[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/26e756f9-4554-406a-8631-e5aac265c287.png[/img]
[i]Squall Whisperers[/i]

Collaboratively written by BBeast and Not Fishing[/center]

With a spear on his back and a conch at his belt, Pallamino had taken to a life of travel… and found it surprisingly anti-climatic.

Sure, every now and then he found some people, impressed them with his music, told them a few stories, and heard a few stories in return, but that only amounted to a small portion of his time. The rest was spent trudging through forests and swimming through streams. Sometimes the tribes he visited would pay him in food, but otherwise he had to fish or forage for his own meals.

Funny. He had taken to a life of travel in order to avoid hard, backbreaking labour. Turns out it brought even more of it.

Still, he couldn’t deny that there was a certain joy to it. People liked to listen to him play or sing, his skill was improving by the day, and he was beginning to develop something of a reputation. It was for these reasons that he did not turn back from his course… that, and the fact that it would be embarrassing to so quickly abandon a decision he committed himself to.

Another village came within sight, and the Selka musician smirked. Perhaps he wouldn’t have to fish for his own food tonight.

As Pallamino approached, he could hear the sounds of music coming from the village. First he heard the low beat of a drum, its sound carrying the greatest distance. As he got closer he could resolve a clicking of sticks and the shake of a rattle. The sound of a man’s voice singing was the next thing Pallamino heard. This was followed by the distant whistle of a flute, then the voice of a female singer and the plucked strings of a lyre.

Pallamino could see a crowd gathered near the beach, and the music seemed to be coming from within. As the distance narrowed, Pallamino could make out the words which were being sung. A young lady sung with a voice as sweet as a spring breeze,

“‘Never shall I leave you,
Always I shall embrace you,
No matter how far off,
By this you will know my love.’”

A man’s voice took up the next verse, his baritone voice rich and smooth like fish oil.

“‘Show me how you’ll do this,
Reach from across the abyss.
Delphina, show me how,
Far from land you’ll keep this vow.’”

The musical accompaniment ascended towards a climax as the woman sung again.

“‘I will open the deep,
From which much water will weep,
This is how I’ll love you,
I made the seas to hug you.’”

The man and the woman sung in unison in the final verse.

“From where Delphina sings,
Her love to us the waves brings.
Her love won’t leave Kirron,
Forever it will carry on.”

Then the music ended, and the crowd applauded. Pallamino got close enough to see a band of four selka surrounding by the crowd, holding musical instruments and bowing.

Their presence disappointed him somewhat. Pallamino was hardly the only Selka with musical talent, but he considered himself one of the best. And whenever he encountered someone who might be better, or was perceived to be better, then that usually entailed some sort of competition - people usually ended up preferring one musician over another. And with four already here… it was doubtful that the people of this tribe would care so much for a fifth.

Still, no harm in trying. As the applause died down, Pallamino pulled out his conch flute and began to play a soft, soothing tune - one that was intended to slowly turn heads instead of immediately grab everyone’s intention. There had to be build-up, after all.

One by one, the selka in the crowd noticed the new melody playing behind them, and turned around to look at the newcomer. The four musicians also noticed Pallamino, a look of confusion passing over their faces before they huddled together for a whispered conversation.

After a few moments, the quartet broke from their huddle. The percussionist picked up his drum and beat it which his sticks, the rhythm falling into time with Pallamino’s tune. A young girl raised her bone flute to her lips. She glanced over to the woman who had sung before, who gave the girl an encouraging nod. Then the girl blew into the flute and produced her own melody. Her tune harmonised with Pallamino’s notes, then she pushed forwards with the beat of the drum and brought her music to the fore.

Pallamino raised his eyebrows but remained undaunted. He slowly increased the tempo and force of the song, locking eyes with the four bards one by one. The drummer watched Pallamino closely, adapting his tempo to Pallamino’s. The young flautist’s tune faltered briefly at the changing music, but when Pallamino took a breath she dove into the gap. Her melody soared ahead as a lively dance, with the flautist stepping into a light jig in time with her tune.

Still, Pallamino did not relent. He continued to play, pouring more and more energy into his performance, sending a wink toward the audience. The audience’s attention was split between the two performers. The two singers, who were watching, gave each other a knowing look and an impressed nod.

Meanwhile, the flautist’s eyes betrayed some frustration. She picked up the energy of her dance, and she skipped around the crowd until she was on the same side of the crowd as Pallamino. She danced circles around Pallamino with all the intensity of her flute’s melody. 

Again, Pallamino’s eyebrows rose. And then, he moved. Instead of allowing her to dance circles around him they were now circling each other. His music suffered, but only for an instant, before it returned to the same speed and force as his opponent.

As the two flautists danced around each other, the crowd began to clap in time with their music, instigated by the female singer. The steps of the dance fell into time with the clapping and were driven by it. The young girl looked into Pallamino’s eyes, and her dance increased in intricacy. Her movements were well rehearsed and flowed with the grace of the sea’s waves. 

Pallamino, for his part, wasn’t as good a dancer, but still managed to put up a decent display. It was time to wrap this up, he decided. He launched into an energetic finish, concluding with one long note. Noticing the conclusion, the girl also held a long note with Pallamino, and cut off when he did. They then both turned to the crowd and bowed.

The crowd applauded and cheered. The other three musicians pushed their way through the crowd and approached Pallamino. The female singer with the lyre stepped forwards and spoke. “We haven’t heard a musician that talented since we left Hyummin. Let us introduce ourselves. I’m Hujaya,” she greeted, pointing to herself.

“I’m Pyouroff,” said the older percussionist.

“I’m Kaleo,” said the male singer.

“And I’m Sulingu,” said the young flautist. “It was fun playing with you,” she added with a bow.

“I’m Pallamino. The third,” he said, bowing in return. “Do the four of you travel together?”

“Yes,” Hujaya answered. “We are Stormbards, tasked by Delphina to do, well,” she gestured around herself, “this, and more.”

“More?” Pallamino questioned. “What else do you do?”

“We sing. We teach. And sometimes, we use some of our more…” Hujaya smiled as she tried to pick the right words, “unique talents to help people with tougher tasks.”

Pallamino could recognize an evasive answer when he saw it, but he was not here to pry into the business of strangers. “Well, I met Asha- [i]Delphina[/i], myself,” he said, his tone almost casual. “It was she who gave me this flute, actually.”

The eyes of the Stormbards widened in surprise. “You did?” asked Kaleo.

A short laugh came from Hujaya. “No wonder you’re such a good musician!”

Sulingu leant in closer and eyed the conch. She reached out a hand. “May I look?”

A brief glint of suspicion appeared in Pallamino’s eye, momentarily disturbing his air of nonchalance, but it was quickly gone. Instead he nodded, and reluctantly handed over the flute. Sulingu held it carefully and closely inspected it. “I thought it sounded different. I’ve never seen such a masterfully crafted instrument. It-” she looked at Pallamino and hesitated. “May I try it?” she asked sheepishly.

“Go ahead,” he nodded.

Sulingu lifted the conch to her lips and blew. It produced such a beautifully resonant note that she almost recoiled in surprise. Then she played a few more notes, covering up different patterns of holes. She then lowered the instrument and looked at it in awe. “The right sound comes so naturally from it.”

“I’d expect nothing less from an instrument made by Delphina,” Hujaya said.

Sulingu handed the conch flute back to Pallamino. “Thank you,” she said.

Pallamino took back the conch. He recalled his earlier decision not to pry, and promptly decided to metaphorically kick it into the sea. “What are these unique talents you mentioned?” he asked.

Hujaya glanced sideways at the other Stormbards with a grin on her face, then looked back to Pallamino. “I think we can show you. How about we catch you some lunch?”

“A free lunch isn’t something I can turn down,” Pallamino said with a smirk. “Were you taught by Arryn too?”

Hujaya’s brow furrowed. “Arryn?”

Pyouroff chimed in. “Oh, I’ve heard of him. Hunting god from down-beach.” He gestured southwards.

Hujaya shook her head. “No, Arryn didn’t teach this. It’s, well, you’ll see,” she said with a smile. She looked back at the other Stormbards. Kaleo had his hand shading his eyes from the sun as he scanned the sky. Sulingu and Pyouroff had picked up their instruments. Kaleo seemed to spot something. He tapped Hujaya on the shoulder and pointed up coast. Hujaya squinted in the direction of his finger, then nodded. She adjusted the strap of her lyre and gestured to Pallamino. “Come on.”

The group set out north along the beach, walking along the sand.

“Looks like a storm might be coming,” Pallamino observed, glancing out toward the sea, where the clouds grew heavier and the waves had become stronger.

Hujaya gave a knowing nod to the other Stormbards. “Indeed,” she said.

“Well, I hope it doesn’t interfere with whatever you’re about to do,” Pallamino said as he kept walking.

Hujaya and the others struggled to hide the grins which broke out on their faces, but they kept walking. After they had walked for some time, Pyouroff pointed to a rocky outcropping which rose behind the beach. “That should do.”

Hujaya nodded, and the Stormbards approached the rock. Sulingu went first, her light and nimble frame easily able to climb the rockface. The others followed behind, with Pallamino in the rear. When Pallamino pulled himself to the top, Pyouroff had already laid out his percussion and the others stood poised and ready to perform. They were inspecting the sky and horizon one more time.

Pallamino, meanwhile, only stood by awkwardly. If they were trying to find food, why were they looking at the sky, instead of the forest or the ocean? Perhaps the answer might be revealed in time. “So…” he began, but quickly trailed off.

Pyouroff seemed to come to a conclusion. “It looks promising to me. Shall we do the usual?”

Hujaya nodded. “Yes. Beat us in, Pyouroff.”

Pyouroff took a few moments to feel an internal pulse. Then he brought his stick down on his drum, a deep bass note sounding out. He struck then struck twice, followed by another double tap, then he hit the drum and slapped his sticks together with a click. At this cue Sulingu started playing her flute and Hujaya strummed her lyre as she started to sing, Pyouroff’s drum beat repeating.

“Come to me, squalls, come to me,
Then happy I will be.
Come to me, squalls, come to me,
To one who loves the sea.

“I have been looking for long,
So now I sing this song.
Come to me, squalls, come to me,
Then happy I will be.”

Hujaya repeated her words, with Kaleo joining in and forming a splendid harmony. What link music had to finding food, Pallamino did not have the faintest idea. At least the music was nice enough. He listened in silence and began to tap his foot to it.

The song stretched on long enough to start to become boring when there seemed to be a shift in the clouds. Two cloudy wisps broke from the coming storm and approached the musicians, the wind picking up around them. The Stormbards shared a look. Sulingu slipped her flute into her rope belt and quickly climbed down the rock while the others continued to play. Pallamino stopped tapping his foot, and his hand closed around the spear in its loop across his back, but he did not pull it free just yet.

Pyouroff spared Pallamino a glance. “That won’t work on these,” he said without skipping a beat of his drum. “You’d best be climbing down too.”

With a frown, Pallamino released his grip and then began to descend the rock, following Sulingu. The young girl stood on the ground, flute in her hand, looking nervously at the sky. “What is happening here, anyway?” he asked her.

“We’re calling squalls,” she answered, not taking her eyes off the sky.

“And what are those?”

“They’re…” she gestured vaguely, “You ever had weather that seemed a bit more nasty than normal?”

“I have,” Pallamino nodded.

“They’re that.”

Pallamino blinked. “Wait… your music can cause storms?” he asked in disbelief. “That’s impossible.”

“It’s… a power Delphina has granted us.” There was a change in the music coming from on top of the rock. “Oh, that’s my cue!” She lifted her flute and played, a look of concentration on her face.

Hujaya walked over to the edge of the rock, strumming her lyre and vocalising open notes. Around her twisted cloud, wind and rain. She nodded to Sulingu, and Hujaya’s music grew softer as Sulingu’s tune took the lead. Sulingu danced forwards a few steps and did a pirouette. The twists of weather seemed to notice her and descended from the rock to circle around the dancing flautist. Once she was sure she had their attention Sulingu eased her performance back to a gentler and more sustainable pace.

The music from on top of the rock stopped and the remaining Stormbards climbed down. In this time when only Sulingu was playing, Pallamino felt the wind of the squalls blow past him. A sprinkle of rain splashed upon him. Sulingu gave the squall a stern look and she took a couple hops away from Pallamino, the squall following as if being pulled.

Soon the Stormbards had regrouped. Pyouroff shook a rattle rhythmically, Hujaya strummed some notes on her lyre and Sulingu was able to relax somewhat, although she kept playing her flute. Pallamino looked upon the small floating clouds with wonder. “How are you doing this?” he asked.

Kaleo answered, “We know how to talk to them. That’s the unique skill given us by Delphina.”

“Is it possible to learn this power?” he asked his second question.

“Yes. Hujaya was the first, and she passed it on to us.”

“How?” came the third question.

Kaleo looked to the other Stormbards, who were concentrating on the squalls. “We can discuss that after we catch some lunch.”

They approached the treeline with a lilting gait, the two squalls ebbing and flowing around them. Kaleo searched the trees as the other three Stormbards mainly focussed on their music. “Try to find some prey,” Kaleo said to Pallamino.

Pallamino offered a shrug in response. While Kaleo was peering at the trees, Pallamino set his gaze to the ground. He walked a fair distance away from the group, and then his eyes caught something. He waved to call them over. Kaleo walked over, and the others with the squalls slowly approached. “See something?” Kaleo asked.

“Tracks,” he nodded. “They could be recent, but I’m no expert.”

Kaleo squinted at the ground, then shrugged. “Worth a try. Lead the way.”

Pallamino offered another shrug. He had never been much of a hunter, but it was worth a shot… hopefully the music wouldn’t scare away the prey.

He followed the tracks into the woods, and they walked for some time. Already Pallamino was beginning to second-guess himself. Then, suddenly, there was a flash of movement in the corner of his eye. He turned and pointed, just in time to see a rabbit dart out of a bush, take one look at them, and attempt to dash away as quickly as it could. It was not the animal he had been tracking, but it would do.

What happened next was a blur of sound and motion. Sulingu’s flute rose in volume. Hujaya strummed her lyre, then while singing a rising note she stretched out her arm towards one of the squalls and gracefully pivoted towards where the rabbit had run off to. The squall followed the motion. Pyouroff slammed a stick down hard on his drum, and with that beat the squall surged with a ferocious gust of wind. Branches, dirt and leaves were thrown into the air with almost explosive force, and the rabbit was also hurled by the gust. It rolled across the ground and lay motionless.

Pallamino, for his part, could only stare on in bewilderment. An intelligent, independent cloud, controlled by nothing more than music, had just effortly ended a creature’s life before his very eyes. Kaleo tapped Pallamino on the arm and nodded towards the rabbit. “Well go on.” Meanwhile the agitated squalls circled around them. Hujaya, Sulingu and Pyouroff were slowly easing the music back to its original lilt and calming the squalls down.

Reluctantly, Pallamino stepped forward to examine the rabbit more closely. Although it was silent and unmoving, its chest still rose and fell, which told Pallamino it was not yet dead. Arryn would certainly disapprove if it was left like that, he realized. With a frown he brought his spear up and then drove it down, the creature letting out one final squeak as its life was extinguished.

Pyouroff spared a look towards Pallamino. “It’s not a big meal for five. I’d look for dinner too before releasing them.”

Hujaya also glanced briefly towards Pallamino as she strummed her lyre. “Only if he’s up to it. This must be a bit of a shock for him.”

Pallamino glanced up from the rabbit, at the floating cloud of energy and moisture, and then at the Stormbards. He took a breath. “Alright,” he said. “We’ll find another.”

The Stormbards nodded, and once they were satisfied that the squalls had returned to their previous demeanour they continued to walk. It was Sulingu who saw, a little while later, a couple of magpies perched in a tree. With a dip in her tune and a few dancing steps sideways she sent the squalls rustling through the undergrowth and past the tree. The magpies sensed something amiss and took flight.

As they did, Pyouroff beat on his drum and Kaleo sang out. “Fly, squalls, fly, and take to the sky! Get that bird, my words you have heard!” The squalls rushed up through the canopy, overtook the birds and threw them to the ground with a violent downdraft. With a shrill phrase from Sulingu’s flute the squalls swept over the birds again before they could get back up, battering them some more. Kaleo stepped forwards, grabbed one of the magpies with his hand, then with a grimace he wrung the bird’s neck with his other hand. Pallamino followed his example and did the same.

The Stormbards took their time to calm the squalls as before. Once the squalls were no longer rustling the nearby trees with their gusts Hujaya said, “Is that enough food for you, Pyouroff?”

Pyouroff gave a slight huff and a tiny smirk. “Yes, I think that might just be enough to fill my belly.”

“Then let’s send them off.”

Hujaya’s lyre shifted its notes to produce a melancholic key, underscored by Sulingu’s flute. Hujaya then sung softly and sweetly.

“Sadly my song must now come to a close.
I must now send my squalls to their repose.
I end my song with a sweet lullaby,
And I say to the storm spirits: goodbye.”

As the last note hung in the air, the wind stilled, and the squalls were gone. The Stormbards exhaled in relief, and they shook out their arms. “Let’s eat,” Hujaya said.

Pallamino frowned. “It might be best to cook it first,” he suggested. “Maybe there’s a fire back in the village?”

“Ah, yes, I think I did see a fire back there,” Hujaya answered, “Well, let’s go.”

[hr]
The five musicians sat around the village’s communal fire, a beast captured and tamed from the wilds like Ippino had done for the Hyummin. The rabbit and two plucked magpies were skewered on sticks and roasting over the flames.

Hujaya turned her head to Pallamino. “So tell us a bit more about yourself. Where do you come from? And tell us about your meeting with Delphina.”

“I come from the Ubbo Tribe,” Pallamino answered. “I was resting on a beach, humming to myself, when she appeared. She gave me this instrument, and taught the rest of my tribe how to make instruments as well. Then we performed for her, and she was impressed.” He shrugged. “I decided to start travelling and share my music with the rest of the Selka.”

Hujaya and the other Stormbards nodded. “We come from the Hyummin tribes, up-beach. That was the home of Ippino, the Man Who Loved the Sea, who taught us about Delphina. One day she came and taught us about musical instruments and we performed for her, like your tribe did it seems.” A smile formed on Hujaya’s lips as she recalled the memory. “Several winters later, I was singing on Ippino’s beach when I was visited by Delphina. She was also impressed, gave me the talent with squalls, and dubbed me the first Stormbard. These three lived nearby. They were good musicians and willing, so I made them Stormbards too.”

“And how does one become a stormbard?” Pallamino asked.

Pyouroff pulled back the rabbit, poked at its skin, then put it back above the fire. “If she decides you’re worthy, you get to take an oath and then she teaches you.”

“[i]We’ll[/i] teach him,” Hujaya corrected, “You’re all experienced enough to be able to teach.”

Pallamino raised his eyebrows. “So will you teach me, then?”

Hujaya threw up her hands. “Well, let’s not get carried away. We’ve known you for less than a day. As you’ve seen, this is not a skill to be shared lightly.” Hujaya turned over one of the magpies to cook its other side. “But you’re a very good musician. And you have Delphina’s favour.” She prodded at the fire with a stick, a thoughtful look on her face. “Tell you what, you can travel and perform with us, then some days later when we know each other better we can decide whether to make you a Stormbard.” She looked at the others and added, “If that’s okay with everyone.”

The gathered Stormbards nodded and spoke their assent. Hujaya looked back to Pallamino. “What do you say?”

Pallamino considered the offer, and then, after a moment, he nodded. “Sounds fair.”

[hider=Summary]
Pallamino the Third has been living as a travelling musician. It’s not as glamorous as he first thought, but he can make a meagre living from it.

One day he comes across a village where the Stormbards are performing. Not keen on being upstaged, he starts a flute duel. Sulingu and Pallamino duke it out, with Pallamino being a better flautist but Sulingu being a better dancer.

In the end, everyone is impressed. Introductions are made.

Pallamino is invited by the Stormbards on a hunt. He witnesses the calling of some squalls, and sees them employed against small forest animals.

They chat over a fire. Pallamino wants to be a Stormbard. Hujaya says he can follow along for now.
[/hider]
[hider=Prestige]
[i]Start:[/i] 4 Prestige
[i]Spent:[/i] 2 Prestige on Title ‘Minstrels’
[i]Earned:[/i] 3 Prestige (major role with collab)
[i]End:[/i] 5 Prestige
[/hider]