consume
Destroy and purge the tongue they spew!

... no... maybe I am just a common lass
How can I trust though such an impasse
When they can be so rude to cause distress,
For what they say I can only guess...

What need be said in secret tongues
That might cause me such alarm.
I do not trust them for it causes harm
They do not care for whom they shun

Rise above the fires of hatred
calm still springs and waters sprinkled
One can show respect when insulted
No true friends would speak encrypted