Tale of the Red Hat Gnomes- Part 3

Discussion in 'The Library' started by Mingo, Oct 1, 2019.

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  1. Mingo

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    (In the "zone" of the Apsara.)--We watch the magic projection entranced as we see the young Daivika Apsara as she learns to fly, then finds a way to enter the zone of Old Earth then sings and dances in joy. We learn her name is Hatsune Miku, Hatsune being her "family" name. A little research shows many many tributes to her and even performances where she has acted alongside humans in "kabuki" plays. Her voice is truly ethereal, unlike anything a human singer could produce.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2019
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  2. Bodhbh Dearg

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    "Unlike most Milesians, the Tuatha-Dé find the Ban-Sidhe quite agreeable, most of the times anyway..." I say, while thinking to myself that the few that weren't agreeable had been taken care of quite effectively...
    "Their non-corporeal nature allows them some insight in to the future, and they often are aware of the impending death of the corporeal beings they care for around them. When they sing their laments, most humans interpret their wailing as harbingers of death, even going as far as claiming a Ban Sidhe's wailing will kill those who hear it from near by..."
     
  3. Mingo

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    (In the "zone" of the Apsara.This color is not green, and obviously not blue. It is "teal")--"Thank you Gerta," I say after the magical projection ends. "But what of Krisskar these last 20 years?"
    --"Ah yes," Gerta nods to me. "My mother, ruler of this land, likes her son-in-law very much. For his part, he says she reminds him of his old friend, Hamster. Thus Krisskar has been awarded a singular honor, he is known simply as "Krisskar".
    --"Having a single name here denotes a being of great power and special reverence, for which no honorific is required. We don't say "Master Krisskar" for example. He wanted to speak to you, particularly to you, Master Bard, but he does not wish to leave these lands." The sound of the sliding door opening behind the gauzy curtain could be heard, along with a heavy footstep treading on the polished wood of the stage.
    --"Please Mingo-sama, come close to the front of the stage. The rest of you, if you would be so kind, play the part of an audience at a momentous event."
    --Then the curtain was drawn to the side and stepping into the light was a tall, heavy shouldered figure towering a foot above Gerta. His hands were hidden as he crossed his arms with hands inside voluminous sleeves. His head was covered by a deep hood, concealing even his face. Beside him floated a thick staff of dark,, natural wood longer than he was tall.
    --The two servant/guards of Gerta seemed to do their best to back into the corners, even behind the light fixtures. For some reason....they were afraid. I stood there waiting for my doom.
    --Standing to the side of Krisskar, Gerta continued talking. "Krisskar and my sister have seven beautiful daughters, who spoil their Daddy brazenly. He seems happy here, but I should let him speak himself. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Krisskar, THE mage, teacher of Air and Water Magic."
    --"It issssn't really a title...the mage," said a hissing voice from within the hood, "SSenssei, or teacher, now that iss a worthy title, one that iss earned, not awarded."
    --A left hand, slightly GREEN reached to grasp the floating staff. The hand was ungloved revealing three fingers and an oddly placed thumb, with stout but short claws. Pausing to allow people to adjust to the oddity of his somewhat non-human hand, Krisskar then took his other hand and slowly pulled back his hood. His face was very very near to human norm, but with a heavier than usual masculine jaw. His eyes were sea green and slightly larger than normal it seemed. Krisskar had no hair, nor eyebrows. It actually would not be too difficult for him to pass as human, though he was not.
    --Extending his right hand gently to me he said in a welcoming voice, "Mingo my old comrade! I am sssooo glad to ssee you again!" then he smiled, revealing large, pointed, sharp teeth.
    --I shook his hand with a smile, but could not refrain from pleading, "don't DO that!" at which he brought his lips over his teeth and chuckled. "You know, Mingo, I onsssse told you that you had power I did not."
    --"Ah, the power of battle is not in the sword, but the song," I repeated.
    --"Yesss, well, I have invited you here, becausse I have a boon to assk of thee."
    --Even before Krisskar began speaking a musician had been playing a Koto at the back of the stage, within the area veiled by the gauzy curtain. She was hooded and had black finger picks attached to help her in plucking the strings. A Koto is similar to a harp, but it lies horizontally upon a small table type support. Now she stopped playing.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2019
  4. Fireangel

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    The lady returned from enduring a bit of indigestion during the subject of Daivika Apsara. At the sight of Krisskar, she perked up and sat down quietly near the wall to listen.
     
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  5. Mingo

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    (In the "zone" of the Apsara)--"Mingo my old friend," Krisskar continued as the newcomer stood beside and slightly behind him, "I would like you to take on my eldesst daughter ass your apprenticce. She hass conssiderable mussical talent, and the ability to learn. She hass been pesstering me for five yearsss to travel the world...."
    --"Four yearz."
    --"Four yearsss," Krisskar restated himself with a sigh. "Her mother and I gave her a beautiful name, Kozue *Editor's note: pronounced ko zu way* but she inssissts on being called...."
    --"Frida."
    --"Yessss, Frida, though I do not know where in the wide Metaversse she came up with that name. Ssooo, daughter, reveal yoursself and let Mingo have a look at you, or whatever you choossse to look like today."
    --I thought this last comment to be a bit strange, but I hadn't seen anything yet.
    --The young woman was dressed in traveling clothes consisting of a doeskin jacket that hung to just above the knee. Similar trousers extended below the knee covering the tops of long white socks with that odd split between the toes. She wore no shoes but at the wide leather belt about her waist a pair of soft leather high-top boots hung from a cord tied to one of the many metal rings on the belt. Ominously, twin daggers were also evident in sheaths as well as some other flasks and small bags. This was no girl, but a young woman of atheletic build, slightly taller than Gerta and possibly more muscular, although eminently feminine, as could be seen from the width of hip and curve of chest.
    --With both hands "Frida" pulled back her hood and shook loose her hair, which was.....teal colored. A massive amount of very thick hair unadorned and now unconstrained, hung nearly to her knees. She must have been 20 years old now, and thus she wore the "ohime" or princess haircut style. Most of her hair hung free, except for a little bit over her ears which was cut to jawline length, and bangs along her forehead.
    --Unlike Krisskar, she was not green, but had bright almost translucent skin....well maybe just a little green. Her eyes however, her eyes....larger than one would expect with pupils that seemed to fill the entire eye; pupils seemingly fashioned from translucent blue glass. Bewitching eyes that set off a fetching heart-shaped face that included the prettiest smile I have ever seen.
    --"If you will have me for your apprentiz," she said in a normal human sounding but beautiful voice, "I would be mozt honored, Mazter Bard." ....and to my surprise she bowed....slightly.
    --"I think I would be the honored one," I said with a slight bow of my own. "You surely will attract attention wherever we go."
    --"Oh,no..I won't." she smiled again, and began to change. Her hair began to shrink and turn jet black, eventually leaving her with bangs and a short, almost to the shoulder, hairstyle. The irises of her eyes turned black as well, and maybe she just squinted a little, but her eyes no longer seemed so huge and doll like. On her hands, however, the short black claws, much like her father's but broader and seemingly filed, remained. They weren't that different from ordinary fingernails.
    --"It iss an honor to have a daughter of mine apprenticed to such a renowned Bard," Krisskar almost smiled, but caught himself in time. "She hass a deed to a little housse and a plot of land ssomewhere in Novia called 'Veritasss Sssanctuary'. I hope sshe will be of usse to you while she learnss of your craft."
    --"Take care of my Koto, father," Frida said standing on tiptoe to unashamedly kiss him goodbye. "Perhapz zomeday there will be animationz and zound filez for it in Novia." Shouldering a pack and what looked to be a small harp in a carrying case she then stepped down off the small stage. "Let uz go then, Mazter," and proceeded to lead the way out of the room.
    --Krisskar sighed. "Good luck my friend. Don't let her fool you, her mother may be the heir to the throne but sshe iss not....not for a long long time I think. Sshe needss to go into the Metaversse and learn." Then speaking to the crowd Krisskar added, "Thank you for witnesssing the apprenticeeship of my daughter...." checking to be sure she had left the room.... "Kozue, to Masster Bard Mingo. I don't want to go to Novia but I charge you all to be ssure no idle gosssip sspreads about her apprenticcesship with a man who is old enough to be my grandfather."
    --Fire Lotus and CatherineRose blinked so hard you could literally hear the blinks.
    --"Come good gentles," Gerta said cheerily, "Let me escort you back to the Fire Lotus Tavern."
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
  6. Bodhbh Dearg

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    I tried hard to suppress my laughter, but I could not prevent a suppressed snort from escaping. I then slighty bowed my head to Krisskar, saying "An té a thabharfas scéal chugat tabharfaidh sé dhá scéal uait." After a breath's pause I continue "Mo dea-chlú, men will gossip, but I am certain none of us will be the source of that, Tiarna Krisskar!"
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
  7. Fireangel

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    Fireangel looks around but doesn't see Fire Lotus, and shrugs.
     
  8. Rentier

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    me thinks Now that was ...a surprising end...
    and YOU she musters her waterelemental will not talk in the etheral realms about this, please
    the waterelemental is normally very pleased with its gossipping in the elemental realms but seems to be shaken with the things witnessed here and wavers agreement
     
  9. Mingo

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    (Ah it is good to be back in the Fire Lotus Tavern again) --"Good Rentier," I say, reverting to first person and leaving narrative form behind. "....there is more...MUCH more!"
    --"Oh goody!" Fire Angel exclaims.
    --"I'm hungry," Frida says with hands on hips. "I want foodz."
    --"Food, not foods" I correct and then pause eyeing my demanding new apprentice. "Come, apprentice let us sit over there while I give you your first lesson."
    --We move to a corner table for two. Frida dumps her pack and harp on the floor and sits, her eyes occasionally flashing to blue marbles then back to the disguised black. 'Yez?" she says in an irritated tone of voice.
    --"What do Bards create?" I ask in a Socratic way.
    --"Zongzez," Frida replies.
    --"Just so, songs. Many times the song of a Bard can be a crueler arrow than any foeman could unleash."
    --"Ahhhh yez I remember one like that (sings) 'My awardz go jingle jangle jingle; az I go ztrutting pompouzly along...and I zee you only have a zingle, zo if you don't mind juzt move along. For I'm a PEER, yez I'm a PEER, if you don't outrank me don't come near.....' my mother had her bard zing that onze to rebuke......you are making a point of zome kind, aren't you?"
    --"Yes, child. It would be a pity if a song written about a demanding brat who got too big for her britches made its way back to your father."
    --"I probably won't grow any.....that'z not what you mean, iz it? Oh."
    --Somewhat subdued I see that Frida is really intelligent. She picks up on the warning quite quickly.
    --"Zo Mazter, are you hungry?" Frida asks in a more respectful tone.
    --"Why yes, apprentice, yes I am."

    --
     
  10. Mingo

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    (Ah it is good to be back in the Fire Lotus Tavern again)--As I continue to converse with Frida, my new apprentice, the rest of the crowd gathers at a large table across the room and orders some supper. Despite Krisskar's admonition about gossip...they cannot help themselves.
    --"Mazter," Frida asks. "Are you going to write in firzt perzon? or 3rd perzon?"
    --"Yes," I answer.
     
  11. Fireangel

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    "I've known a cruel bard or two in my life, and a cruel mage or two, and the two mages weren't what they said they were; one turned out to care very much, while the other one was a huge fraud in every way. But Mingo isn't like any of those." Fireangel smiles warmly in Mingo's direction. "I believe you have a good mentor, Frida, if I may say so."
     
  12. Mingo

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    (Suppertime in the Fire Lotus Tavern again)--In a much more jovial mood, I ask my new apprentice, Frida, Daughter of Krisskar, "So, Frida, what would you like to eat?"
    --"Rabbitzes or Guinea pigz or that rabbit thing with the bushy tail that livez in treez."
    --"Squirrels?"
    --"Yez, that thing."
    --"Squirrel." I repeat, coaxing her to try and pronounce it.
    --"Zqi...rel." Frida says with a fetching blush.
    --"Not to worry, apprentice. Pronunciation is difficult. It will come."
    --Her eyes flash marble blue for a second. "You know I zpeak 100 languagez?"
    --"I have forgotten 100 languages."
    --"Yez, I am zure," she nods thoughtfully. "Zome of my friendz fatherz in mother'z kingdom are like you."
    --"What do you mean like me?"
    --"Atlanteanz."
    --This last comment unfortunately was overheard by Fire Lotus who just happened to be passing by.
     
  13. Mingo

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    (Suppertime in the Fire Lotus Tavern)--The waiter brought our food. As he set Frida's plate in front of her, her eyes burned bright blue....for an instant. I determined to teach her Poker and predicted that I would always win.
    --"Something wrong?" I inquired as I placed my napkin in my lap.
    --"Zzzz....it'zzz....burnt." Frida lamented looking at her pieces of rabbit, cut up battered and deep fried. "...and...and there are cabbagez and carrotzez! Mother made me eat thoze..." she almost wailed.
    --"Don't go all Banshee on me," I admonished. "All mothers make their children eat their vegetables. And the rabbit is fried, not burnt. How do you usually eat your rabbit?"
    --"Raw. Alive if pozzible."
    --I almost choked on my bite of meatloaf. Recovering my aplomb I tucked it away in my pocket. "Truly you are your father's daughter," I said. "Can't you eat human food? We don't usually .......say....show me your teeth."
    --Looking up and blinking at me Frida held her hand up to shield her mouth from view by others. She had a pretty smile with bright white teeth. Now as I watched the number of teeth decreased, and they were revealed to be triangular, serrated and spaced to be interlocking...much like miniature shark's teeth. Quickly she restored the illusion back to her beautiful "human" smile.
    --"Ahhh" I said stroking my beard. "You can't chew can you? No grinding molars?"
    --"No," Frida admitted. "It iz only an illuzhon that my teeth look like yourz."
    --"I hope you never bite your tongue."
    --"It haz alwayz grown back..."
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2019
  14. Fireangel

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    Fireangel pulled her hood up until Fire Lotus passed by, then enjoyed her little steak and vegetables. She grimaced and put everything down with Frida's last remark. She scooted her plate away and drank her tea while people-watching.
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2019
  15. Bodhbh Dearg

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    I just chuckle at all the dodging and secrecy, but then again, very few know the full story of Bodhbh Dearg, although Mingo would be one of those that could know... About the Fomhóraigh, the Tuatha De Danann and the Míl Éspaine and the Milesians, About Tir na nÓg and the protectors of Eire.

    I raise my glass at Mingo and Frida
    "Carry on master bard!"
     
  16. Fireangel

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    The lady blinked, swearing she heard a whisper about the protectors of Fire. She lifted her glass too.
     
  17. Mingo

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    (Around the fireplace in the Fire Lotus Tavern) --Under my watchful and demanding eye Frida ate the fried rabbit, and the carrots, and the cabbage, although she shuddered at the taste of the carrots. "Is your hair an illusion also?" I asked as we walked over to join the group around the fireplace.
    --"Hair....iz not illuzhion. Different magic, takez more .... energy...to maintain becauze it actually iz what you zee."
    --I got out my pipe, thankful that in Novia I can smoke indoors and took a seat near the fire, facing the semi-circle of friends and lurkers. Fire Angel was bursting at the seams with questions, but she began with one that unlocked a store of memories. "So Mingo, what is an Atlantean?"
    --"You heard did you?" I sighed. "well then.......
    --"On Old Earth, the constellations spin about Polaris, the North star. But there was a time when Vega was the north star, and the constellation Lyra swung around it as the little dipper swings around Polaris. Before that, if you go back far enough, Polaris was the North star....it is a cycle, a long long cycle. I remember when Vega was the North star.
    --"There was a civilization on a large island or small continent. The people there built wonders beyond imagination, some of which have never been duplicated. One of the wonders was their land, Atlantis, for it floated atop the sea. Alas, they fought a terrible war among themselves with engines of destruction so powerful that most of them perished; and their homeland sank beneath the waves.
    --"Of those who survived, a few swore never again to cause such destruction. Casting their cloaks upon the water they sailed to the NorthEast, eventually coming upon a soft, green island. The people of this island," I nodded to Bov "were known as the Tuatha de Danann. They called the island "Eire" or Erin...it sounded like the word for "peace" In the ancient forgotten language of the Atlanteans.. They welcomed the newcomers, who soon became teachers, healers, bards and magicians. Long did the land prosper with their aid.
    --"But the day came when a group of Milesians, sensing a foreboding of doom from the yet-to-become Roman Empire, took to ships and sailed north from the Iberian peninsula, eventually coming upon this soft green island. The Tuatha de Danaan called upon a great Atlantean mage known as SilverBeard, who with his compatriots held the Milesians at bay beyond the seventh breaker, in a fog, whilst the Tuatha de Dannan considered what they would do.
    --"Aboard one of the ships, Amergin the Bard, a great Druid, sensed upon the shore those whose time should have passed, and he prophesied to them in a song." I paused and I'm sure a whimsical look came into my eyes. "I have forgotten the language Amergin spoke, but I remember his great bass voice booming across the waters....."
    --(singing) I am the wind upon the sea, I am the flood across the plain. I am the hawk above the cliff, I am the thorn beneath the rose. I am the stag of seven tines, I am the salmon in the pool. I am wisdom. Who but I cools the head aflame with smoke?
    --(singing) I am the hills where poets walk, I am the lure from beyond world's end. I am the spear that rears for blood, I am the tear the sun lets fall. I am the Breaker threatening Doom. I am an infant; who but I peeks from the stone arch yet un-hewn?"
    --Ceasing my song I speak memories that I had long forgotten. "Hearing the Song of Amergin, SilverBeard and his Atlantean kin, indeed, all the Tuatha de Danann, made hard choices. Some chose to resist and after a brief time of skirmish, settled in and merged with the new invaders," here I nodded to Bov and smiled. "their descendents are with us still.
    --"Some hid themselves and became the ones we know on Old Earth as elves, fairies....magical folk." here I paused with a faraway look in my eye. "SilverBeard was in this group....eventually he became their king. Before I left Old Earth it had been many a long year since I came across any of their kind. And some, sensing that truly their time had past, chose to go...to a place that is not...somewhere perhaps in Metaverse where they could, I hope, be happy....."
    --to my mind now came the Saga of SilverBeard, of which this story and song are the first of three parts...
     
  18. Fireangel

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    "I --? Didn't everyone hear?" She checked her seams. "I did wonder what your take on Atlanteans was, yes. I was not disappointed, dear Mingo. I first thought there was a tale about protectors of the Fire in the tale, but I misheard you, or someone. Imagine sailing on one's cloak. Your voice is fine, Mingo. Thank you. Please, tell whatever you wish, and we are happy to listen."
     
  19. Mingo

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    (around the FirePlace in the Fire Lotus Tavern)--"You!" Frida stood suddenly, "It waz you that wrote that book!" she said pointing at me without regard to her odd black ... fingernails.
    --With masterly control and scholorly mein I replied, "Huh wha? What book?"
    --"The book I have read hundredz of timez. The book about Frida the Night Elf and how she firzt met the Elf King and they could never be together and a ztone golem and...."
    --"Breathe dear," CatherineRose advised. "You're beginning to turn green."
    --"I wrote that in a book?" I mused trying to remember.
    --"That book iz why I choze the name, Frida!"
    --"Do tell. My memories are sometimes faint, like the impression left on rock by the shadow of smoke....cast in moonlight."
    --" Well I remember!" Frida said with much exzitement, er excitement...sorry.
    --"Then..... ladies and gentlemen," I stood and spoke with a gesture toward Frida, "my new apprentice will now regale you with a story from a book I seem to have written, probably under some pen name, concerning the King of the Elves and Frida!"
    --Everyone applauded and eagerly awaited Frida's first performance.
     
  20. Bodhbh Dearg

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    Remembering the invasion of the Milesians, and how we ended up splitting Eire in twain (but differently than one would expect) for both races to live together peacefully in and on the same land, I suddenly say "Say Mingo, you old blow-in..." with a twinkle in my eye, and pause to remove the twinkle before it starts to hurt, before continuing "... are you by chance the so-called Amadán of the queen of Tir ná nÓg? You have a familiarity I never was able to place!..."
     
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