The Bard entered the crowded Valley of Wonders Inn as the Yule log burned hot and bright in the fireplace. He warmed up the crowd with some (rather poor) tumbling and juggling, then in the middle of the room began to recite:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - AOW Edition
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the valley
Not an Azrac* was stirring, and Orcs did not salley.
The stockings were hung by the furnace with care
In hopes that some quest rewards soon would be there.
The mapmakers were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of Five-Oh ratings danced in their heads,
And Mab** in her 'kerchief and I in my cap
had just settled down for a long winters nap.
When up on the turret there arose such a clatter
To the seeing waters I sprang to see what was the matter.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Shone on the frostlings asleep down below,
Then what did the shimmering waters reveal
But a miniature airship with eight dwarves at the wheel!
With a little Draconian Captain I knew
From the logo on Heavengames:Age of Wonders Two.
To heat the air bladder the dwarves worked a flame
And the captain whistled and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall,
You are not 'wind walkers', make sure you don't fall!
Just like Goblin bombers, who, when they draw nigh
To a crowd or a town-wall explode to the sky,
So up to the house top the airship it flew
With a bundle of toys and the Red Dragon too.
And then I heard from the top of the keep
the clomping sound of sixteen dwarven feet.
I donned a concealment cloak and turned around
While down the chimney Drac came with a bound.
He was covered in scales from his head to his foot
And his leathery skin was all covered in soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like an Herbalist opening her pack.
His claws - how they twinkled! His fork-tongue, how merry!
(He flicked it very like a snake - oh so very!)
His gaping black mouth filled with fangs in a row,
And the fur trim on his hat was as white as the snow.
Some fire escaped from his mouth through his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a long face, and a round little tummy,
That shook when he laughed, (he had swallowed a mummy.)***
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old snake
I just laughed to see such a curious drake.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his tail
Soon gave me to know I had no need to quail.
He hissed not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
Then flapping his wings (like a bat's, I suppose)
He gave me a nod and up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his airship, (borrowed from "Continental",)
And away they all flew, like an air elemental.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he sailed out of sight:
"Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!"
Ending, the Bard takes a bow, (secretly thinking "I sure hope this sells - I don't think I can manage an AOW "Dreidel Song" adaptation...)
* for all you old original AOW1 fans out there.
**Hey, it's MY poem - I can dream if I want.
*** Thank you 1.4 patch for giving me a rhyme!
Winner "Miss Congeniality Award" in the 2009 AoWSM map making tournament!
Proud author "Across the Wyrding Sea" (1.1 out of 5!)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - AOW Edition
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the valley
Not an Azrac* was stirring, and Orcs did not salley.
The stockings were hung by the furnace with care
In hopes that some quest rewards soon would be there.
The mapmakers were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of Five-Oh ratings danced in their heads,
And Mab** in her 'kerchief and I in my cap
had just settled down for a long winters nap.
When up on the turret there arose such a clatter
To the seeing waters I sprang to see what was the matter.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Shone on the frostlings asleep down below,
Then what did the shimmering waters reveal
But a miniature airship with eight dwarves at the wheel!
With a little Draconian Captain I knew
From the logo on Heavengames:Age of Wonders Two.
To heat the air bladder the dwarves worked a flame
And the captain whistled and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!
On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall,
You are not 'wind walkers', make sure you don't fall!
Just like Goblin bombers, who, when they draw nigh
To a crowd or a town-wall explode to the sky,
So up to the house top the airship it flew
With a bundle of toys and the Red Dragon too.
And then I heard from the top of the keep
the clomping sound of sixteen dwarven feet.
I donned a concealment cloak and turned around
While down the chimney Drac came with a bound.
He was covered in scales from his head to his foot
And his leathery skin was all covered in soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like an Herbalist opening her pack.
His claws - how they twinkled! His fork-tongue, how merry!
(He flicked it very like a snake - oh so very!)
His gaping black mouth filled with fangs in a row,
And the fur trim on his hat was as white as the snow.
Some fire escaped from his mouth through his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a long face, and a round little tummy,
That shook when he laughed, (he had swallowed a mummy.)***
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old snake
I just laughed to see such a curious drake.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his tail
Soon gave me to know I had no need to quail.
He hissed not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
Then flapping his wings (like a bat's, I suppose)
He gave me a nod and up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his airship, (borrowed from "Continental",)
And away they all flew, like an air elemental.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he sailed out of sight:
"Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!"
Ending, the Bard takes a bow, (secretly thinking "I sure hope this sells - I don't think I can manage an AOW "Dreidel Song" adaptation...)
* for all you old original AOW1 fans out there.
**Hey, it's MY poem - I can dream if I want.
*** Thank you 1.4 patch for giving me a rhyme!
Winner "Miss Congeniality Award" in the 2009 AoWSM map making tournament!
Proud author "Across the Wyrding Sea" (1.1 out of 5!)