Banites and Bards
I had bypassed the Chondalwood by taking the Golden Road south from Ormpetarr. Not being able to see the brass towers of the capital turn the sky to flame through the sun's setting grace is a burden on my soul. However, the coachman would not reign his mares even a moment to take in the moon's gaze upon these structures so pressing is the time. The Nagaflow is to gorge itself soon on the blessings of Talos and with that our path to Dalelost which the coachman yearns for. He turns every conversation to the place and speaks in dark tongue at times when he sleeps but for a man of the road I suspect only weariness drains him of his wits. I will take the reigns come morning so he may rest.
I have been left under the care of a cowled old man who says boatman is a fitting title I may address him by. It is odd that both my companions of travel have taken such titles for the duration of our togetherness but such is the way of guilds. The Nagaflow has yet to overflow and the journey across should take no more than the day. I dare not risk the breaking water to climb atop my journal.
Talos strikes at our heels but the coachman is undisturbed by the embrace forced upon by the Storm Lord. He says the storm will fail once we pass into the borders of Dalelost but around us and ahead of us I see only ruin. The Lake of Steam and its surrounding lands are a sad looking spectacle made more so by so recent my viewing of the Inner Sea. Alas this route is assured to me to be the quickest for reaching Calimshan and away I must be to once more see old faces. Though I am unsure how the coachman hopes to pass the Alamir Mountains; perhaps the mountain-man will be to greet me upon the road's end. We are slowing.
The city of Dalelost is nothing more than ruins. The guild of travellers I have been accompanying, for no little coin, are followers of the Black Lord Bane. I am not entirely certain what is to become of me but by my side are a group of bards from various regions surrounding the Inner Sea. This is slightly reassuring as I first suspected I had been chosen due to my robes of Illmater but now it seems they were well informed and as a priest of Milil I have been chosen. I cut this entry short as we are called forth.
It has been a week since last I wrote and I am on my way once more to Calimshan being accompanied by the bards from imprisonment. The night I last wrote we had been called into a still standing building which served as the Banites' temple. Before their Dread Knight we knelt with aid and were tasked with performing before the High Priest who would join us all the following week. If we succeeded in our task then we would be given coach and mares to reach safety with no further ill towards us. It we failed to entertain on our own than the sacrifice was sure to, as she stated, “put a smile on the honoured guests' faces.”
That week passed with many discussion of recalling to battle marches once learned through masters as any new ballads to bane learned by those not under his fold would not do. And so it was for us seven to create a ballad never before sung, written or heard and place our lives at its feet. As I write these lines you know, dear reader, that we were successful in our attempt and for you, as a follower of Milil, I put down our song which saved seven lives:
When I was just a lad, looking for my true vocation.
My father said, “now son this choice deserves deliberation
though you could be a Tyran or follow Illmateer
my boy why not consider a more challenging career?”
Oh ho ho you'll pray to darkened shores
And you'll keep your mind and body sound by converting those of Hoar
True terror and obedience are what we can't live without
As when you're a pious Banite, it's easy to be devout
Now take Dominick Varsh, all the Triad did despise him
But to the Banehold he's a hero and we idolize him
It's how you look at Banites that makes them bad or good
And I see us as members of daring brotherhood
Oh ho ho we're true honour bound men
And before we lose our tempers we will always count to ten
On occasion there's a paladin you'll have to execute
But when you're a pious Banite, you get half of Masks' loot
I could have followed Talos, I like blowing things apart
I could have followed Velsharron, but I just have too much heart
I could have followed Waukeen, because I've always been a big spender
Or Sune because I love so tender
Now some say Banites usurp and should be feared and hated
I say we're victims of bad press, it's all exaggerated
We'd never gonne you in the back, we'd never lie or cheat
We're just about the nicest guys you're ever bound to meet!
Oh ho ho it's one for all for one
And we'll share and share alike with you and love you like a son
We're instruments of terror and that's what we're proud to be
And when you're a pious Banite...
You'll preach fear, hatred and tyranny
Think not of blasphemy
You'll be respected, revered and always feared
But most importantly...
When you're a pious Banite
You're always in the best of company!