Stradivari's Stellar Strings

[Softwoods|Hardwoods|Woods|Metals|Supplies]

[Lyre held by Terpischore|Shortstory of Hermes and Apollo]

[Storytellers|Links|Tamboura's Sanctuary]







NW
[Athens, Apeiros Circle]
Stone buildings alternate with simpler wooden structures along this stretch of Apeiros Circle.  The first floor of one modest building is evidently devoted to musical instruction, judging from the sounds coming through the unshuttered windows.  A wooden statue of a youth holding a lyre stands beside the entry.
Also here: Eternity.
Obvious paths: north, south.
>
You follow Eternity who just went into a modest building.
[Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Softwoods]
The entry of this immaculate shop is brightly lit and cleanly swept.  The shopkeeper busies himself with the constant stream of customers, showing off the latest instruments and pulling them down to be tested by the more picky of the patrons.  In the center of the shop is a circular counter full of necessary tools of the trade protected under a glass case.  The instruments showcased here are made of softwood, pleasant to the eye but a bear to upkeep.
Also here: Eternity.
Obvious exits: north, northeast, east, out.
 
 
 

Welcome to Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Softwoods!

Stradivari offers his catalog to browse.


 
Main Menu                         Page 1
----------------------------------------
  1. a lyre
  2. a cithara
  3. a lute
  4. a zither
  5. a psatlery
  6. a dulcimer
  7. a rebec
  8. a fiddle
  9. a harp
 
 
 
1. a lyre --(50 dinars)
2. a cithara -- (53 dinars)
3. a lute -- (56 dinars)
4. a zither  -- (62 dinars)
5. a psatlery -- (68 dinars)
6. a dulcimer -- (75 dinars)
7. a rebec -- (78 dinars)
8. a fiddle -- (85 dinars)
9. a harp -- (93 dinars)

Main Menu                         Page 2

----------------------------------------
1. a viol
  1. polished  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  2. burnished  Pricing:1 dinars per pound.
  3. buffed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. sleek  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. etched  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  6. brushed  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  7. ornate  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  8. gleaming  Pricing:2 dinars per pound.
  9. dark  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 1. cherrywood  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  2. rosewood Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  3. spruce Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. birch Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. pearwood Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  6. cherry-trimmed  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  7. rose-trimmed Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  8. spruce-trimmed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  9. birch-trimmed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
1. pear-trimmed  Pricing: 1 dinars perpound.
  2. cherry-inlaid  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  3. rose-inlaid Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  4. spruce-inlaid Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. birch-inlaid Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  6. pear-inlaid Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 







[Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Metals] (east)
Gold and silver inlays are the norm in this section of the shop where the instruments are reinforced with metal to make them easier to keep in good shape.  A young girl is industriously applying a generous dollop of metal polish to a copper psaltery, working it in until the gleam is nearly blinding.  Polish and rags and cloths for the cleaning of instruments are lined under the glass of a circular counter in the center of the shop, along with other assorted tools.
Also here: Eternity.
Obvious exits: north, west, northwest.
 
 

Welcome to Stradivari's
Stellar Strings, Metals

Main Menu                         Page 1
----------------------------------------
  1. a lyre
  2. a cithara
  3. a lute
  4. a zither
  5. a psaltery
  6. a dulcimer
  7. a rebec
  8. a fiddle
  9. a harp
1. a lyre    -- (57 dinars)
2. a cithara    -- (62 dinars)
3. a lute    -- (71 dinars)
4. a zither    -- (71 dinars)
5. a psaltery    -- (77 dinars)
6. a dulcimer    -- (83 dinars)
7. a rebec    -- (90 dinars)
9. a harp    -- (106 dinars)

Main Menu                         Page 2
----------------------------------------


1. a viol

 
  1. polished  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  2. burnished  Pricing:1 dinars per pound.
  3. buffed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. sleek  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. etched  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  6. brushed  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  7. ornate  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  8. gleaming  Pricing:2 dinars per pound.
  9. dark  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 
  1. copper Pricing: 15 dinars per pound.
  2. bronze Pricing: 25 dinars per pound.
  3. brass Pricing: 20 dinars per pound.
  4. silver Pricing: 30 dinars per pound.
  5. gold  Pricing: 285 dinars per pound.
  6. copper-trimmed  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  7. bronze-trimmed  Pricing: 8 dinars per pound.
  8. brass-trimmed Pricing: 5 dinars per pound.
  9. silver-trimmed  Pricing: 10 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
1. gold-trimmed Pricing: 25 dinarsper pound.
  2. copper-inlaid  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  3. bronze-inlaid Pricing: 8 dinars per pound.
  4. brass-inlaid Pricing: 5 dinars perpound.
  5. silver-inlaid Pricing: 10 dinars per pound.
  6. gold-inlaid Pricing: 25 dinarsper pound .

 
 







[Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Hardwoods]
A young centaur sits as he idly plucks at the strings of one of the hardwood harps available from this section of the shop.  Some of the other customers have stopped to listen to the mellow tune he is lazily plucking from the golden cords, lost in the beautiful music.  Finally finishing the gentle song, he looks up and notices his audience.  Blushing bright red, he quickly jumps to his hooves and hangs the harp back up to peruse the shop once more.
Also here: Eternity.
Obvious exits: south, southwest, west.
 
 

Welcome to Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Hardwoods!

A helpful customer offers his catalog to browse.
 

Main Menu                         Page 1
----------------------------------------
  1. a lyre
  2. a cithara
  3. a lute
  4. a zither
  5. a psaltery
  6. a dulcimer
  7. a rebec
  8. a fiddle
  9. a harp
 
 

1. a lyre    -- (55 dinars)
2. a cithara    -- (60 dinars)
3. a lute    -- (66 dinars)
4. a zither    -- (68 dinars)
5. a psaltery    -- (75 dinars)
6. a dulcimer    -- (81 dinars)
7. a rebec    -- (86 dinars)
8. a fiddle    -- (92 dinars)
9. a harp    -- (102 dinars)

Main Menu                         Page 2
----------------------------------------


1. a viol    -- (107 dinars)

 
 
 
  1. polished  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  2. burnished  Pricing:1 dinars per pound.
  3. buffed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. sleek  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. etched  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  6. brushed  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  7. ornate  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  8. gleaming  Pricing:2 dinars per pound.
  9. dark  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 
  1. mahogany Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  2. teak Pricing: 4 dinars per pound.
  3. cedar Pricing: 5 dinars per pound.
  4. mahogany-bound  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  5. teak-trimmed Pricing: 3 dinars perpound.
  6. cedar-trimmed Pricing: 4 dinars per pound.
  7. mahogany-inlaid Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  8. teak-inlaid  Pricing: 3 dinars perpound.
  9. cedar-inlaid Pricing: 4 dinars perpound.

 
 
 
 
 
1. a lyre    -- (52 dinars)
2. a cithara    -- (56 dinars)
3. a lute    -- (61 dinars)
4. a zither    -- (65 dinars)
5. a psaltery    -- (71 dinars)
6. a dulcimer    -- (77 dinars)
7. a rebec    -- (82 dinars)
8. a fiddle    -- (88 dinars)
9. a harp    -- (97 dinars)

 
 
1. a viol    -- (103 dinars)

 
 
 


 
 
 

Welcome to Stradivari's
Stellar Strings, Woods!

One of the Stradivari twins offers her catalog to browse.


Main Menu                         Page 1
----------------------------------------
  1. a lyre
  2. a cithara
  3. a lute
  4. a zither
  5. a psaltery
  6. a dulcimer
  7. a rebec
  8. a fiddle
  9. a harp

Main Menu                         Page 2

----------------------------------------
1. a viol

 
 
 
 
  1. polished  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  2. burnished  Pricing:1 dinars per pound.
  3. buffed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. sleek  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. etched  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  6. brushed  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  7. ornate  Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  8. gleaming  Pricing:2 dinars per pound.
  9. dark  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 
  1. walnut Pricing: 3 dinars per pound.
  2. maple Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  3. cypress Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. chestnut Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  5. willow  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  6. walnut-trimmed  Pricing: 2 dinars per pound.
  7. maple-trimmed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  8. cypress-trimmed Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  9. chestnut-bound Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
1. willow-trimmed  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  2. walnut-inlaid Pricing: 2 dinars per pound .
  3. maple-inlaid  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  4. cypress-inlaid Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  5. chestnut-inlaid Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.
  6. willow-inlaid  Pricing: 1 dinars per pound.

 
 
 
 










You follow Eternity who just went northwest.
[Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Supplies]
The center of the shops consists of a circular glass counter strewn with everything you could ever need to keep these instruments in good working order.  Hanging from a circular rack are a hodgepodge assortment of well-made stringed instruments while behind the counter sits a pile of rather beat up looking pieces of the same.  A pair of twins, no older than seven years, mill behind the counter helping customers with their purchases.
Also here: Eternity.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast, southwest, northwest.
 
 

Welcome to Stradivari's Stellar Strings, Supplies!

One of the Stradivari twins offers her catalog to browse.


 
Main Menu                         Page 1
----------------------------------------
  1. a vial of linseed oil
  2. a vial of metal polish
  3. a polishing rag
  4. a large cloth
  5. a replacement string
  6. a plectrum
  7. a small bow
  8. a small mallet

 
1. a vial of linseed oil    -- (5 dinars)
2. a vial of metal polish    -- (8 dinars)
3. a polishing rag    -- (2 dinars)
4. a large cloth    -- (1 dinar)
5. a replacement string    -- (1 dinar)
6. a plectrum    -- (3 dinars)
7. a small bow    -- (8 dinars)
8. a small mallet    -- (5 dinars)

 
 
 


 
 

Lyre held by Terpischore in the picture of that Muse
dug out of Herculaneum


Playing the Lyre

From the earliest times, depictions of lyres fall into two categories: those with seven or fewer strings and those with eight or
more strings. Consistent across 3,000 years of depictions of people playing lyres are two playing styles. Those lyres having
seven or fewer strings are depicted being played in a fashion  "block and strum." Those with eight
or more strings are depicted with each hand separately plucking the strings, much as harps are played to this day.
 
 


Apollo's cattle were stolen by a mysterious stranger.

After searching all over the world for the beloved beasts, Apollo heard the most enchanting sounds emanating from a mysterious cave... 

                   click on the picture : )