Hypothetical 5: Bard (Ginny Di video)

Clover, addressing Nepheri first and then the waiter:
Ah! I was hoping you'd come by!
Good sir! Dinks for my friend and I!

Clover checks his finds he has no money.

Hm, alas, I am a little short.
— a halfling joke I've heard a lot.
Would you be a kindly sort
and pay for these, since I can not?

Nepheri smiles gently and hands the waiter a few coins.

Clover takes a grateful swig:
Ah, poetry! The food of love! Words both fair and true!
Tell me friend, do you enjoy hearing a verse or two?

Nepheri, mildly amused:
At times, from those who make words sing
or give solace to those whose loss still sting.

Clover:
Well, all have heard of your recent success and epic tale!
But me, I hope do go deeper — learn some new detail.
I hope to share your life in full — from start to current day!
The insight scoop! A true tell-all! So, what do you say?

Nepheri:
My life shouldn't be described in glory.
It's far more that of a cautionary story.
If there is any wisdom one might glean
it's how I found purpose to serve my Queen.

Clover:
Let's start at the dawn of your life! You were a babe in arms!
Your parents —were they kind to you, or did they do you harm?
Sweet, living parents make for poor ballads; it's sad to say.
If they were kind, maybe they died in some cruel, tragic way?

Nepheri, visibly wincing:
Though first kind, they have reached their death
and while I loved mother even as she drew her dying breath
my father was dead to me before his blood was drained,
all before his ashes scattered as my companions aimed.

Clover:
Yes, I see. Understand, I only do my best
to write compelling openings.
Please don't be distressed!
When you were young, did others tease you? Bully you, poor dear?
Or, were you much beloved? Or source of other childrens' fear?

Nepheri:
If you have this skin, horns, and tail,
all assume you think their soul is for sale.
While being devilkin gave me much abuse,
I learned to retort with some clever ruse.

Clover:
Now, many heroes of the past have destinies, it's said.
Born beneath a prophecy, or curse upon their head!
At first, did you believe that you were meant for greater stuff?
Some auspicious dream, or even wish, would be enough.

Nepheri:
My sins are my own; I can't blame a curse.
My Queen allows me to have it not be worse.
She appeared to me, showing me her might
despite my sins, I can aid, cleansing the world's blight.

Clover:
Hm. I can work with that. Let's skip a bit ahead!
How long was it before you left your home and childhood bed?

Nepheri, with increasing discomfort:
I was twelve when I buried my mother, bloodied red
and a child can rarely afford such a permanent bed.
The longer times somewhere I got safe and good rest
by ill-gotten coin, I was undeservedly blessed.

Clover:
When you went, how did you feel?
Joy or some malaise?[
Did you high-tail it out of there?
Reflect with wistful gaze?

Nepheri:
I've said all I want to say
regarding days of moral decay.

Clover:
Now is the part in any tale where you'd have learned your trade.
You must have had some teacher? Trainer? Some to give you aid?
If not, please dig! Your victories were fated!
Every hero has a mentor! ...Even if exaggerated...

Nepheri:
The priests of my holy Raven
provided for me a sacred haven.
I learned fate and death has laws
I had violated, and suffering did cause.

Clover:
What would you call the greatest lesson learned during this time?
What skill or understanding did you take into your prime?

Nepheri:
We will all suffer and all die,
but I can bring solace if I try.

Clover:
And when you now reflect, how do you feel about that stage?
Do memories warm your heart, or do they fill you up with rage?
Some youths, you know, will look to ballads as they plan what's next!
Should we then encourage them? To follow in your step?

Nepheri:
In regards to my time in the temple, of faith and learning?
Yes, those who seek and those whose sols are concerning.
Each must seek their own fate and faith to follow
Respect what fates, or your soul too will be hollow.

Clover:
When did violence start to rear its head? Struggle and strife!
Tell me, what was the first fight you ever won in your whole life?

Nepheri, with a chuckle:
Some kid teased and pulled my tail!
Tried to stop her to no avail,
Pain reminded her of my blood from hell
that gives me some sharp horns as well.

Clover:
Nature has a balance, so each win must have a cost!
Tell me also of the first battle you ever lost!

Nepheri:
An older boy kicked me, describing me as foul-blood.
He tried to banish the devil he saw, leaving me in mud.

Clover:
Now, I must describe you! How your features are designed.
So that our listeners can picture our bold hero in their mind.
Great poets can bring imagery to bear with every line.
Describing you will surely make my skills in this field shine.
What colour would you call your eyes? For then I could compare
their lucid depths to molten honey, spring leaves, or... stoneware.

Nepheri, blinking with her solidly white and gently glowing eyes:
I doubt anyone with sight
would say anything but white.

Clover:
How would you describe your build? A rippling muscle mass,
shapely curved, or towering high? A slender blade of grass?
We don't need to worry quite so much about accuracy...
the goal is just to make you sound like quite a sight to see!

Nepheri:
A devil, feared by many, by others desired.
I hope, whatever the cause, they are inspired.

Clover:
Now, say a fan who loves my work should happen into you,
might you have a catchphrase? Or a banner they might view?
How could they recognise you if they stumbled across your path,
so they could have a portrait made, or have an autograph?

Nepheri:
I do have Eye, my raven, if that is what you mean?
Otherwise, my exact shapes and colours are rarely seen.

Clover:
You should really prepare yourself for fame to come your way!
My ballads, well, they top the charts! At least, they will someday...
I hear you recently had a victory of great renown!
But every bard will sing of that. I would dig further down!
Please think of some past venture that will never leave your mind,
that's shaped you — that your memory just cannot leave behind.
Victory or tragedy — yes, either will suffice!
Winning's good, but it's dramatic if you pay a price!
Set the scene! What triggered this adventure at the start?
Seeking revenge? Some artefact? What made you first take part?

Nepheri:
When investigating a temple and supposed house of healing
found links to deception and vampires they were concealing.
The undeath at this the centre had my father and his whore
I felt sadness, hate, and solace seeing his ashes on the floor.

Clover:
Now it's time to introduce the villain of the tale!
Who stood between your party and your goal, hoping you'd fail?

Nepheri:
I guess many different have filled that role
— a result of not just having a single goal.

Clover:
And why did they oppose you? What did your foe have to gain?
Would they be sympathetic, or did they want to cause pain?

Nepheri:
I would not oppose causes of pain that were meant to be,
only those who put themselves above fate and reality.
If I do misjudge fate — who should die and who is to live,
I trust my Queen, any guidance or punishment she'll give.

Clover:
Now, how did your opponent look?
The visuals are something many poets overlook?
I hope they had some facial hair! A villainous goatee?
Perhaps I'll write they had one. Makes them sound beastly!

Nepheri:
My father from the story I told before?
A handsome half-elf beside his whore.
Both pale from death, bloodless abominations
twisted away from all my faith's foundations.

Clover:
I'll share with you a secret, known to writers truly skilled!
There must be stakes! Your reader must think you might be killed!
What weakness do you have that might have caused you to be beat?
What could have ruined everything and brought on your defeat?

Nepheri:
I know I'm destined for the Hells, and my weakness is my strength.
I trust the Raven to die when intended, and follow my faith to any length.
I believe there's greatness in those I have found and dared to trust,
I will protect and grant them life, but also let them die when they must.

Clover:
No! For the final moments! The dramatic ending scene!
I must invoke your senses — what was felt and heard and seen!
What can you still remember from the moments at the end?
The scent of smoke? The dying wheeze of one you once called friend?

Nepheri:
Feelings of ash in my mouth, in my head a solemn score,
radiant energies around me, and ashes in a corridor.

Clover:
Woah! I really think this poem is headed for acclaim!
Soon every hall and tavern will be ringing with my name!
I mean, your name. Now, it needs a title! Something noble! Something grand!
Do you have a better name? Something not quite so bland?
Some call me "Clover Honeytongue!"
Not many... But still! Some!
By what name would you be known, if you had such a one?

Nepheri:
I don't think I'm worthy of any such a role,
such an honour is for less a cursed a soul.

Nepheri:
Well! This has been delightful! I'm sure this tale will wow!
This will be great exposure! Truthfully, you owe me now!
I often take commissions, yet I'm writing yours for free!
Make sure to tell your friends, in case they'd like such a story.
Wait, is that the guard? I actually have to go! I just realised I'm very late for something very important!
Goodbye!
Myst... fly!

Nepheri, dropping her own attempts to rhyme:
Well, that was certainly... Interesting.

Nepheri pets her prettier lyre.

I doubt this one will ever be a threat to your beautiful music. For one, I think I've heard enough contrived rhymes to last me a lifetime.