The Hey Nonny-Nonny Within.....

[Vega]

6th Trial of Ashan during Arc 720

"I guess it's the hey nonny nonny within, eh?"
~~ Vega, to Arlo: Cylus 717 ~~

She'd gone to Desnind in Arc 716 to try and find out about her Sev'ryn side. But then, she'd stayed till the end of Cylus 717. It was in Desnind that she had coined the colourful phrase "hey nonny nonny" when describing Desnind - and the Sev'ryn - to Arlo. It was serenity, calmness, a slow way of being which Vega, frankly, was not at all suited for.

Which was why she was a bit surprised that the Thunder Priestesses seemed to like her so much. But they did. Vega knew it was because of her musical ability, rather than her winning personality, but still. It was nice of them, she thought, and Vega had agreed to help out. On this trial, she was working with a Priestess called Ariana, and Vega spent some time with her. Ariana could sing, beautifully, and she was teaching Vega. "I mean, I get it," Vega said, as she sat next to Ariana. "But my breathin' always been a'right, in fairness. I mean, I've been doin' it regular-like, with jus' the one little blip, since I were born." Ariana looked at Vega and smiled. The feisty redhead was amusing to the Thunder Priestess, and she didn't mind Vega's tendency to be argumentative.

"It will help, you know. Try. Breathe from here," Vega looked at where Ariana was holding her hand - touching far lower than her lungs, rather holding it over her stomach and Vega sighed. "I mean, I play the fiddle, an' singin' ain't usually possible with it, though I've got this lap-fiddle thing," she said. That was a fiddle, but she played it on her lap. It had been something she'd been given when she visited the medical tent and played for a man who was dying.

Ariana nodded, "I think that sounds wonderful," she said. "Do you have to be sitting down?" Vega shook her head in response to that question. "I can put it on a strap, if I want. Why?"

"It's often easier for people in their early singing career if they're standing up," Ariana explained and Vega nodded. "I'm not early on in my career," Vega said. "Singin' isn't my career, not at all." Ariana blinked in surprise and shook her head. "I mean in your development of your singing skill," she explained and Vega nodded. "Oh, right, yeah. Well, I can do that whole breathin' thing. Let me try."

And she did. Vega lifted her head and sang a scale. Ariana listened to her and she gave a slight smile. When the Thunder Priestess listened, she did so very carefully, attending to the way that Vega sang as well as what she sang. When she'd finished, Ariana looked at the young redhead and asked her, with a genuinely curious expression on her face. "How much do you practice, Vega?"

It wasn't an easy question to answer, in fairness - the answer at least wasn't black and white. "Singin' or music?" Vega asked.

"All of it," Ariana replied and Vega frowned, "I mean. I dunno. I love to sing, to play. There's somethin' about it that I just ... I get it. I can't really say I ever practice. I sing 'cos I've got to sing, I play because I've got to." She shrugged slightly and Ariana frowned. "How many instruments do you play, Vega?"

That prompted a thoughtful frown from the redhead. "I'm not sure. Um, fiddle, harp, piano, gittern, flute umm... that's it, I think." Ariana shook her head. "I should imagine it is. No formal training?" No, Vega replied, none. "Well," said Ariana, "Why don't we go and practice?"

Vega nodded, and on they went.

[Vega]

6th Trial of Ashan during Arc 720

"I guess it's the hey nonny nonny within, eh?"
~~ Vega, to Arlo: Cylus 717 ~~

Ariana, as a Thunder Priestess, saw a lot of people and a lot of different kinds of folks. Vega was unlike anyone she'd ever met, she had to admit. The Priestess looked at the Knight and she wondered just what it was that made the biqaj tick. Vega came across as argumentative, bad tempered and grouchy. Largely, because she was those things. But equally, she was fierce and determined, and she had a relentless quality which bordered on endearing. Ariana knew that the woman had made quite the splash in the Knights and the Wardens, and she understood why - and from those groups she had expected that Vega was good as a fighter. Ariana had heard that the redhead could sing and play well, too, but she had not expected this. "You're excellent," she said, and Vega gave a slight smile. "I've never heard anyone play like that. You've never had any training?"

"None," Vega said, lowering her fiddle and giving a slight smile. "I jus' ... when I pick up an instrument - any one - it feels like I know it. There's nothin' more I can explain, but that's jus' how it is, you know?" Ariana nodded. "I wonder if you'd help out some more with the flamefever?" She'd heard that Vega had helped some already in the medical tent, and she was pleased when Vega nodded her head. "I'd be 'appy to, for sure."

"The issue we have," Ariana said gratefully, "is that they get so over heated. It's like they're burning up inside, and not just from the fever itself. It's very uncomfortable, not to mention downright dangerous and I'd like to make them more comfortable." Vega's eyes swirled in colours as she turned her gaze to Ariana and nodded. "I'm cursed by Faldrun," she said softly. The Thunder Priestess raised an eyebrow, and Vega continued. "I'm his daughter, he assaulted my mother, an' the product were me. When he appeared to tell me, I punched him in the face." Ariana's eyebrows both raised then, surprise taking her expression. Vega continued, undeterred. "An' so he cursed me. That means that I'm always hot, always runnin' a temperature. That's a'right, it was totally worth it to see his face as I did it." One day, Vega thought, she was going to end Faldrun. For what he'd done to her mother, she was going to end him.

But that wasn't what the conversation was about now and Vega shrugged slightly. "Any'ow, I say that because I've worked out ways of keepin' cool, an' I reckon I could help out there, if you like?" Ariana nodded, happy to have any help and the two women made their way to the medical tent. "What will you do?" Ariana asked and Vega shot her a grin. "Well, my 'usband is the better story-teller of the two of us, but I'm goin' to tell a story, with music."

Inside the hospital, Vega moved in to the ward without concern. She felt more than a little worried, internally, but these people were in various stages of really unwell and Vega had no intention of making things even one iota more difficult for them. After Ariana had introduced her to the group, Vega looked around and she smiled. "Heya. I'm gonna tell you a story," she said. Putting the lap-fiddle on to her lap, she began to play and sing. The song told a story, a story of sailing on a cool day. Her voice rose in harmony with the lap-fiddle and Vega's voice was clear and her enunciation perfect. After all, she knew that the song she sung was a vehicle for the message here, and so she had to ensure that the patients could hear it. Harmonic melody was vital here. The song was of the ice and cold, the cooling wind and how the sailors found themselves on Ishallr, sitting in the cold and shivering together. As she played, she did not seek to actually change the temperature - Vega knew that she couldn't do that - but what she could do was help the people endure, fight the heat they felt.

And that was what she did.

As she played and sang, Vega focused on these people - on them beating this disease, on them being comfortable and overcoming the flamefever. She played and sang with a complete focus on that. Ariana - who by virtue of being there and listening was a better medic for the rest of the day - made sure not to interrupt the woman. Vega played and sang - the song was what carried the music and the ability of the music to make a difference and as always, it was a song of hope.

capstone used

Vega has developed her ability to the point that she can use sound as a means of increasing the skills of those around her. Her devotion to Xiur and Qylios is such that she is determined to be hopeful, and to always do her best. She can play and, when she plays, it gives a boost to the skills of those who hear it. When Vega focuses on a group and actively uses this ability - she is able to inspire them to be the very best version of themselves. Any and all who are in the room / area where she plays (so not someone that hears it in passing, they have to be listening) have a +1 level bonus on a non-magic skill for the next trial (so, novice becomes competent, competent becomes expert etc). This skill will be directly linked to the focus Vega has so - if it is in a camp preparing for battle, for the soldiers it will be a combat skill - but the cook for that camp would gain a bonus to cooking for the troops. No more than one bonus per day can be given.

[Doran]

Vega:

Knowledge:
Singing x 3
Caregiving x 3

Loot: -
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for playing for the people in the hospital.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: The thread title made me curious. I have to admit, I had absolutely no idea what the hey nonny nonny within is. I’d expected it to be something kind of funny, but I like the explanation that you provided much better.

I agree that Vega is not suited for a slow, calm way of being.

The way she reacted to Ariana teaching her to breathe correctly amused me. The entire conversation was in fact quite entertaining, and Ariana’s thoughts about Vega were interesting to read.

I’m surprised that Vega is so open about being a mortalborn and that Faldrun assaulted her mother. Ariana’s reaction to Vega saying that she punched him in the face was very relatable.

I like the song that Vega sang to the people in the hospital. It sounds like it was beautiful. Her capstone is very useful, by the way. I like how versatile it is, and I thank you for including the description in a spoiler.

Enjoy your rewards!