Najm at Hastati Gate: a Song by the Chroniclers

 Rather a while ago as it seems now, Najm ibn Marwan commissioned Gan ad-Din of the Chroniclers to write a ballad for him--a ballad for his own glory, an heroic deed-song! It was to commemorate the victory at the Hastati Gate, but also to be a song glorifying Saint Iskameen, whom Najm claims as a spiritual ancestor, or perhaps a direct ancestor.

Gan, happy to take Najm's money, complied with alacrity--rather more alacrity than the Scribes in recording it. He developed the song during the jaunt to the Denyan Isles that, though only entered recently into these chronicles, actually happened about three months ago (around the beginning of September).

Najm is most pleased with this lied, and will have it sung at the launching of his new ship, the Rihha, as part of his private celebration for that occasion.

As always, as an in-character accounting of events, this earns Gan 100 xp per character level.

Najm at Hastati Gate

(aka Ballad of Najm, or Ballad of Hastati Gate)

(sung to the tune of: “Am'rekan Pye”

by the ancient bard: D'ahn Mk'leene)

Not so very long ago, the gods rained down their favor
Upon Najm ibn Marwan.
He gathered a fine company
Of mystics and great warriors
To join him on a journey into Hell!

Tsurr al Qadim made us shiver
With every blow we did deliver,
Undead from the doorways,
Fell before our fair blades!
I remember when we almost died
A s'ro called out and burned my hide,
But something healed me deep inside
The day St. Iskameen arrived!

So, HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

A Stygian was on the prowl,
Collectors crept along the roads,
A s'ro commanded in the clouds!
The minions of Tsurr al Qadim
Corrupt and desecrate your soul,
And animate your corpse as something foul!

Cultists ply their evil trade,
Raise undead beasts with shield and blade
They'll track you to your homes
Then flay your skin from bones!
Hundreds stood against our host
Zombies, skeletons, and ghosts,
They tried their best, our souls to roast
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

As we fought in a poisoned land,
Lightning flashed from Najm's hand,
And fire burst forth from Heijo's wand!
The s'ro lashed out with bane and blight,
The cultists cast their spells in spite,
As the Stygian and Sesel there did fight.

The Barcidae rushed out with swank,
But the undead moved upon our flank,
Their arrows fell like rain.
All the Barcidae were slain!
As Durham laughed with sheer delight,
'Sun Forger' flew from left and right,
With Najm lighting up the night,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

The carnage grew at Hastati gate,
The undead s'ro there laying waste,
Our only plan to act in haste!
Bart sent Gan ahead through space,
And undead burned in gouts of flame,
'Cause fire is Heijo's one true friend.

And as we watched the fight unfold,
Gan and Sesel, fast and bold,
Najm opened his mind
And St. Iskameen did bind!
The poison storm the Saint did quell,
And daylight burst asunder hell!
The s'ro then slain, before us fell,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

We passed Poor Brothers on the way
And told them how we won the day
They all smiled and stopped to pray.
We arrived at Cothon Gadeed
Intent to share our heroes' deed,
The throng there gathered 'round, our tale to heed.

And in their joy, the children danced
The Souffets cried, and the Hansemen pranced,
The pall of death was broken
When our success was spoken.
And the gallants I admire most
Najm, Bart, and Durham's host
Cried out to all there, “Hear our boast!”
The day we almost died.

“HAIL!, HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down fro the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

“HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

The Hunt for Din-Din

 A song put together by Gan and his Chroniclers, sung to a rather familiar folk tune, and celebrating the action of a recent expedition aboard ship (and earning Gan 100 xp per level):

Just sit right back, and hear a tale,

A tale of a fateful trip.

It started in Cothon-Gadeed,

Aboard the Darkwing ship.

Upon the deck stood Durham tall,

And Telman, sodden drunk.

With garum, wine, and passengers

They made for Baldeshum.

The weather started getting rough,

The galley she was tossed!

If not for the fearless helmsman, Gan,

The Darkwing would be lost!

But the privateer made port on time,

The cargo turned much gold!

Repairs were made, and the crew rejoiced,

The hunt would soon turn bold!

With Bartholomew – a wizard fair,

And Heijo – hands most stained.

With Fa Min, Demitritus, and Lars

A din-din would be slain.

As Darkwing made the southern reef,

The ship, she was attacked.

Her hull was gnawed by giant crabs,

But her keel it would not crack!

Bart unleashed the arcane arts,

He turned some foes to crows.

As Lars jammed spears into their eyes

And squarely up their nose!

Eaters, muagh, and din-din large

Assailed this mighty crew.

But Durham, Telman, and the rest

Prevailed as heroes do!

The Darkwing headed home again,

East to Cothon-Gadeed.

And now she docks beside the Hanse,

All hail her mighty deeds!

The Dance of Flames

 Introducing the Chroniclers:

Gan and Anataynus will have approached the managers of the Kantor in order to request a bit of “floor time” on a busy night – three musicians and two dancers – to provide some entertainment. On the evening of the performance, Gan will be dressed in a bright, sun-yellow tunic, cuffed with black. His pants, tucked into his utilitarian black boots, are crisp and also black. His tunic is belted with a wide dull red sash, edged in gold, and tasseled with golden monkey fists – his Sword of Mela'an will be belted on as well. Anataynus and the percussionist will both be dressed in black tunics, belted with gold sashes, and with white pants and black boots – daggers at their hips.

Anataynus, and the percussionist will set up for a jam session nearby and facing the large open, walk-in fireplace of the Kantor, and request that a bit of space be provided between them and the fire. As they gather three chairs or stools, Gan will lay out a group of silken scarves in the small cleared-out area. The colors of the scarves – mixed oranges, reds, yellows – glint in the firelight in such a way as to resemble flames themselves. In a nearby, closeted room, out of sight and hearing, Bart will be assisting both Istrid and Chlothildi in becoming the main visual entertainment: first slathering the mostly naked women with specific amounts of specially prepared oils.

Gan will begin the music with a strong rhythmic solo on his oud. After a few moments, Anataynus and the percussionist will join Gan – Anataynus providing a more intricate/delicate melody, and the percussionist picking up the beat and rhythm.

After being joined by the other two musicians, Gan will fade out, then gesture at the scarves, lazily, with an open hand, moving his hand like a conductor urging music from his troupe. At this point, the scarves will arise in the DANCE of FIRE! It will appear that Gan is somehow controlling the scarves, as they begin to “dance, sway, twist, rise, and fall”. Gan will again pick up his oud, returning to the music, beginning his song of passion and fire, while the scarves and veils continue to dance.

After the first verse and chorus, and as the music is picking up tempo, gaining in volume, the veils retreat into the walk-in fireplace of the Kantor, falling into the flames. As they burn, women will suddenly appear in the midst of the flame, observable only as flames themselves, dancing as wildly with the music as with the fire around them!

Rather quickly, the women will be engulfed in flames, and the spectators will be stunned and amazed at the sight of two goddesses of flame stepping out of the walk-in fireplace and dancing in their midst! The musicians will increase the tempo and encourage the audience to join in with clapping or stomping to the beat – urging the flaming spirits to dance more frenziedly – with ululations! The flaming, wispy, insubstantial sprites dancing around the cleared space will be seen to ripple with faint colors – green, blue, golden yellow, deep red, and purple. The herbs and spices infused into the oils will give off an intoxicating aroma – pleasant, rich, earthy – reminiscent of tsural buds, sweet spices, and aromatic waxes/resins. The words of the song speak of a burning love and desire, and the flaming sprites seem to dance and move in reaction and sympathy to the basic theme of the song. It is as if Gan's words are controlling the dance. Those who are regulars to this particular establishment, might be able to recognize either or both of the women – possibly by some quirk of their unique, individual movements, or because of their distinctive silhouettes.

The flames and music will eventually begin to fade, and the dancers' movements will become more languid and fluid – more alluring. A change in tempo and intensity of beat will be timed to coincide with how the flaming oil on the invisible women dims and sputters – not quite going out, but obviously failing. But eventually, as the flames on the invisible women do finally burn their last, and they seem to fade away into wisps of smoke, the music will become even slower and more paced. After a moment, Anataynus will be the first to drop out, then the percussionist – leaving Gan to draw the music to a close. His solo will be somber and slow – deliberate – ringing true and resolving in the sudden silence, as he delivers the final note. This entire performance – the Fire Dance – will have lasted approximately 15 minutes.

And in the silence that follows that final note, the entire audience erupts into loud cheers, bravos, whistles, claps, and stomping! Hats are escorted through the crowded drinking hall by each of the dancers, Istrid and Chlothildi, and are returned brimming over with fals, dirhams, nufdinars, and dinars … with an occasional mithqual! The crowd, visually and audibly stunned with the entire performance, clamors for more! This was amazing! A new form of entertainment! How did he control the fire?! Was it magic? Was it illusion? Was it mass hypnosis? And who are these fellows??! THE CHRONICLERS! As the noise dies down, the musicians will pick up and perform another number – a standard jaunty/raucous drinking song. This will give the women time to clean up, drop their invisibility (which had been cast/gifted by Bart), and don their normal dancing accouterments, before joining the musicians – visibly! As a final piece, the musicians will perform a lengthy, popular dance piece – one that is well liked in the great city of Cothon-Gadeed. This gives the musicians time to jam at length, while the women rove and dance, garnering more personal tips!

[written up by Phil for an institution started by Gan ad-Din, his regular character's regular henchman; thanks Dad!]