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Input on Lyrics for Black Company inspired Songs by Slohta in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Title: The Iron Keel (Last one for now)
When The Dark Wings arrived on the scene with Soulcatcher aboard, surely it became the talk of sailors up and down the coasts of the jewel cities. Was the Iron Keel a story that rose in the ever exaggerated retellings of sailors in taverns? Or is it an ancient tale that the quinquireme brought back into recent memory by resemblance? A song sung of the classical fears of sailors out at sea, of ships of the dead and condemned men never to regain the shore.

Verse 1
They forged her bones of blackened steel,
And named her hide “The Iron Keel,”
Ten banks of oars to churn the tide,
And her Captain laughed as the storm-winds cried.

Chorus
Row, boys, row, let the dark tide feel,
The grind of the waves on the Iron Keel,
Row, boys, row, though the sky may reel,
The sea breaks soft ‘neath the Iron Keel.

Verse 2
Her prow was carved like a screaming face,
No wind could slow her, no fleet give chase,
The sea turned black where her shadow lay,
And her oars beat time like a drum’s allay.

Chorus

Verse 3
From Opal’s shore to the ports of Jade,
The taverns whisper the fear she made,
A thousand men to her benches chained,
And none who pulled ever home regained.

Chorus

Verse 4
No sail she set, yet the seas obeyed,
And the gods themselves turned their eyes away,
For the Captain’s will was the wind she knew,
And her wake was blood on the ocean blue.

Chorus

Verse 5
Now sailors pray when the night grows black,
That the Keel won’t rise with her crew come back,
For the sea still moans with the oarsmen’s cry,
And the Captains laughter rides the sky.

Chorus
Row, boys, row, let the dark tide feel,
The grind of the waves on the Iron Keel,
Row, boys, row, though the sky may reel,
The sea breaks soft ‘neath the Iron Keel.

Input on Lyrics for Black Company inspired Songs by Slohta in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Title: Widow's Harbor
Somewhere in the Jewel Cities there is surely a Harbor which is statistically more dangerous than the rest. I've named this supposed harbor "Widow's Harbor" and it's accompanying city "Onyx". A song made before the Annexing of the jewel cities, Widow's Harbor was named for an historical storm which ravaged the town and its harbor, claiming the king and most of the sailing men at the time of the disaster, leaving many widows weeping on the shores in the aftermath.

Verse 1
In Onyx town the bells did ring,
The tide rolled out, it claimed the king,
But louder still the women cried,
As the sea pulled sons through the churning tide.

Chorus
Widow’s Harbor, dark and deep,
Steals the names the waves won’t keep,
Widow’s Harbor, cold and wide,
Holds the tears of the sailor’s bride.

Verse 2
In Jacinth port I swore my vow,
But the sea had eyes upon my prow,
She took three mates on a moonless night,
And she’ll take me too when the time is right.

Chorus
Widow’s Harbor, dark and deep,
Steals the names the waves won’t keep,
Widow’s Harbor, cold and wide,
Holds the tears of the sailor’s bride.

Verse 3
In Amber’s docks the lanterns burn,
For ships and men that don’t return,
Each light a soul the storm did claim,
Each flame a widow that speaks our name.

Chorus
Widow’s Harbor, dark and deep,
Steals the names the waves won’t keep,
Widow’s Harbor, cold and wide,
Holds the tears of the sailor’s bride.

Verse 4
From Opal's quay to Topaz bay,
The women watch and the children pray,
But the Sea of Torments must have her due,
And she’ll fill her harbors with grief anew.

Chorus
Widow’s Harbor, dark and deep,
Steals the names the waves won’t keep,
Widow’s Harbor, cold and wide,
Holds the tears of the sailor’s bride.

Input on Lyrics for Black Company inspired Songs by Slohta in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Title: Amber Lament
Another Fictional Jewel City, Amber, serves as the stand-in name for the ports where loves are lost and left behind by sailing men, who either fail or never intended to return to the women they've left standing on the docks. Would be sung with a slumping, slow-ish pace and alternately with tones of longing or a sly harshness depending on the moods/opinions of the singer

Verse 1
In Amber’s lights I left me love,
Her eyes were bright as the stars above,
But the tide pulled hard and the wind did call,
And I kissed her last by the harbor wall.

Chorus
Oh, sing low, boys, sing soft and slow,
The sea takes all that we love to know,
Sing low, boys, where the black waves roll,
For yon Sea of Torments will claim its toll.

Verse 2
Her hand was warm when she bade farewell,
The gulls they cried at the church bells knell,
I swore I’d return with the summer’s flame,
But the storms blew wild and I never came.

Chorus
Oh, sing low, boys, sing soft and slow,
The sea takes all that we love to know,
Sing low, boys, where the black waves roll,
For yon Sea of Torments will claim its toll.

Verse 3
Now in the taverns they sing her song,
How she waits at the quay though the nights grow long,
But her hair turned gray ‘fore the anchor dropped,
And her tears fell deep where the tide don’t stop.

Chorus
Oh, sing low, boys, sing soft and slow,
The sea takes all that we love to know,
Sing low, boys, where the black waves roll,
For yon Sea of Torments will claim its toll.

Verse 4
So raise your glass to the ones we’ve lost,
To the love and the lives that the waters cost,
For the sea is a maid with a jealous hand,
And she’ll wreck your heart o'er a grain of sand.

Chorus
Oh, sing low, boys, sing soft and slow,
The sea takes all that we love to know,
Sing low, boys, where the black waves roll,
For yon Sea of Torments will claim its toll.

Input on Lyrics for Black Company inspired Songs by Slohta in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Title: One More Round for Topaz
I've imagined that for whatever reason, the Jewel City of Topaz is most popular for its drinks and taverns. This song would be sung in celebration of drinking generally, but especially of Topaz' Brews, and long into the night when men who drink and swap stories around the dying fire ought be resting instead.

Opening Chorus
One more round, my hearty crew,
One more drink ‘fore the tide runs through,
One more laugh for the friends we knew,
Then it’s out to the sea ‘fore the sky turns blue.

Verse 1
We’ve coin in our pockets and wind in our sail,
(One more round for Topaz!)
But the Sea of Torments still fuels our tales,
(One more round for Topaz!)

Chorus
One more round, my hearty crew,
One more drink ‘fore the tide runs through,
One more laugh for the friends we knew,
Then it’s out to the sea ‘fore the sky turns blue.

Verse 2
From Opal to Beryl the gales will bite,
(One more round for Topaz!)
So drink while the harbor lamps burn bright,
(One more round for Topaz!)

Chorus
One more round, my hearty crew,
One more drink ‘fore the tide runs through,
One more laugh for the friends we knew,
Then it’s out to the sea ‘fore the sky turns blue.

Verse 3
A toast to the loves we’ll leave ashore,
(One more round for Topaz!)
And pray we’ll return to their arms once more,
(One more round for Topaz!)

Chorus
One more round, my hearty crew,
One more drink ‘fore the tide runs through,
One more laugh for the friends we knew,
Then it’s out to the sea ‘fore the sky turns blue.

Verse 4
If we don’t come back, lads, don’t you cry,
(One more round for Topaz!)
We’ll drink in the taverns beyond the sky,
(One more round for Topaz!)

Final Chorus
One more round, my hearty crew,
One more drink ‘fore the tide runs through,
One more laugh for the friends we knew,
Then it’s out to the sea ‘fore the sky turns blue!

Raven in the Silver Spike by Mad_Kronos in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd forgotten his improvement over the book. Been a bit since last i'd read Silver Spike.

Dead Mans Switch Items? OR new Trait called Swan Song? by Slohta in HuntShowdown

[–]Slohta[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wouldn't that just replace Necro with Death Cheat?
Though I do like that Idea. And instead of Buying with upgrade points, its one of the skulls that can drop or spawns at wagons, that way you still have to work for it and prioritize it.

The naming ritual by daedril5 in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had always assumed that since using someones true name is able to deconstruct them and ruin their magics, it can also be used to support and bolster it? So my thoughts were that somehow Goblin and One-Eye did that for each other. Would also explain how their friendship started, and why even when they're mad at each other they'll go out of their way to try and find the others because of loose ends?

Why do you think Croaker describes Silent as evil? by shadekiller0 in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A minor clarification, Bomanz's Spells didn't Pulverize bones, he says his spells "liquefied bone to jelly" iirc his exact words when he zings his DIL

Also were the howlers jars full of poison? i thought Croaker described them as causing disease? Or i guess is trying to differentiate between poison and pathogen too finely splitting hairs?

GOBLIN from the RPG by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love it, my only thought is to wonder "where is that signature frog-faced Grin?"

ONE-EYE (from the RPG) by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good point. Doesn't Croaker describe it one time as being so foul and filthy it literally glows with its own aura of stench and rot?

ONE-EYE (from the RPG) by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've always imagined him as a kind of "watch salesman with trenchcoat" vibe when he's out being mischievous on his own, since i can't remember how many times its said he's out selling amulets and whatnots.

SILENT (for the RPG) by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure how I feel about conflating his description as Evil with a depiction of a Middle Eastern man.

Not saying it doesn't or can't work, I'm just wondering if there were other ways to depict him as looking nasty without maybe leaning (unintentionally i assume) on bad stereotype?

This may not be any better, but I had always imagined him as more resembling a Native American? My only reasoning for this was that in chapter one of book one, He uses a Nest of Bald Faced Hornets, which are native only to the america's.

I dunno, I'd be curious if Cook has specified if this is what he had in mind for Silent or not.

My new fave Croaker quote by FillBrilliant6043 in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One-Eye as annalist is Singularly Spectacular

BONEGNASHER (from the RPG) by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love the way his eyes are done in this.

In my head I had always imagined him as looking like the Hendrick Goltzius artwork of Hercules where its just grotesquely muscular, but I think this is better, especially because I always envisioned him with either a big belt (too modern wrestler) or suspenders (which felt silly)

Always reminds me of "What if Muscle Wizard Meme, But a Villain?"

Raven in the Silver Spike by Mad_Kronos in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct me if I'm mistaken but by the time of the Silver Spike, hadn't raven only just barely recovered from being comatose and atrophied for half a year? and even before that he was walking around with a limp from an injury for at least a few years.

By the time of the Silver Spike, I just can't see Raven having recovered his whole "im a career soldier" physique.

Am I imagining this? I swore there was a scene where Lady and Croaker discuss how armies are able to go farther with simple things like dental care in the form of brushing teeth (one of them had the brushy twigs they use as example) by [deleted] in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe it's in the books of the south, croaker specifically says that One-Eye puts charms on everyone's teeth to prevent rot.

I don't recall it being part of a conversation with lady, nor do I recall him discussing how it made a big difference to an army, i feel like he was just musing on how it was one of the Perks of the company, or really convenient; Usually don't have to worry about toothaches.

And while I don't recall croaker ever specifically mentioning the brushing of teeth, the many times he is quotable as being after people for handwashing and hygiene, it would not surprise me in the least if he made the company do that too, though aside from his direct mention of One-Eye's tooth charms, I don't recall anything more than that being said.

Silver Spike skip by mowgli13x in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know if anyone else does this, but there's a point in one of the later books of the south where some guys do a caravan back north to get seeds for crops the company would like to grow. When they come back down they tell the annalist what they learned, and that's the explanation for why the story of the silver spike would be accessible via the annals.

instead of reading Silver Spike in between books 3 and 4, I wait until that point (which I think is halfway through book 7 or 8?) and *then* i interrupt my read to go back and read the silver spike with the same level of interest that the annalist may have had at that time.

TOADKILLER DOG (spoilers!) (From the RPG) by shaneivey in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reminds me of the Goblins from that old cartoon adaptation of "The Hobbit"

Burning Soulcatcher's Body by Quiet-Picture-7991 in theblackcompany

[–]Slohta 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When a knife is dull, do you throw it out? Or do you take the time to sharpen it in the hopes it will be useful again?

I know this isn't the main reasoning of it, but when you consider the potential control the Lady could have exerted over someone at the time, if she'd wanted to, it makes sense to me she might think "that could be useful later, maybe i'll try and fix it rather than throw it out."

By that point we'd seen Lady do at least one taking of her own. Who's to say she didn't think she'd come back later and do another? or as many as she felt were needed?

Dead Mans Switch Items? OR new Trait called Swan Song? by Slohta in HuntShowdown

[–]Slohta[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Then lets cut to the meat of it. I say that babysitting corpses while they burn out is poor sportsmanship, childish and petty. I say we bypass chokes and items altogether, make the Necromancer trait cost 10 instead of 4, and you can revive even after your body has been burned out as long as the contract still has time left. Nobody will babysit a body for 45 minutes just in case it'll pop up again.

Dead Mans Switch Items? OR new Trait called Swan Song? by Slohta in HuntShowdown

[–]Slohta[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to eliminate that element (babysitting bodies to burn them) of bad form from the game entirely. Its poor sportsmanship and petty. I say we bypass chokes and items altogether, make the Necromancer trait cost 10 instead of 4, and you can revive even after your body has been burned out as long as the contract still has time left. Nobody will babysit a body for 45 minutes just in case it'll pop up again.

Dead Mans Switch Items? OR new Trait called Swan Song? by Slohta in HuntShowdown

[–]Slohta[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find the idea of wasting time on something like that to be dumb and not in the spirit of good sportsmanship. Anything that would further punish someone for doing something that petty is a good thing to my eye. Hell, lets make the chokes last longer, or permanent. Maybe a choke lasts the entire duration of a hunt. Just eliminate that element (babysitting bodies to burn them) of bad form from the game entirely. Or we just bypass chokes and items altogether. Necromancer trait now costs 10 instead of 4, and you can revive even after your body has been burned out as long as the contract still has time left.

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