[Mkguild] The Merry Marriage RP: The Bremen Town Musicians

[Indagare]

A band of travelers walked along a road that had seen better days. Trying
to keep morale up, three men played music and sang on occasion. One had
brilliant red hair and wore a bright yellow costume. Another, with brown
hair and a green outfit, played the fife. The last, who had blond hair and
a blue outfit, played on mandolin.

The other travelers seemed grateful for this entertainment, though a close
look at the three showed worried looks, especially as they reached the town
of Poltizen. While the others went their different ways, the three looked
through the crowds.

“Any of you see him?” asked the man in blue.

“No, Tybalt. He’s in red and otta be hard to miss, you see him Chanti?”

The man in yellow shook his head. “Neither hide nor hair my good Curtise.”

“Not like Baldwin not to show. He went ahead and said he’d be here,” said
Tybalt. “I wonder if something happened to him.”

“Considering he went into Metamor Valley, I can imagine a number of things
happening to him, each more dire than the last,” said Chanti.

“Excuse me sirs, are you the Bremen Town Musicians?” a boy dressed in dark
green and brown approached them.

“Indeed we are! Are you an admirer?” asked Chanti.

“Well, I ain’t heard you yet so I can’t say, but I was given a message to
give to the Bremen Town Musicians.”

“We’ll take it, then,” said Tybalt, who paid the boy a few coins. “It’s
likely from Baldwin.”

Looking at it, they read:

“My Good Fellows,

There’s a wedding soon to happen in Metamor and entertainment is needed,
but I beg you not to come here and share in my pitiable fate! Go to
Caralore and find another drummer. I remain here.

Your faithful friend,

Baldwin”

“Must’ve got hit with one of the Curses,” said Curtise.

“Well, if he thinks being Cursed is going to keep us away, he’s got another
thing coming!” said Chanti.

“Good ol’ Baldwin, always looking out for us. But it’s our turn, and I
can’t say I mind the idea of being Cursed. Anyway, we’d get a lot to play
at that wedding,” said Tybalt.

“Right you are my good fellow! It’s off to Metamor Valley we go!” Chanti
said. The others nodded.

***

It took some days, but the city of Metamor Keep was soon before them. “Now,
where in all this is our poor friend?” asked Chanti.

“Let’s start to play,” said Tybalt. “If he’s close he’ll hear, if not we’ll
be able to ask the crowd.”

“And a crowd with birds, lizards, and more!” Curtise chuckled. “Let’s see
how they like our music!”

And so Curtise played his fife, and Tybalt played his mandolin, and Chanti
began to sing. Chanti’s voice could go up and down the octaves nearly as he
pleased. Tybalt and Curtise were no slackers either and soon a crowd
gathered around them.

Their performance earned cheers, claps, and quite the number of coins.
“Thank you, good people of Metamor Valley!” said Chanti. “But you haven’t
heard it all from the Bremen Town Musicians! We’re missing a member: our
good friend and companion Baldwin, who came here before us!”

The crowd began talking to one another, when a figure in red approached. It
was a man who was looking abashed–and wearing a large hat! “I sent a
message! Didn’t you get it?”

“Baldwin, my good man, do you think a little thing like a Curse is going to
keep us from you?” asked Chanti.

“And what’s with the ridiculous hat?” asked Curtise.

“I, uh, well…” Baldwin blushed then took off the hat to reveal a pair of
donkey ears! “I got a bit delayed, you see. I really didn’t want you seeing
me like this.”

The other three men just laughed. “Really Baldwin, do you think us that
shallow?” asked Chanti.

“We’re not abandoning you now or ever!” said Curtise.

Tybalt walked up and hugged him. “You're stuck with us! But it won’t be so
bad, once we’ve got our own Curses.”

“Now come on, these good people want a performance!” said Chanti and the
crowd cheered.

Baldwin smiled. He’d kept his drum with him at all times. His fingernails
were blackened by the Curse, but he felt better than he’d had since he
first saw his new ears. “I should never have doubted you!”

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