Wrymmlore smacked his fist to the bar, "Keep! A beer!"

"Here tis," Keep said pulling the bucket to the bar, seemingly aware that Wrymm was in need of one.

"So Keep, some say you've been here eons? Why are you workin' a little dingy place like this," Wrymm said taking a deep draught from his tankard.

"'Tis true, tis. I have a good amount o' mem'ries, but some not so good, iffen's you know wha' I mean, eh"
Keep winked.

"So tell us a tale," nodded Stargrace, sidling up behind Wrymmlore.

"Yeah, tell us a tale!" others called!

"Well... SHARK! SHARK!" Keep cried. "I'd be delighted to."

Shark popped his head from the kitchen, his arms laced to the elbow in horrendous gore. "What's it Keep, I'm guttin an amra here."

"Well, wash up! I'm takin' da stage. I'll tell you all about me times on the Oceans, back before the ice came, I'll tell you about my captain. But I warn ye, 'tis not for the faint of heart, no. 'Tis a tale of woe and dread, 'tis."

 

Keep opens a new keg and fills a tankard for himself before ushering his way to the small stage.

Alright, the time has come, tis true, the time hath come. he said.

And now we talk of seas and ships,
and things best left forgotten.
But t'was a time of debauchery
and many a lass was gotten.
A mighty man, named Stalwart Steed,
was cap'n of my dinghy
And Stalwart was a fight'n man,
and never known to flee.

He sailed his ship along the coast,
trad'n tit for tat
And on a padded leather seat,
before the mast, he sat.

He would, at times, stop a ship
and make them come astern,
He'd cross the planks, release his sword,
sometimes a sail would burn.
They'd shout, "Hooray," for Stalwart Steed,
and many riches found,
Yet none came close to pricelessness,
but dear Miss Penny Pound.

Upon a freighter she was bound
tords a place called Puurvoidello,
Stalwart laid his eyes on her,
which stiffened his longfellow.
"What a prize," he exclaimed,
while stroking his excitement.
She lay sleeping, a padded cradle,
her attire of refinement.

"Ahoy, I say. Come aside,
so I may view your wares."
The other Capt., noted the flag,
an' said some fruitless prayers.

Then Steed leapt across the deck
onto the other ship,
Grime covered face, and blackened teeth,
he kissed at Penny's lips.
She did not cry, she did not scream,
her eyes beheld no wonder.
The other captn ran at Steed,
on a sword tip found his blunder.

Stalwart laughed, a cack'ling sound,
and Penny, kept her smile.
He said aloud, so all could hear,
"Her skin, so white, like tile."
"So great is she, so glad am I,
I give my men this treasure."
We, the men, ran to the ship
and killed the crew with pleasure.

At the time you kept the hoarde
from every man you slew.
Most times, Steed would get his share,
or his sword ran red with you.
But today, great day, he gave it all,
to us, his trusted brothers.
For he had his joy, the sleeping lass,
soon he'd have his druthers.

Up she went, slung on his back,
with practice it was strong.
Though her body lay quite stiff,
we thought nothing was wrong.

 

'Tis enough for now methinks. I shall tell ye more on the morrow.