Most called him Eli the Wit, and though he was only with us for two seasons, his songs often lifted our spirits and pulled at our hearts.
These are his songs, as recorded by Mathias, Barkeep of the Daggerford Inn. Inked in rememberance of Elisaer the Wit.
Mathias wrote:A night as most others, found four heroes bold,
And I along with them, that story could be told,
We walked the long shadows, both weary and cold,
To come to the aid, of the keeper of Cromms Hold.
A worry had come, to the lands of the lord,
Tales of orcs and of serpents, a menacing horde,
So we left on an errand, as the rain stead'ly poured,
In the guise of the orc-kin, with a spear, and a sword.
To the tribe of the river, we five actors did go,
Information to find, plans that Lord Cromm would know,
But to gain such from pig-kin, they asked for a show,
And the dwarf that was orc, did trade blow for blow.
Grag Turd fought their champion, a mighty strong and big brute,
But the Hammer-Fell on the beast, cleaving trunk from the root,
As reward we gained answers, then turned on our boot,
And laughed aiming homeward, having played orc like lute.
But there in the road, a wide cage we found,
Blood and rock and heavy tracks, lay strewn 'pon the ground,
Something in the distance, gave a fearsome evil sound,
And the four brave and I, began to search all around.
On the road there stood death,
On the road there waits pain,
I saw at once my sure end,
Two Bullettes in the rain.
As big as a mighty castle!
And armored to their core!
I could not help but cry in terror,
For I knew I'd sing no more.
But then they came, those mighty heroes!
Shug the dwarf full to the charge!
Sargeant Nathan there beside him!
How they both seemed so large!
Goodlady Fellsparrow,
How she made that bow sing!
Arisar the proud elfin,
What a wonderous thing!
They took to the skirmish, and the Bullettes did fail,
I watched and I sang, and the beasts how they'd wail,
We five did defeat them, so raise up your ale!
And cheer for your heroes, that took beasts from the dale!
*waits for applause to die down...*
But to the story and the purpose, at good Lord Cromms Hold,
We five brought our tale-to-tell, and the room grew quite cold,
For though that battle was over, the war remained still untold,
And we offered our allegiance, the allegiance of five bold.
For there in the swamplands, terror grows in the mist,
Red eyes are gleaming outwards, scaly voices start to hiss,
The shadows stretch out longer, little seen... much is missed,
For in secret they are working, adding numbers to their list.
But for my part I will battle, beside the four ever will I try,
These friends I've come to know, make my spirits lift and fly,
I will watch the four with great awe, and news of victory I will cry,
They shall win the day, for this I know...
...the strength of friendship will never die.
Mathias wrote:'Twas happenstance, that brought me there
To camp beside Sou-Tower.
'Twas thing to see, sitting before me
On dark an' dismal hour.
A mighty group, of warriors true
To act in lord Cromms aid,
Against the red-eyed serpents
And defense of pending raid.
So we gathered camp, and started out
Seeking Lothar and his men,
Lord Cromm was cross, at these men lost
And asked we bring them in.
*takes a deep drink of wine, pausing to renew his voice and timing*
We set out on the road that day
and crossed many a terrible thing...
A lizard of stone-sight, giants of true might
But it is of the third I'll sing.
A hill that was covered in statues...
A caravan camped in their shade...
I'll ne'er forget how the children cried out,
Or the terrible screams that they made.
A slaughter was on in full fashion,
Gargoyles numbered true by the score...
We each had a part, when the cleansing did start,
But of us one did take heart to it more.
Most would call her Kallin Runefinder,
Some Sargeant, others simply dwarven lass.
But ever-after this day, whate'er name you might say,
Hold respect when your lips let name pass.
For she witnessed the deaths of those children...
And though none know the depths of a mage...
I saw a thing turn inside, as though a part of her died,
And her eyes gleemed with terrible rage.
The clouds became distant and darker,
The ground then did thunder and shake...
The air seemed to fragment and shatter,
All Toril seemed quite ready to break...
She fell on those beasts with a hunger,
Spitting curses and spells as she slew...
Never slowing in her cause, one to next without pause,
And the mountain of dead stead'ly grew.
With fire in her hands and her good heart,
Lightning in her eyes and her pace...
I watched as the terrible beasts stumbled,
Seeing death written plain on her face.
Those among us could scarcely imagine,
Such carnage and power and dread...
She took them to toll for their deeds on that day,
And every last foulwing lay 'round us dead.
*pauses a moment, looking to the faces of the patrons staring on in awe, hanging on for his next words...*
So now raise your ales in a toast friends,
To the one that did lead quick the charge...
She may not have the height of you goodmen,
But in our hearts she should stand there quite large.
And... whate'er the name you may mark her,
Keep a respect in your tone I beseech...
Milady Sargeant Runefinder, deserves such an' as reminder,
You may find a bards boot in your breech!
Mathias, by way of witnesses, wrote: ** A spectral bard was seen one night floating above 'Mt. Shug' weeping and singing a solemn tune, honoring his friend **
So many roads to wander,
So rugged is the way,
So few the nights to ponder,
As you walk along the way.
Whate'er road your feet find,
Whate'er path you choose,
Always keep to heart and mind,
Those friends too oft' you lose.
For the road is more than dusty earth,
There is rock and stone below,
There are markers of a hero's worth,
Where'er wanderers may go.
And here you honor one such,
A dwarf you knew as friend,
Grag Turd, Old Troll and o'ermuch,
You called him Alekins End.
But here you name him Hammerfell,
And remember Shug with care,
So keep his name and mem'ry well,
When treading 'round this air.
He may sit beside the Allforge,
And he may travel to his kin,
His time with you is over,
But he is far from his paths end.
So true the heart he carried,
So very fierce his axe's aim,
As you pass this stone lift head and say,
"Shug Hammerfell was his name".
** The spirit touched the rock fondly before fading... into nothing... **
