By: Madelyne Posted on: December 31, 2015
Birth of the Bardics
Way back in Achaea, in year Two Hundred One,
Lord Sarapis declared a contest to begun.
Adventurers came forth from Shallam and Ashtan
To submit their poems, just as fast as they can.
One noted librarian called Tancred Lasalle
Read the notice. "I will submit something," he vowed.
Setting aside a volume of his trilogy
He wrote up a ballad about Travian Shea.
A husband. A lover. A soldier. A monster.
He was second in command to Zarathustra.
As Tancred wrote the verses he left nothing out
Right up to the soldiers' final, triumphant shouts.
Then as Travian joined his beloved Anna
Tancred took a swill of some much needed manna.
He wrote "Final Resting for Travian Shea" and
Sent it by postal dove to Sarapis' own hand.
As Sarapis read the poems, one entry shined,
An epic poem with an epic battle outlined.
He turned to His boar and said, "Out of all I've read
I rather like these verses authored by Tancred."
Heartened by the number of mortal submissions,
He took to the news to praise all their ambitions.
"I know you all worked very long and really hard,"
He said, "but Tancred here has the soul of a bard."
And for his tale 'bout battle ending in fire
Tancred did receive the first artefact lyre.
RESOURCES: Public News #1188 and the Archives of Achaean Lore
AUTHOR'S NOTE: When I heard the theme competition, I immediately thought of the bardics themselves and the poem that started it all. Thank you for reading my submission.