Poetry: Chyre

There was a young lady from Sendar | Drunken haze | Joining Merchants | Making money | Lying low | Gin | Lightning raid | Following | Following... | Moving onward | Wandering: 1 2 | Homecoming | Reports | Skin | Rings and things | New recruit | Background | Assignments | Nighttime | To fly

There was a young lady from Sendar
Writer's note: Not the greatest poet in the world, you'll have to rush some of the lines to make them work.

There was a young lady from Sender
Who went on an incredible bender
She woke up next day
and went on her way
and bumped into an ugly bartender

She explored all the backstreets of Boktor
and avoided the snakes in Sthiss Tor
she got lost in the fair
and just didn't care
'cause that’s what adventurin's for

she did the rounds in Tolnedra
the bars there will ne'er forget her
a quick turn round Muros
then got lost in the forest
and returned home weary to Sendar

Oh, she’s a pretty wee lass,
with plenty of sass,
you'll never forget how she goes,
plenty of fun,
a few bottles of rum,
she’s the girl that everyone knows.

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Drunken haze
lights flicker, daylight sags
men stumble off with embittered hags
i sit by the fire, and watch its glow
chuckling over what i know
barmaids clear the tables down
they sweep the floor with tired frowns
and only smile when they put brooms down
cloaks are donned, they leave at last
i study the fire, contemplate the past
a shadow moves in the corner behind
some idiot thinks i’m drunk and blind
but i've studied him there for half the night
and he couldn't move softly, as try as he might
i study the fire, and over he walks
he sits himself down, wants to talk
refills my glass from the bottle he bought
but i just stare at the flames, dancing away
thinking about another day
thinking of daylight, of spring, of new life
not some old battered drunk whose just after a wife
he chatters away, making no sense
he just sees the blonde and thinks that im dense
he looks away over, to where the landlords at rest
so I spike his drink quickly with Nyissa’s best
10 seconds later and he's flat on his back
i waved to the landlord as I pulled on my cloak
it was raining outside, i didn't fancy a soak
and I wandered outside, to the glorious night
and danced thru the shadows, almost in flight

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Joining Merchants
dying embers burning low
night dissolves into dawn’s glow

the fair awakens all around
money jingles, changing hands
goods bought and sold from every land

a bag sealed tight, and well hid
the contents wanted by a few
I look for Czrel, a friend of old

I wander the fair
search for friends
through squares and streets
and many dead ends

then, a shout, I hear my name
looks like my friend has gathered fame
a crowded tent, and very fine
done well he has this friend of mine.

I wait in shade, till tradings done,
then when all have disappeared
I hand my bag, his face is cheered.

a price agreed we wander on
for food and beer now day is done

we talk of life, and what it brings
a Merchants band he has begun
join, he said, it’s lots of fun

so now a merchant (though poor) am I,
to buy and sell till fires die.

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Making money
setting out, wandering far
buying,selling,trading hard

in Tol Honeth, from a chocolatiere
goods to entice the dryads fair
buying low and selling high
profit margins soar and fly

matches taken from Valdins' corpse
escape the Queen on a fast horse
ride to Torpakan so dim
and sell them to the Karandim

Rob Drosta's Vault of all its gold
and Vo Ebor’s dungeon, musty and old
Visit Otho in a town nearby
and change the silver so weighty

setting out, wandering far
buying, selling, trading hard
buying low and selling high
profit margins soar and fly

rest up in Sendar, for the now
planning trips, and buying cows.

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Lying low
A messenger found, a messenger paid
By whom he did not know
Carried a missive across the lands
To a merchant well renowned

Czrel, my friend, the note began,
I’m andering far from you
Searching out markets
And lying low, I know what I must do
Two assassins, so far, this week
Have met their bloody end
Don’t worry for me, I’ll take care
And head home soon, again

T’was only a rotten prank you know
He left his keys in the door!
I tried t put the money back
But he’s changed the locks and all

I’ll not tell you where I am right now
Don’t know who’ll see this note
But I’m fine and well and looking out
Don’t suppose you’re interesting in goats?

I’ll be moving around quite a bit,
And this messenger won’t know where
I’ll stay in touch, when I can
But don’t try to find me my dear
If you’re in desperate need
Xantha will know, but I can’t say more than that
I like to breath and more to the point
I need to keep my skin on my back.

A messenger found, a messenger paid
By whom he did not know
Carried a missive across the lands
To a merchant well renowned

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Gin
I tried an imported wine one day
it nearly made me gag
so I went looking for a better brew
and found a wizened hag.
Her pot it bubbled, day and night
and all sorts were added in
I asked what she called it,
and she cackled "gin".
I bought a dozen bottles,
to take upon the road
and stumbled to a mining camp
and sold the lot for gold.
A thirsty lot, these miners
they asked me for some more
so I trotted back to hag
and contracted for her store.
So now she brews gin just for me
and I carry it near and far
selling it to everyone
by the bottle or the jar.

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Lightning raid
I waited in the market square
by the marble fountain fair
my colleagues didn't see me there

I waited till they'd been and gone
then entered the guild and climbed the stair
my Nadrak friend he let me pass
and I entered the empty hall

a dangerous place to be right now
for one who's lying low
but they shouldn't expect me to make
the mistake
the mistake of going home

I tripped to the bank, even merchants need cash
and grabbed supplies from the guild store
from my locker I picked up necessities
and left a note on Czrel’s locker door.

Czrel my dear, I’m still around
just popped in to say hello
have grabbed some stuff and left you my dues
for the past few weeks of trade
saw the Adventurer received yesterday
will hope that all’s ok,
am shooting off now to pastures new
and will write you soon some more

back out of the hall and on way my back
to the fountain by the market square
I handed my Nadrak friend some coins
he never saw me there

I returned to the marble fountain fair
to watch the hall from the square
my friends must be half blind sometimes
they didn't see me there

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Following (1)
I lingered in the market square
by the marble fountain fair
the adventurer didn't see me there

I saw him wander round Boktor
asking questions, then asking more
my name was mentioned, once or twice,
but gold keeps people quiet as mice

I think he maybe looks for me?
I wonder why that should be.

if this young soul does look for me
he'd better step most carefully
some he might ask, they will not like
my friendship with them come to light

and some are just plain nasty
and will brook no questions about me
I’ve done favours far and wide
for lots of folk with stuff to hide

I’d better follow this young cub
and stop him being thumped and clubbed
as a user of the Will and Word
I can travel faster than the herd

a thought, a blink, and then I’m there
or I can fly should I so care
I think t’is time to put on my wings
and see what each new mile doth bring.

I wandered from the market square
and left the marble fountain fair
t’is time to fly, pigeons beware.

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Following... (2)
flap, bank, soar, glide
spiral up on thermals wide
following Ddventurers

ignore the pigeons,
watch the man
he walks now, and, with another

a city they do slow approach
by the sea it lies

night is falling
time to land

can’t carry much, when I fly
but Will will start a fire

food created with a thought
water summoned from the earth

watch the embers burning low
cloak my self invisible
and sleep. sleep.

wake with dawn, gain wings anew
flap, bank, soar, glide
spiral up on thermals wide

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Moving onward
spiral up on thermals wide
flap, bank, soar, glide
chase the clouds, no need to hide

fly above a city fair
with streets and streams and parks
sea glistens in the morning air
and nought up here but jays and larks

bank wide and east and settle down
a blink, a thought, wings begone
I stand once more, sorc'ress alone
just to the east of town.

approach the city walls with care
embrasures hide the archers there
show self to be just one alone
no threat, no harm, they let me by

seek contact with eyes and ears
a servant in the villa serves
well placed to know the ins and outs
to hear all that there is to hear

the town is quiet, nothing new
adventurers are keeping low
something about a fight, I hear
but nothing about what I need to know

my follower, appears, to have disappeared
a badger gone to ground.
well, good, he no longer follows me
time to see the town.

a deal done here, a deal done there
for goods, or news, or other
t’is time now to move on once more
and check in on the bother.

buy a horse, and travel now
by other means than wings
to move a pace, and see,
what another day does bring.

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Wandering (part 1)
rambling onward
wandering round
from hill to hill
and town to town

I met a blindman who couldn’t see
without lenses of clear visibility
I found a pair amongst my bags
and traded them for gold and rags

I met a beggar cold and hungry
gave him the rags and waived my fee
he told me all the latest news
local gossip, was all his due

I travelled on and round about
and found myself in Upper Gralt
I made trades in town and stopped to rest
and sampled the baker’s new baked bread

a storm blew up, so I stayed the night
in Grumpy’s tavern, by firelight
a jug of ale, some old stew
sleep by the hearth, till morn is new

rambling onward
wandering round
from hill to hill
and town to town

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Wandering (part 2)
Upper Gralt I left behind
and wandered down the road
I visited a farm and listened to the old
man tell his long tall stories.
I traded spices with the cook and
sampled her best cooking. She healed
my latest blisters and listened to my news.
I left the farm and wandered on, and came
to Vordue's fine expanse of green
I visited a dryad friend,
who took me to the queen.
we exchanged vague pleasantries
and had tea for two.
and I left the winding forest paths
and walked 'neath skies of blue.
I then went back to Upper Gralt
and paid my stabling fees.
I mounted up upon my horse
and swatted one or two fleas.
we ambled out of town once more
and headed t'ward a valley
we slept out under stars, 'neath trees
and with bugs b'came quite pally.
the next day dawned and
grand it was. We turned toward the fair.
you never know in this changing world,
who on earth you will meet there.

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Homecoming
the flight back home was rough and grim
the skies were grey and the clouds rolled in
the nights were long and the days were slow
but I shook dew from my wings as I arrived home
Caldon news, alas, was true
Czrel, fell ill, the mood was blue
the hall that oft rang loud with joy
was sullen, quiet, desolate
merchants were a sunny crew, and now
the mood was a dark, dark, blue
we gathered late into the night
and debated long and hard our plight
a head was needed for the body and soul
and we talked and talked, till the sky turned gold
and one by one, all turned down
the wearing of the Merchants crown
till just three were left to speak
one had other matters on his mind
another had a killer to find
and so it turned out to be
the lord of Merchants became, well, me.

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Reports
paper, paper, everywhere
piles here, piles there
trades, deals, contracts too
reports of what all are up to
crumpled, flat, or screwed in balls
someone has to read them all.
file the good, junk the bad
plan the strategy,
there's money to be had.

wind rattles the windows in their frames
lamplight flickers as I read the list of names
agents scattered across the western world
one stands out, wrongness, plans unfurled
a double, how long has he posed so,
I thought him dead, killed long long ago
must gather all the information new
a shock, right out of the blue

breathe deep, breathe slow
at least you know
there’s more reports to see
someone has to read them all
and that someone is me.

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Skin
reports
on paper, bark, on vellum, skin,
skin!?!?
what are those agents out there thinking.
I hope it's snake or cow or
yuck!
a Navel!
so, no, not animal then.
sigh.

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Rings and things
walking through the market square
I met a man, Asturian
his accents poor and oh so foul
language like that, it should be banned
I understood 'bout one word in three
but finally found out
he wanted to buy a Prala’s Ring
but he got there round about.
I had to have him write down
what it was he wanted
his speech just left me baffled
unable e'en to banter.
In the end though, we got there
and I sold the man a ring
but I can’t believe it took so long

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New recruit
a clever lad arrived today,
Thull by race and Thag by name
recruited swindling in a market place
a clever mind and a guileless face
keen to learn, though I foresee
problems with authority.
he'll soon learn how to use his mind
and a mind like his is hard to find
I’ll have to watch how he settles in
the clan can use a man like him

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Background
my father was a blacksmith
and he taught me how to forge
I killed a bear and made
a dagger from its claw.
I broke a few initially
they melted from the heat
I persevered and wrought anew
and ended with one shining blue
I sold it to a Sheepherder
for a sum of gold, t’is true
I under valued it, but he
recognised its worth.
and with extra gold that day,
he did me reimburse.

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Assignments
I spoke to all the tutors
and questioned them long and hard
I picked a likely candidate
and someone to be his guard

the task for one, and for t' other
a watching brief, a protector,
a brake on impulses unmarred

investigate this mole of mine
do not approach, just watch and find
bring me back the details
but don’t get me in a bind

Tol Honeth’s your target
to a bar of ill repute
don’t have too much fun though
they don’t find outsiders cute

You're looking for a dead man
well, at least I thought him so
he looks a little weaselly
an ignoble so and so.

So Maldrek, Thag, its up to you
I’ll be waiting your reports
oh, and yes, the dead man’s name,
his true name, it is Klort.

Ok Thag, you can leave,
Maldrek, please do stay,
I have a word or two to add

Thag's a hothead, hold him calm
don’t let him rush off to fast,
be befriend him, treat him good
this one's made to last.

I waved them off, early next day
and watched them disappear
through the crowds of Boktor’s streets
but now could still my fear.

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Nightime
I spoke to Reidia tonight
and soon she'll be on her way home,
back to the melee and the paperwork
back to the agents she'll own

the hall is quiet with near everyone gone
and maldrek and thag have been quiet
they should be nearing their goal by now
any news, they should use their pins to report it.

with winter drawn in and the caravans gone
the city has slipped into slumber
sunshine has faded and summer is gone
and soon the snows will be here.

I’ll wait, I think, till Reidia's back
and then take off for a while,
It's time I did the rounds again,
and checked out my own small empire.

the ales and the wines, the spirits and such
and e'en the sales of Othlass,
the hogsheads, the firkins, the pins,
an e'en sometimes by the glass.

Aye, I’ll check out my empire,
and see whats been sold, and what needs improving and where
and I’ll fly back to Boktor, with profits of gold,
profits of gold to share.

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To fly
I dream of flying, high amongst the clouds
landscape stretched beneath me, fields green and black from plough
hills rising from the plains, grass blowing in the wind
flying through the air, soaring in the breeze.
catch a thermal here, and spiral high
or a cold sink there, that drags me low
wings outstretched to catch each breath,
heart beating hard within feathery breast.
oh yes I dream of flying, high among the clouds
landscape stretched beneath me, fields green and black from plough
hills and mountains rise, from out amongst the plains
I dream it as I see it, till all muscles burn with pain

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