The Heart of Calabria (adventure version)

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Live performance version for the musical Game Host

(Put a sign on the playing table reading
"CINEMATC SEQUENCE" and walk to the
computer/CD player, putting on some music.
Don't forget to bring a die and to set the
computer/CD player not to loop!)

GH: The raccoon picks up his lutarine and starts
tuning it, carefully fingering the strings until he's
satisfied.
(A major chord)
GH: Ahh, there!
(Scale down)
GH: Now let's see...
(music begins)
GH: Heart of Calabria...

Stories and myth and Calabrian lore
tell that once there was, a long time before
when the world was young, the streets paved with gold
an age from which wonders are told

(Short music interlude)

Rev Yugcam, autarch and greatest of kings
ruled with power and wisdom, not arrows and slings
The land of Rothos, we know it today
held the Heart of Calabria's way

GH: And while the raccoon is still playing,
the other entertainers sneak up behind him,
for no real musician can resist the urge to
play music with others... Finding the tune,
they join in as the bard continues his song...

Of legends known, he created above
a crystal of life and beauty and love
The Heart of Calabria shone with a light
that held hope in darkest night.

(Short music interlude)

But fortune went, the great autarch
was conquered by greed, his soul turned dark
and war broke out, while many souls died
the Heart of Calabria cried

GH: Hmmm... I wonder...
(Roll a hidden die. A major chord in the music...)
GH: Overwhelming bonus! You're in luck!
There is another verse, obviously added
to the song long afterwards. This part
is sponsored by the Doloreaux House...

And lost, forlorn, Calabria's Heart
lay forgotten 'til once, the mountains did part
and heroes from the great Doloreaux
released the Heart from its woe

(Short music interlude)

Power and Glory returned. to the land
And Rothos was once more ruled by the hand
of justice, fairness, and propsperous...

GH: "Aww, shut up!", a voice interrupts.
"I've had enough of those pig stories!"
"Hey, pipe down, goat!", a pig at a nearby
table answers. "The bard's not finished yet!"
"Ooh, porky dares to speak... I'm sooo afraid!"
"Who're you calling porky..."

And so the compulsory bar fight begins, during
which you can conveniently let the bard disappear

Information: The adventure version of The Heart of Calabria is for people who would either appreciate the actual in-game version as originally heard, or Game Hosts who would like to play the music within an adventure (either the original or an own one). The music is meant to be a cinematic sequence for the enjoyment of the players, and it is not an interactive part of the story. If this would be truly interactive, this page would probably be a ten thousand lines long.

The in-between parts, marked with GH: are the parts where the Game Host is welcome to provide narrative to the background music, adding a seemingly interactive element. Notice that these interludes are just an example of how it could be performed, and the instructions I gave myself when performing it. If you think that the mock-die-rolling is not fun, for example, just replace it with something else.

To play this song in-game, you need either a computer nearby with a working mp3 player, or convert the song to WAV and burn it to an audio CD (in which case you can use your normal home stereo equipment). If you want to do this, but don't have a CD burner, contact us about it, and we'll try to help.

Original performance: Nov 21, 1999
This recording: Sep 10, 2000
Public release: Oct 27, 2000

Legal stuff: Permission for playing this music within an adventure is hereby given. No fees or royalties are imposed, of course :) You are allowed to copy this song to any medium, spread, perform and broadcast, given that proper credits are included. Public modifications of this song have to be acknowledged though.

And for the ones who are still speculating, the accent is fake. Vince de la Rye gives the impression of being from the mystical east. Where he really comes from, noone knows. (From the accent, I'd guess he's Swedish :)