Author Topic: ♬ Daewyn Orle'valsa: Bardess of the Bow ♬  (Read 4728 times)

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♬ Daewyn Orle'valsa: Bardess of the Bow ♬
« on: August 05, 2015, 08:32:16 AM »

[[Click image for files.]]
Name: Daewyn Orle'valsa
(Meaning: White (haired) Musician, Clan of Silken Weavers)
Race: Moon Elf (Teu-tel-quessir)
Religion: The Seldarine (esp. Sehanine Moonbow)
Age: 129 Yrs.
Bardess of the Bow
Origin: Silverymoon, Faerun

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”
~ Victor Hugo

Breathe - Two Steps from Hell (Daewyn's Theme)
 1. Original image by Astri Lohne.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2021, 11:48:39 AM by emptyanima »

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Music Lost, Music Found
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2015, 11:36:44 AM »

[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]

~ Music Lost ~

He came when I played the violin,
Perhaps driven by a childish whim,
or perhaps it was knowing that someone was present,
for he listened with a smile, with innocence redolent.
So soon it faded, so soon he cried out in fear,
for there was darkness, much too near.

She strode from the shadows, the Drow vampiress,
As she came upon the spirit, we froze, powerless.
She knelt to reach him, looked upon his face,
And with a breath, he was consumed, gone without trace.
We ran forward, encouraged by anger and terror;
The vampiress vanished, and the dwarf caves did tremor.

My sight hazed by tears, heart heavy with guilt,
For the spirit had come for my playing, my lilt,
We ascended the slope to the mines above,
But in so doing I tumbled, the shaking still rough.
But looking behind as I rose, I screamed,
Her grip was a vice, and then as though I dreamed
the world slipped away like the running of ink,
and could not be resummoned by will or by blink.

The world at last settled, and I trembled in fear,
Emblems of dark cousins enveloped me, so near,
The spiders, the carvings, each inch looked depraved,
It was then to her whims that I was enslaved.
There was nowhere to hide, no way to win,
So I, a caged bird, when commanded, did sing.

She put her hands on my shoulders, my hair, my chin,
The coldness remained with each touch of my skin,
I gave to her music, and as each note escaped,
More painfully at my chest, that guilt roughly scraped,
And as she sank her fangs in, and my sight again blurred,
Music was as poison, and the whole world turned cold.

~ Music Found ~

I awoke, feeling hollow, in the arms of a friend,
It was at this time I learned that I should depend
on my kin-- at least when I cannot smile alone.
It was then that I felt most keenly my distance from home.
I had sworn that I would never let my smile wane,
For I knew others that bore the very same pain.

I resigned myself to silence, to a life without voice,
I decided it would be the the wisest choice,
For if my music had acted as a curse,
If I dared to continue, it could grow even worse.
But with no space to allow my emotions release,
My sorrow and tears did only increase.

I felt heavy, and yet I was an empty shell,
With songs unsung my heart did swell,
But ever near my companions stayed,
With words of encouragement, told me to be brave,
For a while I remained quite willingly blind,
How much harder it is to be brave than kind!

But steadily, slowly, with word and embrace,
The guilt that lay upon my shoulder, and had etched itself on my face,
At last began to shift and become small;
For it was not I who had meant any evil at all,
And each day I was silent the vampiress won,
"Not again", I vowed, "you've not silenced this one!"

With the aid of a gallant knight I did fight,
More of those creatures that reign over the night,
And while I feared, we continued together,
To for a time end this reign of terror,
And then so emboldened, I rejoined my friends,
and finally, my silence did end.

For together we fought, shed blood, united,
And as the danger increased, our doom seemed fated,
The songbird burst forth from my chest with a cry,
For if my silence had condemned my comrades to die,
It would have been the vampiress' last victory,
And with this understanding, my voice was set free.
 1. Original image.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2016, 05:38:47 PM by emptyanima »

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The Wayfarer Kinship
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2015, 07:31:19 AM »

[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]

~ The Wayfarer Kinship ~

There is much in this place that does evil, brings pain,
There are tales of dark tidings told again and again,
But there are those who do seek to protect and show friendship,
And together they are known as the Wayfarer Kinship.

The Kinship strives to protect the innocent and weak.
Though their manner at all times is humble and meek,
They seek to stand up to the evil in this world, so
That fewer of those terrible tales are told.

They must always be loyal to the kinship and its code,
No one left behind, when danger his face shows,
And if they are then trapped beyond power to retrieve,
They must all work to grant them freedom and reprieve.

They must never besmirch the Kinship's good name,
Must always respect even if not shown the same,
Respecting the laws, even if they are unfair,
And rather than break them, their issue declare.

They must all work together, to plan and to act,
And to ensure their honour does remain intact,
Any gains they receive must evenly spread,
Even by other folk who with them may tread.

There is much in this place that does evil, brings pain,
There are tales of dark tidings told again and again,
But there are those who do seek to protect and show friendship,
And together they are known as the Wayfarer Kinship.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2015, 05:12:34 PM by emptyanima »

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Glass
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2015, 08:58:39 AM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Glass ~

They dare not touch me, lest I break.
But I want to feel the air, the grass.
They fear to whisper, lest from reverie I wake,
I am made of flesh, of blood, not glass.

They frown whenever a tear is shed,
Oh, I wish this fear would pass.
They watch the marks from where I bled,
For I have breath-- I am not glass.

I feel them dart across my skin,
The spiders that she upon me cast,
I know she seeks me yet to win,
To own, to freeze in time, like glass.

I yearn now to be brave, be strong,
To aid, no matter wealth or class,
But before that creature, dark and wrong,
I fear it all shall shatter, fall like glass.


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The World's Song
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2015, 06:24:23 AM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ The World's Song ~

Within the old and dusty tome,
The ink is dry, its author gone,
But still their words and thoughts remain,
And opened, issue their refrain.

Upon the waters, onward floating,
The fallen leaf its course is wending,
In the echoes and cadence of the river,
There hums and drones a constant whisper.

The sunlight strikes the silent rock,
As day breaks, so does silence stop,
The stone its daily chorus hums,
And unseen strings the sunlight strums.

The birds join with their sweet refrain,
Below their nest, there sounds again,
The song of a minstrel, and at his feet,
Men, women and children meet.

In daily song the world conspires,
To grant reprieve from what transpires,
To calm and teach the one who dotes,
Upon wordless lyrics and quiet notes.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2015, 12:03:04 PM by emptyanima »

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The Field of Life
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2015, 08:03:50 AM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ The Field of Life ~

The final arrow has ceased its flight,
The sword has stilled in its show of might,
The field is bathed in Sehanine's light,
Here we now witness the end of a fight.

Now we are fighting for breath, each one,
Watching the fall of the sinking sun,
The blood of both sides has ceased to run,
This battle, but not the war, is won.

The arrows are gathered, the spoils claimed,
But chiefly 'tis peace which has briefly been gained,
Armour and robes with blood have been stained,
Even in victory, we are always maimed.

No one quits the field without bearing a scar,
Each battle and skirmish leaves a new mark,
Whether bruises and wounds which our bodies mar,
Or the innermost injuries, unseen on the heart.

Such is the field of life that we trace,
Even those who do soldier on with grace,
So kindly treat all that you meet in this place,
For you know not the toils which they have faced.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2015, 06:05:38 PM by emptyanima »

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Hymn to the Lunar Lady
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2015, 04:06:55 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Hymn to the Lunar Lady ~

She is the Daughter of the Night Skies,
Goddess of Moonlight, Lady of Dreams,
The Mystic Seer, come night, does rise,
Gowned and adorned in the very moon's beams.

Sehanine, oh Sehanine,
Lunar Lady, Moonlit Mystery.

In ancient times did her tears descend,
And met Corellon Larethian,
With his blood, her new-shed tears did blend,
In this, the time of the Tel'Quess began.

Sehanine, oh Sehanine,
Lunar Lady, Moonlit Mystery.

Oh, Luminous Cloud, hear now my song,
Sehanine Moonbow, lift now thy veil,
And teach me anew of right and wrong,
That wisdom and peace may ever prevail.

Sehanine, oh Sehanine,
Lunar Lady, Moonlit Mystery.

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The White Rose
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2015, 12:32:42 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ The White Rose ~

At the centre of a garden,
There grew a pure white rose,
Many tried to bid it open,
But its petals were closed.

In the warmth of the fire,
A maiden found repose,
Her fellows tried to bid her open,
But her heart remained closed.

In solitary thoughts,
That same maiden often cried,
For while she proclaimed love's virtues,
She never let her own be spied.

In distant Silverymoon,
She had watched in silent pain,
At the man who never looked back,
Likely never knew her name.

At all times, unchanging,
Her heart was concealed,
She kept away from those matters,
Only in song revealed.

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The Fall of the Valsharess
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2016, 12:09:06 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ The Fall of the Valsharess ~

Before the knight and I our ways parted,
There was a promise he had sworn to fulfil,
Together upon this quest we had started,
Now was the time to overcome this evil.

Below the earth did we both return,
Knowing the danger, trembling in fear,
And sure enough, we soon did learn,
Edralve, drow vampiress, was near.

A mocking laugh within my mind,
Despite this taunt, onward we pressed,
We had gone the vampiress to find,
In double darkness were snatched by the Valsharess.

In darkness we walked, carried muted light,
But in this place of shadow, it burnt so bright,
Slavers were slain (who began the fight),
One fell in our battle, others to a blight...

Through the shadows above it strode,
A creature whose shadow all light did hide,
And driven by a lust for blood,
Drowned slaves in their own crimson tide.

At last, we reached places that were known,
The altar, the webbing, the candles aflame,
A ritual prepared, Valsharess with her own,
A young child shaking, her life to be claimed.

After a battle of words and wills,
The child into our arms was sent,
We kept the ritual from being fulfilled,
Edralve, Valsharess, refused to relent.

The flames flickered blue, and the portal did swirl,
Eldritch chants left Edralve's lips,
We both gasped in fear, and the poor little girl,
Wept as I tried to soothe her, she held to my hips.

And from that same portal, a demon strode,
A being aflame, reaving blade in large hand,
In rage and alarm did the Valsharess explode--
This was not the one who'd fulfil her dark plan.

Battle was joined, Edralve's second fell,
Our ballad, for a moment, must be a dirge,
For overwhelmed by the denizen of the hells,
The little girl died to the demon's scourge.

All hope was lost, and soon, all sight,
For the knight and I lost the fight,
The Valsharess, wounded, swiftly took flight,
But then, came a subtle shift in the light...

My sight was dim, but my ears were filled,
With the demon's bloody, eldritch cry,
The portal, of this being, took hold,
And itself and the being from existence did pry.

The portal destroyed, I dragged myself from the floor,
Stared down, eyes limpid, at the girl and the knight,
With enchanted orb, I the knight restored,
And wept for the little girl and her plight.

We gathered ourselves, looked up to the stairs,
That behind the altar, web-like, wove,
For the final battle we both prepared,
And together through the portal we strove.

Scuttling, scratching, echoed about the walls,
As spiders, in the hundreds, descended-- we fought,
And carving a path through these Dhaerow emblems,
To the side of Edralve's resting place we were brought.

She rose, and though weakened, was still much too strong,
Still mending, she ran, her magics stinging our eyes,
Driven only by the desire to put end to this wrong,
At last by the knight, Edralve was prized.

The Valsharess struggled in our shaking grip,
As we pushed her, exhausted, to edge of the ledge,
Which fell away into darkness, unending abyss,
The knight and I then fulfilled his pledge.

The Elven blade met its unbeating Drow mark,
The Valsharess screamed, shrieking in Xanalress,
As with joint force we pushed her into the dark,
As she fell, melting into the pitch black abyss.

We sank to our knees, and I closed my eyes,
waited for the voice to fill my troubled mind,
The mocking laugh, and how I was her prize,
But I, the Dove, had my head regained.

Together, down Mt. Baratak we came,
Weary and bloodied, whipped by the snows,
Until the lake, Zarovich in name,
Its familiar, foreboding waters showed.

It was then that we parted, Dove and Knight,
The promise fulfilled, Valsharess put to sword.
I pray Sehanine's grace for him this night,
He who with bravery stayed true to his word.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2016, 09:34:25 AM by emptyanima »

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The Embrace
« Reply #9 on: February 29, 2016, 09:52:44 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ The Embrace ~

Floating, drifting, o'er the earth,
Silent, draining joy and mirth,
It has no limbs, no eyes, no voice,
But it seems to think, to make a choice.

About my feet, the cold mist lingers,
I try to run, to flee its fringes,
I fled for shelter, warmth and light,
Instead my vision turned to white.

Within its grip, I watched, I wandered,
From my companion I was sundered,
In solitude for time unmeasured,
I drifted, lost to all I treasured.

I saw phantasms without end,
Twisted visions of my friends,
I saw such falseness, fear and lies,
And monsters which all else despise.

I searched the gloom for some escape,
Crossed earth and rock and mist-bound lake,
But still no end, no way was found,
In despair, I fell upon the ground.

My sustenance had long worn thin,
I wept for myself, for my lost kin,
My last meal in my mouth was bitter,
I looked for my death, my eyes a'glitter.

I made myself a simple shelter,
My strength, now ebbing, soon did falter,
I laid before a humble fire,
To me, it was a funerary pyre.

My bones pressed firm against my skin,
To bear myself, I was too thin,
I whispered low, my funeral rites,
Begged the moonbow to come upon my sight.

Only then, when all hope was lost,
Upon the edge of giving up the ghost,
Beyond the dying flames, a known face,
Across the glowing embers, I could trace.

I thought him another cruel illusion,
He approached, a deeply welcome intrusion,
I thought I had died, moved on from the world,
Until I in his warm embrace was held.

So then in an instant, the mist swirled and parted,
I held to him tightly, with tears my eyes smarted,
We emerged beyond that labyrinth cold,
To the blessing of life I firmly hold.

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Eve of Battle
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2016, 09:51:06 AM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Eve of Battle ~

It is the eve of battle,
The night before the war,
It is the eve of battle,
My heart now waxes sore.
It is the eve of battle,
Where we might meet our end,
It is the eve of battle,
To me your ear lend.

It is the eve of battle,
As I quake before your face,
It is the eve of battle,
As your cheek my hand does trace.
It is the eve of battle,
When you murmur your desire,
It is the eve of battle,
On which I your love require.

It was on the eve of battle,
That we put aside our fear,
It was on the eve of battle,
That I first did hold you near.
It was on the eve of battle,
That I first savour'd your kiss,
It was on the eve of battle,
That I first knew that bliss.

It is the dawn after the battle,
And now the fight is won.
It is the dawn after the battle,
We stand beneath an altered sun.
It is the dawn after the battle,
And the victory is ours,
It is the dawn after the battle,
Within my heart, doubt cowers.

A war has been prevented,
But he has now returned,
A war has been prevented,
Whose attentions have we earned?
A war has been prevented,
I pray the senseless violence ends,
A war has been prevented,
Will you hold me now, again?

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Thief
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2016, 09:23:21 AM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Thief ~

The longer in this land I dwell,
The more I understand,
Among the forces foul and fell,
There is a common band,
Whether mist, or shade, or trickster fey,
Or the heavy weight of fear,
All have a common theme, I see,
The thief is ever near.

The mist stole from me those I love,
And snatched my health, my food,
From the shade, the one who called me 'Dove',
The vamp'ress took my blood.
The trickster fey who stole from us,
Left the Autumn Grove bereft,
But the weight of fear and dread is worse,
His life, the most crushing theft.

My companions saved me from my plight,
When the mist had me ensnared,
With aid I brought to the shade shared might,
The vamp'ress was not spared.
With help, I am sure, the trickster fey,
What was stolen will return,
But nothing anyone can do or say
Will restore my friend; he has gone.

And now I have unveiled my heart,
Aloud its secrets did proclaim,
But in naming him, what did I start?
Have I stepped on the path to pain?
What creature might have heard or seen,
That I treasure him, hold him dear?
I pray that these fears might be confined to dream,
Will they steal you? That is my fear.

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Oath
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2016, 04:25:48 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Oath ~

I will not turn my back on history,
Or on bloody death and war,
For while we are a world away,
The wound we bear is sore.

Your people and your violence,
Are known across the realms,
How you swarm in deadly silence,
And innocents o'erwhelm.

You say my unease is absurd,
I could not disagree more,
You trade in honeyed, poisoned words
As well as blood and gore.

So I will not accept derision,
For my fears, proved many times,
I will keep you in my vision,
See where you draw the battle lines.

For I see two explanations,
For the way you all act now,
It could be some naive fixation,
Unlikely; you are drow.

The second, far more likely,
I will not accept your lies,
For yours is a twisted psyche;
Soon you will lower your guise.

If you lay a single finger,
Upon the Tel'Quessir,
My arrows, they will find you,
Heed my words, they are sincere.

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Har-Thelen
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2016, 12:32:31 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Har-Thelen ~

Har-Thelen,
Your people live in sorrow,
Har-Thelen,
It pierces like an arrow,
Har-Thelen,
It weighs upon their shoulders,
Har-Thelen,
And mine for a few hours.

Har-Thelen,
It holds a taste so bitter,
Har-Thelen,
My eyes, they were a-glitter,
Har-Thelen,
Such guilt welled up in my heart,
Har-Thelen,
So much held in such a small part!

Har-Thelen,
The People feel your suffering,
Har-Thelen,
The sorrow of which I now sing,
Har-Thelen,
I know not from whence it came,
Har-Thelen,
I shall make that my aim.

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Hope Wears a Veil
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2018, 08:20:07 PM »
[The lyrics are penned in a fine Elven script, in both the Elven and Common tongues.]


~ Hope Wears a Veil ~

Far away, now lost to time,
Silverymoon lies gleaming, Sehanine.
A younger elf, her form is mine,
Walks o'er the Moonbridge, Sehanine.
Her heart is light, her gaze is bright,
She fears no enemy this night,
No man or monster rests upon her mind.
Sehanine, the people there were kind!

Closer now, to mist now come,
Her eyes were gleaming, Sehanine,
That very elf, her features glum,
Stares into the darkness, Sehanine.
Her heart is lead, her hope is dead,
Despair now claws her spirit, red,
Man is now the monster on her mind,
Sehanine, the people she maligned!

She looked upon their selfish whims,
Their lusts and greed and myriad sins,
The cruelty of their unwanted touch,
Both man and monster, all too much!
They damned a friend to the rocks of Tser,
So came the darkest, worst despair.
Why had she fought so hard, unerring,
When all around were undeserving?
She looked upon her curséd hair,
And prayed and wished it was not there,
Perhaps this would grant her relief,
From their coercion, even brief.
Sehanine, how terrible her grief!

Now upon this Lunar Hallowing,
You answered tearful prayers, oh Sehanine,
Her veiled face, a blesséd thing,
Lifts me from darkness, Sehanine.
Her heart is pure, her faith is sure,
Despite how some mock and abhor,
She seeks to ease the suffering of all,
Sehanine, my hope has been restored!