Nancestock

Everyone was in their places, the lights were low, and a hush had settled over the assembled crowd at the Wandering Wolf that fateful evening. Alain poured a pint of Rogers. Olin whispered something to Tufus. Seventy pairs of eyes turned to the stage.

Nancy walked up the steps and picked up her violin. She sat on the lonely stool, her shorn head bent over the strings as she tuned them.

Suddenly, she straightened and began to slowly pluck the instrument in melodic thirds. The crowd immediately recognized the tune but stayed silent, appraising her performance. Slowly, lights of deep purples and slate blues began float in the air by the stage. She began to sing, "Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner..." Her voice was resonant and she hit all the notes, in the style of the original. Nancy stopped to tap out the percussion on the violin's body before diving into the chorus. At this point the crowd could not contain themselves, and they joined in, "I don't ever wanna feeeeel like I did that day..."

Nancy had the crowd and she knew it.  She could feel it. The audience was giving her everything and she was running with it. Tufus and Olin looked at each other approvingly, impressed with this backwater music. This could be on the main stage in Innesbyr or Waterdeep, their eyes seemed to say!

Nancy reached the crescendo-ing outro and the crowd joined her, breaking into the traditional call and response of the alto and sopranos singing the refrain while the bass and tenors piled into the verses.

(Under the bridge downtown)

Is where they tossed their arms

(Under the bridge downtown)

They said they’d had enough

(Under the bridge downtown)

Remembered all their love

(Under the bridge downtown)

They turned to life that day

Slothrop as Hamson turned the lights into a brilliant white bridge, imitating the stone bridge from the song. Dala'gse sprouted an acorn into a miniature oak by the bridge, imitating Old Weir's sacred tree. The crowd lost it. The music and lights show had gotten under their skin and entered their hearts. Tablemates who had never met embraced. Brosker Dale, despite his fatigue, patted his friend Qolan on the back as tears wet his eyes. The delegation spoke over the din to each other.

Olin said to Brosker, "You know, it's really a shame the guards' scuffle has caused such strife between the Vostewylde and Old Weir. They live by the sword and see every disagreement as a fight, and let that get the better of them. I think we can work out these differences and find a beneficial arrangement. Your town has so much to offer that and the Vostewylde can bring it into the broader world!"

Brosker looked up at Nancy as she finished out the song and said, "Aye, tis a shame such hotheadedness got in the way, I'm sure we are all reasonable people who can work something out."

Tufus smiled at them and said, "And for our part in the Lord's Alliance, while this may be a backwater and that Underdark mining operation does not adhere strictly to our codes, it is a beautiful backwater. Between Roger's and the culture clearly on display here, I do think we could all benefit from the region. Jeremius has done a splendid job cleaning up this Savage Frontier and the Eastern Heartlands -- or Vostewylde Alliance I suppose he's calling it now -- may indeed be worthy of joining more organized society."

Under the Bridge ended and the crowd leapt to their feet, giving her a standing ovation. Nancy quieted them down and continued the show, playing another Weiran classic, Scar Tissue:

Push me up against the town wall
Old Weir girl in a hand-knit shawl
Fallin' all over myself
To share my heart and toast your health 'cause
With the peaks I share this lonely view...

The crowd ordered round after round and tipped her and Alain, as she encouraged them, often.

Slothrop stopped by Kip and the twins and told them darts would be starting soon. They talked amongst themselves and the other guards, and Kip and Seesus excused themselves to get ready for the competition at the Copp'.  Slothrop sneaked out to the outhouse and ditched his Hamson Wich getup returning as Slothrop. As the show died down, he told the group they were invited for a private listening with Nancy and a nightcap. Tufus said as long as there was an after-dinner Roger's varietal that would be lovely. He had first tried the stuff when his man found him a barrel that had made its way to Meadower. He was thinking about getting a steady supply for his tavern and his estates (Oh! Just a simple affair really in the palace district of Waterdeep, nothing too fancy, mmm) and was very much looking forward to the tasting at Roger's the following day.

Nancy arranged for Alain to set them up in the lounge, and told the group it was probably best to leave business behind and just enjoy the show. Tufus told Olin they would see each other in the morning. He, Patridge, Reggal, and Drabna followed Nancy to the lounge.