The Twelve with you! What is your wish?
Anything new in town?
I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been out much lately.
Do you know the Holberkians, or the orcs?
The Holberkians have been living in town for ages. Of course I know them - all my neighbors are Holberkians. They are quite musical, but very poor, so they cannot afford my precious instruments. Now and again I lend them good instruments, when they have a celebration - usually I get invited, too.
Do you know anything about the rat-catcher?
Does Riva have a rat-catcher? Me-o-my, I didn’t know you could do that for a living.
Maybe you could tell us something about the pirates?
Are there any in this area? I have not been out much lately, you know, I don’t hear everything that goes around…
There’s talk that the guild and the tradesmaster have retreated into the sewers.
What? The trader’s guild? Has a trading house big enough for someone to bear the title of tradesmaster been established here? - And what was that about the canals?
Maybe you could tell us something about Tarik?
Who?
Do you know anything about the judge?
Elgor Honorald must be, what, way beyond a-hundred now?! I didn’t know that he was still working!
Neither did you. The present judge is called Bosper Jarnug and has been for years - but you prefer to let it slide!
You must be very musical.
There haven’t been any concert performances in Riva for a long time. It’s a cultural wasteland, full of barbarians! The last performance I attended was six - no, seven years ago, a Thorwalian epic, what was its name… in any case, it was performed by four bards and a massed choir.
You mean there’s people willing to listen to that caterwauling voluntarily?
A magnificent piece!
The instrument maker’s eyes are bulging! He lambasts you for your ignorance until he can hardly breathe, and before you know how, he’s kicked you out on the street.
That has won over the instrument maker’s heart. Mind you, it means you have to sit through a long speech about the art of music and its eminent modern proponents!
Now I have to go see to my lyre again. The wood mustn’t soak too long, or the sound will suffer. Do have a nice day!