In taverns the bards of Old Korvosa sing this song ...

Chorus:
In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

Cressida was the wily ol’ arrow
Wise to the ways, no’ of the Narrows
She was the Old Guard’s finest on patrol
Darkly serious, ever brave ‘n bold

Brooding dark, a beauty, a honeydew
Sabina boasted a blade like Orisini drew
Quick to temper, a flashing ember
She took the oath, earned her saber

In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

Cressida and Sabina, what a team they made
What difference tween them? Nary a shade
Dashing and daring, their partnership grew
Back to back they fought, no defeat they knew

No barmaids or wenches to claim as their own
Hot blooded desires had to be sown
Gentlemen callers, looked appetizing, a few
Took noblemen’s sons to bed, adieu

In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

Then came a day, ol’ Neo had to pick
The Guard’s next cap’n, and right quick
Cressida full blooded, wiser by years
Sabina’s Varisian eyes, first of their fears

So Cressida took the Field Marshal’s staff
The office broke their friendship in half
So beneath an autumn Lamashan moon
Bitterness and jealousy did fully bloom

In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

The challenge was offered, and quickly accepted
Steel bared, a blow stuck, 'nother one deflected
Across the ramparts overlooking the ‘Arms
The Zambra they stepped, praising Calistria’s charms

A dazzling display, even Blackjack was impressed
No quarter given, all their sympathies suppressed
Sabina twirled, delivered a near fatal blow
Crouching, Cressida countered, and cut her low

In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

The priests of Abadar would not tell
The extent of injuries, nor the first to fall
Gods’ blessings to cure their bodies so broken
Vencarlo’s gold was the most costly token

Cressida returned to the castle that day
Alone, her heart ached, her king to obey
Sabina, to her mistress, the Queen’s men to be led
Her job, to tuck Illeosa securely in her bed

In tabards black with silver thread
Dark lasses filled their foes with dread
They danced ‘n fought, and splattered red
Til Ol’ Korvosa cursed their head

Nicely done!

Is this something you did for a CotC campaign; or just something that struck your fancy? Looks like it could be used to attract a bard's attention in game, etc.

In any case, pretty cool!

Nice job. Did you write it to a familiar tune? If so, which one?

Ah, questions.

Written for a future campaign (I hope), but mostly because the backstory (Sabina and Cressida were both in the Guard, both acquaintances with Orisini) was intriguing. I imagined them as fast friends, now rivals, and the rest was fun.

I wish there were a tune. The piece does need work (fix meter, if nothing else; many lines are inconsistent) But there is very little poetry in my liberal arts education, so I'll feign ignorance ;)

I was reading Mike's Guide and Nick's first adventure, and what can I say, the mood struck. I'm really liking the vibe I get from Korvosa.

Bump.

Er, shameless bump.

Unabashedly shameless bump.

(Blame my inner bard)