Parthenope
Concert, 11/7/1998, Dreamheart’s Concert Series, Baearholt's Farmhold
As transcribed by
Mykk Dalys
It has been 355 years, 377 days since the Victory of
Lanival the Redeemer.
It is the 10th month of Nissa the Maiden in the year
of the Emerald Dolphin
It is currently winter.
It is noon.
A thick bank of grey clouds fills the sky from
horizon to horizon.
[Baearholt's Farmhold, Taproom]
Dark oak beams criss-cross the low whitewashed
ceiling in the taproom of Baearholt's Farmhold. In the corner, a bard sits on a tall stool playing a rapid melody
on her gittern as patrons join in a hearty drinking song and sample the quality
meads and ales for which Baearholt's is known.
You also see a menu, a polished mahogany counter with some stuff on it
and a narrow door.
***********************************
***********************************
Priestess
Parthenope Medusean, a Human
Ahira
Bandy-Legs (sorry, no further
information available)
Storyteller
Ailill Dreaghnean, a Human Bard
Defender
Belegol DragonsSon (sorry, no
further information available)
Cemm
Marcolin, a Human Warrior Mage
Dreamheart
Delaevan, a Human Bard
Woundbearer
Emeria (sorry, no further information available)
Jaiat (sorry, no
further information available)
Jowanee
Maybee (sorry, no further
information available)
Laureate
Khory Deshah, a Human Bard
Kienman
Schada (sorry, no further
information available)
Larisah
Darwenwood, an Elf Bard
Ranger
Littlefoot Elmseed, an Elf
Lothias
DeRuyter (sorry, no further
information available)
Mocras
Silivith, an Elothean Moon Mage
Nekayah
Astyrel, an Elothean Bard
Scout Waddee McNibbin (sorry, no further information available)
Wise
Fish, Clever Fish, and Stupid Fish
Brave
Little Sister Alyonushka
"Once
there was a wandering man"
Encore:
Your mind hears Ailill thinking, "don't anyone
ferget that Parthenope will be performin tonite at Baerholt's in about 45
minutes"
Your mind hears Dreamheart thinking, "Come one,
come all, in a little over 30 minutes, the End of the Week Concert begins at
Baearholt's Taproom, which is just a few steps up the Trade Route as you go out
the NorthEast Gate, turn at the Twisting Trail!"
Dreamheart exclaims, "Welcome everyone!"
Dreamheart says, "Last week, even in the utter chaos
of the terror that reigned across the land, we met here and many people shared
spooky stories."
Dreamheart says, "Tonight, we are priviledged
to enjoy just one storyteller on the stage tonight."
Dreamheart says, "The refreshments are on the
Bar. Please remember to keep your noise to breaks..."
Dreamheart says, "and give our performer,
Parthenope, your full attention as she weaves one of the oldest of magics for
us this night."
(Dreamheart lifts her glass to Parthenope.)
Dreamheart says, "The stage is all yours."
Parthenope quietly says, "well, I'm sort of new
at this.. "
Parthenope quietly says, "I'm sure we all need
a smile or a laugh after the past events.."
Parthenope quietly says, "so I'll start the
night with a rather light hearted fable of a tale, being a Priestess and all I
can't help but have one dedicated to Eluned and her aspects..."
Parthenope clears her throat.
Parthenope says, "Wise Fish, Clever Fish, and
Stupid Fish lived in a pool at the bend of a river. Upstream and downstream,
the water ran fast and rough, over rocks through narrow channels. At this
place, though, the water was quiet, deep and spread out wide between sandy
banks. It was the nicest spot on the whole river, and the fish were very
pleased with themselves for having found it. "
Parthenope says, "Sharing the pool had been
Wise Fish's plan. "
Parthenope says, ""It is too large an area
for one fish to defend," he'd said. "And if too many fish came in,
there wouldn't be enough food to go around. Now, none of us could keep control
on his own. However, if all three of us work together, sharing foodand defense,
then we shall enjoy long and happy lives." "
A young wolf pants loudly.
Parthenope says, "Clever Fish spoke up at
once."
Parthenope says, ""Truly, truly, truly you
are the wisest fish on the river," he said. "I'm completely bowled
over at the power of this idea. I would never have thought of it myself, but
now that you've said it, I can see it all clearly." "
Parthenope says, "And he went on to rattle off,
very quickly and with no apparent effort, a very complex plan for putting Wise
Fish's idea into effect. He suggested a schedule of feeding times. He broke the
day and night into watch patrols, explaining how to adjust for the shorter days
of winter. He considered the different kinds of food and the different ways
they could go about sharing them, and even had a "rough notion"
(which took twenty-five minutes to explain) about resolving disputes among the
three of them. "
Parthenope says, "In short, he laid out
everything so clearly, and in such detail, that even Wise Fish praised his
cleverness, and the practicality of his approach. Stupid Fish hadn't understood half of it, but knew Clever Fish
would repeat it to him slowly, when Wise Fish wasn't around. For the moment, he
said only: "This has given me a lot to think about. I think I'll go and
take a nap". For a long, long time, that's the way it was. "
Mocras takes a sip of his ale.
Parthenope says, "Then, one day, the three fish
were swimming together when they saw a pair of fisherman looking down at them
from above the surface of the water. "
Parthenope says, " "O, ho-ho!" said
one fisherman to the other."Those three will make a dandy meal! You stay
here and keep an eye on them; I'll unpack the nets." "
Parthenope says, "No sooner had he heard those
words, than Wise Fish saw the situation and understood it for what it was.
"It's hopeless!" he said. "Run for it!" And with a few
powerful strokes of his tail, he disappeared around the bend. Once out of the
pool, he knew, he'd be safe amid the rocks and rushing water. "
Parthenope says, ""Hey!" said the
fisherman who was watching. "One of them just took off!" Clever Fish paused for a moment. Maybe he
was too surprised. Maybe he was too afraid. Maybe, just maybe he didn't want to
admit that his clever planning couldn't stop the fishermen. His head swarmed
with strategies and tricks,with maneuvers, plots, and improvisations. By the
time he realized that Wise Fish was right, the fishermen had draped a net over
the entrance to the upstream channel. "
Parthenope says, " "There's always the
back door," Clever Fish said, and raced downstream to get away. But even
as he swam, he saw another net drop before him, completely blocking his
escape. Clever and Stupid Fish swam in
circles. "I'm not
worried,"Stupid Fish said."You'll think of a plan. You always do. In the
meantime, I think I'll take a nap." "
Parthenope says, ""Nap!?" shrieked
Clever Fish. "Nap?! Are you out of your mind? We have to use our
heads!" "You use yours for
planning, I'll use mine for napping."
Clever Fish argued and coaxed and begged and cursed, but Stupid Fish was
just too used to letting others do his thinking for him. He sank to the bottom
in a deep sleep, relying on Clever Fish as he had always done. But Clever Fish
relied on Wise Fish, and Wise Fish was gone. His mind raced this way and that,
but without Wise Fish's words to guide them, a"
Parthenope says, "But no sooner did he hit
bottom than a desperate plan sprang up in his mind. It wasn't a Wise Fish kind
of idea, but the practical trick of someone Clever. He rolled to the surface
with his fins in the air, not even moving his eyes or gills. "
Parthenope says, "Hey," said the first
fisherman. "That one's dead. It's floating on the surface, and I'll bet it
smells." "Well, clear it out
of there," said the other. "We don't need that fouling up the
nets." So the first fisherman poked it with a stick and pushed it past the
net at the downstream end of the pool. Clever Fish floated around the bend, and
soon was safely out of sight. "
Parthenope says, "'By the time Stupid Fish woke
up, the net had closed around him and his doom was sealed. The fishermen cooked
him up then and there; all that fishing had made them hungry. "
(Parthenope smiles, brushing a few strands of hair
out of her face..)
Parthenope says, "To Eluned, the wise,
Lemiscus, the Clever, Drogor, the anti knowledge.."
Parthenope says, "A good story to tell to your
gods when y'wish to favor them."
Parthenope says, "now we all know there are
stories which have been told too many times, ache, bah, I've a husband to
support"
Parthenope says, "Well, we all know there are
those stories that have been told countless times."
Parthenope says, "Normally I don't tell them,
but then I recall that they are told so many times for a reason..."
Parthenope says, "We have the one of the
Brilliant firebird and the journey to attain it.."
Parthenope says, "Or.."
Parthenope says, "Brave little Sister
Alou..."
Parthenope asks, "Which one will it be?"
Parthenope says, "Your choice"
Parthenope says, "Well, females are rarely the
heroines of stories, rather, just aids, so I will tell both my stories where
females are actual charachters"
Parthenope says, "Not just pawns to aid the
hero's glory.."
Parthenope smiles as she sips her mead...
Parthenope says, "First the one told many times
then one told all too little.."
Parthenope says, "Once upon a time, in a land
far far away, a brother and sister walked together down a long road. The
sister's name was Alyonushka, and her brother was called Ivanushka. The two had
been walking a long time when they came to a cow's hoof filled with water.
"May I drink form it sister?" Little Ivanushka asked. "No, or
you will turn into a calf." Alyonushka answered. Little Ivanushka was very
thirsty, but obeyed his sister. He obeyed her again when they came to a horse's
hoof filled with "
Parthenope says, "The brother and sister walked
along further, and Ivanushka became increasingly thirsty. Then they came upon a
goat's hoof filled with water. "May I drink from it?" Ivanushka
asked. Alyonushka once again was firm, "No, if you do you will turn into a
kid." But this time the boy disobeyed his sister and on his first sip
turned into a little goat."
Parthenope says, "Alyonushka sat on the rode
crying when a merchant drove by and inquired about her trouble. Alyonushka
explained the situation to him, and he said that if she married him they could
live happily with the goat. Alyonushka agreed, and so they lived happily this
way for some time."
(Parthenope sighs, thinking she needs to talk a bit
slower on some of these tales)
Parthenope says, "Then one day an evil witch
tricked Alyonushka into going down to the river, where she tied a stone around
her neck and threw her in. The witch then took on Alyonuska's form and lived as
her for awhile. Only poor Ivanushka new the truth about his sister. Little did
he know that the witch had plans for him too. When the wicked woman overheard
him one day talking to his sister in the lake, she decided to ask the merchant
to kill the little goat."
Parthenope says, "It was hard for the merchant
to agree to kill Ivanushka, as he loved the goat like a person. But, begin
deceived by the witch, he felt his wife's wishes to be the most important.
Ivanushka asked the merchant if he could go to the river for one last drink
before he died, and the merchant agreed. There at the river's edge the goat
cried out to his sister, and she answered him that she couldn't help him with a
stone tied around her neck. Neither the brother or sister realized that this
time a peasant had overheard their conversation, and was on his way to stop the
merchant form killing Ivanushka."
Parthenope says, "Upon hearing the peasant's
story, the merchant ran to the river, found Alyonushka, and took the stone from
around her neck."
Parthenope says, "Hrm.."
Parthenope furrows her brow.
Parthenope asks, "I suppose now I remembered
why I don't tell such old tales so often?"
Parthenope covers her mouth with her hand.
[ed. note: Obviously, her script failed her.]
Parthenope says, "I think I'll pass on Peter
and the Firebird next performance if there is one..."
Parthenope says, "Let's move on to a story with
deeper meaning..."
Parthenope says, "A love story of sorts.."
Parthenope says, "Between Damaris in one of his
many gueses, and a young princess by the name of Nada..."
Parthenope recites:
"Today I tell you a tale, starting in a city and it's land, a
fertile land with many fruit trees, fat, plentiful, slow animals, simply close
your eyes and throw a spear and your meal would be on the end of it. The city was built of glass and spread
farther then a man could walk in a day."
Parthenope recites:
"And
in that city, there ruled a queen, she was called Nada. By the time she reached her sixteenth year,
she was the most beautiful woman the sun had ever seen in his travels across
the sky. She ruled wisely and she ruled
well, and when she said do this, it was done."
Parthenope recites:
"But.... She had no
man. For when the women of her realm
would say to her that she should take a husband, she would turn to them and say
"Where is the man for me then?" and the women would fall
silent."
Parthenope recites:
"One
day a stranger came to the city. Tall he
was and dressed all in black, flames danced in the depths of his robes, his
eyes were stars in deep pools of dark water, and he said nothing to any
man."
Parthenope recites:
"But
the night he came to the foot of the queen's tower and he looked up and Nada
looked out of her window and she saw him below her and her heart was stolen
away. That night she did not
sleep. When morning came, she ordered
that the stranger be brought to her but the stranger was nowhere to be found in
the city."
Parthenope recites:
"The
queen ordered that men go out and find the stranger. They hunted in the forests and on the mountins and in the
deserts but they could not find the man. So Nada wept inside for she knew that
she had found love and lost him."
Parthenope recites:
"She
went into the forest until she found the King of the Birds and told him her
story. "Be he man or god, I will find him for you Nada, for are we not
kings and queens together?" And
the great bird summond all the birds of the air to his throne and he demanded
of all of them, "Have you seen this man" and each bird said
"no" until it seemed that there were no birds left..."
Parthenope recites:
"But
there was one more bird, a white weaverbird, so tiny that they overlooked
it. "Little weaverbird, have you
seen this man?" said the king. The
little bird nodded, she had seen this man late one night, beneath the moon, he
had smiled at her and given her grain to eat.
Then, he vanished."
Parthenope recites:
"The
bird king nodded and replied "So, this is no man, no god, but something
else. Forget him Nada. Find a man of flesh, bone, and skin, the
other can never me yours...""
Parthenope recites:
"And
Nada lowered her head and she left that place but the weaverbird followed her
and said to her "I have heard that there is a tree that grows on the
mountains of the sun and on that tree grow berries of flame and if a human were
to swallow a berry of this tree, it would take them to the side of thier true
love""
Parthenope recites:
"How
am i to get a berry from that tree?"
Nada asked the weaverbird and the little bird says "I will fetch it
for you""
Parthenope recites:
"The
little bird flew up into the sky so high that it vanished from sight while the
queen waited below. For a day she
waited and at the end of the day she saw a speck in the sky above her. it was the weaverbird, but it had been burnt
a deep brown by the heat of the sun and in its beak it carried a berry from the
trees that grow in the mountin of the sun."
Parthenope recites:
"The
weaverbird dropped the flaming berry of the sun tree on the ground in front of
Nada's feet, the queen picked it up and said to the weaverbird "For what
you have done no one of this land will ever harm you kind little bird" and
so it was forbidden in that realm to eat the flesh of a weaverbird or harm
it. And Nada went back to her
palace...."
Parthenope takes a sip of her mead.
Parthenope recites:
"And
there she went to her room and swallowed the fire berry though it seared her
throat and she feel down as if in a deep sleep. Her soul was pulled out and her spirit went walking. It seemed to her that she was in a darkened
world. She came across two brothers,
arguing over some sort of sacrice, one gave fruit, the other meat. One brother killed the other then walked
down the road, she said to the brother who was dead "What is this
place?" he replied "this is the dreamworld my lady, this "
Parthenope recites:
"She
walked up to the house and went in to it.
The guardians let her pass because they could feel the fire berry
flaming inside of her. In the throne
room she saw Kai'Ckul, the Dream Lord on his throne and his head was hidden, he
said to her "Who are you, why do you come here?""
Parthenope recites:
""I seek a stranger for I love him, flames dance in the
blackness of his robe, his eyes are stars in pools of deep water. He came to my tower one night, looked up at
me but he said nothing' At this Kai'Ckul removed his mask and she saw before
her the stranger who had stood beneath her tower in the city of glass."
Parthenope recites:
"And
her heart sank within her for she had confessed her love to one of the endless who are not gods and will never
die like gods and in the twin stars of his eyes, she saw he loved her
too."
Parthenope recites:
"Terror seized her heart and she coughed and coughed until she
coughed up the fire berry onto the floor of the dream lord's throne room and
she awoke to her own room, standing beside her was the dreamlord "Why did
you hunt me? he asked her. "Why did you flee me?" he questioned.
"I hunted you because I love you more then mortal man has ever been loved
by a woman and I fled you because it is not given to mortals to love then
endless, only disaster can follow from it.
Disaster for you, for me, for"
Parthenope recites:
"But
Kai'Ckul shook his head "never has one loved me enough to seek me out,
never have I seen another woman I would take for my own. I would marry you nada and make you queen of
my dreamworld to rule the dreams of all that dream by my side, to be with me
forever, never to die as mankind knows death, and this I swear by the ruby on
my chest" at this Nada was deathly afraid for though she loved him, she
knew this was not ment to be and she could not contenance his destruction and
hers for love is"
Parthenope recites:
"So
Nada took the form of a gazelle and ran until she could run no more but he came
after her as a hunter and slew the gazelle, then she took on her own form again
and ran into the wasteland, still her pursued her, she climbed a high mountain
but he still came. "He wants me to
be his bride" she thought, "so if I guve up my virginity he will not
want me" "
Parthenope recites:
"So
she took a sharp rock and with it took her maidenhood and she spilt her virgin
blood on the earth where the blood fell, red flowers grew and she turned,
Kai'Ckul stood there before her.."
Parthenope recites:
""You know I am no virgin?" she said expecting him to
leave her be. "I am no mortal man
and I love you as no mortal man could what matters your body to me?" And he touched her sex with his hand and at
his touch she was healed completemy but her maidenhood was not restored."
Parthenope recites:
"Then he took her hand and drew her into the darkness of his robe
and there in the flames and the darkness they made love. All that night they stayed together and
every living thing that dreamed, dreamt that night of her face and her body,
the warm salt taste of her sweat and her skin and every living thing that could
dream, dreamed of love."
Parthenope takes a sip of her mead.
Parthenope recites:
"When the sun arose that morning and saw the two of them together
it know that something that was not meant to be but happened. A blazing fireball fell from the sun and
burnt up the city of glass, razing it to the ground leaving just a desert. From the mountaintop, Nada saw the sun throw
down the fireball, saw her city melt, saw her land become a parched
wasteland. "this is because of
what we did, and worse will come if I stay by your side" she said to
him."
Parthenope recites:
"And
then she took the Dreamlord, her lover by the hand, as lovers do, pushed
herself to him, then released his hand and before he knew what she was about, Nada
threw herself off the mountain and her body was dashed to death on the rocks
below."
Parthenope takes a sip of her mead.
Parthenope recites:
"After Nada died, her spirit awoke to itself in the forest of the
borders of the realm of death and she knew there was one standing behind her,
she turned and the dreamlord was there.
"You have hurt me, you could have been my queen, but instead you
chose the realm of death" He bellowed, Nada hung her head low. "once more I will offer my love to you,
once more and that is all, if you refuse me a third time I will condemn your
soul to eternal pain. "
Parthenope recites:
"So
I ask you sweet love, for the last time, will you be my queen? Answer me!" said Kai"ckul the
Dreamlord to the dead Queen. "
Parthenope recites:
""how can I be your queen?" she asked him, "For my
people are no more because of what I did and my city is a waste, if I were to
stay with you more still, darker things would happen. mortals do not marry the endless my love, now leave me to the
realm of death Dreamlord, forget me" and she walked down the sunless road
into the realm of death."
Parthenope recites:
"But
he caught up with her "PLEASE" she begged him, "Do not ask me
again to be your bride, for if you ask me again I must refuse again and if I do
that you will condemn me to eternal sufferring.... So leave me lord....""
Parthenope takes a sip of her mead.
Parthenope quietly asks, "and what have we
learned from this Story?"
Parthenope smiles slightly..
Parthenope quietly says, "I've always liked,
that sometimes, no matter how right things are.."
Parthenope quietly says, "they just cannae
be..."
Parthenope quietly says, "issues of the heart
usually are..."
Parthenope says, "For the next story..."
Parthenope says, "For our next tale, I was not
here for the fright night but I have my own tale of macabra, a little tragedy
gone a bit too far this time with the much needed revenge..."
Parthenope clears her throat.
Parthenope says, "Once there was a wandering
man who loved all the pretty women folk..."
Parthenope says, "From town to town he went,
loving them and leaving them."
Parthenope says, "One day in a forest between
to towns, fleeing from one hoping to find prey in the next"
Parthenope says, "he saw a lady with beauty
near equal to those whom watch above and aid those below. She bathed under a waterfall wearing nothing
but her birthday suit."
Parthenope says, "Quickly he searched till he
found her clothes and hid them in a hole waiting till she was done with her
bath..."
Parthenope says, "When she left the pool she
asked him if he saw what rougue fled with her clothes for she had not another
pair on her."
Parthenope says, "He smiled holding charm and
bowed with a wolfish smile and told him he was that rougue"
Parthenope says, "When she requested that she
have them back he agrees though only on the terms that she becomes his lady
love."
Parthenope says, "she agreed to be his lady love,
if he would marry her at the first church they came to."
Parthenope says, "to this he agreed. She asked him what should happen if he broke
his word. To this he replied"
Parthenope says, "If I break my word, may our children
grow wings of swans and fly away never to be seen again. He thought to himself no big deal if they
do."
Parthenope says, "If I break my word may my
body be meal for the worm. That will
happen anyways, he thought."
Parthenope says, "So they kissed..."
Parthenope says, "So they hugged..."
Parthenope says, "so they lay upon the ground
and did much more then that..."
Parthenope says, "On the road after, they came
to a church."
The bandages binding Ahira's back soak through with
blood as it begins bleeding again.
Parthenope says, "with a smile of hope and good
will, she requested that they get married there."
Parthenope says, "no' he replied. "the sexton is out a hunting and the
vicar is no friend of mine either'"
Parthenope says, "She said nothing but looked
at him as though her heart would break."
Parthenope says, "They came across the second
church the lady's stomach swelling."
Parthenope says, "Let us get married here my
love! she spoke with joy."
Parthenope says, "no he said The Vicar is a
sick man and the sexton is no better."
Parthenope says, "but... You promised..."
Parthenope says, "She said sadly in her soft
voice."
Parthenope says, "wi0h this he spun around palm
in contact with her cheek, knocking her to the ground.."
Parthenope says, "when she stood her face was a
bleeding and in a quiet voice breaking with tears she asked "So that is
how it is?""
Parthenope says, "So that is how it is he growled and started to continue
walking."
Parthenope says, "Making herself go numb she
spoke again I need to rest for our baby is ripe and ready.. She rubbed her rounded stomach"
Parthenope says, "Fine wait here by the road
and I will go ahead and find a place he said."
Parthenope says, "She waits by the road while
he walks ahead till he comes to a cottage."
Your mind hears Ashyleyy thinking, "Shol...you
need to shush on the notes, we already been threatened by one about talking
about them on the gweths"
Parthenope says, "She waits by the road while
he walks ahead till he comes to a cottage.
He enters the cottage to see a
lady weak and old lying in her bed. he plugs up her nose and places her hand
over her mouth till she breaths no more.
He drags her out and buries her behind the little house"
Parthenope says, "He returns to the waiting
lady burdened down with a child. We are
in luck, my dear old great aunt just passed 'way and left me her cottage just
ahead"
Parthenope says, "So, to the cottage he brings
her. "
Your mind hears Ashyleyy thinking, "I don't
want to lose my gweths too, so...just don't talk about the notes on the
gweth"
Parthenope says, "He stays with her till thge
baby be borne, though it was out of the way, there was a vegetable garden, and
before long, he is back to his tomcatting ways across the countryside.."
Parthenope says, "Loving them and leaving
them. Visiting a few days every few
weeks, bringing back a pig, sheep, a chicken, and such so they would not
starve."
Parthenope says, "In this time, the woman bores
daughters more."
Parthenope says, "One day when the father
returns, the three girls are gone(For the became the apple of his eyes..)"
Parthenope asks, "He askes the lady, where are
my girls?"
Parthenope says, "they are out picking
berries. She replies avoiding his
eyes"
Parthenope asks, "In the springtime?"
Parthenope says, "in the springtime...."
Parthenope says, "when night rolls round, he
asks..."
Parthenope asks, "Where are the jewels I can
never buy?"
Parthenope says, "Out fishing..."
Parthenope asks, "Even the baby?"
Parthenope says, "The lady remains
silent..."
Parthenope says, "When morning comes, he
demands"
Parthenope exclaims, "where are the apples of
my eyes?!"
Parthenope says, "She says nothing..."
Parthenope says, "he beats her visciously,
relentlessly pleading for her to change her story while she takes the blows
crying passively"
Parthenope says, "finally... She yells"
Parthenope exclaims, "STOP! NO MORE!"
Parthenope exclaims, "I WILL TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENED TO OUR CHILDREN!"
Parthenope says, "She speaks with strength
though her body is beaten and broken tears flowing and mingling with pools of
her blood on the floor..."
Parthenope says, "then in a voice quiet and
scared she says"
Parthenope says, "they have grown swan wings
and flew away...."
Parthenope says, "His jaw drops..."
Parthenope says, "stunned..."
Parthenope says, "He starts to again beat her
demanding she does not lie..."
Parthenope says, "Hitting her with whatever he
can find..."
Parthenope says, "his hand finds the handle of the
butcher knife he uses to kill the beasts he brings back..."
Parthenope says, "and in one fluid motion the
line between her life and death is severed with one smooth sweep as the blood
pours from her severed hand..."
Parthenope says, "The man hears a noise outside
and quickly pushes the lady's body under the bed..."
Parthenope says, "The door swings open..."
Parthenope says, "Then in walks three girls
with milky skin and wispy gold hair, just as beautiful as she under the bed
once was... 2 white wings upon each of
thier backs..."
Parthenope says, "The middle one little more
then 5 hides behind the oldest one's legs whom is most likely 10 and holds the
babe in her arms... She dazedly places
the baby girl on the ground who starts to crawl around. The girls are looking at the bloody room
with wide eyes..."
Parthenope says, "the oldest speaks"
Parthenope asks, "Why is there blood everywhere
my father?"
Parthenope says, "I was slaughtering a pig for
your dinner my dear child. he replies."
Parthenope says, "the middle one speaks
"Where is our beloved mother?""
Parthenope says, "Out picking berries he cooly
replies."
Parthenope says, "his lies are not enough for
the baby lets out a scream as she peeks under the bed... The alabaster and blood splashed face
staring back at her with glassy, empty eyes."
Parthenope says, "The others rush to see what
troubles the child and as soon as they see too they all turn upon the father,
clawing at him untill he too is dead as the mother..."
Parthenope says, "with that, the three girls
fly out the door never to be seen by eyes of man again..."
Parthenope says, "When the man was sure he was
dead, he stood up and brushed himself off and looked around. Upon the bed was the lady with talons sharp
and long, teeth jagged and bared, flesh foul and rotted, awaiting him to join
her"
Parthenope says, "His eyes shoot open in
disgust and terror as he runs from the house..."
Parthenope says, "he cries out shouting to the
storming sky in the pouring rain"
Parthenope exclaims, "LIGHTNING STRIKE ME DEAD
WHERE i STAND!"
Parthenope says, "but..."
Parthenope says, "it could not for he was
already dead..."
Parthenope says, "he ran untill he came to a
bonfire burning bright and cried"
Parthenope exclaims, "Fire bright and
strong! Burn me to ashes and
dust!"
Parthenope takes a sip of her mead.
Parthenope says, "But the fire is so shocked
and overtaken by the chill of death, it extinguishes to quickly cooling
coals."
Parthenope says, "he throws himself on the
ground and wails"
Parthenope gets a flask of Glythtide's Favor from
atop a polished mahogany counter.
Parthenope exclaims, "Earth! Send up your worms to eat me into
oblivion!"
Parthenope says, "His wrists are grabbed by
skelatal hands. Those of the crone he
killed long ago."
Parthenope says, "From the ground comes a worm
long as a thousand worms, thick as a hundred..
The worm's face is that of the lady, even the hair be there, long and
matted with coagulated blood..."
Parthenope says, "He screams and yells, but it
is to no avail.. she licks her long,
sharp, worm teeth with her long pointy worm toungue, before letting the slick
toung move all over his body from his neck to his thighs not an inch it did not
cover, whispering his name again and again into his ear... He begs for the
long, slim worm to kill him, but she says with a cackle"
Parthenope takes a sip of her Favor.
Parthenope hiccups.
Parthenope says, "No, for a meal this good is
to be enjoyed slowly..."
Parthenope says, "She roars and all other worms
flee from his body..."
(Parthenope scans over the room, green eyes
solemn..)
Parthenope says, "again she starts to caress
his body with her toung reeking of death and decay... The beast's toung finds it's way to his cheek and starts to lick
in circles there..."
Parthenope says, "And with that she reaches
down and takes a delicate bite from his cheek..."
Parthenope recites:
"To
Be'ort, god of bitter partings
Zachriedek, needlessly harsh and cruel
Asketi,
crone of destruction
Kerenhappuch, the mad seductress
Dergati, the vengess goddess of Nightmares"
Parthenope recites:
"Trothfang, lover of slow, painful deaths
Huldah,
the deciever
Ushnish, of dischord
Idon,
the lord and leaders of rouges
Botolf,
dishonesty and deciet
Aldauth
- the faceless god of agony, torturers, fear, "
Parthenope quietly says, "sorry, can't help but
dedicate to the Gods when i can.."
Parthenope smiles slightly, taking a sip of her
Favor.
Parthenope quietly asks, "do we have time for
another tale or two?"
Parthenope smiles slightly.
Parthenope quietly says, "a bit of time late
though"
Parthenope quietly says, "but thank you"
Parthenope says, "Lothias.."
Parthenope slings a pike staff off from over her
shoulder.
Parthenope offers Lothias a pike staff.
Parthenope says, "The speaker's staff."
Parthenope smiles at Lothias.
Parthenope says, "It's my night, dear and I
give the last tale to you."
Parthenope says, "I need t'save some tales if I
decide to perform again."
Parthenope smiles.
Lothias says, "You'll have to pardon me all,
I'm peering through a bit of fog."
Ahira says, "I believe we all are Lothias"
Lothias says, "Very well."
Parthenope says, "That's the spirit, love"
Parthenope takes a seat near Lothias.
Parthenope gently kisses Lothias on the cheek.
Parthenope says, "Knock em dead."
Parthenope smiles.
Parthenope offers Lothias a pike staff.
Lothias accepts Parthenope's pike staff.
Lothias says, "My tale is entitled: Journey
Bread, more powerful than the sword."
Lothias says, "Once while I was a young lad, I
journeyed to far away Shard with my father, Marcus."
Lothias says, "My father, being a cleric, was
going to Shard to worship at one of the many temples."
Lothias says, "He agreed to take me along for I
wished to see the south, and one day in spring, we set out from home in
Therenbourah to the south."
Lothias says, "We traveled long til we reached Crossings,
then a fews after we had reached the beauty of Leth Deriel."
Parthenope winks at Lothias.
Lothias says, "We set off for the gondola, ever
closer to Shard, when on the trail we heard the crashing of a beast through the
underbrush."
Lothias says, "We trekked farther, until ahead
of us there it was: the biggest, meanest, smelliest snowbeast one would ever
see."
Lothias exclaims, "Twas 50, no 60 feet high,
with teeth the size of halflings!"
Lothias says, "my father had failed to pack a
sword, for in those days such a trip was safe."
Lothias says, "And I but a young lad, carried
no blade."
Lothias says, "the snowbeast sought an easy
meal, and surely my father and I were goners."
Lothias says, "It knocked my father to the
ground with one swipe of its claws, and stood over me with gaping maw."
Lothias says, "but in my pack I had packed a
round of journey bread."
Lothias exclaims, "Grasping at proverbial
straws, I flung the bread into the beast's gaping maw!"
Lothias exclaims, "It stopped short, it acrid
breat beating into my face. It stared ahead oddly for a moment, then proceeded
to clutch its throat!"
Lothias says, "Raspy roars escaped its mouth,
but to no avail, the beast fell to the ground and expired."
(Parthenope claps, smiling up at Lothias.)
Lothias says, "And thereby, bread my friends,
is stronger than the sword."
Lothias bows.
Lothias says, "Thankie much, m'lady."
Lothias says, "A tall tale I like to
recount."