“First time I have seen a true Bard,” a familiar voice whispered in my ear, causing me to jump, almost embarrassingly, in my heavy armor.

“Elwin!” I said, thoroughly surprised at what I saw before me.

Elwin had bought what looked like a set of dark-colored armor made from boiled leather scales. The whole ensemble came with a cloth-padded hooded jacket. Around his waist was a new belt with an array of deadly-looking knives in small sheaths. Now, after his shopping spree, the man really did look like a Rogue.

“Thought I’d get back to join you all for the evening meal,” he replied, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “Was pleasantly surprised to listen to music from a Bard. Seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Yes, the music was rather lovely. I can see that you decided to enrich some of the local merchants,” I said as something whimsical took me.

“Hah!” he said, tapping the side of his nose knowingly.

Curiosity possessed me and I walked up to the bard as he was drinking ale from a large mug in great lugs. My sallet held under the crook of my arm, I greeted him.

“Hello there and good evening, good sir. My name is Gilgamesh of Uruk,” I said formally, feeling that a little ceremony was required, before continuing, “I have a favor and request to ask of you.”

He arched a single eyebrow before looking at me directly as he put his wooden mug of ale down. “The name is Darren Kragain of Haylesland, a pleasure to meet you. Your manners serve you well, so please do go on,” he replied in a cultured tenor voice that was as smooth as spun silk.

“Your song was most beautiful, the best I have ever heard in these lands, and has given me a yearning for the sounds of my own home. I would like you to play a song from my homeland, if it is not too much trouble?” I asked, a little awe in my voice, as I placed half a silver beside his instrument.

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Being this close to it, I could see that it was almost a magical thing. Intricate whorls and patterns flowed across the body of the lute-like instrument and entwined plant and animal designs gathered around the rose and ran up to the neck.

“Tell me the name of the song,” he asked, looking a little bored.

I was sure that the bard would often get requests like this.

“You will have never heard of this song...” I continued, and the bard perked up a little, his interest now piqued. “…it is a song from a faraway land, and it goes a little like this...”

Humming as best I could the parts of the song from the intro to the outro, I was lost for a moment in the memories of better times. Having no ear for music myself, I wondered if I was properly able to convey the song. Even with my lack of musical talent, the Bard looked absolutely enraptured by the catchy melody.

“Yes, yes… I believe it would be easy to do. This is a whole new style of music!” he said eyes alight as he re-tuned his instrument before sitting down cross-legged once more.

His fingers played across the strings as a melody, both different yet hauntingly familiar, echoed around the common room and people grew silent once more to listen. The Bard had added his own flourishes to the tune and it was not an exact copy. For one, the lyrics of the song were now markedly better in comparison to the trite childish nonsense of the original and the notes flowed together like an ocean wave. However, the soul of the music was there and it brought back memories of a world now lost to me. A wave of homesickness flew through me and I felt that it was almost worth the half silver I paid to inflict this world with pop music.

Once the music ended to another thunderous applause, I thanked the Bard once more for his gift and ordered him another drink. I was surprised when he, in turn, thanked me and placed my coins back in my hand saying that it was, in fact, I that had given him a great gift. According to his tale, he was on a journey to find new inspiration that he might complete his quest to become a master Bard and, thanks to me, he had found it. My good use of manners rewarded me with a notification.

You have gained 1 Charisma.