A funny thing happened as I went to edit this weekends post. I knew I had finished the pieces I wanted to write. What I had completely forgotten that when I was writing them I had made a note to add in the needed lyrics for a song. So, there I was all set with my editor hat on when I realized I needed to be a songwriter first.

So, I just stole a song. I made a point of picking something from public domain and traditional. I then adjusted it to a moment which is how you got a Illithian version of the Irish folk song “Star of the Country Down”. On a side note, if you didn’t pick up that no worries but you should go and listen to the song.

I am not a musician. I can play a little piano, and a bit of lyre, but I’m certainly no songwriter. I’ve written a couple of songs…I should probably stop saying I’m not a thing but then comment on how I can do a little of it. I digress, when I have written songs for other pieces it has always been a painstaking process and usually involved me picking some song that has the write pacing and ‘feel’ and completely changing the words and then not having to worry about the musical notes being copied because I practice in the written word. Ultimately, we got there and I am glad that I can make a point to not have to do it again for some time (a fool’s hope what with the fact that I made my main character a bard).

However, it does bring me to one of the most enjoyable aspects of storytelling: learning about other things. I definitely picked up the lyre to better understand how to write Keto and I’ll probably one day teach myself a thing or two about actual songwriting. Another bit of knowledge I picked up for this most recent piece was ice wine. While I made some changes to the specifics of the brewing method, I did research actual ice wine to give me an idea of what it would taste like (I’d also like to try some now).

Learning new things is always fun, having a reason to do it, even a ridiculous one, just makes it even easier.

The other challenge I had this week was in the focus of the conversations. Quartes is my oldest character and most of the lore I introduce here ends up revolving around him because of the central role he plays in the Draconic Cycles. This week gave me a bit of a challenge because while I knew that Keto’s parents would be interested in the Last Landian, I wanted to make a point that said interest was only in how it related to their daughter. I struggled with walking that line, especially as Keto was more interested in talking about Quartes than about herself and the dangers that she has faced. Ultimately, I think I got to a point where I was happy with the balance I struck of Quartes being a conduit for Keto’s parents to express their concerns without focusing on the landian.

Next week we get to see Quartes and Keto’s mother Kiyo talk. I imagine it won’t be quite as pleasant as between Keto and her father.

Go forth and do good things,

Sean