Another night in the Rathskeller, another scattering of tips – a small jar of preserves, an old knife, a copper bracelet – that Jigano graciously scooped into his pack. Some of which he could use, others that he’d find a subtle way to pass along to those who could use them more. Those with families and early morning chores to attend to had left, leaving only the truly hardened drinkers behind, and those were now too far into their cups to appreciate his skills. With a nod for the bartender on duty the bard had gathered his lap harp and his pack and headed up into the Temple proper, giving the Infirmary a smile on his way past, though not stopping to interrupt Isla or her colleagues in their important work.
He usually kept walking at that point, down the stairs and into the night, be it cloudy or spangled with stars – or snow, these days. But tonight he found his steps slowing as he passed the way to the back of the Temple, curiosity mixed with a little trepidation. His last attempt to pray to the gods had ended in silence and a moment of beauty, but he had since learned how fickle the local deities could be. Even cruel, though perhaps they didn’t see it that way. They didn’t give anything away for free, and the prices they asked in exchange for their gifts… well.
He looked around the scattering of offerings, the scratched old altar, melancholy in its bareness, the burned out stubs of candles, the dust of faded flowers… and the bard sighed. Oh, Cass, he thought ruefully, with far too much fondness and not nearly enough reverence. If only you could see me now…. He dropped his pack back a little ways and stepped over to dust the altar, scooping the dead plants into a tidy pile and placing a few fallen candles back upright, though he left them unlit. The other offerings, the personal ones, he left untouched, but after a moment’s consideration he retrieved his lapharp from its case and settled cross-legged on the ground, an uncomfortable twist of anxiety in his belly, however benign his intentions.
His fingers picked at the strings with deft confidence, however, though he didn’t raise his voice in any particular song, letting the instrument's notes carry in the Temple’s confines. A song to soothe the deific heart, he hoped, an offering to let his friends – and, yes, even the young pup – live in peace for a little while, and survive the Long Night intact in mind and body.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFCTOUSHUgE
He usually kept walking at that point, down the stairs and into the night, be it cloudy or spangled with stars – or snow, these days. But tonight he found his steps slowing as he passed the way to the back of the Temple, curiosity mixed with a little trepidation. His last attempt to pray to the gods had ended in silence and a moment of beauty, but he had since learned how fickle the local deities could be. Even cruel, though perhaps they didn’t see it that way. They didn’t give anything away for free, and the prices they asked in exchange for their gifts… well.
He looked around the scattering of offerings, the scratched old altar, melancholy in its bareness, the burned out stubs of candles, the dust of faded flowers… and the bard sighed. Oh, Cass, he thought ruefully, with far too much fondness and not nearly enough reverence. If only you could see me now…. He dropped his pack back a little ways and stepped over to dust the altar, scooping the dead plants into a tidy pile and placing a few fallen candles back upright, though he left them unlit. The other offerings, the personal ones, he left untouched, but after a moment’s consideration he retrieved his lapharp from its case and settled cross-legged on the ground, an uncomfortable twist of anxiety in his belly, however benign his intentions.
His fingers picked at the strings with deft confidence, however, though he didn’t raise his voice in any particular song, letting the instrument's notes carry in the Temple’s confines. A song to soothe the deific heart, he hoped, an offering to let his friends – and, yes, even the young pup – live in peace for a little while, and survive the Long Night intact in mind and body.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFCTOUSHUgE
