The Long Lost Legend of Alestar Gren

I've been working on this epic ballad based on a book I've been reading that I acquired while with the Gypsies.  Sveta gave it to me. It is old.  She is such a wonderful woman.  The hardest part of leaving so surreptitiously was leaving her behind.    It contains some interesting tales.  I thought I would work it into a lyrical epic poem.


Alestar Gren ruled the Pine Forest court
Fir trees hewn  into a strong wooden fort

Set back against cliff it offered refuge
To those fighting darknesse's dread deluge

Alestar's reign quite gentle and wise
This story will tell of Alestar's rise

From when he could grip a sword in his hand
and pull himself up from a crawl to a stand

He studied great blades, worked on his swordplay
He moved like a god most people did say

One day from afar roda in foul fell beast
gian and hungry its maw never ceased

Devouring villagers by the score
a deadlier beast never seen before

The land's bravest knights all dropped like the rain
each its own story though all of them slain

Reva the galliant led many great men
Sh was fierce and bright with the strenght of ten

They rod to the beast and faced it head on
So fearsome it was that courage was gone

Most ran and fled for fear's grip was tight
the foul beast's grave maw slew many a knight

The few and the brave took arms stood ground
but at battles end just dry bones were found

Oh nothing remained of the valiant troupe
barely a breastplate or sword in alll the group.

Reva stood fierce for all of a moment
Then like a small doll her body was  bent

She screamed aloud in a cry of great pain
As it sundered her body, torn and then slain
Vextor tried next on the Griffon's strong wings
neither knew well of the slayer of kngs

Heart stopping looks made them fall from the air
twas not the fall killed but the beasts claw's tear

Prone they both went like so many before
Shattered abd broken and bloodied with gore

So many fell tha the tales all lose track
So many slaughtered by this beast's attack

Till along cam the young Alestar Gren
with his sword and shield but no other men

On the hill they fought from Dawn until night
All  those who saw were transfixed by the sight

A nineteen year boy longsword in his hand
fighting this creature a spectacle grand

He parried and dodged, he cut and he thrust
And blows he did land it bled and it pussed

Yet all the whole while Gren fought there unfazed
where time wore on the creature seemed dazed

The beast's fast fierce swipes once deadly for all
coming less quick - Perhaps it would fall?

Gren fought on his endurance amazing
his fierce sword sailing striking and blazing

The creature doth bled from many and gash
Gren pressed on forward with slash after slash

Then finally on the second night's eve
Alestar's sword arm the monster did cleave

The sound so desperate a thud and a crack
beast pressing onward.  Its final attack.

Though his sword arm was shattered. Cut straight through.
To the task before him Gren stayd true

He dropped an tumbled to reach for the blade
grab it he did and bold statement he made

"Yield now foul creature or meet your fate"
The creature pressed forward it did not abate.

Gren with his sword in left not his right creat
Charged ever forward determined to fight

Gren let the creature's bite just miss his head
Sideswiped the giant the stabbed the beast dead

He fell to the ground now finally spent
and to seek help those watching now went

He recovered with time, a hero true
and with this great battle his legend grew

He refused magic to heal his lost arm
Soon that just became part of his charm

"A reminder to all of courage inside"
To honor all those who fought but then died

Each of us has a  brave warrior strong
whose heart steers us true and knows right from wrong

Look to it people in dire time of needs
certainly you will accomplish great deeds

They made him their king and he ruled the land
a most gentle heart and one  helping hand

His fort was a beacon Wood tower of light
For those seeking strenght to continue their fight

He trained many soldiers all his long days
Precision and wisdom, swordplay and ways

His soldiers were best not solely by skill
His soldiers were best not by those they could kill

His men were the best, fought with honor and pride
His men were the best for what was inside

Here ends the legend of Alestar Gren
Come back next time I will sing it again.






 

New Companions

Two armed guards from the Edge came to our camp.  I am glad for their arrival. The mercenaries have been troubling me of late.  We are behind schedule and yet when I inquire as to our course I am stymied by generalities.  This box must arrive at the Edge in a timely manner.  I will NOT fail.   This has been entrusted to me and it is perhaps the first importtant thing I've ever done in my short life.  One newly arriving guard Kathryn is a plated soldier.   She is beautiful and half elven too but tall.  I managed to glimpse her red hair under her helm.  She fought bravely and is a very natural leader among men.   I have tremendous respect for her.  I look forward to her friendship.

Lucan the second guard is also fine company to have on the journey.  He too is someone I can trust.  I am glad to have him on my friend.  Goodness knows one does not want to be his enemy.  The picos looked like porcupines when he was done with them.  Somewhat quieter he is  straight shooter and his candor is appreciated.  Ot acted somewhat strangely today.  I know how important it is to him NOT to kill.  And I can certainly appreciated that.  Its the reason I have been a vegetarian since Ellis left but it almost felt like in his pacifism he jeopardized the party.  He is powerful I wonder if he had a bad experience with power from his past that is haunting him.

UnDirge of the Stirge (Sung Jauntily in Jest)

Sung Jauntily in Jest.

Never let the stirge
turn your song to a dirge
when sky turns black night
with mosquito bird's flight.
dawdling is not the best urge

As Lucan says go
camp's moving too slow
with my call we run
and Ot 's white like the sun.
And Granfather riding in tow.

Then with Kathryn's smite
and Ot's fiery cold light
in the blink of eye
Again, normal the sky
How grateful we were for the sight.

The Boy Prince

  

Let me sing of magnificent sages`

Whose tales of drama have endured through the ages

Regal in robes, staves in their hands.

With Kings as their puppets they ruled many lands

 Over human and creature dominion the same

To their own will did all these great  sages tame

 It was said that their magic was ancient and lost

And how they obtained it and at what great cost

For the magic itself tainted their soul

And upon their spirit it took great a toll

For if these men were wise and kind

No longer were they the taint did so blind

Only power and glory corruption, conquest

Occupied both the day and their rest
 
Nightmarish visions unrelenting,  unyielding
And little in the world offered much shielding

 Their  only respite was to usher death’s hand

And bring forth that nightmare across sky, sea and land
 

To force all to flame, fester and blight

And bring all under this darkness, their terrible might.

But three brave warrior Kings did stand tough their ground

And a call to arms against tyranny did their trumpet sound
 

Though outnumbered and overpowered still bravely they fought

And despite grave odds held out “gainst” the great onslaught.

Though the mages laid siege to the great fortress walls

The warrior kings banded safely deep in their halls
 

The mages thought to starve them and choke winters’s supplies  
Or perhaps sneak in through subterfuge and bold lies

But the castle stood fast through the winter and spring

And food and supplies lasted though of miracles they sing.

For five years on did this fierce battle wage

Then just as quickly turned another page

Some say he was human others dragon kind.

Born  young son of a king his destiny to find

Prophesied birth under auspicious skies.

One  blue, one red were each of his eyes.

 His power, even young, by all accounts immense

Into other worlds his vision could sense.

They say he could conjure many a far away beast

Distance mattered not to him in the least

Secretly the Kings massed an army to fight

And unleashed it  to stand gainst the mage’s great might

This time when the legions once again clashed

The mages and their armies to the ground were smashed.
 

The boy prince had triumphed and his power did rise .1

And fulfilled destinies told under auspicious skies.

 

But we’ll save those songs for yet another time.

Another day’s tune another days rhyme.

(1 some versions of the story say and “grew to be wise”*

 

 

 

 

Scuffle in Lanceforest (A Song Tribute)

In they rode on steady steed,
 to save a party t'was in dire dire need.

And in they came not a moment to spare,
for a stench of malice was in fall's crisp air.

We packed up camp and got on the road
but through thick spike topped trees our pace was most slowed.

And as the path grew more narrow and narrower still
Lucian noted good place for ambush, good place to kill

Warily we tightened the march of the group
And carefully on pressed the battle frightened group

Then a small creature I'd not see before
popped out of the trees and into the fore

Pay a toll. Pay a fee " you no go here"
Yet with four armed before it, caused creature no fear.

The sums it demanded much too great to pay
We bargained it down and it scampered away.

Lucan and Catherine set on but fell nearly into a pit.
And more little creatures hurled rocks and our group they did hit .

Lucan of quick arrows picked them off a stone's high ground
The half elves wielding blades charged fast forward bound.

Ot shifting shape to the form of their own
but despite great ruses and tricks their hostility now had grown

You fools these fellow saved me why your weapons wield
My life from dire harm did these valiant creatures shield.

The picos however called old Ot's bluff.
And for moment there things looked really quite rough.

Then with gleaming bright armor and shiny bright steel
Catherine felled enemies and made them all reel.

Lucian loosed shafts to the air they took flight.
While Ot spoke a curse and called out a smite.

The last foes were felled and briefly we rested
for the moment the enemy lay on the ground bested

We live to prevail on another fine day
Where adventures lead on no one can say.

Ballad of the Frontier Bound Caravan

Here is a song I've composed to honor our fallen and keep the morale of the caravan up.  It has been a difficult journey.  Many have died.  It is my hope that this honors them at least a little.

 Ballad of the Frontier Bound Caravan

 

If you’ll lend me an ear I’ll sing you a tale

Sit back in your stool and grab ye an ale.

Tis a paean of brave deeds but a sad tale t’is too

For it honors our friends and those that we knew.

 

Many strode forth to begin lives anew

But as they journeyed on the many became few

T’was like the land itself had a will that they fail

Listen on dear folk and with more I’ll regale.

 

Chorus

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this solemn refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign.

 

The caravan traveled through many a day and an eve.

With darkness an abyss to each other did we cleave.

Then late one evening when camped in glade

A score of masked bandits did the caravan raid

 

Halfir he fought wildly, like a savage-clawed bear

Elgar loosed arrows like rain in the air

Tirias pierced enemies from the shadowy night

But we lost all of those dear ones in that terrible fight.

 

Chorus

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this solemn refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign

 

And many more nights in the air did our fear hover

Not knowing if the loss to come next, was our brother or lover.

In other battles dwarven courage felled foes

But always like ivy in grew more woes.

  

Forests so thick one could scarce swing a blade

Worry so common seemed like even toddler’s  hair greyed

Several times storms rode in like a dragon

And despite our best augury we never gleaned when. 

 

Chorus                                         

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this grateful refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign.

 

And once fog so dense one’s own hand went unseen

A curious fog for at times it was green.

Like the fog was some poison; some grew ill then they died

Despite our best efforts and all that we tried.

 

Onwards they traveled though at times all seemed lost

Onwards we journeyed despite the high cost

with determination and courage, strength and sheer will

And many a member who contributed skill.

 

Lost were many we honor them now

With a full note rest, and a short head bow.

Gone were Fi and Rad, Parna and Zep. 

Radoc and Reeger, Svark and Mylep. 

 

Jaime and Torg, Anarth  and Vadu

Brahma and Dunlap, Bishop and Hsu.

Trenk and Violet ,  Tully and Thane

Besin and Griosh Annaliese and Levaine

 

Chorus                                         

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this grateful refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign.

 

Some travelers survived and journey’s end comes nigh,

And those remaining can now  breath with relief and sigh

Among surviving travelers none is the same

No matter our past or from where we came

 

  

Bonds formed in trouble, friendships in crisis

These cannot be bought no matter the prices

“Carry on” this do we pledge

We shall stick together till we each reach the edge.

 

 Chorus                                        

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this grateful refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign.

 

And journey they did for many, many miles

And this is but a taste of their many hard trials

But drink up friends oh so dear,

pour more wine, pour more beer

 

For now this is where, ends the song’s verse

Pay a dear girl. Put some coins in her purse

And perhaps with even more heartstopping detail

More of the ballads triumphs I will regale.

 

Chorus (repeated twice)       

Through battles and blood many were slain

For you our kinship comes this grateful refrain

In the ground upon which your body is lain

May goodness blossom and the verdant always reign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Callanar - New Frontiers, Next Chapters

I am several days out now from Callanar but I must recount a most curious occurence.
I had just played in an old tavern just outside Callanar.  I was trying to make a little coin to pay for a room since it had been a while since I'd had good hot meal and nice bed to sleep in.  I'd sung a few standards on the mandolin and got them moving on the floor with a few little lively flute tunes and was doing pretty well.  None of that however was nearly the most interesting part. 

As I sat down at my table after my performance was finished and before I could even order myself a drink, I was approached by an elf dressed rather unassumingly in a long cloak.  He ordered me a nice glass of wine and introduced himself as Nistrama.  He congratulated me on how I had handily(and non fatally) dispatched three burly men who as he relayed were interested in making my performance more "interactive".  We smiled understandingly but grimly.  From a leather tube he produced several documents which he unravelled.

After my jaw dropped upon seeing my name upon a warrant for arrest for the murder of Piercey he quickly assured me that he did not believe that I had committed the murder.  He then also produced a second scroll which also pulled from the leather tube.  This one, a slightly less official document again had my distinct picture and identified me as the stolen property of of a thieves guild member.  I believe it was called the Brotherhood of Shadows." It contained a reward for 2000gp's for my "return".  He said again that he did not believe me to be anyone's property either.  " I could clearly handle myself but that I was also clearly having trouble with both the law and the lawless" and that perhaps he could help. He offered to get me a place with a caravan heading to the Edge a far off settlement and that he would equip me with gear.  Meanwhile he would investigate the" legal and extralegal complications" as he said.

In exchange for this he asked that I deliver a package to the Holy Jerberz a priest of Corellon who maintains a small shrine at the Edge.   He told me to keep my true reasons secret as no one could know and as a man's life depended upon it.

He then gave me some coins, a box which he said was heavily enchanted and must not be opened at all costs and said to make haste with the caravan for we needed to arrive before two moons passage.

I arose at dawn, donned my cloak which I pulled over my head tightly because all over the warrants for my capture had been placed.  I quietly skulked to nearby a store.  Convinced a young lad to purchase some items for me and made my way to the caravan.