The Opening of Shard

Introduction: A case of being in the right place at the right time, Therrilliar was fortunate enough to witness the Deobar Bower Gate of Leth Deriel first creak open and the wild, headlong rush of the first brave souls to enter Illithi and Shard.

What resulted was a conflict full of intrigue, heartbreak, and victory...of a sorts.


Gather round ye young and old
and listen to my tale told
of the day the way to Shard was cleared
with deeds most heinous
and by deeds most bold

I, a humble bard, did see
with mine own eyes that gaze so free
the tale I set forth today in song
and if my verse be false
then may misfortune take me!

Long had the star blazed in the sky
herald of the way to Illithi
and many did camp by the Deobar Gate
in Leth Deriel
when the gates flung wide

Twas one day that the gate appeared
sight of attacks deadly and feared
and the gathered throng heaved and pushed
'til the gate came ajar
the time of opening had neared

Heave! Ho! and the gates flung wide!
and the road beyond did abide
the throng in its eager joy sprinted on
down the unknown path
not knowing what dangers did reside

The vanguard reached a cleft in the path
where the gondola moves by Morganae's wrath
and bright Gabriel lead the way
as the boat left the edge
and cut the air like a swath

And then I shudder e'en now to tell
for from the very pits of hell
came fiends and beasts onto our boat
and they gibbered and howled
and upon us all they fell

And the greatest evil was at their head
Sidhlot the bone elf, master of the dead
and with his gaze Gabriel did he transfix
and light met dark
as both beasts and folks fought and bled

And Gabriel scoured Sidhlot with scorn
for the death of his lady whose lost love he'd bourne
and with rightous wrath in his trembling hands
he met Sidhlot
on that fateful, hateful morn

"Your end is nigh, your time is at hand!
Face the light Sidhlot!" did Gabriel command
and with the sword of truth he ran him through
and the demons were slain
by our hearty, brave band

But Sidhlot spoke with the tongue of the dead
"this game's not over, I'll yet have your head"
and as the gondola landed on the other side
with Sidhlot's body did we depart
to seek for a way to end his dread

And on the ledge Morganae we met
who laughed when she saw dead Sidhlot, and yet
when Sidhlot's devils attacked us again
and we begged her for aid
she laughed and hurled an epithet

And this battle was the worst of them all
for fiends and dragonpriests heeded Sidhlot's call
and behind the snowbeasts and gargoyles came death itself
a huge strange beast
whose description is beyond recall

And the evil cut through as brave folk fell
and the huge beast charged with a roaring yell
and with a single swipe did it lay warriors low
'til an ice patch dropped it
and the well placed thrusts did tell

With the beast's demise the battle ended
and as the wounded by empaths were tended
Morganae demanded Sidhlot's corpse as her own
but Gabriel refused
and the corpse he defended

At Gabriel's refusal Morganae raged
and by Synic was the Mountain Queen engaged
but she waved her hand and Synic froze
Into a pillar of crystal
was the warrior enmaged

And the chase was on, for the corpse most scarred
as we took Sidhlot's body towards the city of Shard
but Morganae's craft and cleverness prevailed
and she took Sidhlot's corpse
out from Gabriel's guard

And the rest, as they say, is history
though why Morganae saved Sidhlot is a mystery
but Shard's still an unsafe place
so travel with care
and save yourself some misery

And that, my friends, is the end of my tale
and I would be most grateful for a mug of ale
and a bard must eat as well as drink
so I accept your coin
to keep me well, fit, and hale

 

Script [may be used by any bard as long as Therrilliar is credited]

#Song-Opening of Shard

put say I will now sing the epic ballad The Opening of Shard by Therrilliar d'Onlor

pause 5

put sing Gather round ye young and old;and listen to my tale told;of the day the way to Shard was cleared;with deeds most heinous;and by deeds most bold

pause 20

put sing I, a humble bard, did see;with mine own eyes that gaze so free;the tale I set forth today in song;and if my verse be false;then may misfortune take me!

pause 20

put sing Long had the star blazed in the sky;herald of the way to Illithi;and many did camp by the Deobar Gate;in Leth Deriel;when the gates flung wide

pause 20

put sing Twas one day that the gate appeared;sight of attacks deadly and feared;and the gathered throng heaved and pushed;til the gate came ajar;the time of opening had neared

pause 20

put sing Heave! Ho! and the gates flung wide!;and the road beyond did abide;the throng in its eager joy sprinted on;down the unknown path;not knowing what dangers did reside

pause 20

put sing The vanguard reached a cleft in the path;where the gondola moves by Morganae's wrath;and bright Gabriel lead the way;as the boat left the edge;and cut the air like a swath

pause 20

put sing And then I shudder e'en now to tell;for from the very pits of hell;came fiends and beasts onto our boat;and they gibbered and howled;and upon us all they fell

pause 20

put sing And the greatest evil was at their head;Sidhlot the bone elf, master of the dead;and with his gaze Gabriel did he transfix;and light met dark;as both beasts and folks fought and bled

pause 20

put sing And Gabriel scoured Sidhlot with scorn;for the death of his lady whose lost love he'd bourne;and with rightous wrath in his trembling hands;he met Sidhlot;on that fateful, hateful morn

pause 20

put sing "Your end is nigh, your time is at hand!;Face the light Sidhlot!" did Gabriel command;and with the sword of truth he ran him through;and the demons were slain;by our hearty, brave band

pause 20

put sing But Sidhlot spoke with the tongue of the dead;"this game's not over, I'll yet have your head";and as the gondola landed on the other side;with Sidhlot's body did we depart;to seek for a way to end his dread

pause 20

put sing And on the ledge Morganae we met;who laughed when she saw dead Sidhlot, and yet;when Sidhlot's devils attacked us again;and we begged her for aid;she laughed and hurled an epithet

pause 20

put sing And this battle was the worst of them all;for fiends and dragonpriests heeded Sidhlot's call;and behind the snowbeasts and gargoyles came death itself;a huge strange beast;whose description is beyond recall

pause 20

put sing And the evil cut through as brave folk fell;and the huge beast charged with a roaring yell;and with a single swipe did it lay warriors low;till an ice patch dropped it;and the well placed thrusts did tell

pause 20

put sing With the beast's demise the battle ended;and as the wounded by empaths were tended;Morganae demanded Sidhlot's corpse as her own;but Gabriel refused;and the corpse he defended

pause 20

put sing At Gabriel's refusal Morganae raged;and by Synic was the Mountain Queen engaged;but she waved her hand and Synic froze;Into a pillar of crystal;was the warrior enmaged

pause 20

put sing And the chase was on, for the corpse most scarred;as we took Sidhlot's body towards the city of Shard;but Morganae's craft and cleverness prevailed;and she took Sidhlot's corpse;out from Gabriel's guard

pause 20

put sing And the rest, as they say, is history;though why Morganae saved Sidhlot is a mystery;but Shard's still an unsafe place;so travel with care;and save yourself some misery

pause 20

put sing And that, my friends, is the end of my tale;and I would be most grateful for a mug of ale;and a bard must eat as well as drink;so I accept your coin;to keep me well, fit, and hale

 

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