A Day of a Bard (Full Version)





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A shadowy figure scans the horizon, searching, searching for its next target. The figure has a smells of old alcohol and sweat from not bathing in months. Suddenly, it sees a lone figure walking down the road. It smiles with its mouth filled with teeth and tusks, but frowns again at the dismal sight of the figure. It spits on the ground and looks for a new target.

The figure in question was a unremarkable traveler, with travel stained cloak, a long sword that was tapping a gentle rhythm on the back of his calf, and a simple lute strapped to his back. His entire appearance screamed a down on his luck bard. He was whistling a wordless tune as he made his way onto the next town and audience. His shoulder length hair was tucked back behind his slightly pointed ears, marking him as a half-elf.

The thing that betrayed his appearance was his eyes. They sparked with an inner intelligence of a careful observer and someone use to success. For this bard was Talin, an infamous troublemaker and an extraordinary bard. For someone who knew him or heard of him know that he can be depended on in any case. However, he usually left more dissatisfied people behind than satisfied, and anyone who knew that would wonder where he was off to next.

The answer soon became obvious when he crested the hill. Below Talin was a village spread out in the shadows of the Green Guard forest. Talin stops his whistling to smile at the town below him. It was a new opportunity to start over fresh. That was, at least, until someone found out who he was, Talin thought with a frown. It was banished with a quick shake of his head and the return to his tune. Talin quickly strode down into the village and on his way to a tavern.

When Talin reached the outskirts of town he realized something must be wrong and slowed his stride and put a hand on his sword hilt. He noticed few people on the streets and most of them were armed in some way or another. The villagers stared nervously at Talin and gripped the weapons tighter. Talin simply gave them a rakish grin, disarming the villagers of the wariness and nodded there greetings at Talin.

Talin's smile grew even bigger as he passed a pretty group of girls around 16 or 17. They stared at him in amazement and shyness until they say his pointed ears. They turned to each other and giggled and pointed. Talin simple tugs at the point of his ear to show that they don't come off and quietly walked on.

Talin then sees a two-story building marked with a picture of a boar severed head. In letters under the head, read 'The Boar's Blood Tavern'. Despite its sign the tavern looked respectable, at least for a town this size. Talin puts a grin on his face and walks into the dimly lit tavern. As his eyes adjust he makes out several blurry forms witch quickly become farmers or laborers of the village. They looked at him as he entered, but quickly returned to their respective drinks and subdued chatter.

Talin grins at all of them and advances to the tavern keeper behind the bar. He was a portly fellow with numerous scars along his heavily muscled arm marking him as a former adventure. "What can I do you for, bard. If you’re going to play for your drink then play us a tune first." At this several of the patrons looked up hopefully, looking for something to lighten the mood. Talin smiles and replies, "Well a song for an ale sounds like a deal to me, but only if you throw in a room as well." The bar keep laughs in surprise and nods his head. Talin puts a smile back on his face and goes to a slightly raised platform and unstraps his lute. "Do you know the song 'The leg of Capt. Frolgar'?" With round of "aye's" He started to play with the workers singing along.