A number of ballads are sung about various members (and ex-members) of the Thorns of Tassek. The first is "The Bold Thorns of Tassek", composed by Andar of the Green in Coldeven 593 CY (and inspired out-of-character by the Dragonlance series of novels). The second is "The Old Grey-Olve Monk-Wizard", composed by Jhillian Waywalker, Bard of Sornhill, in Fireseek 594CY (and based on "The Green Eye of the Yellow God" by J. Milton Hayes). Then, of course, there are the tales spread by Cordo Ghent about their recovery of The Silver Left, but for some reason the Thorns are strangely tight-lipped on the subject of Cordo's works.
There is also a tale of "The Turning Tide", which features several familiar faces, told in a certain coastal village of Onnwal.
The Thorns of Tassek are bold
Of them many tales are told
Of the Talon, the Star and the Mist
On and on an impressive list
From mountain to sea she is known
Honour, piety and beauty are shown
With her sling and symbol bright
The maid of Atroa reveals her might
Aboard the ships he can be found
An Onnwalish sailor skilled and proud
With his cat and his wit he fights the foe
At one with nature, part of its flow
The noble sir with his ready steed
Answering the call of Onnwal's need
Fighting the Red, leading and led
To his warrior life he is wed
From the east the axeman comes
Strange words pass his gums
Magical words of power help
Drive the Red Menace into the kelp
Strong and stern and vocally still
Won't touch a drop, nor e'en a gill
Fights with her fists that blur
Red locks like her namesake's fur
The Flan warrior from the verdant glades
A fearsome sight with his whirling blades
A Silver Left and a Headlands right
Fights the Brothers with all his might
Of olven blood and native grace
With his magic and his pace
The wits, the charm and the blows
All keep the Scarlets on their toes
Passionate human and euroz combine
From the union doth she shine
The silvered blade, a tool of the trade
Takes the light into the shade
The Flan they know no bounds
From this one bellowing sounds
The fell beasts, they cower in fear
As they feel his step draw near
Amongst the books, she is their first
A hunger for knowledge and even a thirst
Her brain and the power of her blood
Work together as a force for good
And finally, not last or least
He is a druid and also a priest
With his wolf, his jokes and his ale
He keeps them all both hearty and hale
And now you have heard my song
The day grows old and the shadows long
So go now, home to your rest
And know that these heroes are facing the test
by Andar of the Green, Coldeven 593CY
There's an old grey-olve monk-wizard in the Thorns of Tassek who
Bends his slender neck to Wee Jas, the Dark Maid,
And his broken hearted lover who waits in Sornhill too
Wishes from the Seldarine he'd never strayed.
He was known as 'The Mad Olve' by those soldiers of resolve
Who march from Kildeer the scarlet ones to fight
And although his god was iffy they would help him in a jiffy
To fight and put the hochebi to flight.
But his lover, says the song, who had waited all along
E'er wished he might return to olven ways
And cease to risk his neck for the glory of the Szek
And come back to her and with her spend his days.
But worship ye Wee Jas, and what must will come to pass -
He was struck and wounded by hochebi blade
And although his heart was bold he felt his blood turn icy cold
And his body in a grave the soldiers laid.
In Sornhill where she waited for news with breath abated
But of his valour none ever came to tell
So she sits, her tears a-flowing for the truth her heart is knowing
On her lover, Wee Jas has cast her spell.
There's an old grey-olve monk-wizard in the Thorns of Tassek who
Bent his slender neck to Wee Jas, the Dark Maid,
And his broken hearted lover who waits in Sornhill too
Wishes from the Seldarine he'd never strayed.
by Jhillian Waywalker, Bard of Sornhill, Fireseek 594CY
This page last updated: 13th October 2008
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