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Humble's Ford Archives

Crescent Valley halflings
Lands of health and peace
Children playing, laughing
Joy without surcease

Chorus:
Our gratitude we offer
To those who watch above
Ale and bread we proffer
To guests and friends we love

We cultivate our green fields
We care for our good beasts
We work and play together
Enjoying our increase.

Chorus

Fair winds fan the harvest
Sun and rain make growth
Pipeweed burns so sweetly
In inn and burrow both

Chorus

[Alouryn:]
Will you raise me up? will you help me down?
Will you get me right out of this godforsaken town?
Will you make it all a little less cold?

[Hazel:]
I can do that, (but Humble's Ford is nice no? It's not a godforsaken town now is it?? )

[Alouryn:]
Will you hold me sacred? Will you hold me tight?
Can you colourise my life, I'm so sick of black and white?
Can you make it all a little less old?

[Hazel:]
I can do that (although I'm sure Flower will hold you sacred too... )
Oh no, I can do that (for your colourful ribbons just make you look so divine!)

[Alouryn:]
Will you make me some magic with your own two hands?
Will you build and emerald city with these grains of sand?
Can you give me something I can take home?

[Hazel:]
I can do that! (I can throw around a few nifty Ranger spells!)
I can do that (tough one that is though... Hazel thinks... ever seen an emerald city?!?

[Alouryn:]
Will you cater to every fantasy I got?
Will you hose me down with holy water, if I get too hot?
Will you take me places I've never known?

[Hazel:]
I can do that
Oh no, I can do that
(Careful with those thoughts lad... this is a PG13 board!!)

[Alouryn:]
After a while you'll forget everything
It was a brief interlude and a midsummer night's fling
And you'll see that it's time to move on

[Hazel:]
I won't do that
I won't do that

[Alouryn:]
I know the territory, I've been around
It'll all turn to dust and we'll all fall down
Sooner or later you'll be screwing around

[Hazel:]
I won't do that
No, I won't do that

Murphy Speechifies"People of Humble's Ford - this is a momentous day. This is a momentous day - Is it not?" He points to some of the well-brushed clerics, or brokers of Ffloy. "We welcome you to our own little town, you who have come to teach us the wisdom of Ffloy. We welcome you today." And, with an appeal to the crowd, adds, "Do we not? Do we not welcome them today!?" with palms open upward, lifting his hands in an encouraging motion, prompting them to say Yes!, or to offer some affirmation, and he claps his hands once in apparent glee and agreement.

Some Who Benefit
"We know that many wealthy people - I know of some out of Angel Springs, and a handful from Hovel - have spent time with the Brokers of Ffloy. Merchants, makers, bankers, and sellers, and traders, too.

"My own father attends Ffloy's Temple out there once in a while as he brings a load of toys and musical instruments to our shop, WinWood Toys & Music. By the way, mention my name, and they might give you a 5% 'Murphy' discount!" he says with a wink and a smile, hoping to elicit a smile or laugh from some of the audience.

Success and a New Kind of Hope
"Those who garner the sound virtues of responsibility, diligence, fair dealing, sound planning - they have a better chance of success in life, of making a decent living for themselves and their families. Now, halflings of Humble's Ford - do we want a successful town? We want to prosper together - do we not? Do We NOT!?" By now, there should be a number of rousing cheers and smiling faces, Murphy hopes.

"The coming of the Brokers of Ffloy gives us a new kind of hope. On this momentous day, though, I ask us all to remember. Let us together remember our past here in this hopeful town, that we may carry on important things to the future. Can we do that together, for a moment? Can we not!?"

Let Us Recall A Visitor (Flower)
"As we consider bright possibilities - let us recall a visit. Before my grandfather's father was born, we had a visitor. A lovely visitor, who brought with her gifts which still are giving to Humble's Ford." As some of the clerics of Flower were on the wagon in which he stands he reaches down to one. "May I borrow your flower?" he whispers to her, as most of the temple clerics always wear a flower in their hair. He takes up the flower in his hand.

"Does anyone recall the name of that visitor?" he asks as he points to the flower in his left hand, raised up high. "If you need a hint - right, little boy," he says to a child who called out, 'Flower - it's a flower!' "Yes, a goddess visited this very place, she whom all call 'Flower.' And she brought flowers, and fertility, and fair harvests to our community for over a hundred years and more. One of my great-great grandfathers - I forget how many 'greats' - helped carve some of the wooden items used in the service of the temple. Looking out among us today - many of your ancestors helped to lay the foundation for this very building before which we stand. Lilly Blue Applecake - we know that some of your family were among the founders of this temple.

"This temple was built with love and care and devoted to the worship and teachings of Flower. And that love has kept families here strong, and children many."

I Admit I Was Upset
"I will allow when I first heard of the change I was upset. Mighty upset. Not upset that followers of Ffloy were coming, but upset that the Temple of Flower would be given to over to Ffloy, the clerics & worshippers of Flower displaced. But I see that I do not necessarily need to be as disconcerted as I first was. As it is reported that the High Priestess of Flower out of Angel Springs may have granted permission for the change of venue for the worshippers of the goddess of familial love, I must, we must, bow to her wisdom and insight. And I hear talk here of a new local place of worship for the Gods of the Wold. That would be good.

Yet I Charge You
"Yet I charge my friends here who have long held a devotion to Flower to keep that up. Love is, love can be, an everlasting thing. It is, it can be, the greatest of all.

Another Bit of History
"Something else we need to remember from our past. Years ago, we enjoyed rich trade with the Red Hills. Some of us recently visited the old Parley House, where peace and trade agreements were made. It has crumbled. Most of that trade is gone.

"We need to do something to restore the prosperity - do we not?" He hears 'yes,' and 'yes, we do!' from some members of the crowd.[/b]

A Caution
"Now money, and goods, and services all are important things. Some say that there is a particular love which is out of balance, though. That particular love is the love of money - which, some say, is the root of all kinds of evil." He holds up his hands to forestall any objections or the start of any who may raise an objection to this quote in the present context.

"Money itself is not evil - it can be used for good, as well as for ill.

"So, as we work and learn of ways to increase goods and services among us - let us never forget that the love of family, and friends, and the love of goodness, and of those from whom goodness comes - is among the greatest of things. If we earn money, let it be to serve one another in love.

"Use money. Love people... Love people. Use money, but love people.

"Money has many uses. Brokers of Ffloy - I charge you, as you move into this temple devoted to love, to consider love and what is good for the people of this town as you help us to become more productive. For a measure of power may come with money, and power, if not tempered by love, can twist and destroy." He pauses for that gloomy thought to sink in.

"Yet, if it IS tempered by love, it has the power to grow and create, that we might be sustained, and THRIVE!" and he thrusts his right hand, fingertips up, into the air. "Shall we not THRIVE!? Shall we not LOVE!? Let us love one another, and together build a thriving town!" He acknowledges the devotees on and around the cart. "Clerics of Flower - Bloom where you are replanted, and Let Love Grow!" He faces the scattered clerics of the new group. "Brokers of Ffloy - Help us to prosper, help us to Thrive! Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, hooray!!!"

"Dear Mr Mayor, Thankyou for inviting me into your lovely home last night. Your house, the company, and the food were all equally exquisite. Kind Regards, Alleah"

"In the beginning, in the time of creation, the one known as the Jericko separated the sky from the lands. He was alone and felt lonely, so he created all forms of life to grow and florish. But he didn't create all at the same time. He wanted to admire his creations and the creator walked among them in the Wold.

The creator first saw the fey folk - satyrs, sprites, dryads and other dwellers in the woodlands. They exhibited a zest for life and a curiosity about things new. They were slight and elusive which kept them safe from danger. However they were not sensible and feared those larger than they. So the creator moved on.

Next the creator visited the elves. They were frail and oh so beautiful. But the tend to be haughty. They had freedom of spirit which the creator much admired, but they were slow to act and took to long to do anything. The creator again moved on.

The creator came to visit the dwarves. They kept homes beneath the earth. They were strong and hardy folk. Had great pride in family and lived by a strict moral code. However the creator quickly grew tired of their relentless and repetitive toil with the elements of the earth and moved on.

Next the creator found himself among the hordes of the orcs. They were dreadful and fierce warriors. They feared no one and filled their short lives with rage and combat. Their boldness was fascinating. The creator could not look upon their cruelty and brutality and soon left them.

With the humans the creator found much to admire. They were quick to learn and adapt to all types of environments. They multiplied quickly and occupied all the lands of Wold. However, they were prone to war with themselves. They had an obsessive need to feed their endless desire for riches and power.

After the creator finished his journey, he pondered about creating another race that had all the positive aspects of all his other races. A group he could be content with ... a race that pleased him completely. So the creator began his journey again and visited the fey in the forests. He seized a sprite and bound her with magic. The creator then revisited each race again and took from them a portion of what they were. From the elves he took agility and grace. He added it to the fey and it grew. From the dwarves he took devotion to family and added it to the sprite and she began to grow and change. Boldness and fearlessness he takes from the orcs and they fey grew even larger. The creator visited the humans once again and took from them the spark of creativity and the ability to adapt. After all these thing are collected, the creator adds them to the fey and the hobbit was born. A tall, strong, formidable creature that knew no fear. Who had bold ambitions and the creativity to do what they will.

The creator stood back and admired his craftsmanship. So very pleased he was. And great favor he bestowed on his beloved hobbits. The other races grew jealous and fearful of such a race and made war against them. The creator, in his ultimate wisdom, sought to halt the hostility by making his beloved hobbits smaller in size to lessen the threat they imposed on others. This made the hobbits more elusive to their enemies. It taught them to hide and use the shadows for cover. Gave them patience and cunning. Peace was soon restored and the creator was satisfied. After deciding that his work was complete, the Jericko stepped away from the Wold and rested."