Merin Performs!

Merin stands in the middle of High Hold with a violin in hand and he begins to play.


(lyrics edited to fit the character and setting))

The devil went down to Lantan, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind: he was willin' to make a deal.
When he came across this young gnome sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.
And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what:
"I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
"And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.
"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due:
"I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you."
The young gnome said: "My name's Merin and it might be a sin,
"But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."

Merin you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.
'Cos hells broke loose in Lantan and the devil deals the cards.
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold.
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.

The devil opened up his case and he said: "I'll start this show."
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow.
And he pulled the bow across his strings and it made an evil hiss.
Then a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.
When the devil finished, Merin said: "Well you're pretty good ol' son.
"But sit down in that chair, right there, and let me show you how its done."

Fire on the mountain, run boys, run.
The devil's in the house of the risin' sun.
Chicken in the bread pan, pickin' out dough.
"Granny, does your dog bite?"
"No, child, no."

The devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Merin's feet.
Johnny said: "Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again.
"I told you once, you son of a gun, I'm the best that's ever been."

And he played fire on the mountain, run boys, run.
The devil's in the house of the risin' sun.
Chicken in the bread pan, now they're pickin' out dough.
"Granny, will your dog bite?"
"No, child, no."

*The soft sound of tiny hands clapping gently can be heard as a beautiful young hin steps from the deepest shadows of a nearby building. Smiling softly she allows the afternoon sunlight to catch her tiny fangs as she offers a playful wink, chuckling softly as she points to his violin she speaks softly* seems somebody picked up a bit of talent in their travels, eh old friend? *pulling her hood back to reveal the tiny horns protruding from her forehead, she smiles again before reaching into her familiar tiny belt pouch to pull out a rather large bottle of wine, offering it to Merrin as she motions toward the ring of benches surrounding an old firepit overlooking the riverfront* Care to join me for a drink and perhaps a bit of catching up?

"Oh! Oh! It's you!" Merin exclaimed with a grin. "Of course I'll join you! More than happy to!" He laughed as he walked towards the hin and reached for the bottle.

*smiling gently as she releases her bottle and turns to make her way to the ring of logs, as she takes a seat, pulling her legs up onto the log, a small housecat appears happing lightly onto her lap, stroking the cat softly she turns to merrin with another smile, her speach slipping into the draconic toungue* S you must tell me dear....what brings you back to the Marches?.....and more importantly wher3e and how have you been?

Catching on to the switch of languages, Merin too switches over with his friend.
"Oh! Right! Long story short *grins* I traveled all over Faerun! After I left here, I went north and visited the ten-towns and then south to visit all the way to Calimshan and Amn and even Chult! Then I traveled far to the east where the eastern kingdoms of Kara-Tur lie!" He said with a grin and a performers slash of his sleeve out to the right. "I met many, many, many dragons in my travels! I learned so much lore and history!"

He paused for a moment....

"Course then I ended up in the Astral Plane, that wasnt too pretty... I mean, a pretty place itself but the people... Gods have Mercy on them, I say."

It only took a few moments for Merin to snap back to his happy and cheerful self. "But now, I'm here! I heard tidings of war and people need bards during these times! Not those nasty lil' whiner and oh I'm so perfect types, either! They need someone to bring a smile to their faces and that's precisely what I'm going to do!" He nods ever so firmly.