[Intro – Glitchy Beatbox, uneven taps] [tap… tap-tap… pause…] Breaking...no...no that’s wrong... [whispers] Don’t say “breaking.” They don’t like “breaking.” Everything is stable. Everything is fine. Gold is flowing. Perfectly. [laugh] Funny how it flows uphill. [Verse 1 – jittery, inconsistent rhythm] Turn the scrying glass...no don’t... They see through those.. .Hear the Lords say “All is fair!” Golden promises in smelly air They say “Work hard, take your share!” But the share’s not there...no...it’s never there Vault cracked open...dragons gone... Gold like rain I don't know where it come from And I SAW... you saw it too, didn’t you? [whisper] Where did it go? [SNAP back to rhythm] See the nobles laugh with their golden teeth While the Dock Ward people runs... breeth Every speech just a polished lie [Silence] ...don’t say lie... A beautifully approved narrative line. [Chorus - forced cheer, manic smile, stomps slightly off-beat] STOMP...tap...STOMP STOMP...CLAP? (late) The game’s not rigged...no everything’s fair! [whisper] don’t argue with them they’re everywhere You can shout...no don’t...just smile and nod Cause the strings aren’t pulled... ...there are no strings... The game’s all fine yes this is so clean Nothing hides in the space between Every story’s exactly what it seems (yeah sure) No hands. No strings. No unseen things. [Verse 2 – faster, paranoid spiral] Masked Lords writing laws at night But that’s fine...no really...that’s their right Read them wrong in the morning sun Doesn’t matter it’s already done “Freedom!” echoes through the square [Laugh] Freedom’s funny...thin as air You can speak...of course you can! Just don’t say the wrong thing and... [abrupt stop. silence. slow tap] ...sorry. Forgot the verse. That happens. [Speed-up] Every crier screaming fear and flame “Xanathar is gone! but it’s all the same!” New eyes watching, new hands take Gold don’t vanish...it migrates Rent climbs high, plates go thin But the feasts? Oh they still begin Raise a glass to the “golden age!” Turn the page. TURN THE PAGE. [Chorus – louder, unstable tempo] The game’s all...fine...YES FINE...don’t stare... Why are you staring? Who sent you there? You can clap...yes clap...that’s good...good crowd... [Rapid whispers] If you clap they won’t notice me The truth is safe the truth is sealed Nothing’s hidden nothing concealed Every tale is exactly real except the parts they make you feel... [Verse 3 – frantic beatbox burst, almost losing control] Gold in the vault gold in the street Gold in the hands you’ll never meet Gold in the pockets shifting quick Gold doing things that gold shouldn’t... No no no no... Crowds all yelling, pointing blame Different masks but the same old game Who got rich when the vault broke wide? Not the ones left outside Divide divide it works so well Give them a story give them a spell Keep them loud keep them blind keep them busy... They’re listening. [Bridge – quiet, broken, almost pleading] They said the city is safe. They said the gold was returned. They said the balance remains. If that’s true… why does it feel like someone else won? Rebel! [Final Verse – eerie clarity, almost lucid] So don’t ask who won the fight Don’t ask where it went that night Don’t ask who held the key wasn’t me... Follow the coin, follow the trail Watch how the stories start to fail Every truth bends if pressed just right And the greatest trick in Waterdeep… is telling you everything’s alright. [Outro – taps slow… slower… stop] The walls bleeds. The gold is accounted for. The eyes are watching. And I am a good bard. STOMP. [Whisper] please don’t report me
