Sierra Ju'ent: Rhinestone Cowgirl

[CowgirlClementine]

_Personal note: I've finally broken out of my creative block that had plagued me ever since my….. accident.

It was hard for a while. I had felt like I had lost something... something that I couldn't put my finger on. Then I realized it was apart of myself.

For days I spoke in nothing but rhyme to recover what I had lost, or some thread of inspiration. Finally, I gave up when I realized that it wasn't to be seen as something lost- but a chance at reinvention.

I just hope it turns out well.

Commissioned song- Dolvak Pest Control, for the purpose of advertisement

"Save a Headache, Hire the Dolvaks"
((set to the tune of - "Save a horse, Ride a Cowboy"))

_Well, you walk into your room
To see a scene that makes you ill
Rodents are tearing and chewing
on your furniture and window sill
But who do you call around this town
Someone who’ll get dirty and get down
Dolvak Pest Control is the one and only name!

Oh we they are your salvation
From rodents in the city
Things that make a lot of noise
Vermin that are disgusting
And so dirty
Go to Dolvak Pest Control today
For an end to your troubles

If you want to
Kill the rodents, Hire the Dolvaks
If you want to
Kill the rodents, Hire the Dolvaks

Commissioned song- Annonymous Party, Noble Lady Desdirita to be the recipient

"The Lonely Heart Love Sick Blues"

A lady of peerless beauty
From the rest she stands a-part
She’s not just class and style
But a genuine work of price-less art

She’s got skin of fine porcelain
Hair in long silky flowing braids
If she would give her love to me
Ohh… I’d have it for-ever made

But she doesn’t know
What she does to me
Or how together
We’d live so happily

Ohh… my beautiful lady
Just one chance with her
isn’t something I want to lose

But I can’t tell her how I feel
I’m too afraid that a life with me
isn’t what she’d choose

I’ve got the lonely heart
Love-sick blues

A voice to charm a dragon
She stole away my will-ing heart
Skin as smooth as mithryl
Lips as red as a –sweet- straw-berry tart

A lady of classic noble tastes
Of her I’ll never-ever tire
If I could I’d make her my queen
And give her what-ever she de-sired

But she doesn’t know
What she does to me
Or how together
We’d live so happily

Ohh... my beautiful lady
What I wouldn’t give
To live my entire life with you

But I can’t tell you how I feel
It’s tearing me apart
I just don’t know what to do

I’ve got the lonely heart
Love-sick blues

Yeah… I’ve got the blues…

Ohh… my lonely heart

Love…

Sick…

Blues…__

[Clan Dolvak]

Bravo!

[CowgirlClementine]

Song Commissioned by Foilir Dolvak

((To be sung to the tune of "I'm gonna be" by the Proclaimers. I figured a song sung by two Scots about drinking seemed like a good fit for dwarves))

_The Dolvak Duet

(to be sung by two dwarves, probably mining and most likely drunk)

(First Part: Foilir)
When I wake up, well I know I'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be Foilir Dolvak, Dwarven cousin to you
And when I go out, well I know I'm gonna be
I'll be the Dwarf who tries to out drink his cousin too
But if I get drunk, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be not nearly as drunk as you
And when I haver, hey I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the dwarf who's havering on the bard in blue

But I would drink 500 ales
And I would drink 500 more
Just to be Foilir Dolvak who drank a thousand pints of ale
To be the dwarf that drinks you to the floor

(Second Part: Dwin)
When I'm working, yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be Dwin Dolvak givin’ orders to you
And when the money, comes in for the work I do
I'll still have more money than my cousin too
When I grow my beard, well hopefully and maybe
Just maybe I’ll have a beard like most dwarves do
And if I grow old, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the dwarf who’s still out earnin’ you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be Dwin Dolvak who walked a thousand miles
To mine that vein of adamantine ore

(First Part: Foilir)
Fa la la

Fa la la

I can drink anyone to the floor and still drink more

(Second Part: Dwin)
Fa la la

Fa la la

I’ll make my fortune smithing weapons and mining ore

(Third Part: Foilir and Dwin)
We’re Foilir and Dwin, of the Dolvak Clan and family
Ore mining and ale drinking dwarves through and through
When we go out (When we go out), we know we’re gonna be
We’re gonna to be drinking the finest ale and Dwarven brew
And when we go mining (yeah mining), we know we’re gonna be
We’re gonna be carrying ten times more ore than your crew
And if you farkin’ try to mess with my cousin or me
We’re going to be the dwarves that kick the crap outta you
Yeah, we’ll be the dwarves that kick the crap outta you

I would drink 500 dwarven ales
I would mine 500 ingots of ore
And if you mess with the Dolvak Cousins
We’ll settle the score

fa la la

fa la la

Yeah we’ll kick the ever loving crap outta you

fa la la

fa la la

And we’ll still be able to drink and mine more than you

fa la la

fa la la

Ore mining and ale drinking dwarves through and through_

[CowgirlClementine]

(( This is the song that Sierra would have performed at the mage fair, but something came up, so Mirkali will be performing it in her place. Sung to the tune of "Gimme three steps" by Lynard Skynard))

Gimme Eight Schools of Azuth's Magical Lore

_I was studyin’ a spell
It was difficult as the ninth hell
I was cursin’ my teachers cruel
When in walked a man
With a staff in his hand
And wearin’ a robe of azure blue.
He said, ‘My name’s Azuth,
And I’ll tell you the honest truth,
Why that’s spell’s confusin’ you
’cause that’s the abjuration school
Not the conjuration magical pool
And it’s third circle not two’

(chorus)
’won’t you give me eight schools,
Gimme eight schools mister,
Gimme eight schools of magical lore?
Gimme eight schools
Gimme eight schools mister,
And you’ll get eight schools an’ no more

Now Conjuration’s a good tool
Manifesting objects is mighty cool.
Sometimes a transfer of power to you,
But if you want to protect,
Then Abjuration is what to get.
Casting Dispel may save your hide
Divination lets you see,
What the future might be.
Or secrets forgotten and long gone.
Enchantment will affect the mind
It’s good for when you’re in a bind
Usin’ charm on an enemy fool.’

(chorus)
’won’t you give me eight schools,
Gimme eight schools mister,
Gimme eight schools of magical lore?
Gimme eight schools
Gimme eight schools mister,
And you’ll get eight schools an’ no more

Well the school of evocation
Is energy manipulation
So cast a magic missile or two.
And I’m telling you son,
Illusion is lotsa fun
Creatin’ magical images of you.
Necromancy’s is the power of death
It can give the rottin’ dead new breath.
And hold ‘em together with magical glue
If you want something with physical range
Try Transmutation for a change.
Turn into a troll and umber hulk too

(chorus)
’won’t you give me eight schools,
Gimme eight schools mister,
Gimme eight schools of magical lore?
Gimme eight schools
Gimme eight schools mister,
And you’ll get eight schools an’ no more
Yeah Gimme eight schools mister,
And you’ve got eight schools of Azuth’s magical lore.’_

[CowgirlClementine]

And yet.. MORE songs and stuff from Sierra's journal

Victim of My Own Pride

(Sung to the Tune of “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers)

I'm coming out of my saddness
And I’ll be doing just fine
Gotta get rid of my pride
Greed made me want it all
It started out with a poem
Something not mine alone
Just one poem, I thought my own
Now I'm falling from grace
And the circle’s coming ‘round
While I had his faith
He’s taken it back
Now I’m lost, alone
because of the humility I lack
And did it on my own
But I’ll get back on track
Now, he’s withdrawn from me
Not forever I know
I just can't accept that its killing me
And taking it’s toll

Jealousy, turning faith into misery
Making me want to run and hide
Choking on my swelling pride
But it's just the price I pay
Humility is forcing me
To ignore temptation’s lies
The victim of my own pride

I'm coming out of my blues
And I'’ll be doing just fine
Gotta get rid of my pride
Turn myself to brighter hues
Remember I have my love’s kiss
I won’t be reduced to only this
It was only a time, return my faith divine
Now I will try to keep face
And try no longer to be sad
While he's having his fun
Challenging my resolve
I want to find my way back
And my purpose on track
Pride won’t get me dead
Because humility I lack
Now, he’s withdrawn from me
Now, I’m such a mess
I just can’t let this kill me
But it’s taking a toll

Jealousy, turning faith into misery
Making me want to run and hide
Choking on my swelling pride
But it's just the price I pay
Humility is forcing me
To ignore temptation’s lies
The victim of my own pride

A Fool in Peltarch, Narfell

(Sung to the tune of "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett)

Nibblin' on a muffin cake
Watchin' the ground quake
All of the citizens scramble and scream
Realaxin' with my badger-friend
On the Pel-tarch commons bench end
I think my muffin’s dry- maybe I should get some cream

Chorus:
Just putterin' away again in Peltarch, Narfell
Searchin’ for something tasty to drink
Some people claim that I’m a Fool and insane
But I don’t care, what the people think

I don't know the reason
I stay here through the season
Nothin' to show but my flashy robe
But it's a real beauty
I look like a gnomish cutie
Am I wearing underwear - I haven't a clue

Chorus:
Just putterin’ away again in Peltarch, Narfell
Searchin' for something tasty to drink
Some people claim that I’m a Fool and insane
Now I think
You know, I’m bet I’d look good in Pink

I found a tasty mush-room
Roasting it on a wooden-broom
Got three kids waitin’ back home
I got my badger songs to whistle
And about ten magic missiles
I’m a brilliant and fun lovin’ gnome

Just putterin' away again in Peltarch, Narfell
Searchin’ for something tasty to drink
Some people claim that I’m a Fool and insane
But I don’t care, what the people think
Yes and some people claim I’m a Fool and crazy insane
But I know, I look fabulous in pink

[CowgirlClementine]

Selected songs and poetry from Sierra Ju’ent’s Songbook, party III

Imitation and Identity

Imitation a form of flattery
Or so it is often said
Why does such replication
Makes my heart feel dead

A point of pride gone
Once unique to me
My claim no more
Gloom stifling glee

A victim of my patron’s pride
Have I grown that vain
To think I alone would sing
Identity now lost to pain

The Rash

Love, you irritate me
Making me do things
Out of sort

Driving me crazy
Making me want to
Drink large quantities of port

Turning me inside out
One minute I’m up
Next I’m down

Once enraptured
Then insane
Fool of the town

Love, you irritate me

Underneath

It’s where I can feel safe and content
Knowing the layers of blankets and sheets
Will be my barrier against the real world
Keeping responsibility and reality at bay

Here I can breathe

It’s where I hide myself and my feelings
Because anyone else will only see the surface
Worn mossy green and lumpy like dough
Keeping the pocket below serene and still

Here I can feel the feel

It’s where I dream and let my mind dance
For here - if just for a moment - I can believe in magic again
That all the tales I was read at bedtime could be truth
And where bills, work and mediocrity is the fiction

Here I can think

Where only one other person has ever been allowed
To take a deeper look at the maelstrom of emotions
To listen to silly secrets and familiar fantasies
To be a companion with which to camp out in the bed

Here I can touch

Where I can feel the purity of life and my senses
Warm sticky and sweet like fresh maple syrup
Or maybe of honey and cinnamon to make my tongue tingle
Making my breath hitch and my mind pause

Here is where time stops

Just below the soft blankets

Follow the trail up from my toes

Where I am wrapped up and waiting

Underneath

Ghost of a Day

I wake up every morning
Knowing I’ve died the night before

Not many people know
What it’s like to have died
The freedom in it

But sometimes the ghost of the day before
Reminding me of the days that belonged to you

To tell that while a body walks
Talks
Lives and breathes

The heart of the person
Who was born into a body
Once living but now dead

A mistake made apparent
And left to rot
With nothing but the corporeal remains

This man who swore
They loved me
Would always protect me

One who said
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it
Made me want to believe it was true

They placed the blame
Acting as though they were the innocent
The victim of what they did to others

This ghost of mine
A ghost of a day
That was the person who believed
Every word

Words that twisted and turned
Their beliefs and their sins

A person controlled by the words
Chains that cut deep
But then I go to sleep
And wait for the next sunrise

When I see that sun
I’ll smile bright
I’ll wake up

At my own hands
By my choice

I’ll know that I’ve died the night before
I know that I’ve survived

To my ghost I say goodbye

That yesterday was your day in my life

Today is mine

[CowgirlClementine]

Selected Songs and Poetry from Sierra's Private Song Book, II

"A Moment of Perfect Grace"

It is man’s endless pursuit of a place

A moment of frozen time when everything is perfect
So extraordinary is that moment, it will catch your breath
Settle to stillness in the watery ripples of the tempest soul
An expanding of your soul beyond width and depth

In one second you believe the most amazing things to be true

That every hope of your heart has a promising future
That every fanciful wish within us is so much more
Than just a dream of shining day or shimmering night
It is the promise of infinite possibilities in store

It is an understanding and a way of knowing

Without being told the many questions or answers
To every curiosity and wonder of life and being
And every desire, passion and pain of the heart
A feeling of something flawless to give life meaning

Imperfect as members of mankind we are

There will be times that trusts will be broken
Our high standards and expectations will not be met
That stark reality will fall short of the fleeting dream
And promises of the night before will be un kept

But you can always go back to that moment

When you knew you had first truly felt it within you
Have faith and remember your sweet love’s face
Know you found something that can last a lifetime
Your moment of perfect grace

"War Song"

The rapid rhythm of life disturbed
Threat of conflict come to kill me
A symphony of frightening sounds
Harmonies of war with fear fill me

Man’s passionate greed for power
Death and destruction’s driving beat
Countless carelessly destroyed
By anger’s avenging and burning heat

Rage and rush of battle
Sounds of metal hitting bone
Another soul’s lost chance
To see their children grown

Iron swords invade the body
Blood from marrow spilling
Crimson creeping into the ground
Coloring the grass from killing

The rumbling sounds of struggle
A fight to reach high and stay alive
The prized one or two moments longer
One that contains a lifetime or five

A single last chance at solitude
To feel your child in your arms
One more precious chance
To savor your lover’s charms

Life slips away silently into memory
Pausing to see who was left behind
Several souls pray that somehow
Hope returns to the sorrowful mind

But finally calm has come to claim me
Desperately inhale sweet life long and deep
Close my eyes from the world
Feel the fear and anger finally sleep

Powerful Passion
Jubilant Joy
The love of life
Let them fill me.

Those who gave their own life
Allowed our lives to go on
We owe our priceless gift
To those who died and are gone

I have not much of value
To me no precious jewels belong
But to them I give them this…
My heart’s war song

“Ode to the Civil War”

((Set to the tune of “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV Theme))

Come and listen to a story ‘bout the Pel-tarch civil war
When one mornin’ a Senator named Koreth decided he wanted more
That fateful day he was in such a foul and plottin’ mood,
He staged a coup and kicked out the citizens which was mighty rude

Treason that is, Takin’ over, People runnin’ for their lives.

Well the next thing you know half of Pel-tarch is in a camp takin’ refuge,
Everyone still fightin’ and the loss of life is mighty huge
But they won’t give up their brave fight for Peltarch, their fair Ice Lace city
So they’ll battle to the end in the pursuit of freedom and liberty.

Victory, that is. Kickin’ Arse, Takin’ names.

Well now its time to say good-bye to Koreth and all his kin.
And we’d like to thank them to drop dead ‘cause they’re guiltier than sin.
They won’t be invited back again to this locality
Unless they want to have a heapin' helpin' of brutality

Exile that is. Not welcome. Take ya’ll selves off.

And don’t come back now, y’hear?

[CowgirlClementine]

Hail to the King Baby, Part III

Soo… where was I?

Right, the tower.

Okay then, so we read the riddle, bust into this tower, and everything seems mostly calm so far. Granted, there was a nasty wizard fella and his stupid cohort inside, but you really have to expect these things if you read the Handbook of Hiding Really Valuable Things. There’s always a nasty powerful wizard right next to where the treasure is, or at least a nasty and powerful something. Large mutant creatures sometimes, but always something.

We start attacking the wizard fella, and it was really very sad. He started protecting his cohort first. It was really sweet how he was practically sacrificing himself to save his henchmen.

Which made it really easy to slay him as well… unfortunately… or fortunately, depending which side you’re on.

But it did put me to pause for a moment. The wizard and the henchmen seemed so dedicated to protecting each other, that I began to wonder if they had a particularly special relationship between the two. I felt my eyes begin to tear up the more I thought about it. It was tragic.

Lovers in life, and in death.

I only hoped that Sune had prepared a special field of flowers for the two of them to frolic in for the rest of their afterlife, and have pleasant little picnics, and tea, and dance with the maypole, and ….

“Hey!” I heard someone say. “We found the coffin! And there are four chests in here!”

I snapped out of my reverie, mindful of my surroundings.

Like, hello? You’re in a really strange tower with a dead king. Who’s been mummified. That was guarded by a riddle. It’s not exactly the time to be daydreaming!

I looked around, seeing the Fool off to the side playing with a badger, Tal approaching the chests, and P.A. the coffin.

Everything seemed under control, so I figured I’d help out Cranky Metal Pants with the chests. P.A. seemed to have the dead guy well in hand.

I mean… what could possibly happen?

A blessing and a curse lie hand in hand, united as the ocean and the sand – Here man shows his true face, and his true desire he embrace….

Why does that riddle keep bugging me?

“My ruby…”

I was just about to turn around and say that I hadn’t found a ruby yet, and don’t get your britches into a twist, when I turned around to see P.A. holding the largest ruby I had ever seen.

I mean big. Huge. And…

So pretty. Gorgeous. Wanted it. Had to have it. Mine. Mine… gotta get it… mine mine mine…

“No! My Ruby!”

Those bastages were all gunning for my ruby!

The Fool dropped the badger on the floor like it was a two day old muffin, Cranky Robe Pants was holding his staff like he actually meant to use it, Tal was already drawing his sword….

I remember shooting arrows. I remember being stomped on by a troll. P.A. stabbing me with his rapier, and Talgrath knocking me out with the butt of his sword.

There was fighting. And chasing. And I think I remember trying to blow up a badger. I’m not sure.

But most of all… I remember a voice…

The scariest thing of all…. The voice…. The Fool possessed…

“My Precious….”

And then sweet darkness came.

When I came to, I was told that Evendur, aka Cranky Robe Pants, had some how managed to help get the ruby, which was cursed as all get out, away from the Fool and back into the coffin to lift the curse.
Oh great. He was going to be insufferable now about the advantages of his damn magic studies. He REALLY needs to get laid.

Before Cranky Robe could begin droning on about some of his more boring points on why everyone should only devote their life to studying magics, we split up and emptied out the rest of the chests and wrapped up the King’s body for transport.

When we got back to the ship, we found that the elf Braeth had tied himself to a tree, refusing to get back on the ship. Roland and the Fool spent hours trying to convince him that if nothing else, they could cast a simple sleep spell on him so that he’d not have to suffer another bout of “Spewing Elf Syndrome” but Braeth wasn’t about to budge.

Finally, the Fool offered to Teleport the three of them back to Peltarch, rather than subject the rest of us to Spewing elves either.

Now that no one was retching over the side of the boat, the trip back was really quite nice.

And I had to admit, maybe my companions were not all that I made them out to be.

Maybe Zyphlin wasn’t a Pompus Ass and the Elf wasn’t a Fountain of undigested food.

Maybe Talgrath wasn’t a Metal Cranky pants, and Evendur wasn’t a Cranky Robe pants.

Roland might not be Boring…

And the Fool…..

Well, we’ll just skip him.

But you know, in their own way, they were all pretty decent sorts. Kinda nice if you think about it.

Maybe I should try to be nicer to them, and more cooperative and personable. And maybe I’ll stop thinking of them as Cranky Pants, or Pompus Asses.

Maybe.

….

Nah.

[CowgirlClementine]

Hail to the King Baby, Part II

We arrive at our destination. If I thought Peltarch was cold…. Well, let’s just say we found Auril’s dogs, which is a hell of a lot colder than Umberlee’s tit to say the least.

We all made it off of our boat one by one, but not first without Braeth emptying the last of his stomach on P.A.

I had to turn around to keep myself from being seen laughing. It was hilarious. P.A. danced out of the way of most of the spew, but it’s surprising the range and spray area that a sea sick elf has.

While P.A. cleaned himself up, I guess a bunch of the wild dogs around the area must have smelt him, for sure enough, they were right there in a matter of minutes. BIG puppies too. Not just your little yapping variety. I’m talking chew you up, spit you out, chew you up again, digest you, so that you come out of their business ends a few days later.

Finally P.A. was puke free, Tal was grumpy, Senator Roland was looking Pious and bored, the elf Braeth was a somewhat normal shade (after all, can you really call being charcoal gray normal?), Senator Cranky Pants was looking pasty white (which was normal for him), and the Fool… well… we’ll just skip him…

But the point is… we were ready to get on our way.

It wasn’t long before we mosied on over to a cave. Didn’t seem like much at first, but it was guarded by some really big, muscular, yet stupid looking man and his dog- so we figured we had to be going in the right direction.

After all, it’s a well known rule that you guard really valuable objects with the strongest but stupidest people you can possibly find.

It’s true. Really.

Look it up.

Page 23- Handbook of Hiding Really Valuable Things. 2nd edition.

Right… Anyways…

We’re in the cave.

More stupid people run at us. We hurt them.

More of the stupid people’s dogs run at us. We hurt them too.

And you know what? No matter how much we hurt them and knocked them down, or what have you…

More of them just kept running at us. Their dogs too.

Which just goes to show how stupid these people really are.

The dogs I just feel sorry for, because they have no other choice than to be forced to attack us by the command of the stupid people, and well…

It’s obvious how brilliant their ideas of attack tactics are.

Oh… and there were bats too.

And we hurt them too.

The Fool said something about the bat poo being explosive if mixed with the right combination of ingredients.

Who knew? Bat poo.

It wasn’t long before we all got to this hidden forest inside of the cave, where there was a tall tower in the middle of it, and a bunch of white stags grazing around.

On the tower door there was a mysterious riddle:

"A blessing and a curse lie hand in hand, united as the ocean and the sand – Here man shows his true face, and his true desire he embrace."

Something in my gut tells me…

Whatever we’re looking for…

It’s probably in the tower.

[CowgirlClementine]

Hail to the King Baby- Part I

It was a day like any other in Peltarch.

Or at least a typical kind of day since the war was over.

I would say it was one of those hot and sticky days that are so long that you swear everyone moves slower, and things just sizzle in such a way that you just know there’s trouble around the corner.

But I can’t.

It’s cold as Umberleen witches’ tit today.

And twice as cranky.

Workers milled about, some banging away with their hammers, others on break. And the children ran through the streets chasing one another. It was happy, it was cheerful.

It was boring.

So I decided to take a stroll down to the docks district, thinking maybe I’d see one of those Shadowmask twits wandering about. I was itching to finally try out my latest plan which involved a scroll of charming I found, and one of the more idiotic members of their ranks, and me with a list of questions a mile long. There would have to be rope and an isolated location as well, incase the spell wore off, and the idiot had an idea to shout for help, or maybe to escape, but that’s just the chance you take when kidnapping a kidnapper.

It would just be easier for everyone if one just surrendered themselves to me. But how?

I was lost in the thoughts of my plan when I ran into Talgrath.

No, really. I ran into him. Funny how much plate metal armor can hurt and leave a mark when you smack into a mountain sized lump of a man covered in the stuff.

Talgrath. Cranky as ever. I tried everything to cheer him up. I think I even threatened to sing a song for him in his honor. He just glared. Then I said he was cranky. He smiled.

I don’t get it.

That’s about when Zyphlin came around the corner.

Zyphlin. Wearing blue. Think’s he’s so cool.

He’s really just a pompus ass. He’s always running around like he’s so damn important. Thanking everyone like they should be honored as all get out just to have the pleasure of his attention.

It really irritates me how he acts like no matter what anyone thought of, he always thought of first. And when ever anyone tries to call him on it, he turns around and accuses everyone else of being the show boaters.

And they say I’m trouble.

He was walking in a hurry, others following behind just trying to keep up.

Huh.

Must be something interesting. Usually is with Headmaster P.A.

So I decided to follow along, using my most finely tuned sneaking and hiding skills, seamlessly blending in with the crowd behind him, which seemed to be going to a boat on the docks. Hrm… a boat. Not a bit fan of boats myself, but at least I wasn’t turning green like the Elf man Braeth who was following behind Zyphlin, and whining like a itty bitty child.

Talgrath seemed to follow. Senator Roland too. The funny tubby Fool man. And that cranky pants Senator Evendur. Gods, if anyone ever needed to get laid, it’s him.

I’ll just sneak onboard the ship along with them. Pretty as you please.

But then Braeth spun around, trying to run away from the boat. He nearly knocked into me. P.A. grabbed him though, hauling him back onboard the ship by the waist of his pants.

Phew. Home free. Now just to sneak aboard.

“Sierra, you may as well get on the damn boat too. I know you’re just going to try to sneak aboard anyways.”

P.A. spotted me. Dammit.

I came out of hiding, and got on the boat. Might as well see what’s going on.

As the boat pulled out of harbor, P.A. and his pals started talking about a mummy or something about a dead king’s body that they had to pick up, and bring back to some sick man who had fetish for things like that. Well, not really a fetish. He just wanted to revive the guy I guess, and save his country from an evil tyrant. A big reward was offered.

I should find out what country that is. When it’s between an evil tyrant or a rotting mummified corpse, and that’s the best a country can do for leadership, well… I think it’s just best to avoid that neighborhood.

I made sure to avoid the elf puking up his dinner for most of the voyage. He must have had three stomachs, or a really big dinner earlier.

Yuck.

Finder above, I hope this isn’t a long trip.

[CowgirlClementine]

Finder's Fool

Fanatics find their heaven in never ending storming wind
Auguries of destruction be a lullaby for rebirth

The sharp rocks embedded into the cliff wall dug into Sierra’s back. They hurt and cut into her skin, but the discomfort and the hurt felt soothing in a way. If she could have, she would have found sharper rocks to lay herself on until the rough stone edges began to spear through her body and poke through the other side…but she didn’t think the children really needed to see that.

The pain felt so damn good.

Especially after ….

Weeks prior…
…......................................

“No, dammit Sierra, I told you that you’re not going through with your fool plan. Once more, it’s not your fault!”

Sierra chewed on a piece of hay, watching as Nico proceeded to lecture her on what she thought was a brilliant plan. Though obviously from the pose he took on of looking like a red faced and angry bull, he didn’t quite agree.

It was a simple plan really.

The Shadowmasks were looking for the Mockingbird, and were conveniently also the same group responsible for all the attempted assassinations against the Senators of Peltarch. There was something else about them, but Sierra just couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Either way, Sierra planned to give the shadowy faced jerks what they wanted. She was going to turn herself in. But she wasn’t about to do it with at least some small safety net, and that was going to be her hat, which would be snug and secure in the hands of the Priestess Daisy. And then a few hours after she turned herself in, Daisy would scry the hat…. And bingo! They’d all know where the Shadowmask’s headquaters were.

Alright- so maybe it wasn’t the most brilliant plan in Toril, but no one seemed to be coming up with anything better.

Sighing deeply and crossing her arms over her chest, she gave Nico a patient look, “Nico. You’ve been attacked three times; two other senators have been attacked at least once… I think it’s only fair that I dangle myself out as bait at least once to try to find these Shadowmask fellas.”

“Sierra, if you follow through with your plan, I’ll just turn myself in also.”

Damn.

Nico had to pull that on her.

Grudgingly Sierra gave in, and almost immediately Nico’s face returned to the good natured look of ease and amusement that he’d often been wearing.

Slowly he began to close in on Sierra, until he had both of his arms around her, kissing her lips and neck, running his hands through her hair while he gently directed her towards his apartment.

“HELP! ATTACK! A SENATOR HAS BEEN ATTACKED!”

Both of their muscles tightened up in the anticipation of what the warning might bring. Nico turned to run in the direction of the attacks…. In the direction of the bardic college.

Bards… song birds…. Shadowmasks….

There was nothing left in the street leading to the bardic college when Sierra and Nico arrived.

Nothing but dozens of bodies, which were still being dragged away, and the once dove gray cobble stones of the street, which were now crimson with spilt blood.

One surviving soldier stood off to the side, blubbering to Nico in barely comprehensible words as he tried to make sense of what had happened.

“Senator … Vino. He was taken away… he’s safe…” the young man began crying particularly hard, “He’s so badly hurt… he’s going to die… no one could survive that…”

Find me here

Speak to me

I want to feel you

I need to hear you

Sierra could see no other choice left to her. She would no longer be responsible for so many deaths.

To the place where I find peace again

........................

Sierra awoke in the field hospital to the feeling of someone dabbing her back with some foul smelling substance.

Doing as best she could to pretend that she was still unconscious, she could hear some of the healers talking over her, their voices thick with emotion as they tried to calmly discuss the day’s numbers for the loss of life.

‘Please Finder…Don’t let this happen…’

Sierra imagined in her mind that she was singing a prayer to Finder… a prayer that no matter how bad things seemed now, they would get better.

They had to.

[CowgirlClementine]

Selected Songs and Poetry from Sierra's Private Song Book

_I Hate Bug Bears and Thier Ugly Faces

You can blame it all on thier roots
Thier screams and thier hoots
And they way they foul up the air
It's where the young ones will go
And once they do then they'll know
Oh how just rotten
These creatures really do smell

Then you'll see the surprise
The Fear in thier eyes
When then begin to beat and maim
Thier big beady eyes
The ticks and the flies
Oh you'll never want to seem them aaaaagaiiiinnn!
Oh I hate bugbears and thier ugly faces
Where thier stench surrounds
And thier drool chases the flowers away
Oh they smell so bad today…

No, they ain't got any social graces
Oh They'll beat on you with thier clubs and maces

Oh I hate bug bears... and thier uuuugly faces...

Home on the Nars

Home.. home on the Nars…
Where the Banites and Eastlanders play
And Seldom is heard
A civil and intellegent word
And skies are cloudy all damn day_

_Dangerous Reverie

Last night I had a dream
In my dream
I fell from sky to sea

A voice to me would say-
You are just a drop of rain
Just one of many
A drop of water
In an endless sea

Dancing a careful waltz
Singing my dangerous Reverie

I walked through a city
Seeing that some
Will seek to be everything
Sometimes even me
Taking part in the masquerade
Wondering who I will be

Threatening hands reach
Wishing to drain away
All of the drops in the sea
Black hands tighten
A mockingbird deciding
Resisting the urge to flee

To myself I say-
I am just a drop of rain
Just one of many
A drop of water
In an endless sea

Dancing a careful waltz
Singing my dangerous Reverie

As I make my way
I float beneath
The surface of faces
And I find that many
Are not what they seem
Truth and fiction I see

Dozens of faces
Watching behind
Shadowed masks
Other deadly drops of water
All swimming together
With us in an endless sea

To you I say-
I am just a wanderer
Just one of many
Apart of this great journey
Of what is and what will be

Dancing a careful waltz
Singing my dangerous Reverie

But yet lost
And alone
Praying you'll listen to my song
And heed the warning within

Last night I had a dream
In my dream
I fell from sky to sea

A Mockingbird flew overhead
In the morning it flew away
and is free

Kissin' Cousin's

What do you do…
when money can't buy you everythin'
You're so noble and your so blue
You want some lovin',
but you just dont' know what to do

Well take a page from
those who are in the know
Do like the Ashald's do
That's the way to go!

Oh yeah you gotta be like...
Peltarch's ....
Favorite.....

Kissin' Cousin's
yeah yeah...
keepin' it in the fam-i-ly
Oh yeah
they give each other plenty o' lovin'
Peltarch's Favorite Kissin' Cousin's.

They ain't ever lonely
Because they're each other's
One and Only!

Peltarch's favorite kissin' Cousins.

A pair so vain and cruel..

They're so much alike
They should be sister and brother
The only one who loves them
Is thier mother

Kissin' Cousin's
yeah yeah...
keepin' it in the fam-i-ly
Oh yeah
they give each other plenty o' lovin'
Peltarch's Favorite Kissin' Cousin's.

To the Silencer Albatross

Violent and angry arms sent out
Into the still and quiet night
Breaking the wings of singing
Soaring songbirds in mid flight

What end is sought by breaking
These innocent songbirds’ wings
What benefit does the guilty
Hunter of birds hope to bring

Anger at what thought a silly jest
But perhaps instead accidental truth
Hath it the silly song’s red faced
Targets deep goblets of vermouth

Stop your songbird silencing
And call back your hunters I say
Save your wounded pride
Your anger and go another way

If songbirds continue to cease
Flying the skies of the streets
The people will know you well
As the songbird killer come to greet

Protect your proud self to prey
Of songbirds words what may be a lie
Follow you this advice my hunter
Or all shall believe true what you deny

From the Mockingbird_

[CowgirlClementine]

For once, Sierra wasn’t causing any trouble.

For once, Sierra was minding her own damn business.

Not that it meant anything to fate.

Leaning on a post at the edge of the Peltarch Commons with the brim of her hat pulled low, as she had begun to make a habit of, Sierra could faintly smell the sent of jasmine waft through the air.

Oh brother.

She’d smelt that same sent a few days earlier. It was attached to one witch of a noblewoman, and Sierra just wasn’t sure if she was up to what was sure to be a royal pain in the rear.

“Oh, it’s you. Nest’s servant girl”

Sierra could feel her teeth gritting together. She wasn’t anyone’s, let alone Nate’s serving girl.

“Do you do laundry serving girl? I have a pile of it at home, and it is so hard to find good help these days.”

Sierra’s midnight blue eyes narrowed beneath her hat, the corners of her mouth turning down in an irritated frown.

“I ain’t no damn servant.”

Arien L Ashald’s laughter tinkled daintily from the other side of the commons.

“Oh? I was under the impression you serviced Nest in all functions.”

What a witch.

“Listen Lady Vain, I’m just Nate’s assistant. That’s it.”

Sierra couldn’t help but glance over towards Arien from the safety of the hat concealing her eyes. The noblewoman sat smugly, and wasn’t about to be denied the pleasure of playing with Sierra’s mind if she could.

“I think you should really consider doing my laundry. It would be a shame if something terrible happened. Such as Nate loosing his commission for instance. You wouldn’t want that to happen, now would you?”

She was a spoiled brat this Arien. Sierra had seen her kind before. Give ‘em what they want, and they’ll just up the ante. As much as she didn’t want Nate to suffer the consequences of her own peevishness, Sierra wasn’t about to slave herself out to anyone.

Besides, she knew with his talent that he wouldn’t have trouble getting commission somewhere else.

“Do your own damn laundry.”

A white haired woman sat down next to Arien, looking at her sympathetically as though to say “it’s such a trial to have to deal with the common trash these days, isn’t it?”. It must have been a common look amongst the noblewomen of Peltarch, as it was in all of the grand cities of Faerun- a signal that they thought themselves the superior of the pack, and it was time to go in for the kill.

“Did you see that?” Arien said in a conspiring tone to the white haired woman. “She just threw a dagger at me. Me, a senator’s sister. Here in front of you, a witness to her attempt to do me harm….” A smug grin spread across the noblewoman’s face.

A sick and evil kind of joy lit up the white haired woman’s face. “Not very respectful was it?”

Sierra’s eyes rolled beneath the shade of her hat brim.

You’ve got to be kidding.

This was getting serious. And ironic.

The one time that Sierra was behaving herself and staying out of trouble, trouble came and tracked her down, sat on her doorstep and said, “Surprise, this ain’t your lucky day.”

Hmph. Who’d the heck this woman think she was anyways?

“Go ahead Lady Vain. I don’t give a damn. Put me in jail.”

Shock flitted across the two noblewomen’s faces for a brief moment.

“If I wanted you in jail, you’d be in there already Sienna. Don’t be obscene.”

Sierra almost felt a smug grin spread across her face, but did all she could to suppress it.

She’d called Lady Arien Vain’s bluff.

But that wasn’t to be the least of the surprises.

Arien suddenly broke out into a smile.

“Come sit next to me. Let’s chat.”

Oh brother. What now?

Almost on cue, the white haired woman left her spot, bored now that no one was going to be thrown in jail.

Figuring, “what the hell, might as well” Sierra made her way across the plaza, sitting next to Arien.

Lady Vain was just going to keep chewing on this bone until she hit marrow, so Sierra figured she may as well be comfortable for the long haul, as she plopped down next to the noblewoman.

Not that Arien had any good verbal ammunition left anyways.

“Did you know that Nate has a child…” Arien mentioned casually.

Sierra pulled the brim of her hat far over her midnight blue eyes.

Not satisfied apparently, Arien delivered another bit of news.

“And that he’s married as well.”

Sierra dug out a thin cigar from her pocket, sticking it in her mouth and began chewing on the end.

Lady vain wasn’t about to give up.

“You know. I don’t think you’re as common as you seem.”

Sierra’s muscles twitched.

“You have breeding.”

Sierra’s teeth began to cut into the cigar.

“A pedigree.”

Dammit.

“And I have a proposition…”

For once, Sierra wasn’t causing any trouble.

For once, Sierra was minding her own damn business.

Not that it meant anything to fate.

[Flom]

Awww. :aww:

[CowgirlClementine]

_First Journal Entry

Thought I'd start a journal. Don't know why, but I figure it might be useful for later. Never know.

Met a bard. He smiles too much. Too set in his ways. He needs a good kick in the pants. So I thought I'd write a song. It's not bad. Paid about 10 gold and some sweets to some street kids to spread it around for me. They seemed to like it.

Tried killing myself on a trap the other day. Worked. Or thought it did. But I'm still here. Tried drowning myself in the ice lace. It's too cold in there. Got another cold again. I hate colds.

Figured I might try something else besides killing myself. Gotta get rid of this dang curse.

I'm hungry. Think I'll go get some apples.

I'll stuff that song I wrote in here too.

Faerun Nate Wingates Fan Club Association

If you’re a lady lookin’ for some fun
And your bored of the same ole’ fancy fop
If your hearts been longin’
For a man who’s worth his stock
If you need man who’s got the magic touch
And rectify the grim love life situation…That you're facing

Contact your local Fae-run Nate Win-gates Fan Club…Association

When your man jus’ can’t cut it
Most of the times you don't mind
But when he’s lost all his romantic notions
That’s where you gotta draw the line
Ladies rejoice, you have a choice
If you're wonderin’ were you can find real a man
It’s Nate Wingates who’s got the plan

Just join the local Fae-run Nate Win-gates Fan Club… Association

Ladies
You better be-lieve that
He’s got that thing
That Smooth-touch
You’ll like it so much
you’ll scream out loud

His heart is in his music
And he loves to play it loud

There’s no forms or applications
To join his fan club
just go find him
and show him your a-ppre-ciation

His heart is in his music
And he loves to play it loud

There’s no forms or applications
To join his fan club
just go find him
and show him your a-ppre-ciation

Ladies
You better be-lieve that
He’s got that thing
That Smooth-touch
You’ll LOVE it so much
you’ll scream out loud

His heart is in his music
And he loves to play it loud

There’s no forms or applications
To join his fan club
just go find him
and show him your a-ppre-ciation

It's the Fae-run Nate Win-gates Fan Club…Association

Do not de-lay

Ladies go join to-day

The F-N-W-F-C-A

The F-N-W-F-C-A_

[CowgirlClementine]

“Oh gods…. Just please let me die.”

Sierra lay burrowed under a mound of paper thin blankets, sweat beading her body, and yet shivering uncontrollably. She just couldn’t get warm enough. Then she was too hot. And her stomach…

She’d been feeling out of sorts ever since she got into town. Lucky for her, she had enough gold to pay for one of the nicer rooms for a few days and some extra blankets- not that she had planned on spending that time this way, with a chamber pot next to her bed incase her stomach decided to revolt against her again.

The minutes seemed to drag on, hours seemed like days, days seemed like years. And yet the illness clung to her like the pond scum had clung to her favorite hat. Which is what caused this illness to begin with, being dropped in that pond anyways.

Finally the wretched sickness shook loose.

Sierra dragged herself out of the bed, which had once smelled clean and nice, but now only smelled like sweat and sickness.

So much for a pleasant few days rest.

Ordering up a bath, Sierra shooed out the inn folk, then sank into the steaming water. Whistling a cheerful tavern song, she dangled one of her legs over the edge of the tub while she soaked, pulling the brim of her hat far over her eyes.

Now this was more like it.

Stretching lazily as she scrubbed ever inch of herself clean, removing her hat only to wash her hair.

It was good to be clean.

Sierra stretched and flexed her muscles as she dressed, noticing a little weakness. Most likely from the sickness, she thought to herself, as she buttoned up her jacket. She’d be as good as new in a few days.

Reaching down to the floor, she picked up the strap of her knap sac. It wouldn’t budge. What the hell was in it anyways? A brick or something? Leather didn’t get that heavy when it got wet.

Sierra tried again to pick it up.

It felt as heavy as a boulder.

Sierra tried and tried again, but it wouldn’t budge.

Opening the bag, she began tossing out some of her supplies. There wasn’t anything in there out of the ordinary. She just couldn’t understand why it felt so heavy.

Trying once again, she barely managed to sling her pack over her shoulder. All she had to get was her sword, bow and quiver.

She picked up the hilt of her sword. She couldn’t lift it.

She picked up her bow. Wouldn’t budge.

Understanding began to dawn in her eyes.

Finally, she tried to pick up her quiver.

Nothing.

He wanted her to learn humility. So he robbed her of what best at. The only thing she was ever good at.

“Oh please… just let me die.”