Two Snowsongs in a Tavern (Kain Snowsong)

by **Berus** on March 16th, 2011, 5:16 am

1st of Spring, 511 AV

The Red Diamond Tavern was filled with people as Berus sought out his cousin, Kain. People were drinking heartily and having a good time, but there was a distinct lack of music in the air tonight and Berus hoped to change that! If all went well, there would be a lyre and flute livening up the party tonight! That is, if his cousin ever showed up…

Berus had arrived early, too eager to play tonight. He just loved playing in front of an audience. Not particularly for the money he might receive but more for just the feeling of entertaining people; having the attention of many people and impressing them with intricate songs. He had practiced hard for this opportunity, and he hoped a late cousin wouldn’t blow it! He glanced around again before settling back down in his chair, resigning himself to wait. He pulled his cloak close about himself as he set himself to the boring yet time-filling task of tuning his rather vicious lyre. Please, Rhaus, don’t let the strings snap while I’m playing tonight… Berus thought. Then he wondered if people really prayed to Rhaus, who was the god of bards and music. He thought about it for a moment, considering whether the god was just in it for the music or if he enjoyed having followers…

After a moment Berus merely shook his head, abandoning that thought. He glanced up, spotting a familiar figure moving through the crowd toward him. The man was even smaller than Berus, which was saying something! He was only four feet and eight inches tall and had a slight figure, yet he had that particular expression on his face that Berus knew signified that this was going to be a very entertaining night. He smiled at Kain, sending out his greeting. “Kain! Glad you could finally show up!”

by **Kain Snowsong** on March 16th, 2011, 5:32 am

The Tavern was packed and Kain was on edge. It didn't help that he had lost his way and wasted much of his cousins time. But with a mad grin and all the energy he could muster he made it on time.
Kain soon found himself lost among the crowd, his short stature a constant difficulty, but soon he made his way forward. Cousin Berus was waiting for him lyre in hand, as usual.

“Kain! Glad you could finally show up!” His cousin called.

"Sorry," Kain said softly "You know how I hate crowds. But for you I'm never late."

Kain reached into his long sleeves and retrieved his flute. The polished steel shined in the dim light.

"Ready?"

by **Berus** on March 16th, 2011, 5:41 am

Berus nodded, smiling broadly. “Let’s see what we can do, shall we?” He led Kain over to an empty space and immediately took up his lyre, playing a few chords to warm himself up. “I owe you one for this, Cousin,” he said over the sound, winking at the smaller man. “What would you like to play tonight?” The crowd around them seemed like they could go for anything. Several were passed out drunk, but more were on their way and greater still was the number of those who were idly chatting and merely sipping on their brews, unwilling to take the plunge that would mean vicious headaches the next day. Most in attendance were Vantha who had lived here all their lives, but there was still a significant number of travelers from faraway places who would hopefully be easy to impress.

Berus walked about a bit as he readied himself for his ‘grand performance,’ ready to enjoy himself thoroughly tonight.

OOCHey, why don’t you stop by the chat? All you have to do is click the Chat button next to the Lore button at the top of the page.

by **Kain Snowsong** on March 16th, 2011, 5:56 am

Kain licked his lips in anticipation as they took their place. The chords of Berus's lyre rang sweetly through his ears, and Kain knew that this meant more to his cousin then if every could for him.

"Well, we could do a Snowsong classic," Kain suggested "or have you written anything new you'd like to try?"

Kain tried to follow Berus's eyes as they wandered from face to face glancing over the crowd. His cousin was good, and Kain tried his best to match that skill, but Berus had a determination in his eye that Kain could never understand. Berus paced ready to strike a cord at any moment and Kain raised his flute readying himself for any song Berus had.

by **Berus** on March 16th, 2011, 6:02 am

“Ah, these people are looking for music, not cat screeches,” Berus winked at him, “so we’d better not play any of mine. How about a rowdy little song to start off?” Berus smiled at his cousin and started off, playing an easy, well know, but certainly popular tune that was just as easily played on the lyre as it was on the flute. The mixture of sounds, though, from the lyre and the flute was very interesting and it made many of the patrons stop and turn. Then, of course, they started to spew out the lyrics as they raised their glasses in song. Berus grinned, despite the rather lewd nature of the song, and encouraged his cousin, seeing that he was a bit tentative and stiff. “Come on, Kain, don’t be afraid. Do you really want me to out do you here?” He goaded, hoping he could fire Kain up and make this more interesting.

by **Kain Snowsong** on March 16th, 2011, 6:16 am

The song Berus chose was certainly one Kain knew well, as they had played it many a time. He followed played his part as he should, by the book. Standing back a little ways he didn't even acknowledge the crowd, he kept his eyes closed and simply played as he had when he first started learning the flute. As the rhythm became more complex and the pace picked up Kain simply matched as he should.

“Come on, Kain, don’t be afraid. Do you really want me to out do you here?”

Berus, more than anyone, knew how to push Kain's buttons, and was the only one Kain would really react to. And this challenge Kain could not pass up. He paused for a moment, missing several notes, so as to throw Berus his mad grin. Slowly Kain started to move about, dancing to the song as only he could. As his dance became more erratic and 'mad' his flute playing became more complex. As he reached a point he liked he gave his cousin a devilish look, challenged met; you're turn.

by **Berus** on March 16th, 2011, 3:56 pm

Berus grinned as Kain began his dance. Before then, Kain had been playing about Berus’s level, which was descent but nothing that would really impress anyone except the most drunken people in the crowd. However, the crowd started to be mesmerized by Kain’s dance and his now intricate playing. Kain was very good, Berus had to admit. In fact, his mad cousin was probably twice as good as he was! And the fact that he could dance and play at the same time without stumbling was something that Berus was rather jealous of. Berus matched Kain’s look with a sly wink, though, for he had wanted this contest and he wasn’t about to give it up easily.

Berus glanced up a nearby table, trying to gauge whether he could pull off the stunt or not. He glanced over at Kain, attempting to copy the same devilish look he had received, and rushed forward. He dropped his lyre on the way and ran up to the table. He planted one foot on it to assist him as he pushed himself upward. He then flipped backward in the air one full time and forced his feet underneath him just before he landed. He hit hard and was forced down into a crouch, but he was too elated that he had managed the stunt to care. He quickly retrieved his lyre and resumed playing as furiously as he possibly could. Berus winked once more at his cousin, egging him on.

by **Kain Snowsong** on March 16th, 2011, 5:15 pm

Kain was surprised by his cousin, the stunt was reckless but had paid off. The crowd loved it. This competition was getting interesting and Kain had to raise himself to this new challenge. Much to his dismay he could only think of one stunt interesting enough, but not as reckless, to match his cousin. Kain lowered himself into crouch, getting as low as he possibly could, and darted into the crowd. Kain had a knack for disappearing and as he weaved himself through the crowd of people he felt as a phantom. They knew he was there, but they couldn't find him. The crowd tried to follow the sound of his flute as he darted about, but soon they lost him as he stopped playing. Out of the crowd Kain leapt landing himself on a nearby table. With all holes on his flute plugged he leaned down and started to ingest all the drinks on the table, using his flute as a straw. Once he finished he jumped through the now parted crowd of watchful eyes back to Berus. He gave a sly smile with a bit of a wobble and tried to start playing again. Maybe this move was more reckless than his cousins.

by **Berus** on March 16th, 2011, 5:28 pm

Berus smiled broadly as the crowd cheered at Kain’s antics, eyes changing color to a fierce blue. There was Kain outdoing him again! Berus looked left and right, trying to determine whether he had another trick up his sleeve to pull. He frowned for a moment as he considered his options. Over to the side he spotted a large group of rather massive, broad shouldered Vantha. Hmm… this might work… if I can manage it, he thought.

Berus stopped playing for a moment and walked over to the first of those men, winking at him. The man gave him an amused glance and then returned his attention back to his glass. Berus grinned and grabbed onto the man’s elbow, using it to vault himself up and onto the man’s shoulders! The man looked startled, but Berus easily stepped from him to another man as he resumed playing his lyre. He looked down at his cousin, thinking he’d finally managed to one-up the amazing flutist.

Several people cheered, but the large men Berus was walking on were notably silent. Finally, one of them was wary enough to roll his shoulder as Berus attempted to step across and the small bard came crashing back down, rather ungracefully, to the ground! He fell hard, but rolled back up to his feet and continued playing the song. I can’t let Kain win this one! Berus thought as he shrugged off the pain in his shoulders.

by **Kain Snowsong** on March 16th, 2011, 5:46 pm

Kain watch his cousin, as best he could, climb up on the shoulders of a group of large men. The stunt was received well by the audience but the landing was horrid. Kain decided that one upping Berus this time would be an easy feat. Staring at the distant wall he thought 'I could run up it and do a back flip'. His devilish grin returning Kain waved for the tavern patrons to part. Once cleared he took a few steps back and prepared to run.

At this point neither of two thoughts had crossed Kains mind; One, for his size the amount of alcohol he had consume with his last stunt far exceeded his capability to handle; and two, he had no acrobatic abilities at all.

Kain charged the wall with all his might, ready to wow the crowd. But dismay filled the room as he charged right into the wall. There was no appearance of him even trying to run up it. The only noise was the sound a sharp note from his flute as all the air was forced out of his lungs as he hit the wall and fell on his back. Kain just laid there, staring at the folks gathering and the ceiling. Maybe he really was mad.