“A Bard’s Eye View of Kai”

Elaerina removes a spider painted ebony lute from in her instrument case.

Elaerina wraps her fingers around the neck of her lute and strikes an ecstatic chord.

Elaerina sings:

"Long hath this bardess noticed
That Kai's great life and talismans
Do be twined in ways oft' missed
Despite that Kai has many fans."

Elaerina sings:

"So with this song I hope tae twine
The talismans' lessons deliberately
With the tale o' the life o' the strongest
And the bravest o' all the Arkati."

Elaerina swings her melody into the lower ranges, driving it with a rhythm that resembles the proud march of a contingent of brave knights.

Elaerina sings:

"Strength be what Kai is known fer best
Strength o' arm and sword and will
Ur-Daemons did put him ta the test
But they fell before his fearsome skill."

Elaerina sings:

"In those dark times Kai helped turn the tide
He didna fall, retreat nor run
Though Drakes were lost, the Daemons fell
Kai's Valor saw the war was won."

With a complex series of chords Elaerina bridges into a new key, taking the theme to a new level of exaltation.

Elaerina sings:

"Now dinna ye think he's allus won
Defeat he's known, though once-Not oft!
Tae Koar, the King o' all the Gods
But did this make his heart go soft?"

Elaerina sings:

"Nay, the lessons learned 'gainst Koar that day
Allowed him tae equal V'Tull's attack
And his joy o' battle still burns so strong
That only Koar kin hold him back. "

Adeptly, Elaerina threads in a subtle, low strain that conveys a deep abiding sorrow under the mourning and woe of the melody and descant.

Elaerina sings:

"Despair did forge Kai, for long ago
He loved Leirya, an Ardenai lass
Some say Luukos may have played a role
But as Leya was born Leirya's life did pass."

Elaerina sighs

Elaerina performs a series of vigorous strums that uplift the spirit in their powerful sound.

Elaerina sings:

"Despair be simply a milestone in life
Hope a bright beacon to help guide us through
One day at a feast Kai beheld his lost Leya
Despair lost its hold and new Hope did shine through."

Elaerina sings:

"Friendship, o' course, keeps our burdens much lighter
Through Kai's song we see its great power
As friends' spirits are lifted by hearing Kai's praises
We grin as our foes kin do naught more than cower."

Elaerina sings:

"Faith o' spirit and purpose I think be rewarded
When a youth without much hope o' winning
At Kai's talismans continues to wrestle with heart
Kai simply grinning, and spinning...and pinning."

Elaerina grins.

Elaerina strums the lute's lower strings, adding a heart-trembling low rumble to the melody.

Elaerina sings:

"And Honor is what binds these others together
In the Fist it be what's held most dear
We strive for it daily in word and in deed
And o' course in Daingneach Onoir! "

Striking a final vibrant chord, Elarina allows the song to fade into silence.

Elaerina smiles

Elaerina says, "And that be all fer today's lesson."