DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Skull Isle
HTML https://skullisland.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: High Captain Song
*****************************************************
#Post#: 101--------------------------------------------------
Gonna Take Some Time To Do The Things We Never Had
DIR By: High Captain Song
Date: July 15, 2023, 9:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The Players
High Captain Song, Frode of Kassau
Caedric the Tarnsman
The Setting
The nameless village by the Crossroads Docks
CONTINIUITY NOTE: This is set before the events of A Timely
Arrival
HTML https://skullisland.createaforum.com/high-captain-song/a-timely-arrival/.
Frode
The common room of the dockside inn is packed to capacity,
which astonishes me. I had made no secret of my presence in the
trading village, nor had I sequestered myself much beyond one
night in which the black mood was upon me. Still, I was not
expecting this much of a crowd when I let it be known I would be
playing an extended set in the small inn that night instead of
just showing up and offering a break to the local bard - a young
lad named Phineas who was still cutting his teeth and eager to
learn at the side of the famed Skald, who won the singing
contest at the Thing last year.
I'm playing old standards. The sort to please the sort of rough
sailing folk who frequent a place like this. The Assassin's
Lament. A Warrior's Joy. And of course A Eunuchs' Life Is Hard
(But Nothing Else Is!) None of my original compositions and no
stories of my recent activities helping protect this place. I
need not sing of my own accomplishments, though I do take pride
in them... limited as they are to showing up to rebuild the
docks the first time and securing aid to rebuild them a second
time and establish the militia now guarding the docks by night.
I'll take the praise and the smiles from the village women, but
I've made a point of paying for my inn room and refusing all the
other favors offered me. I've also ignored the talk of setting
up a statue in my honor, telling them to save that for if I ever
catch the ones responsible for the fires.
Damn me, but I think they expect me to do it now...
Caedric
leisurely flies over head on His tarn, taking in the sights¬
Caedric
¬pulls out His map, and scans the topography, looking from map
to land, and nods to Himself¬ This shoud be the place that
damnable bard set off to for His "performance".. now.. where to
land? ¬rolling the map back up and sliding in into its tube, He
scans the area below, looking for a suitable landing spot large
enough for His not-so-graceful old tarn to land.. which would
inevitably become more of a drop-and-flop after this long
flight¬
Caedric
¬finding what seems to be a suitable place just outside of the
dock town, He braces Himself for the jarring landing, and orders
Grumpy down, hanging on for dear life, His beard flailing behind
Him, almost losing His hat once more at the sudden drop¬
Frode
An ahn has passed and I've just finished leading a rousing
chorus of The Ten Maids of Hammerfest - a song that few
respectable bards will admit to knowing the lyrics to, much less
playing in public with the gusto I show. Indeed, Phineas look a
bit stunned at some of the choruses of the song, which outlines
the fates of the titular maids as they run afoul of a gang of
pirates at festival time and are soon maidens no more. I think
the lad may need some more instruction, but not the kind I am
inclined to offer. I make a note to send the one blonde tavern
wench who keeps coming to my room asking if I need anything to
him tonight. Purely for educational purposes of course, and not
just to get her out of my hair.
I take a quick quaff from my ale jack before holding a hand for
silence. "My friends, I'd like to thank you for the warm welcome
you've given me here these past few days. I am humbled, and
indeed gratified. Alas, I fear I will be leaving in the morning
for a time."
There are some howls of protest at this but I still hold my hand
up for silence.
"You have no need of me here. The men High Jarl Hrolf sent will
remain a time to guard the docks until they are satisfied the
ones who stay can manage the task. You still have your rangers
and foresters. And I will return someday. Have no doubt. But I
have a mate who waits for me at the Caravanserai. And I've been
away from her for far too long. So to close this evening's
session out before I turn things over to young Phineas and spend
the rest of the evening drinking and socializing, I will play
one final song. A song I started writing a long time ago but did
not finish until I met my woman."
I start plucking out a lively tune. It is jaunty and wiggly,
suggesting the spirit of a fire raging yet confined within a
hearth.
My heart aches for a woman I have oft seen in my dreams.
She’s as graceful as a larl and yet as savage as ten sleens.
She’s a storm upon the sea, that pushes rough waves to the
shore.
But the woman that I’m missing I have never met before.
I’ve sought her in the Northern forests, where Panther girls
roam.
I sought her in the southern plains, far from my coastal home.
I’ve searched in lands in times of peace and times of open war.
Yet the woman that I’m seeking I have never met before.
I searched for her among the fair that’s held in Sardar’s peaks.
I combed the Tahari Wastes for a span of several weeks.
I even climbed Mount Torvaldsberg, though it was quite a chore.
Yet cannot find this woman that I’ve never met before.
I searched Port Kar and other towns, where I oft risked my life.
I traveled on Turia’s plains, though it brought me great strife.
I searched in Ar and Ko-ro-ba, where mighty tarnsmen soar.
Yet still can’t find this woman whom I’ve never seen before.
Caedric
¬sliding off the old beast with a grumble, smoothing our His
disheveled clothing, and placing His hat firmly back ontop His
head, He tosses a baleful glare to Grumpy and grumbles under His
breath as He turns and marches His way into town, looking for
this dockside tavern. "Send Me half way across the world on a
fool's errand just to hear some pretty boy sing.. -grumbles-
Captn better be worth it.. must have a voice like a thousand
angels.. or at least sound less like a pregnant bosk in labour
than that LAST troubadore did in Venna. The things I do for a
pretty smile. She is probably back in Her pretty little house
drinking Her pretty little ka-la-na laughing Her pretty little
head off about the thoughts of this..
Caedric
¬it certainly didnt take long for Him to spot the small crowd
outside the establishment, all craning to hear the bard sing.
Sighing, He dusted Himself off once again, and made His way
through the small throng, to search for a spot inside to sit and
listen¬
Frode
I don't notice the old tarnsman who enters the common room so
intent am I upon my song. My strong baritone singing voice is
full of passion, but my chocolate brown eyes reveal a deeper
connection to the subject of this song. My love for the subject
is obvious and resembles those of the warriors of Koroba when
they hear the anthem of their city, The Towers of Morning.
I searched for her in Isanna, upon the savage plains.
I searched for her in Schendi, enduring the heavy rains.
Now I’ve loved many women, in every town in Gor,
But I’ve yet to find the dream woman who I’ve been searching
for.
I almost searched in Tharna, though I heard they don’t like
poets.
(Even when they refrain from asking Free Women to show tits.)
I searched among the Talunas and even in far Tor.
Yet still can’t find this woman, whom I’d never met before.
And so I seek this woman, though my quest is often sad.
My fellows balladeers have often said I must be mad.
I’ve sampled many women, from the Free to basest whore.
For the woman that I’m missing I have never met before.
In chasing dreams I’ve seen the world and had a lot of fun.
Until the blessed day I finally found my special one.
With hazel eyes and pale skin and hair just like Hel’s fires.
I know at last that I have found the one my heart desires.
Caedric
¬snorts in surprise as He listens to the captain sing of Malora,
and mumbles to Himself¬ well, fuck Me.. He's actually not bad.
Frode
The crowd slap their shoulder respectfully as I nod graciously
and turn the seat on the common room's small stage over to the
young bard Phineas. I pick up my ale and make my way out to the
porch where several people who couldn't get into the inn proper
are enjoying the show and the cool breeze off the Thassa as what
little light remains disappears along with the sun beneath the
green waves. I nod to the various people who thank me for all
that I've done, noticing the transman who seems to be regarding
me and is the first person in days not to be falling over
themselves to thank me for being a decent person.
"Tal, tarnsman." I say, recognizing his leather as someone who
must spend a good deal of time on one of the great birds of
prey.
Caedric
Tal, Captain. Nice song..
Frode
Thank you. It is one I put quite a lot into...." I then catch
that you addressed me as Captain rather than Skald, though I'm
not wearing my Captain's garb and I know I hadn't seen you
around the village before. "It is clear you know me, Tarnsman,
but I do not know your name."
Caedric
chuckles- Your reputation proceeds You..especially when a
certain Lady asks ever so sweetly to come fetch You home to Her.
I am Caedric. -bows slightly-
Frode
I chuckle at that. "Halfway around the world and she's still
checking up on me." I shouldn't be stunned but it is those
little touches that speak to our love. That and the fact that
she didn't gut me for going off to play hero in the first place.
"I am glad to meet you Cedric," I say, "But my reputation is
somewhat overstated, particularly when my Mate is concerned. I
take it there isn't some emergency requiring we leave
immediately if you're sitting here enjoying the show?" If there
were, I am sure Malora would have come herself if she were able.
And if she were not, well.... it would take a lot to keep me
away from her. There's nothing that 100 men or more could ever
do.
Caedric
When I left Her, all seemed well. She was a bit... annoyed.. at
You it seemed, but nothing was physically ailing Her. From the
glint in Her eyes, if I do not deliver You back to Her within
reasonable time, and unscathed.. well.. I shudder to think that
those words could not ve said of US, after. Something about
using Our blood to bless the plains, I believe She said.. Wild
dogs on the plains growing restless for our company, or some
such.
Frode
We'd best hurry then. But let me buy you a drink and cover your
inn room tonight. We can leave at dawn and I can start thinking
of how exactly I'll win myself back into her good graces." In
truth, it won't be that difficult. I have my tricks, which are
best not spoken of in polite company or out of it. Suffice it to
say, I think we we will all be happier once Malora and I are
reunited.
Caedric
shrugs- I would suggest We not dally.. though spending the night
I do not think would be unreasonable.
Frode
I don't think so either. I have no doubt of your ability, but I
know its easier to navigate a tarn by daylight. And I imagine
you could use a good night's sleep after the long flight.
Caedric
Indeed.. is a long flight, and neither Myself nor My tarn Are as
young or bendy as You kids... a good night's sleep and some
strong blackwine come morning, and we shall be right as rain.
... Lightning strike a bush Twenty gorean feet from where you
are standing ...
Caedric
starts a bit at the strike so near- plus it is no weather to
fly, it seems..
Frode
*nodding at the sudden storm and lighting strike* Aye. Best wait
until morning, I think.
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1