Sitting on the front stoop of the tavern, Rosalynn strummed her instrument, making notes in charcoal pencil on a piece of parchment beside her. A second piece of parchment was tacked beside her, reading 'Bard for Hire--songwriting, music, performance of all kinds' in ink still shining wet and fresh. Humming, she strummed another chord and made a note in charcoal pencil.
"Nothing rhymes with paladin," she muttered. "maybe something about disaster."
Glancing up, she scanned passer-by for other bards or potential customers.
Seemingly from no where in particular, Blaise springs up behind Garen. "A war song, eh?" The Ifrit bard puts one arm around the inquisitive Garen and extends one arm out in front of him, looking longinly into the distance. "A song of courage, of honor, of battle!" The runes on the Ifrit's skin glow crimson-hot with passion. "The clashing of steel, the twanging of longbows, and the thunderous crack of a sorcerer's lightning spell!"
Blaise removes his arm from around Garen and sits down next to Rosalynn. He continues speaking, his aura now dulling to a dark red, his voice now somber and dramatic: "BUT, a song to send off the honored dead (to where, who knows?) is something entirely different. Such a song must be grave, serious... it must show respect. Do you not agree, Rosalynn?"
Jumping slightly at his sudden appearance, Rosalynn turns to look at the Ifrit.
"Certainly, my friend. I think for a few gold pieces, we could come up with something appropriate. Respectful, passionate, and of course to a strong, steady drumbeat."
Looking to Blaise for confirmation, she smiled winningly. "All bards together, yes?"
Blaise removes his leather-bound song booklet from his belt and snatches up Rosalynn's charcoal pencil. "Yes, indeed! All bards together! (Not sure about Tregard, though).This composition is bound to stir the hearts of warriors. Now, my dark-complexioned friend, would you like any references to specific battles, wars, or heroes in this piece, or shall it be broad in scope?"
Plucking a few notes, Rosalynn hummed a fragment of music, wrinkling her brow as she added potential words.
"Brothers in arms on we march, battle to see. Bound for glory, swords aloft...one band are we?"
Turning back to her fellow bard, she tapped a steady drumbeat with her fingers on the broad side of the instrument.
[Josh-keyboard notes AGA BCBA AGGA, 4/4 time? Something that can be set to a March and chanted without the need for an accompanist would be best. Thoughts?]
"Ah, Rosalynn, your words evoke the fires of battle in my heart - and, well, the rest of me." Blaise starts to hum harmonies above the melody in improvisation.
"Fighting along - side of our kin, we battle as one. Our valor is great, our enemies fall...the day will be won."
[Megan - Sounds great to me. Harmony in thirds above the melody? CBC DEDC CBBC]
Watching the exchange between the two bards was like watching a discussion in a foreign language. Garen appreciated their craft but could not understand a bit of it. "I'll leave you two to it", Garen said, taking a seat in the corner. "Oh, I almost forgot" Garen took out his small coin pouch, "What do I owe you two?"
"Wait until we finish," Rosalynn said. "A gold each now will do nicely and depending on how good it is will depend on the price. We're fair craftsmen after all."
Plucking at the strings again and humming, she glanced at the Ifrit.
"Do you have a flute of any kind? It might work better than my guitar for this."
[Josh- If you wanna talk lyrics just message me. It might be easier to do it in conversation than in a forum post. having a harmony a third up or down sounds good to me.]
Garen stalked into the tavern and ttok a swig from his waterskin. He noticed the bard and the parchment beside her and had a thought. "I'd like to put forth a request for the composition of a song. A war song to be specific. A song to be sung in battle to rouse warriors to victory, and to send the honored dead to the next life. How much would you charge for such a project?"