Storyboards: Xhar

Sightings of Lerris: #1, #2, #3

The difference of this hall is in the entertainment. The servants quickly rush to dim the lanterns to create the perfect atmosphere. The crowd slowly vacates the center of the room while whispering about what kind of performance they expect. A servant places a simple stool in the cleared area directly in front of the lord and lady of the realm.

The doors to the side entrance open to allow entrance to tonight's single performer. The nobles crane their necks and strain their eyes to see him clearly. All they can make out is his long blonde hair spilling halfway down the length of his dark green cloak and see that he carries an instrument of some sort.

The lord seeks to hide his curiosity by gruffly saying, "So, I see tonight we have a common minstrel. Well minstrel, let us see if you are worth the effort it took to set up the room." The lord obviously does not care for the conditions the player set before playing and is looking for a reason to make his displeasure known.

Amazingly the minstrel does not answer the lord or even acknowledge his existence. Instead, he sits upon the stool and slowly tunes his instrument. A learned observer would see that this is a gittern, but not a standard one. This gittern seems to be made in the image of perfection. Its twelve strings glisten in the light shed by the lanterns. The wood itself seems to absorb the warmth of the room and enhance it. If this performer is even of half the quality of his instrument then this shall be a show worth hearing indeed.

A very perceptive observer would perhaps notice another thing. The performer wears a ring. Most musicians will not wear any jewelry on their hands as it may foul their fingering. But it is plain why the musician refuses to remove this ring. It seems to be made of gold, some black metal, ruby and emerald. All are as thin as course thread and woven about each other and braided about to form this ring. The cost of the metals and jewels alone is something any thief would drool over. The craftsmanship makes this ring worth more than many small castles.

The lord is growing upset now. He whispers something to the guard nearest him. Something about throwing the impertinent bastard out and smashing his instrument. The lady quickly countermands those orders. It seems that she has taken a fancy to the looks of this minstrel who possesses the arrogance of a king.

Finally, the minstrel begins to play. He starts with only a few notes in a simple chord. Quickly he introduces a new cord and yet another all the while playing the original as well. Next he blends each of the chords together to create a single chord that is far more than the sum of the original chords.

The nobles begin to whisper amongst themselves. "Surely he can't be playing that by himself. Look for the other players. By the gods, he must have sold his soul to play so well." At that reference I know who we are listening to.

We have the rare opportunity to listen to the performance of Lerris Darksong. A true bard of Asturian heritage and upbringing. Many have sworn that even for an Asturian he is too perfect to believe. His looks rival that of the very gods and not even a bard may play that well.

By this time Lerris has stopped playing only instrumentals. He begins to sing a ballad of two lost loved ones seeking to reunite but barred by a curse. I'm told that this is his own song and that this is only the short mind's eye, a mist appears in front of Lerris and unveils a vision of the story. The nobles, quieted by the beauty of the song, now fall completely silent. Lerris draws the song and illusion to a wondrous close and the servants brighten the lanterns. The lord and lady are speechless. Finally the lady recovers first.

"By the highest gods. I have never heard of nor seen such excellence. You have but to name your price for the entertainment that you have provided for us this night and it is yours."

The lord then intervenes, "Forget only tonight, what price would you set upon staying here as our bard for a more permanent position?"

Lerris slowly stands and speaks in his melodious voice, "With regrets, I can accept no permanent position, for my songs find their power in freedom. As for what I would set upon a price for the few songs that I have played, I merely request to dine here and to be given some small amount of gold to aid me on my way to the next lord's lands."

Next there are many requests that he stays and other such nonsense. They would say none of this if they knew the truth.

The truth is that he has sold his soul. Or very nearly sold his soul, it’s all the same. Some time ago he made a bargain with a greater power to learn to play so well. The deal was that when he died he would indeed lose his soul. The dark power, however, was more treacherous. Instead
of requiring his soul, the dark power tried something else. After teaching him to play, sing, and combine illusions with his performance the dark Power made him an offer. If Lerris would but remove the ring that the Power gifted him with from his finger and place it upon another, thus damning that person (whomever it may be), Lerris would be elevated to the master of all music and bardic arts.

Lerris refused but the Power, rather than being upset, merely said that the offer stands until he chooses it. As an added bonus Lerris would not age until he made his choice so he wouldn't have to hurry his choice.

The power also haunts his dreams trying to tip his hand. Every night, during the short time that he allows himself to sleep, his reverie is filled with beautiful music and the knowledge that it could all be his should he fulfil his end of the bargain.

I would not wish to be in his place myself. I often wonder if he would consider the choices he has made to be worth all the trouble. I bet not.

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The second sighting of Lerris
This tavern is like all others nearby. It is full of a motley crew of folks looking to buy food, drink, and maybe some companionship. Or at least it was like all nearby, until this stranger showed up. He is an elf, yet he seems far more friendly than any Asturian from the tales I've heard. Since no
one here had ever seen an Asturian up close he quickly became the center of attention. Although he would have had he been human as well. With his looks every girl from farm-maid to high born noble would turn his way and pant as shamelessly as a hound in heat. I've already heard the serving girls say that they would kill to have either his long golden hair or his deep green eyes.

He also carries an instrument. I believe is a gittern but it is much larger than any I've seen before. It has twelve strings rather than the more common four or even the rarer eight stringed ones. It seems made of some hard wood for nothing else would not have some scratch upon it by now. I should know about woods, my father's a carver after all.

And his ring! I'd have thought him fairly low born even aside from the instrument if not for that. A ring made by magic it must be. There is no other way that gold, ruby, emerald, and black iron can be combined like that. They are spun together like threads in a weavers loom. Yet the Asturian wears very simple clothes and does not carry himself with the arrogance of even a human noble.

Ahh, here's something of interest. Even while I sit here writing this all down one of the local hire-swords seems to take a notion to challenge the elf. This hire sword used to be a minstrel, and a good one at that. He took to the sword after he was attacked by bandits and could not defend himself.

The evening just got a lot more livelier. It seems as though the entire village has turned out for this. Word travels fast in small villages like these.

The hire-sword, I believe his name is Belthar, has just stood up and now says, "Hey, you. You think you can play that better than I can play mine? I bet I can outplay you any day."

The Asturian merely gives a sad smile. He responds with two words, "Then play." Belthar seems confused. "Then you'll play after and we'll let the others decide?"

"Of course. Would you like to set a wager on the outcome?" The Asturian doesn't really seem to be interested in any wager, it's as if he already knows he will win. He's in for a surprise then. Belthar can outclass most

"Yeah, I'd like to wager. Fifty gold says that I can play better than you with my instrument and my song than you can with yours." Ye gods, Belthar must be sure of his new song and of himself. That's a year's pay and then some for him.

The Asturian sighs rather tiredly. "Very well, but when you lose remember that you set the stakes. I agree to your terms."

Belthar seems taken aback from this statement but he smiles anyway. Belthar picks up his lute and begins to play his new song. The fingerings of this song are the most complex that I have ever seen. The tempo runs fast and then slow in a way that would trip any lutenist's fingers unless they were very careful. The song itself is an odd love song where the singer knows not who he loves until the song ends and he loves all his listeners. The crowd goes entirely silent. No one here had ever heard music of such amazing quality.

Belthar finishes with a flourish and then stands up and grandly announces "After facing mastery such as that you may back down from our bet if you wish. I will not consider you dishonorable."

The Asturian seems mildly upset. "I have not before backed down from a musical contest. And I see no reason to do so now. You do indeed play well good sir, but I believe that I can match and even surpass your song."

With that Lerris puts his gittern into position. Belthar sits back with an amused expression and waits to collect his money. I can't see how anyone, even an Asturian could surpass that which we have heard tonight.

Lerris starts by simply introducing his song as "ShadowLover." And then he begins to play. As complex as Belthar's song had been, this made it seem to be a mere practice lesson. All the music I have ever heard before and will ever hear after pales in comparison to this. Lerris sings
and plays of one who is courted by Death itself and welcomes Her courting. Soon after the start of the song it's as if I can hear Death's promises whispered throughout the room even though Lerris is singing the lyrics to the song. By the time Lerris has finished his song there is no doubt that Lerris is the best musician that we country folk have ever heard and will ever hear again.

When the last throbbing note finally dies in the silence broken only by the crackling of the fire, Lerris stands. "Now that I have played for you I give you the chance to back down. I have never heard a mortal who could match me in music."

Belthar merely stands slowly, breaks his lute in half and walks out of the tavern. And the coins nearly rain down from everyone about. Lerris merely picks up three silvers and asks if they are enough to cover the price of a room, supper, and a hot bath.

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The Third Sighting of Lerris
I have once again found the demon clothed in the flesh of a man. The flesh of an Asturian to be more specific. What else could he be. No mortal creature can play as well as he, I've heard him claim it himself. And Asturians are still mortal. They cannot live forever. Thus he cannot be what he seems.
Not that anyone could look like that and not be out to cause harm. He has the perfectly formed body of a dancer. His hair is thick as a lion's mane and more golden than the light of the sun. But the biggest perversion of all lies within his eyes. Deep black and looking as if he cares about all those about him. Lies, all of it. Within this false shell is the soul of a demon. He seduces the hearts and minds of all those who come into contact with him so that they will serve his dark master.
That's why he looks that way and plays so well. The proof of it is his ring. Ask to see it and he will reluctantly show it while it remains on his finger. Ask him to remove it and he refuses. He claims it to be a gifting-ring. Aye it is, from his master. He says that he cannot take it off except to give it to another. Again, my magicks have found this to be true. But he mentions not what shall occur when he gives another this ring. As soon as he puts it on another’s finger that person's soul is lost. It will swiftly become property of his dark master. He even stands to gain another gift should he do this. Yet he does not.
He may yet have some core of goodness about him in that he knows what will happen and would not do this to another. Then again, maybe he hasn't found the one whom he wishes to damn. There are so many contradictions about him and his actions. He seems to be truly feeling toward those about him. Yet after they hear his music they find no joy in any other. And I cannot tell if he does this because he enjoys ruining the music for others, or if he truly does not notice what he is doing. If such is the case it must be due to the Power's influence over him.
I shall wait longer and wait for him to show his true colours. For if he slips but once I will have all the reason I need to end his life. But if he remains true and kind I shall let him live.

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