Wayfarers of Veeshan

While going through some papers at home, I found a small notebook entitlted, "The Collected Works of Lizzie Smith, Poet Extraordinaire." Lizzie, as most of you know, is our own Deadlier Thanthemale.

She posted this poem on an old message board, and for the benefit of those who never saw it I am reposting it here.

Lizzie died two years ago this week.

The Bard's Tale
by Lizzie Smith

Black Burrow is a darkling place
Wherein a race of Gnolls do dwell.
The Qeynos Hills both steep and wide
Pass its gates on the southern side.

Deep in the tunnels you can hear the cries
of Gnolls of every shape and size:
Burly Gnolls, Scrawny Gnolls,
Pale Gnolls, and Tawny Gnolls.

They bit the Chanters very hard
And chewed up Necro's Tarot card;
They bashed the Wizards, kicked the Mage,
Sent Warriors into fits of rage.

Caster and tank tried in vain
To finish off the Great Gnoll Train.

Then one night whilst in pursuit
They heard the sound of a far off flute.
A Bard had entered that murky realm -
Bright his armour, blue his helm.

He gave a cough to clear his throat
Then sang a loud and high-pitched note.
The note that echoed in the dark
Was answered by a sharp, lone bark.

Then the bark turned into a growling
And the growling turned to an awful howling
As out of the depths the Gnolls came prowling.

The train then got a nasty shock
As it was a hit by a burst of "Jailhouse Rock."
The Bard changed his tune with a nasty grin
And played "Edelweiss" on his mandolin.

The Gnolls now lulled in deepest trance
To the bard's sweet song began to dance.
And he led them off against their wills
Into the night and the Qeynos Hills.

As they went the Gnolls picked up the beat
And boogied to "Dancin in the Street."
To West Karana they made their way
And the Bard his music still did play.
Behind him in a mighty throng
The Gnolls in rhythm danced along.

Reaching the river they started to jive
As the Bard played his version of "Stayin Alive,"
Levitating the river with one thought in mind
For the dancing Gnolls that followed behind.

Some made it across but their number was few
And the Bard floated off, far into the blue.
What happened to him? Well, I heard he went east
to an Iceyclad place, fighting some other beast.
I cannot say if he stayed in that spot
'Cos rumour has it that he dies a lot.

But his legend lives on in every Gnoll's heart
Who in that terrible dance took part.

And naughty young Gnolls shiver with fright
When the wind whistles high in the dark of the night.
And Granpa Gnoll takes a swig of his brew
And tells the tale of THE BARD IROO.

very cute

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70 Bard, at your service
Elder, Wayfarer of Veeshan

Also, , , Irodanise (52 Pal), Irodanes (31 Rog), Iroardanis (19 BL), Sinadori (25 SK), Dreminal (32 Dru)

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breaths away.