RP; A Song of Honey and Wine

Following the events of the trip up the Red River Valley Adolfo had advised Ezekiel Boone soon to lay low for a few days to which he agreed, but soon grew tired of being shut away in the chapterhouse, and of the complaints (good natured and otherwise) about his particular method of worship. They kind of had a point too, the chanters were best experienced in a group. Eventually he bustles out of the chapter house and soon criss crosses the City in the implementation of his latest idea. Whether it was a bright one or not time would tell. Carrying a sheaf of notes written in his own neat and pleasant hand he posts them up at the notice boards of some of the companies' head-quarters, not just the Mermaid, but the Red Dragon, the White Horse, the Black Lion, the Unicorn and also the Badger's Den. With a few silvers some street urchins are tasked with distributing some to the flop houses and tenements that the less militarised section of the city's population are squeezed into. Curious eyes would see the notes read; "To all my brothers and sisters of Creation! None who come to Haven could fail to see for long the state of life on this isle. The desperate that haunt shady alleyways. The hungry that spend all day in the workshops. The homeless that crowd in the ruins. I say it need not be like this, there is a better way! A way in which every man and woman looks out for their fellows and is turn looked out for. A way in which we can live in peace and in harmony with the world that surrounds us. A way in which we could all live more joyous and prosperous lives! If this interests you and you wish to learn more then please meet me at the recently restored hall on the corner of Penny Street and the Southern Market! I look forward to meeting you all! Your friend, Ezekiel Boone P.S. Free sandwich for all attendees"

The day of the meeting arrives and Boone spends a few silvers buying up sandwiches and pastries for the attendees. He arrives early to the meeting hall and is surprised to find many already waiting outside. Not a few of these men and women have an odd sense of dress and speak Valmari in a outlandish way. Hearing their voices, Boone is put in mind of a certain ale-seller at Hunters' Inn. Boone begins the meeting

The ranger smiles as he passes the knot of people waiting outside the door and ushers them all inside welcomingly, seeing the numbers he pays a couple of the trusted messenger urchins to bring a few more loaves of bread and slices of pies from a nearby bakery and in the meantime mingles with attendees, catching their names professions and issues as they wait for the appointed start time so as not to leave any stragglers out. When that time arrives he moves to the front of the hall and stands on a crate motioning for quiet. "Ah greetings my friends!" He proclaims loudly so everyone can hear, the lilt of the Maiden Moor in his voice. "I've met a few of you now and I hope I'll be able to meet the rest of you later, but I think you can all guess anyway that I am Ezekiel Boone. Now today I would like to talk to you about Harmony and trying to make a better life. First though, if you will indulge me, a story; Many, many, many generations ago the Golden Dragon Gildonethral, having aided our ancestors to victory in the War 'gainst the Demons, ruled over the High Men and the Glarns as Drornlord. The Great Queen Ellasansara, widow of Trajanus - the last of the True Avowed, took the Dragon for her husband and came to dwell with us in the world now known as Skarn. As they rebuilt the site of Shaldis into a great city once more to serve as the seat of their golden realm, Queen Ella took a section of it and there built a vast and verdant garden of stout trees, wildflowers and fragrant grasses. When the people came from far and wide to admire the garden, or take their leisure there after an honest day's labour, she would often be seen singing to herself and tending her creation. One day a young girl approached the Queen in her garden and with the pure innocence of a child asked her simply why. The Queen smiled and she sang to the girl of the Great Song. The World Song. The Gaialogia. The song that begat and gives form to all of creation, that gives life and awareness to the beings that dwell within it, even the Gods. The girl went home and told her family of what she had heard and they came the next day to hear the Queen for themselves. They in turn then told their friends and relatives, who also came to hear the Queen and soon there were hundreds, thousands of people for the Queen to sing with. Thus they became the Chorus of Ellasansara, and though she and the great city of Shaldis and it's garden one day passed into the mysts, as all things must at the end of their time, those who had sang with the Queen taught their children, who taught their own children, and so on down the generations until my mother and father taught me." At this point Boone pauses and draws a small and plain bound book from his breast pocket, once it's pages were blank but over many days they have been filled with writings, often revised and revisited. Since the imperial 'justice' system had his original burnt he has had to reconstruct the Book of Common Song from memory. He takes a moment to flip through to a place not far from the start and returns his glance to the people. "I would now like to sing to you as best I can what Queen Ellasansara sung for that brave little girl all those years ago. This is the Song of Honey and Wine and it illustrates the paradise that we can build for one another should we live our lives in harmony with the Gaialogia. If you should feel inspired to join in in any way then please by all means do so!" Ezekiel clears his throat and then begins.

As Boone's voice rises and fills the hall with sweet melody, another answers it from the back of the Hall. A man; dressed as a simple shepherd joins in the refrain, though his words are not in the same language as those of Boone's song. Yet the melody is the same. The man's face is deeply tanned; like one who has spent much of his time outdoors, but as the song rises, his eyes shine with the Inner Light of contentment. The audience is enraptured and several try to join in and are soon a part of the song. Afterwards there is silence and then the shepherd approaches you and whispers 'Greetings Windsinger; now tell me true; did you really learn the Song of the Elvarin from the common folk of Maiden Moor?'

Boone leans down to the shephard and shakes the man's hand vigorously, a wide grin parting his features and an almost tearful expression in his eyes, as if of someone who was lost and alone suddenly finds themselves amongst the company of friends. "Yes, brother! Though it seems our terminology is differnet, I can't doubt we refer to the same! As I said in my story, my people were originally taught of it by Queen Ellasansara when she came to wed our Lord, as one of the Lykeri she would have been from the Sondar where the Elvarin once dwelt." He lets go of the man's hand and stands upright again, raising his arms to encompass the people assembled in a warm gesture. "My friends, my brothers and sisters... that was something wasn't it. For a few brief moments through our song we were able to feel the connection to The Song and we were One with it. Our own actions, our words and deeds though are also songs. Songs sung by our souls rather than our throats, and they leave their own imprint on creation as we pass through it. When our souls sing well with one another and with Gaialogia the combination results in a harmony, lives of joy and prosperity. When our songs sing against one another, when they sing contrary to the World Song then we have dissonance, discord, disharmony, our connection to it is obfuscated and our lives are filled with strife and woe. I have lived in Haven for a couple of weeks now and the discord here is palpable; dire poverty, rank exploitation and constant violence are every day facts of life here, leaving us all singular notes just trying our best not to be silenced. Yet it need not be that way, as I have said, by joining our voices together, joining our deeds and words we far more powerful combined and can create a harmony from this chaos. It will be a long struggle, it will be hard work and there will be set backs, but so long as we remain comitted and remain joined together it can and it will be done! What do you say good people, will you join me?"

The people filter out smiling at the end of the meeting and many hum the melody as they leave; many more asking when the next meeting will be. The Shepherd also leaves before Boone can catch his name; but he declares that he will also be back in the tones of the Vale. After everyone has gone, Boone breathes a sigh of contentment and just as he leaves, sees a momentary vision of Dorn; his fallen companion from the Sashes, framed in the window. The sun is so bright that he blinks and the vision, if vision it was, is gone and Boone is forcd back to reality by the rankness and disharmony of Haven's runnels and side streets.

It is two weeks later and Boone prepares for the new chanter society's third weekly meeting. Before people begin to gather outside the doors he and a enthusiastic member roll in a vast barrel and set it up by the table on which the complimentary food is ready and waiting for good and honest people to staunch their hunger with. As the doors are opened more than a few look over longingly and speculatively and ask about it as Ezekiel catches up and chats before the appointed time. "Ah, the 'Royal Cider' yes. I was talking with a friend of mine and trying to persuade him to come downand give us a chance,but he would only come if there was drink. I couldn't very well provide it for him leave out all the rest of us so Llwellyn and I managed to aquire a whole barrel. I hope it'll be enough, he has quite the prodigious appettite. Ah, speak of the devil there is!" Excusing himself politely he goes over to Adolfo, the enormous man dwarfing pretty much everyone present. Boone shakes the giant's hand vigorously. "Welcome Master Adolfo, welcome! Good to see despite being such a cynic that you're a man of your word, there's a good heart in that chest of yours too Im more sure of it than ever! If after tonight this isn't for you then fair enough, but it does reflect well on you for giving it a go, it really does! Now I know you'll be wanting some of that cider, and after your high praise i wont mind trying it myself, but usually we wait until afterward. Shouldn't take too long though. We'll start soon, talk about the past week's works, then we'll begin the chant, after which we'll plan next week's and then we can eat and drink heartily! By the way, I remember Masters Cain and Vallith telling me they might pop down too, you didn't see them on your way did you?"

Behind the giant of a man you catch a glimpse of something you would not have guessed to see. For Syvil has come, if dragged along by Adolfo or for some other reason you can't be sure as he looks at you, gives an usually weak smile and none too discreetly makes his way through the crowd to get at a seat towards the back. Even though he has thus acted strangely cold, you catch him actually paying intention during the meeting and seemingly quite pleased at the hymns. Yet once it is all over, should you look for him again, he's up and vanished without a word... The next day a letter arrives for you: To Master Ezekiel Boone My apologies for last night. It has been some time since I last went willingly to such a gathering and it has never been much to my taste. There seems always to be good in these things, but beneath that an other, less honorable motive would lurk. but your recent letter of warning was both of good words and heart, it made me think that perhaps one should not be so pessimistic.therefore it was with less hesitation than usual that I came last night and frankly what I found has me reeling from the surprise. I've not yet made up my mind but know that I might attend again and that my approval, and blessings go with you if indeed your aim is to help. Please do not take my words for a slight on your person for those who would truly sacrifice to help strangers are few and far between and those who don't are not bad people. With budding admiration, Syvil Dernsson

The meeting is a great success; and the cider certainly aids things. Your songs have a profound effect on all present and even Adolfo seems moved by the joined cadence of all the voices filling the space. Afterwards he claps you on the back and mumbles ' Well done Boone; I doubt you no more '. Boone: +1 Fellowship with Adolfo