Ode to the Grand Melee

[lucesi]

*The Bard Vennis Haler can be seen and heard singing the following song in the taverns and public squares of Valkur's Roar*

Lo from far and wide many did journey,
To partake in Baron Crownsilver's prestigious Tourney,
To fight in honour of noble Aluxar,
Who's bravery and fame travels from afar,

From the high born to the low all were there,
Noble Houses with their sons and daughters fair,
Names of renown: Rothford, Crownsilver, Skatterhawk, Miller,
All claimed a champion to be a winner,

Many fine heroes (and vile villains) we did see,
To the cheer of the crowd with evident glee,
Swords sang and shields clashed,
As wounds were opened and tendons smashed,

Inns were busy and the taverns filled,
With fighters from every faction and guild,
Tall or short, strong or sly,
With wits and blades they did vie,

The axes and hammers of stout Oghrann,
Won much pride and honour for their Clan,
We were shown how to fight the good fight,
From the pious and gallant Triadic Knights,

How the crowd did boo and roar,
When the Black Ender threw Holance to the floor,
Yet with claps and song and much acclaim,
They cheered the end of the man of Bane,

For many twas Fiona they feared the most,
The Ace of Blades at their throats, [*spoken aside* including my own I might add, my that gal's tough]
Axes were sharp and swords unshorn,
From the sturdy figures of the Ironsworn,

The crowd cheered both the velvet and the steel glove,
Of the two champions of the Goddess of Love,
Sharpness of sword and mind was there to see,
In the warrior-scholars of Alizarin Academy,

Bets were placed and coins lost and found,
To see who Tymora blessed in each round,
Who would court the Lady Luck?,
As debts were collected and paid from Valera's book,

But happened in the final bout,
'Tween elf and dwarf who would win out?
He who rose to the victors box,
Was the swift and cunning sly old Fox,

Plaudits were given and honour was won,
By those taking medals from the Baron's son,
Yet this gleeful scene was not the end of the night,
For all were due a terrible fright,

Behold Vera Gudwerks with seeming good reason,
Accused the High Mage of terrible treason,
But the wise Baron would hear of no trial,
Twould be decided by 'Battle Royale',

With position at risk and much to lose,
A champion each they both would choose,
The new hero Fox chosen by the High Inquisitor,
Ezmerelda summoned a vile, twisted Minotaur!

Metallic skin and covered in rune,
It sprang on Fox to seal his doom,
For its hide a blade could not scratch,
The champion Sunite had met his match,

The Arch mage had played and won!
But still the Baron was not done,
For she was exiled and lost her position,
For bringing such an apparition,

But through magics she did disappear,
Leaving the Mad Bull causing all to quake in fear,
Through the town it ran amok,
Til through the gate it was beaten back,

For Vera too defeat loomed large,
She had failed in her unproven charge,
Struck from the council and as head of Law,
Her work at an end, her prospects poor,

So here ends the ode of the tourney,
A strangely glorious yet tainted journey,
A tale of cheer, sorrow and ill-luck,
As one might find in an old storybook...

[McGuffin]

A half-elven woman listens to the performance her narrow eyes gaze upon Vennis from under the brim of her feathered hat. When he finishes the song the woman turns to leave before the crowd of on lookers disburses. She finds her path through the crowd blocked by a young boy clapping wildly while his sister tries to remove a bronze spider that has somehow become tangled up in her long hair. The elven woman speaks to the clapping boy her face hidden by the Moon’s shadows. ”You liked that did you now, little fella?” She asks her calm voice not revealing the fury that abides deep within her. “I did, I did!” the little dirty faced boy said excitedly. The woman reached in to a satchel slung over her shoulder and took out a flower and held it out to the boy. “Well, do you know what the best part of that story is?” The woman asked as the little vagrant wiped his nose with his sleeve before wrapping his fingers around the stem. “No, What’s the best part?” the curious lad inquired. The woman’s clam stern faced expression slowly changed to that of anger as she whispered some enchanting words. The flower began to glow brightly the light revealing the woman furious eyes and clenched teeth. The narrow eyes heightened her beautiful cheeks down which a tear lost its battle with gravity. The woman spoke in a hauntingly stern voice that caused the child’s skin to crawl. “The best part is that it is not over yet.” The boy his attention caught by the suddenly fascinating flower looked away from the light to thank the mysterious woman but by the time his eyes adjusted from the light she was already gone.

[McGuffin]

A human woman with Kar-Turin features steps forward after the performance and reaches under an embroidered cloak revealing a fine dress of exquisite materials. Her delicate hand slips in to a heavy coin purse as she places a few near the bards collection area.

[lucesi]

Vennis gratefully receives the applause of the crowd, bowing and smiling. As he collects his rewards he arches a brow at the larger than usual coin purse, smiling to himself before bowing deeply to the generous giver.