#anywhere

"It was terrible" he nods "Talented people, you hear about them, but you never think it will happen to you" he sighs "Ah but what can I do for you? "

Ashlee says "You were singing dwarf songs? Could you play one for Grete please?"

Snitch nods, and strums gently "Short people got no reason, Short people got NO Reason..."

"Not that one" Ashlee fusses

Grete is zero'd in on the earlier comment, and she squares her jaw. "If someone is giving you trouble, you tell us, right? You're OUR bard now, so if anyone messes with you, they're messing with all of us."

"tRUE badour, bards are... well.. that's a role with class" he winks, then looks at her "And thank you for claiming me as part of your tribe. mm dwarf song that you might tolerate.." he puts his luite down gently, and starts to pound on the stone walls, testing for echoes, before, still slapping the walls, he begins to sing as deep an octave as he can...

"Sisters of the mine rejoice!
Swing, swing, swing with me
Raise your pick and raise your voice!
Sing, sing, sing with me
Down and down into the deep
Who knows what we'll find beneath?
Diamonds, rubies, gold and more
Hidden in the mountain store!"

"Born underground, suckled from a teat of stone
Raised in the dark, the safety of our mountain home
Skin made of iron, steel in our bones
To dig and dig makes us free
Come on sisters sing with me!!"


"I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole
Diggy diggy hole, diggy diggy hole
I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole
Diggy diggy hole, digging a hole"

He slaps the walls in a cadence, like pick strike echoes as he sings

Her eyes get bigger and bigger.

"The sunlight will not reach this low
Deep, deep in the mine" Flickering lights and it seems to resemble lanterns in darkplaces as he works a cantrip
"Never seen the blue moon glow
Dwarves won't fly so high
Fill a glass and down some mead!
Stuff your bellies at the feast!
Stumble home and fall asleep
Dreaming in our mountain keep!" The hold itself seems to hum along. It IS a mountain keep

"Born underground, grown inside a rocky womb
The earth is our cradle; the mountain shall become our tomb
Face us on the battlefield; you will meet your doom
We do not fear what lies beneath
We can never dig too deep!"

And he finishes with a bow

"That. Is. THE BEST. SONG. EVER!"

Ashlee thinks it kind of got repeaty in parts.. but she's not going to ruin her friend's fun

Snitch blushes "Ah thanks, made it up on the spot"

"You're amazing! You must have been a miner or a wichtel or a DWARF in a previous life. It's like.. you found words that speak RIGHT to ME." Admiring. "I didn't know music could DO that."

Snitch seems surprised "Oh, you must have been listening to that jerk, Mann D. Tory! Oh I hate that guy. Mann D Tory tries to tell folks what's a MUST and what's PROPER... why that jerk gets into people's heads and won't just let them have fun. Tory thinks Fantasy isn't real literature. Manny thinks only one type of music is real music. He only values one kind of art too, and I won't get started on his FOOD restrictions, he's the sort of guy who wouldn't let you put ketchup on your sphaghetti without giving you grief"

She seems a bit lost on all of this. "Uh. Ketchup?"

"I try, but sometimes I fall behind" He admits "thanks for understanding"

A glance to Ashlee....

Ashlee whispers "Pooka" And shrugs, then speaks up "Could you teach the lyrics of that song to some of us.. umm if we want?"

Snitch mmms "A troubadour... share lyrics? By gum, that might just work!"

Grete is humming it to herself already.

"Now some folks will use brothers instead of sisters, and we must be tolerant of this shift of lyrics if it makes them feel better" he advises

"That's okay by me. I think brothers can be inclusive. Like, 'bro." I'm not supposed to use slang, but..." She gives a small smile. "I get to do lots of things that I'm not sposedta these days."

"Sposedta is Man D. Tory's favorite word, ignore his yammering" The Troubadour says "And.. Piano girl is okay... I mean, sure, my emerald eyes are shining but don't let this rat's rants ruin relations! "

Grete still looks puzzled, but nods to the Rat. "If someone is giving your trouble, you gotta let us know though. Just... wave your tail once for yes and twice for no, and I'll give whoever it is WHAT FOR."

He looks at her fondly, and sings softly so she has to LISTEN to make it out...


"Where jewels drive the dark away,
And night becomes as bright as day,
A honest end from an honest start,
For wealth is found inside the heart."

She is quiet, and listens...

That appears to be it, just that snippet. He knows MORE Songs about dwarves and gems and stuff?

What a tease! But it seems to have worked, she's hooked.

He hums the tune, and waves as he walks away

"oh he did that on purpose" Ashlee declares

"He SO did."

"Do you have a costume planned for Carnival? Wanna come talk to Hope with me?"

"Sure.. and ... well, it'll have a mask whatever I go with"

"Yeah, so no one knows who is who." She nods. "See, I'm thinking maybe if we have some green fabric..." Holding onto the 'Grete as Toph' drawing...

"OH! that could be great"

"Yeah! It was a good idea." A grin to Ashlee.

Hope greets them both "Hi girls. Musical day today it seems"

Ashlee says "Yes, but.. could you help us with costumes? Grete wants to go as toph"

"Ashlee wants a mask. Maybe she can be the blue spirit!"

"His swords were so cool."

Grete is now excited to see if there can be a kids THEME!

"The Blue spirit?" An education might be required

Ashlee goes "Ooo that would be good.. yes..." And she joins in explaining

Soon, with a drawing and names to look up, Hope is scratching her chin "Well, sewing is not my strong point, but I know a gal who knows a guy who knows a lady"

"I'll need to take measurements of you both" she warns/informs

Grete grimaces, but nods. "I know the ropes. Mama used to get everything made for me custom. I think just because it cost more."

"Costs more, please, if I can't get the material on a good deal in THIS Economy I'll trade in my coffee pot" A snort "It's going to fit though"