"The Wandering Minstrel Speaks"

by Bubbinster

Late one night, I happened across one of Crossings's well-known residents, the wandering minstrel. He took some time out of his wanderings to grant me an interview. The following is the result of that interview:

A wandering minstrel just came through a dimly lit arch.

You pour yourself a flagon of snowfire beer! You wave to a wandering minstrel.

A wandering minstrel squints.

You say, "Hullo der"

Espritia smiles at a wandering minstrel.

A wandering minstrel says, "Are you...." A wandering minstrel glances at the paper in his hands. A wandering minstrel asks, "Bubbinster?"

You say, "dat would be me" You bow to a wandering minstrel.

A wandering minstrel says, "Oh. I thought it was a lady. My loss."

You ask, "lady?"

A wandering minstrel leans over and kisses Espritia's hand.

Espritia blushes a bright red color. Espritia says, "I like him."

You say, "Espritia will be joinin us tonite, if ye donna mind"

A wandering minstrel chuckles.

You grin.

A wandering minstrel asks, "How could I ever mind the company of such a lass?"

You ask, "first things first, ye care fer a brew?" You tap a flagon of snowfire beer.

A wandering minstrel asks, "May I have a seat?"

Espritia takes a seat.

You say, "sure, sure, make yerself comfy" You sit down.

A wandering minstrel says, "You are too kind." A wandering minstrel seats himself upon a cushion.

You say, "now, about de brew......." You ask, "no?"

A wandering minstrel says, "I would enjoy a drink, yes. Nothing too strong though, I have the feeling I'll need my wits about me this eve."

Espritia chuckles.

You grin.

(Bubbinster passes mugs of ale to all.)

A wandering minstrel shifts the position of his mandolin, easing it gently into his lap. A wandering minstrel asks, "I hear you wanted to have some words with me, good sir?"

You say, "thank you fer speakin with us tonite" You say, "aye, I am puttin together a little piece for Waerd Aev"

A wandering minstrel picks at one of the strings of his mandolin, listening intently to its tone. A wandering minstrel says, "Ahh.... the wide-spread publication."

You say, "and, me boss figured an interview with ye would be good readin....." You guzzle down the beer -- Brrrr! This would give a fire sprite the chills!

A wandering minstrel says, "Perhaps. I am perhaps not so interesting as some may think." A wandering minstrel shrugs slightly.

You say, "thanks fer agreeing to speak, anyway" You exclaim, "let the grilling begin!"

A wandering minstrel chuckles.

You wink.

Espritia takes a sip of her beer.

A wandering minstrel says, "You are heartily welcome for the talk, so long as I may spend some time with this lovely lady."

You exclaim, "hey! Eyes forward!"

Espritia exclaims, "Silver tongued, he is! I think he should give lessons!"

You wink.

A wandering minstrel asks, "Ahhh... but how can one's eyes but stray to her lovely star-like ones, sir? Can you not see it as well?" A wandering minstrel strums a light chord on his mandolin.

You say, "Spri? She is indeed easy on de eyes" You wink at Espritia.

Espritia blushes furiously! Espritia exclaims, "Now yer embarrassing me!"

A wandering minstrel says, "You are like a fine pearl, my lady, flawless and infinitely precious among so many lesser ones."

You say, "but if I come back to my boss with pages of scribblin detailin you and me wooin Espritia, she will hang me out to dry" You grin.

You notice Espritia slip into a hiding place.

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah, I am remiss. My pardons, sir, but this lady... she is the stuff of ballads."

Espritia comes out of hiding, singing.

A wandering minstrel sighs softly.

Espritia exclaims, "Yeah, Bubb!" Espritia pokes you in the ribs. Espritia says, "I've written about ya, now it's yer turn."

You ask, "speakin of ballads......what is yer favorite ballad?"

A wandering minstrel says, "I have yet to compose an epic or tale that is equal to such finery already before us." A wandering minstrel gazes at Espritia.

Espritia seems to be looking for a hiding place. Espritia blushes a bright red color.

You take off a big warty nose. You move a flagon of snowfire beer to your left hand. You move a big warty nose to your right hand. You say, "put this on, Spri" You wink at Espritia.

Espritia seems to be looking for a hiding place.

A wandering minstrel chords a soft, romantic melody on his mandolin, his hands getly brushing the strings.

Espritia guzzles down some of her beer and then smacks her lips and wipes them with her sleeve. Espritia gets a mandolin inlaid with mother-of-pearl cinquefoil traceries from inside her silk backpack.

You ask, "ok, next question......have ye composed any tunes yerself?" You put on a big warty nose. You slowly braid your beard.

A wandering minstrel says, "Your eyes are like stars, your hair the curtain of sky that cradles them." A wandering minstrel sighs.

You ask, "you dont get out much, do ya, minstrel?"

A wandering minstrel says, "I have composed few, but perhaps for this lady I shall compose an epic to win her to me, and let those in the courts of Zoluren weep for her beauty."

You grin. You ask, "Perhaps we could hear a sample of yer work?"

A wandering minstrel raises an eyebrow.

Espritia says, "I would enjoy that very much. I love hearing the other minstrels of the lands."

A wandering minstrel asks, "And what have you been listening to, these moments that pass? I have been playing, have I not?"

You say, "methinks our readers would love to hear a tune"

(Espritia blushes deeply.) Espritia says, "I thought he was referring to a sung piece."

You say, "yeah, ye been playin alright"

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah, but it is so difficult to capture on paper the beauty of true harmony and resonance. One might as well capture sunlight in a dewdrop, or a rainbow in your hand." A wandering minstrel says, "Or this lady's heart." A wandering minstrel continues to play, his tone turning minor as he looks away from Espritia.

You say, "alright, les move on......" You ask, "how long have ye been wanderin the streets of Crossing?"

A wandering minstrel says, "Forever... for but a moment. Time seems to stand still here oddly..." A wandering minstrel glances at Espritia through a lock of his hair.

You say, "Wot brought you to Crossing....." You ask, "wot attraction is there fer ya here?"

A wandering minstrel hums softly, lightly strumming his mandolin. A wandering minstrel says, "It is... my home. I have naught anywhere else to go ... but fortune has favored me in finding this rare gem among the rough denizens of this town."

You exclaim, "well, and I didnt even clean my beard!"

A wandering minstrel brushes his hair out of his eyes. A wandering minstrel chuckles.

You blush a bright red color. (Bubbinster bats his eyes at the Minstrel)

A wandering minstrel says, "I speak not of you, kind sir, but of the wonderous diamond by your side."

You ask, "my keg?"

A wandering minstrel says, "For that she is, a true diamond in the rough."

You ask, "Aye, she is a beauty, ey?"

A wandering minstrel smiles gently at Espritia.

You tap a battered brown keg painted with a battle scene at sea. You give a battered brown keg painted with a battle scene at sea a smooch.

Espritia says, "Yes, Bubb, you have a very pretty keg."

You say, "aye, I loves it so"

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah sir, perhaps you have been imbibing overmuch of your keg's contents."

You say, "I donna know de meaning of de word 'overmuch'" You wink.

A wandering minstrel sighs.

You say, "anyway, no one cares about hearing about me"

A wandering minstrel says, "Then you miss much yourself, sir."

You say, "readers want to know about de Minstrel" You ask, "do ye have any advice fer young bards of de realms?"

A wandering minstrel says, "Ahh... I find myself to be of little assistance to the young, but I advise them to always follow their heart. As I hope to do myself one day."

You guzzle down the beer.

A wandering minstrel lazily draws his fingers across the strings of his mandolin.

You say, "well, I suppose I could fix ya up wit Spri later......"

Espritia is staring at you! Don't you find that rude?

You wink at Espritia.

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah sir... one could never cage such a nightingale as she. One can tell even by watching her that she must be drawn, not enslaved by any will."

You ask, "how bout de elder bards of de realms? Do ye have anything ye would like to say to them?"

A wandering minstrel asks, "Ah, I am but a mere minstrel. What advice could have I to give?"

The wandering minstrel is dressed in a bright blue and yellow cotton tunic with matching breeches. A blue felt hat rests lightly on his head, adorned with a large, colorful plume from some unidentifiable species of bird. He is holding a finely crafted mandolin in his hands, and has several tattered pieces of parchment carefully tucked into a pouch on his belt.

With consummate skill, Espritia plinks a gentle lullaby with an amazing display of dexterity.

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah! She is a Bard as well."

Espritia finishes playing on her mandolin.

You say, "I will put down 'no comment'"

A wandering minstrel touches a hand to his heart. A wandering minstrel says, "I am glad to be sitting, else I would swoon at her perfection." A wandering minstrel asks, "Lady... would you grace us with a song?"

You guzzle down the beer -- Brrrr! This would give a fire sprite the chills! You finish off the rest of it, and set the mug aside.

A wandering minstrel leans his hands upon the neck of his mandolin.

Espritia ponders. Espritia says, "I could be persuaded." Espritia smiles.

You pour yourself a flagon of snowfire beer!

A wandering minstrel asks, "Ah me, what persuasion could be used to ask this nightingale to sing?" A wandering minstrel sighs.

Espritia says, "I have a tune in my head that I just need to put to paper."

You say, "she seems to like it when I do the infamous 'Nakid Beer Dance'.....mebbe dat would persuade her...." You wink at Espritia.

Espritia asks, "Give me time to do that, while you speak with Bubbinster here?"

A wandering minstrel says, "Is not the bane of us all? The task of putting what we hear in our hearts down so that others may share of it as well." A wandering minstrel says, "I have been speaking with this ... gentleman."

You say, "Gentleman? Hardly.....jes ol' Bubb here"

A wandering minstrel says, "I would be remiss to call you other than a gentleman, for inviting me here to rest my weary feet and offer me of your fine beverages." A wandering minstrel smiles.

You say, "yer too generous with yer labels, me friend, 'ill mannered drunken loser' is more apt to describe me" You say, "but I appreciate yer attempt"

Espritia says, "Bubbs, yer not a loser."

A wandering minstrel plucks at the strings of his mandolin, listening intently to the tone. A wandering minstrel says, "I trust that one such as you, who has gained the friendship of this lady, would never be termed in such a way." A wandering minstrel smiles. A wandering minstrel says, "You obviously have talents that even you cannot see, sir."

You say, "methinks she likes me cuz I aint all over her like a cheap suit of chainmail" You wink at Espritia.

Espritia blinks at you.

You grin.

Espritia giggles.

You laugh!

Espritia says, "No one has ever been all over me like that."

You ask, "oh?"

Espritia says, "Expensive chainmail perhaps, but not cheap."

You say, "I beg to differ"

A wandering minstrel chuckles.

You say, "ok, on to de next question fer Mr. Minstrel here....."

A wandering minstrel puts the back of his hand to his mouth as he yawns, the returns to tuning his mandolin.

You ask, "Wot is yer opinion of bardic troupes?" You say, "jes a few more questions, me friend, den I will pester ye no more"

A wandering minstrel says, "Hm... to each their own. I prefer to pursue my own music, writing it as I find inspiration." The minstrel's gaze lingers briefly on Espritia.

Espritia blushes a bright red color.

You ask, "dis next question I jes had to ask......wot is yer favorite tavern of de realms, and favorite beverage?"

A wandering minstrel finishes turning his mandolin, and strums lightly at its strings. A wandering minstrel says, "All taverns seem the same to me ... would that I could call one home, it would be this one, where I so often rest my feet. I prefer not to imbibe of the liquors that many others do, lest they dull my senses and cause the songs of my mind and heart to escape my quill."

You ask, "You donna guzzle?"

Espritia asks, "I have a question, if I may ask?"

A tear runs down your face.

Espritia says, "When Bubbinster is done, of course."

You say, "go ahead, me dear"

A wandering minstrel says, "Always, lady, I have naught to hide from you." A wandering minstrel smiles.

Espritia asks, "Do you have a favorite spot to sing, or where you find the most receptive audiences?"

You guzzle down the beer -- Brrrr! This would give a fire sprite the chills!

A wandering minstrel says, "Ah me, I find that after so many years, few listen to my work. They instead bend their efforts to lifting my hard won coin, and I find few places in my home town hospitable to a wandering poet such as myself."

You laugh!

Espritia grins. Espritia asks, "I was thinking about that too... don't ya have a bank account?"

You exclaim, "ya hit de nail on de head!"

Espritia peers quizzically at a wandering minstrel.

A wandering minstrel says, "Were I to name a place, however, I would have to say that I find most enjoyment sitting by the shorts of the Selgotha, listening to the sea speak to the rocks with its merry babble of sound."

Espritia smiles at a wandering minstrel.

You smile at a wandering minstrel.

A wandering minstrel says, "Shores, my mistake. I misspoke myself." A wandering minstrel sighs. A wandering minstrel says, "As happens too often of late."

You say, "donna worry, we got fine editors at Waerd Aev" You wink.

A wandering minstrel says, "Ahh... you are truly a kind gentleman indeed." A wandering minstrel smiles.

You say, "one last question....."

A wandering minstrel strums his mandolin lightly, gazing down at his hands.

You ask, "wot future plans does de wandering minstrel have for himself?"

A wandering minstrel says, "Ahhh sir... to compose an immortal epic that will one day be remembered by hildren and tug the heart strings of maids for generations to come. Perhaps if I were to compose a song about this lady... but I have said enough. I would not want to embarrass her."

You grin. You ask, "any last words to leave our readers with?"

A wandering minstrel says, "Nay, I have no immortal sagas to impart as yet, but I hope to someday..." A wandering minstrel gazes at Espritia. A wandering minstrel tips his hat, getting to his feet.

Espritia says, "Kind Minstrel, you asked for a song... I do have a brand new one to share."

You ask, "do ye have any name besides Minstrel?"

A wandering minstrel says, "I find that my time is shortened lady, so I shall I need to call upon you for it another time. And to you, good sir... some say that there is power in knowing one's name. Perhaps someday a lady shall find it. Until then, I am, but a humble minstrel." A wandering minstrel bows. A wandering minstrel says, "Good morrow, lady and gentleman."

A wandering minstrel just went through a dimly lit arch.

You say, "well, dat was quick"