So, yesterday there was a bard concert, always a good thing. There were bards there I hadn't seen in ages, if ever. I'm pretty sure I'd never met Fantasia before, and she presented an absolutely smashing trio for two gitors and a tuborn, "Riding the Drake 'Viola's song' ". Dren, who hasn't been out in quite a while I think, performed both the first piece he'd ever written, not bad considering, and a piece he'd written in the half hour before the concert. Also not bad considering. It was a good show overall.

The real event of the night though was at the very end of the 'official' concert, (the unofficial concert went on for another 4 puddlehours,) when Coriakin challenged Xepel to a bard duel. Being his seconds, or rather part of his band, we were behind him on the stage, and the exchange went something like this:

Then we played "Cori's Bossa th' World." Only he just called it "Cori's Bossa." I'm sure it was an oversight on his part though.

This 'battle' should be a great time. I hope Xepel can get a band together, and I think it's open to other bands as well. Come prove you're the greatest in the land, and maybe win a castle! Actually I have no idea what the stakes are.

There was also an interesting (to me) discussion at the final end of the concert about concert length. While it's true that the 'official' concert was only four puddlehours long, unofficially it went on for another four puddlehours. Apparently since Puddlebians are loath to miss anything entertaining or out of the ordinary folks feel compelled to stay the whole time. I'm a bit torn. On the one hand, I think more and shorter concerts would be better... But since they are seldom, it seems like a letdown to only play one song. Should we stop playing, just so folks don't feel like they're missing something if they have to leave? That seems a bit silly. Maybe some more definite break after the official concert? There must be some adequate compromise.

I went back to Centaur Island for the first time since I was there with Taryn as a newbie. What a twisty place. Some places it looks like you might be able to squeeze through you can't, and as you can see, lots of places that look impassable are clear.

Today we had a great clan meeting. I was a bit distracted during the meeting, but I had fun playing a lot of my music. I've been trying to write more recently, but it's been pretty hard going. Sometimes it just is. Coriakin mentioned today that there is going to be a concert soon though, so I better get to it. Oops. I think I still have his Orga Drum!

Farhope and I traded outfits for a while, at first I didn't like her oranges on me, but after thinking about it, I decided they didn't really clash with my hair and belt, it was just so different from my normal blues and greens it seemed that way.

After the meeting we went to Melabrions Island, where we fought many sasquatch. After a brief run into a castle I've never been in, where I ignominiously fell, we regrouped outside, worked on healing up, and then were swarmed by baby sasquatch. We were thoroughly routed, and chased out into the water. We decided to regroup on Centuar Island, and Kiriel made a chair run back to the castle. Once we were all back on our feet we went back and thrashed all of those sasquatch and valley cougars. Well, slowly.

I realized recently that I know almost nothing of the Lok'Grotons myself. I've followed other folks around on occasion, being shepherded past wonders and curiosities, but that isn't very satisfying. So today I struck out on my own to acquire a sense of where I fit in the world.

First off, I had no money for a boat. Oops. After fixing that problem with a short run through northwest forest I cast off. And was immediately struck by the tiny island next to Puddleby. Had I even noticed it before? Could I land there? Yes! And was it boring. And was it large! Starting on the south side working east I ran around about half of it killing swarms of large vermine and a few crawlers before I got tired and cut into the middle. Once I reached the center, and was pelted by lava walkers and saw the cute little voolcons I realized I must be on Fire Island. I'd never seen more than the north beach approach to the interior.

After cleaning up a few wendeka I spotted a cave. Inside there was a satchel that I was able to rummage through, but nothing interesting inside.

Then I headed west and ran into a marsh. This island is interminable. There were swarms of leeches everywhere. Clearly these parts of the island are not often visited. On the other side of the marsh after running across a sand bar I found myself in a boat, and well, with that kind of abrupt send off, I left.