[20] Tale of Neshka: Merisiel's Brilliant Plan

⟬ 𝑮 𝒓 𝒐 𝒘 𝒍 ⟭

folk-rock, medieval folk, comedy

This is the backstory of my tabletop RPG character. In it, Neshka recounts her tragic past in the world of Pathfinder.

Part 20: Merisiel's Brilliant Plan

[Intro – spoken, intimate, amused]
[Soft lute, gentle fiddle]

Well...

After the goblins
and the haunted church,
we had learned a few things.

Never trust a man who says
he's done this before.

Never enter a coffin
with four other people.

And never let Merisiel
make the plans.

[Small pause]

Naturally,
Merisiel made the plans.

[Music kicks in – lively medieval folk-rock]

[Verse 1 – sung]

An old stone keep, a stolen ring,
a little job, a simple thing.
"We slip inside, we take the prize,
we're gone before they realize!"

Merisiel grinned. We knew that look.
Valeros sighed and checked his sword.
Ezren said, "I've studied the place."

[Spoken, dry]

He'd seen a drawing.

Kyra smiled and took my hand.

I should have run.

[Verse 2 – sung, playful]

We crept along the outer wall,
past guards who hadn't slept at all.
Then someone bumped a suit of mail.

It hit the floor.

The bells went wild.

Valeros shouted, "I've got this!"
Ezren cast a spell that missed.
The guards came running through the hall.

[Spoken]

And Merisiel said,
"That went well."

[Verse 3 – frantic folk-rock]

I filled the corridor with night,
while Kyra shielded us from sight.
Valeros charged the wrong damn door,
Ezren made the torches roar.

Merisiel found the ring at last
and shouted, "Time to leave! Move fast!"

We ran through halls, we jumped a stair,
I lost a claw-jewel somewhere there.

[Spoken, offended]

I was going to be upset about that.

Then the ceiling started falling.

I decided to postpone it.

[Chorus – energetic, chaotic]

Here we go again!
Another brilliant plan!
Five fools inside a fortress,
running faster than they can!

Grab the ring and find the door,
don't ask what that explosion's for!
We might be heroes by the end...

Or wanted men!

[Verse 4 – driving, comedic]

We burst outside beneath the moon,
the guards behind us, shouting doom.
Valeros had the ring held high,
Ezren was singed from toe to eye.

Kyra laughed, though out of breath.
Merisiel looked at her and said:

"That was fun."

[Spoken, incredulous]

Fun?

We'd nearly been buried alive.

Again.

I was beginning to suspect
that this was a personality trait.

[Music slows – warm lute and cello]

[Verse 5 – sung, gentle]

We made a fire beyond the road,
set down our packs and shared the load.
The night grew still, the flames burned low,
the kind of peace we'd rarely known.

Kyra leaned against Merisiel.
They spoke so softly I couldn't tell
what made my friend fall quiet then,
or why she took Kyra's hand again.

[Spoken, softer]

For once,
Merisiel wasn't joking.

She reached into her pocket.

And I thought...

Oh.

Oh, this is happening.

[Verse 6 – intimate, sung]

And Merisiel said:
[Merisiel: high]
"I know I'm not the easiest soul.
I chase the trouble, lose control.
I make you laugh, I make you sigh,
and sometimes I don't know when to try.

But every road I wander down,
every strange and reckless town,
I want you there beside me still.

If you'll have me...

I always will."

[Short pause – only cello]

[Spoken, tender]

Kyra stared at her.

Merisiel, who could talk her way
past guards, merchants, and angry dogs...

Had absolutely nothing left to say.

[Pause]

And Kyra...
said yes.

[Music blooms – warm, emotional folk-rock]

[Final Chorus – joyful, heartfelt]

Here we go again,
but this time something's changed.
No treasure, no adventure
could ever be the same.

Through every dark and broken place,
through every fall and wild escape,
there's one thing worth the trouble in the end:

To find your home
in someone else's hand.

[Outro – spoken, intimate]

And yes...

I was happy for them.

Truly.

And I definitely wasn't crying.

[Small pause]

The smoke from the campfire
was terrible.

[Quiet laughter]

Merisiel kissed Kyra.

Bahl settled beside me.

And for once,
nobody had a terrible idea.

[Pause]

At least...

not that night.

4004/7500

This is the backstory of my tabletop RPG character. In it, Neshka recounts her tragic past in the world of Pathfinder. Part 20: Merisiel's Brilliant Plan [Intro – spoken, intimate, amused] [Soft lute, gentle fiddle] Well... After the goblins and the haunted church, we had learned a few things. Never trust a man who says he's done this before. Never enter a coffin with four other people. And never let Merisiel make the plans. [Small pause] Naturally, Merisiel made the plans. [Music kicks in – lively medieval folk-rock] [Verse 1 – sung] An old stone keep, a stolen ring, a little job, a simple thing. "We slip inside, we take the prize, we're gone before they realize!" Merisiel grinned. We knew that look. Valeros sighed and checked his sword. Ezren said, "I've studied the place." [Spoken, dry] He'd seen a drawing. Kyra smiled and took my hand. I should have run. [Verse 2 – sung, playful] We crept along the outer wall, past guards who hadn't slept at all. Then someone bumped a suit of mail. It hit the floor. The bells went wild. Valeros shouted, "I've got this!" Ezren cast a spell that missed. The guards came running through the hall. [Spoken] And Merisiel said, "That went well." [Verse 3 – frantic folk-rock] I filled the corridor with night, while Kyra shielded us from sight. Valeros charged the wrong damn door, Ezren made the torches roar. Merisiel found the ring at last and shouted, "Time to leave! Move fast!" We ran through halls, we jumped a stair, I lost a claw-jewel somewhere there. [Spoken, offended] I was going to be upset about that. Then the ceiling started falling. I decided to postpone it. [Chorus – energetic, chaotic] Here we go again! Another brilliant plan! Five fools inside a fortress, running faster than they can! Grab the ring and find the door, don't ask what that explosion's for! We might be heroes by the end... Or wanted men! [Verse 4 – driving, comedic] We burst outside beneath the moon, the guards behind us, shouting doom. Valeros had the ring held high, Ezren was singed from toe to eye. Kyra laughed, though out of breath. Merisiel looked at her and said: "That was fun." [Spoken, incredulous] Fun? We'd nearly been buried alive. Again. I was beginning to suspect that this was a personality trait. [Music slows – warm lute and cello] [Verse 5 – sung, gentle] We made a fire beyond the road, set down our packs and shared the load. The night grew still, the flames burned low, the kind of peace we'd rarely known. Kyra leaned against Merisiel. They spoke so softly I couldn't tell what made my friend fall quiet then, or why she took Kyra's hand again. [Spoken, softer] For once, Merisiel wasn't joking. She reached into her pocket. And I thought... Oh. Oh, this is happening. [Verse 6 – intimate, sung] And Merisiel said: [Merisiel: high] "I know I'm not the easiest soul. I chase the trouble, lose control. I make you laugh, I make you sigh, and sometimes I don't know when to try. But every road I wander down, every strange and reckless town, I want you there beside me still. If you'll have me... I always will." [Short pause – only cello] [Spoken, tender] Kyra stared at her. Merisiel, who could talk her way past guards, merchants, and angry dogs... Had absolutely nothing left to say. [Pause] And Kyra... said yes. [Music blooms – warm, emotional folk-rock] [Final Chorus – joyful, heartfelt] Here we go again, but this time something's changed. No treasure, no adventure could ever be the same. Through every dark and broken place, through every fall and wild escape, there's one thing worth the trouble in the end: To find your home in someone else's hand. [Outro – spoken, intimate] And yes... I was happy for them. Truly. And I definitely wasn't crying. [Small pause] The smoke from the campfire was terrible. [Quiet laughter] Merisiel kissed Kyra. Bahl settled beside me. And for once, nobody had a terrible idea. [Pause] At least... not that night.

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