3. The Songs of Romulus

The Songs of Romulus

  • A

    These are from a book of songs submitted by Romulus to Picklepeppers and Sons for publication. All proceeds will go to support the Peltarch Theater's Music and Arts Education program.

    I performed this several times around Narfell campfires, once at the request of Raryldor to serenade one of his girlfriends; and it was the featured presentation when I was asked to perform at a Shesae Initiation Ceremony in the Roost by Coran Ama’bael.

    Perfect Time

    _Believe me, I’m not afraid to
    Teach me to learn your ways.
    Carry me under your wings
    In your perfect time.

    Only you, can dreams come true.
    Only you, can make me shine.
    Only you, can days be right
    In your perfect time.

    I know you told me that I’m not alone.
    You know I couldn’t do it on my own.
    See my eyes are older now,
    Broken dreams behind.
    Fill my heart with precious love.
    I know it’s there to find.

    Precious love,
    You gave me precious love.

    I know forgiveness is the key, not pride.
    I want to heal this pain inside.
    Free my tears and promise me
    That you won’t let me go.
    You’re the one to comfort me;
    The past, my God, you know.

    Only you, can dreams come true.
    Only you, can make me shine.
    Only you, can days be right
    In your perfect time._

    OOC: This song is by Irish folksinger Moya Brennen (sister of Enya) and her band Heartstrings.

  • A

    The Tale of Rass and Penny

    I first heard this tale from a Romani storyteller named Riselle. In light of the reported return of Rass to Narfell, it deserved being cast into verse.

    _An ancient red dragon named Rass, once haunted the Nars Pass.
    A sometime Eastlander ally, she lived in cave in Nars Valley.
    Cunning and fierce, she hunted cattle and men from the air.
    But spent most of her time asleep in her lair.

    A young bard named Penny came to Peltarch,
    With pink hair, she danced in the park.
    Like many young girls with a secret wish.
    She had a serious dragon crush.

    Then an earthquake struck Narfell one day.
    Ground shook, rocks fell, and trees swayed.
    From Rass’s cave, loud bellowing was heard
    But no dragon came out into the world.

    “Maybe Rass’s hurt!”Penny cried.
    Most others hoped that she’d died.
    As adventurers do, they had a big spat
    While trying to decide what to do.

    Penny sought others for a quest.
    She wanted to search the cave as a guest.
    She had a good ally who supported her
    A cleric of Kossuth named Terrick.

    Several others agreed to go along.
    But their desire to help the dragon was not strong.
    What they wanted most of all
    Was to kill Rass and get their hands on her hoard.

    Penny’s view prevailed in the end.
    Her party entered the cave near the bridge.
    Through traps and turns she called Rass’s name
    Till at last they came to a chamber.

    Rass was alive and loudly bellowed,
    But her body was mostly immobile.
    Pinned to the ground by a large fallen rock,
    She only could swivel her shoulder.

    That was enough to heighten the risk.
    If they entered she could burn them to a crisp.
    So they hung back in the tunnel and argued again,
    They had to come up with a plan.

    Penny ardently argued for talking,
    And to help Rass survive by them helping.
    The others agreed to let Rass go free,
    If she gave each of them a reward.

    Penny who could speak in draconic,
    Greeted Rass and explained the exchange.
    For herself and for Terrick all they wanted
    Was to spend a week with Rass talking.

    The others each asked for an item
    A magical weapon, armor, or talisman.
    Rass listened to all with a cunning smile,
    But one elf hung in the back and said nothing.

    Called forth at last for his request
    This elf Sy’wyn asked nothing for himself
    Except that Rass promise on her honor
    Not to harm them after she was free.

    Rass was cunning and shrewd.
    Her smile indicated she had thought of that.
    She agreed in the end, but held some of it back
    Raryldor did not get mythril armor.

    Then with much grunting and exerting,
    The party lifted the rock from her tail.
    Since for dragons honor still counts,
    She let Sy’wyn ride away on her back._

  • A

    Raryldor invited me to a recent Shesae confab held near Norwick’s great campfire. What I witnessed was so worthy of song that I had to put my quill pen to parchment and record the heroism for posterity.

    The Shesae and the Demon Crown Jewells

    _Evening came in Norwick town, the elves all gathered ‘round.
    Raryldor led them; the Shesae they were called.
    Wisdom he sought for they all were involved
    In a quest to restore their lost home.

    Long they had fought and fair victories won,
    But their quest stood still at the moment.
    They had seized four jewels from the Demon Crown
    And debated what they should do with them.

    No ordinary jewels were these four stones
    Demonic hands had forged them.
    Inside they held spirits of demon lords,
    And the quest was how to destroy them.

    Elessar proposed an arcane spell,
    Mordenkainen’s Disjunction.
    The problem was, he pointed out,
    That none of them could cast it.

    Sirion raised a further fear,
    He said “Don’t take success for granted.”
    He pledged that he would learn the spell,
    But a decade it would take him.

    While elders debated, the young grew restless.
    Leena, Jerrick’s daughter, among them.
    If arcane magic wouldn’t suffice,
    Divine power should be called in.

    Kneeling on a rock apart from the rest
    Leena prayed to the Lord of Destruction.
    These gems held the spirits of evil undead.
    Would the Gods heed her supplication?

    An answer came with unexpected speed.
    Leena jumped up all excited.
    “Two!” she shouted. “The time is Now!
    Two elves with two gems are needed.”

    Brave Hen, the Legion scout, stepped forth
    Spinning her gem upon the ground.
    The rest held back and questions raised.
    What price would the Gods extract?

    Leena couldn’t answer, at least not directly,
    A price was not discussed, she said,
    Though she knew what she must do,
    For others, she hadn’t bartered.

    Waukeeners knew, when Gods make bargains
    There’s always a price extracted.
    Raryldor and Sirion both urged caution,
    Weighing the risks before action.

    But Leena insisted the time was now,
    More than one God was involved.
    They would grow impatient with all the debate
    While destruction of the gems was assured.

    A dwarf stepped forth, unknown to the crowd,
    And spilled out some gems of his own.
    They were not the same as the demon crown ones,
    And lightning smote the ground around them.

    Leena called for the dwarf to step back,
    And two elves with gems to step up now.
    Hen was still there with her arm in the air
    But who else now would join her?

    Brave Kessmiah, the monk, stepped forth then,
    And offered her demon crown gem.
    She was willing to sacrifice herself, she said,
    If Kossuth would accept her.

    Leena roared her approval and stood on the rock
    Raising an elf arm with gem in each hand.
    “Trust me,” she said. “I will bear the cost.”
    As she called on the Gods for action.

    Lightning danced all through the clouds
    And thunder boomed around them.
    Mist formed around brave Hen’s arm,
    Smoke filled the air around Kess’s.

    Two bolts of lightning smote the ground
    The flash blinded those around them.
    “Now!” Leena shouted. “You two hold the power.
    Use it, as it’s intended!”

    Gritting their teeth, the two elves did their part
    Smashing the gems to oblivion.
    But a price was exacted, as we knew that it would,
    When nature’s raw power is expended.

    Kessmiah’s arm burst into flames
    And shriveled down to a stump.
    Hen’s arm was frozen solid as stone
    And broke off at the shoulder.

    Sirion and Raryldor quickly moved forth,
    Providing comfort and healing.
    Raryldor knew the regeneration spell,
    And soon restored them to feeling.

    Tears ran down from Leena’s eyes,
    She had kept them open throughout.
    Not knowing the price her friends had paid
    They kept to their parts of the bargain.

    Praise Auril, Praise Kossuth, Praise Talos the Gods,
    For bringing about this destruction.
    Praise Oakfather Silvanus, and the Lady of the Forest
    For managing the wild nature magic.

    The Gods have spoken, they answered our prayers.
    Two gems have been utterly destroyed.
    The other two gems remain in our hands,
    We mortals must destroy them ourselves._

  • A

    I wrote this one myself to celebrate the exploits of the People’s Front for the Liberation of Norwick during the Ostromog Occupation.

    PFLN

    _Young man, there's no need to feel down
    I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground
    I said, young man, 'cause you’re in a new town
    There's no need to be unhappy

    Young man, there's a place you can go
    I said, young man, when you've lost your real home
    You can get there, and I'm sure you will find
    Many ways to have a good time.

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    They have everything for young men to enjoy.
    You can hang out with Ardent and Jin.

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    You can find yourself there
    You can blow something up
    You can do whatever you feel.

    Young hin, are you listening to me
    I said, young hin, do you want to be free?
    I said, young hin, you can make real your dreams,
    but you've got to know this one thing.

    No one, does it all by themself
    I said, young hin, put your pride on the shelf
    And just join with, the P.F.L.N.
    I'm sure they can help you today

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    They have everything for young hins to enjoy.
    You can hang out with all the gnomes.

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    You can get better stuff
    You can blow people up
    You can do whatever you feel.

    Young Dwarf, I was once in your boots,
    I said, I was down and pushed by the brutes
    I felt, no one cared if I was a drunk
    Narfell was just so fark'in punked

    That's when someone came up to me
    and said young dwarf get back on your feet
    There's a group here called the P.L.F.N.
    That can get you back into the Hold.

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    They have everything For young dwarves to enjoy.
    You can drink ale with all the boys.

    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    It's fun to be in the P.F.L.N.
    Young man, there's no need to feel down
    Young man, pick yourself off the ground
    Young Man, I was once in your boots,
    Young Man, I was out of the loop

    Just join with the P.F.L.N
    Just join with the P.F.L.N_

    OOC: Sung to the tune YMCA by the Village People

  • A

    A recruiting song for the Troff Legion that was popular shortly after I joined.

    In the Legion

    _Where can you find pleasure attacking orcs for treasure
    Learn gnomish obscenities?
    Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true
    About the time hell starts to freeze?
    Where can you learn shock tactics, soldierly deportment
    Win victory without fail?
    Deal with bombs of all types, learn to foil 'claw/claw/bite'
    Then drink a Red Army Ale?

    IN THE LEGION!
    Yes, in the tower in the Pass
    IN THE LEGION!
    We kicked the butt of the N'Jast
    IN THE LEGION!
    For Narfell you'll make a stand
    IN THE LEGION!
    Grag could really use a hand
    IN THE LEGION!
    Join our brave heroic band
    IN THE LEGION!
    Fighting all across the land
    IN THE LEGION! IN THE LEGION! IN THE LEGION!

    Grag wants you, Grag wants you
    Grag wants you as a new recruit!

    If you like adventure and aren't afraid of censure
    Come up to the tower fast
    There's nothing to fear, just sign your name right here
    Don't worry about your past
    Some say that we're reckless, but don't listen to them
    Tymora favors the bold
    Your future is clear, a grand Legion career
    And not much chance of getting old

    IN THE LEGION!
    Where we fight our wars to win!
    IN THE LEGION!
    You'll love being buffed by a hin!
    IN THE LEGION!
    A home for all military bards
    IN THE LEGION!
    Combat in between games of cards!
    IN THE LEGION!
    Please join the Legion today
    IN THE LEGION!
    In no time flat you will say
    IN THE LEGION! IN THE LEGION! IN THE LEGION!

    Grag wants you, Grag wants you
    Grag wants you as a new recruit!

    Me? But… I'm already in the Norwick Militia...

    Grag wants you, Grag wants you
    Grag wants you as a new recruit!

    But, but I can't march OR salute!
    See? And the only gnomish I know is <g>FARK</g>
    Hey, where are you taking me?

    Grag wants you, Grag wants you
    Grag wants you as a new recruit!

    Well, I guess black and blue do look kind of good on me...
    No, wait! Somebody help!

    GRAG WANTS YOU, GRAG WANTS YOU... IN THE LEGION!_

    OOC: Originally penned by DM Logrus to the tune of In the Navy by the Village People.

  • A

    This song has a fabulous rhythm guitar part, which I have tried duplicating using the beat-boxing backup band performance gloves given to me by an old gnome. It’s supposed to be sung by a woman and was often performed by my mother, a Neverwinter tavern singer.

    Lay All Your Love on Me

    _I wasn't jealous before we met
    Now every woman I see is a potential threat
    And I'm possessive it isn't nice
    You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice
    But now it isn't true
    Now everything is new
    And all I've learned
    Has overturned
    I beg of you

    Don't go wasting your emotion
    Lay all your love on me

    It was like shooting a sitting duck
    A little small talk a smile and baby I was stuck
    I still don't know what you've done with me
    A grown up woman should never fall so easily
    I feel a kind of fear
    When I don't have you near
    Unsatisfied I skip my pride
    I beg you dear

    Don't go wasting your emotion
    Lay all your love on me
    Don't go sharing your devotion
    Lay all your love on me

    I've had a few little love affairs
    They didn't last very long and they've been pretty scarce
    I used to think that was sensible
    It makes the truth even more incomprehensible
    Cause everything is new
    And everything is you
    And all I've learned has overturned
    What can I do

    Don't go wasting your emotion
    Lay all your love on me
    Don't go sharing your devotion
    Lay all your love on me._

    OOC: By the Swedish Rock Group ABBA

  • A

    This one seems perfect for Willow.

    Eagle

    _They came flying from far away,
    Now I'm under their spell
    I love hearing the stories that they tell
    They've seen places beyond my land
    And they've found new horizons
    They speak strangely but I understand.

    And I dream I'm an eagle
    And I dream I can spread my wings
    Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
    I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze.

    High, high, what a feeling to fly
    Over mountains and forests and seas
    And to go anywhere that I please.

    As all good friends we talk all night,
    And we fly wing to wing
    I have questions and they know everything
    There's no limit to what I feel,
    We climb higher and higher
    Am I dreaming or is it all real?

    Is it true I'm an eagle?
    Is it true I can spread my wings?
    Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
    (I'm an eagle)
    I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze.

    High, high, what a feeling to fly
    (What a feeling)
    Over mountains and forests and seas
    And to go anywhere that I please

    And I dream I'm an eagle
    And I dream I can spread my wings

    Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
    (I'm an eagle)
    I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze_

    OOC: By the Swedish Rock Group ABBA

  • A

    I first performed this song for Riselle, a Gyspy story-teller, at the Norwick campfire; and most notably at the celebration of Talindra Verados’ knighting in Peltarch’s Amethyst Festhall.

    Blue, Blue, Little Flower

    _The moon steals up in silver light
    Blue, blue, little flower.
    Amid the clouds in heaven’s height
    Blue, blue, little flower.

    Rose in the dale,
    Maid in the vale,
    O fairest Rosa!

    Thru azure air it climbs the sky
    Blue, blue, little flower.
    To peep in where my lady lies
    Blue, blue, little flower.

    Rose in the dale,
    Maid in the vale,
    O fairest Rosa!

    O moon, look in where she doth dwell
    Blue, blue, little flower.
    And cast on her your magic spell!
    Blue, blue, little flower.

    Rose in the dale,
    Maid in the vale,
    O fairest Rosa!

    And should you see both her and me.
    Blue, blue, little flower.
    Two truer hearts you’ll never see.
    Blue, blue, little flower.

    Rose in the dale,
    Maid in the vale,
    O fairest Rosa!_

    OOC: An original Gypsy folk song by Johannes Brahms