Whistler

Even although i'd finished my hometown quest, writing songs for all the hometowns on the north continent, it didn't seem fair that there there weren't songs for the other towns, so i scratched away halfheartedly at a couple others, such as my unfinished song about a thief in Nydia (Lock Robster) and a reggae tune about the Isle. One that I had more than half written was a sea chantey (for Rowengard/the rowen docks) when we recieved notice that Darkclaw was retiring.
That gave me some incentive to finish/rewrite this song. *takes a long draught of beer* enjoy.



The Rowen Chantey (Ode to DarkClaw)

Whistler slips both hands through the straps of his concertina and pulls his arms wide, filling the bellows.

As he compresses the instrument, his fingers dance across the keys playing:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

Whistler takes a deep breath and sings his chantey:
When I started my journey I put pen to vellum
Before I had set out to quest in the Real-m
Then along came a lassie, a goddess it’s true,
Though she claimed to be neutral, her nature was blue.

He plays:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

Whistler continues his story in song:
She sent me abroad to see all the towns,
To find for her what songs in them could be found,
For she knew that true treasure was not in doubloons,
For an unstealable one can be found in a tune.

The little bard nods knowingly to the audience as he plays:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

Whistler sings to the rhythm of his squeezebox melody:
I journeyed about at the goddess’ behest
And scribbled my notes as I did my best,
For this she taught me: that I’d naught to fear,
As long as I’d Whiskey and Women and Beer.

The bard sends you a sly smile, and with a knowing wink continues:
Whiskey and Women, Women and beer,
When you find a good woman you’ve got naught to fear,
But although she may gain you all that you lack,
With a woman worth having, you must watch your back.

Whistler looks over his shoulder to check his back.
He plays:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

The Halfling looks off into the distance as he recalls:
“Sail away, young Laddie,” she called to me,
“And search for your fortunes over the sea,
But beware ye the tempest, and the giant squid,
And don’t spill your whiskey while you dance your jig.”

Whistler breaks into a grin as he dances a little jig to his tune:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

Whistler recounts thoughtfully in song:
Along in my journey I found both the Kind,
As well as those persons of treacherous mind,
Still I decline to commit with my peers,
Although I yet canna decline a beer.

Without releasing his instrument, Whistler stretches his neck over his beer and sips it.
He plays on:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

Whistler smiles and sings to you:
Now the lady, she’s left here, but re-mains in part,
For she has forever laid her mark on my heart,
Now I share her wisdom with whomever I find,
If not over whiskey, a beer I’ll not decline

(so I sing: )
Sail away my young lassie, to where ye belong,
And may you find comfort and may ye find song,
While I find my solace in what I’ve got here,
Solace in Whiskey and Women and Beer.

Whistler plays:
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

The melody slows as the bard continues:
Now the young seek me out- for her wisdom sometimes,
And go seeking adventure- in spite of my rhymes,
But I still waste breath tellin’- over my beer:
Sail away my young laddie and earn yer own tears.

Whistler reminisces with a twinkle in his eye:
Now DC she’s gone by, as the young come and go,
Yet there’s still treasure out there and the magic doth flow,
But I play it safe with my whiskey and beer,
So if you come back to Rowen Docks, I’ll still be here…

Whistler winks at you as if to say that’s the last place he’ll be.
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-wee
Whadda-whee, wadda wee-wee, whee whadda wee-woo
Whadda-whoo, wadda wee-wee, whee-whooda wee-whaa
Whadda-whoo whadda wee-wee whee-Whadda whee whaa

The bellows of the little accordion falls quiet and the bard takes a grand flourishing bow.