Jericho opened up the door. "Jeannette, right?" Jericho asked to confirm the identity of the lightly familiar face in front of him.
She sighed. "Yes. I am sad you didn't recognize me right off the bat."
Jericho smiled. "A lot of people wear makeup the same way you do and you were wearing a heavier perfume last time. Thank you for not wearing as much. It is easier to breath that way." He replied as he motioned for her and another woman to enter the house. "Have a seat." He motioned for the dining table.
"Thank you." The elegantly dressed woman replied as she and another woman entered the house.
Jericho filled a pan with water and started to heat it up.
Moira looked over to the second woman that entered the room. Her moderately larger built frame balanced nicely with her lush black hair and darker skin. "Shiarra?!" She exclaimed happily.
"It is good to see you again too, Princess." The Native American woman replied with a bright smile. "How goes your adventure with your friend?"
"It is going really well so far. I had a dance off against a satyr and showed them who the superior dancer was."
Shiarra nodded. "Sounds like something you would do."
"So what are you doing here?" Moira questioned.
The Native American woman pointed over to Jeanette. "She is my boss. I'm one of the game masters."
"Like that Griffin guy that messaged Jericho yesterday?" She asked.
"Sort of, but I was sent undercover in order to make sure your transition into the game was smooth."
The dancer looked sad. "So you were only playing with us in order to help us out?"
Shiarra shook her head. "It was originally like that, but I really enjoyed playing with you guys. While I am a GM, I don't have any special bonuses as one of my main jobs is to find issues with the game that can occur with anyone. So I am looking forward to our next adventure since the NPCs reactions around you and your brother are significantly different then most players. It makes things much more interesting."
Jeanette who was sitting nearby smiled. "I brought her because I figured a familiar face might be nice."
The water in Jericho's pan started to boil. He put a few packets of herbal tea in some mugs and carefully poured the water into them. He waited five minutes while Moira talked before he brought out the four mugs without a teabag inside. "Hope you like raspberry hibiscus. It is all I was able to buy this time around."
Jeanette smiled. "Thank you, Jericho you didn't have to do this."
The bard smiled. "I made tea for us because I wanted some. So, what brings you here?" He asked as he smelled his hot tea.
"Right to the point then," Jeanette started. "It has come to our attention that the NPCs in our game have started to learn your music and in your current quest the satyrs are learning to dance from Moira."
Jericho nodded. "They have. The young elf Lillith now has some of my sheet music for the flute and I passed on the knowledge of how to play one of the songs from my Aquatic Violin album to the water elemental Glawio."
"You see, legally, in order for them to use your creations we have to have your express permission." She pulled out some papers. "While normally we only have to have your basic permission, our legal team has drafted up a contract to pay you and Moira if you choose to let us use your music for just more than the NPCs playing it. Please read it and ask any questions you have."
Jericho took the papers and looked them over. They were filled with all the really annoying fancy complicated terminology but he understood it well enough. He simplified it for himself and Moira.
He simplified it as follows.
[Jericho and Moira give their permission to allow Free Corp the use of their creations for both in-game and out of game purposes, including but not limited to, advertisements, in-game performances, and other useful applications. Jericho and Moira can choose which things they will allow and not allow for each piece and dance they have. If they wish to add to or remove things from the lists submitted, they can do so at any time.
Jericho and Moira can choose to restrict access to specific compositions and dances that they have given their concent for use at any time. Uses may include delaying the use of them until further notice.
At any time Jericho and Moira can contact Free Corp to request instruments and dancing supplies to be included in the game if they are not already. However, they cannot use this to request they be given to them directly as that would ruin the fun of the game.
Free Corp will have the right to claim things performed by NPCs as part of the game soundtrack written or choreographed by Jericho and Moira. Free Corp agrees to always acknowledge where they got the material. However this does not restrict the publication of them by Jericho and Moira as long as they remember to let people know that the music and dance are also able to be found in freedom online.
Free Corp will pay a specified amount of funds monthly for their use. The more the things in question are used the more money they will provide.
Jericho and Moira can nullify this contract at any time, however past things are considered already paid for and cannot be rescinded after cancelling the contract.]
Jericho, noticed how open and unrestrictive the contract was. He was shocked he wasn't seeing anything too crazy with the contract, like giving up an unborn child to be eaten by cute goblins and their rat-dogs. He explained the details of the contract to his sister to make sure she was okay with it.
Moira gave her consent.
Jericho signed the documents while sipping his herbal tea. "Anything else?" He asked.
Jeanette shook her head. "That was it. However I did hear that you were working on a new album?"
The bard smiled. "I am, I plan to title it, I Made Them in a Game. The performance we are teaching the satyrs is meant to be included in that album. I don't plan to have that album stick to one genre or artistic style as the inspiration for the songs is very different each time."
The woman smiled as she finished her tea. "Well, I should let you get back to it then. I wish you the best because it helps both of us."
Jericho gave a nod. "Thank you for not trying to control my music. Artists hate feeling restricted like that."
The woman gave a nod. "Normally the conditions wouldn't be as loose, but we took into consideration the fact that we have a friendly relationship with you."
Shiarra chuckled. "Be honest Mrs. Long. You were afraid that if we tried to do anything unfavorable to Jericho, Moira would have told you no; and demand that she and her brother stop playing the game. You know how valuable Jericho and Moira are to Free Corp. If I sat by and let you take advantage of them I wouldn't be the leader of the hidden Game Managers or one of the higher ranked members of their fan club. You know how scary his fans are when riled up. You saw the recording I showed everyone at the office." She playfully winked in Moira's direction.
The boss lady frowned. "Shiarra, you know that the fan club is only a part of it. I really do value my friendship with Jericho…"
Moira smiled. "It is good if people know that my brother can't be messed with." She paused as the woman's words sunk in. "We have a fan club?"
Shiarra gave a nod. "Why wouldn't you? You are performers after all."
Mrs. Long sighed before turning to the bard with a smile. "Speaking of performances, Jericho, how about you play us something before we head off?"
The man nodded and walked into the back room.
"Where is he going?" Shiarra asked.
"To get the drums," Moira explained.
Jericho returned, carefully wheeling out his drum set. "Moira, go grab your staff; unless you don't like them enough to perform for them.
"Of course I like Shiarra enough. Besides, it's tradition! I'll be back shortly!"
Jericho motioned for everyone to go outside.
The two visitors looked confused as they entered the front yard.
Moira followed after grabbing a decorative looking staff. She ran to the center of the lawn and faced the visitors.
Jericho sat down and started drumming in a calm but rhythmic pattern. He started singing in a mysterious chanting language.
Moira also started to sing as she danced. Her staff was twirling and moving beautifully in sync with her other movements. Their voices blended well.
Shiarra smiled as the two finished. Tears streamed from her eyes as she recognized what was being said and performed. "That is the proper version of The Farewell Song you sung back at the well, right?"
Jericho gave a nod. "The first time we say goodbye to a visitor and any time we send someone off on a long distance journey we perform this ritual."
Mrs. Long smiled. "It is beautiful and touching, why do you perform it?"
Moira smiled with a shake of her head. "It isn't something easy to understand for those who have never experienced it. I don't know how to explain it; other than it is important to us."
Jericho nodded. "Mrs. Long, there was once a belief that all things were separate but undeniably connected. We performed that farewell ritual to send our will into this connection. It is our wish that the things guiding you will help you succeed as you go."
Jeanette smiled. "I see. Thank you."
Shiarra frowned. "Jericho, Moira, where did you learn that and why was it different at the well?"
Moira smiled sadly. "We made this song and dance six years ago. Our grandma's final request was for us to create rituals and ceremonies that we deemed important in our lives. Saying goodbye to others… has become one of them. The language we sung in is a language she taught us."
Jericho smiled sadly as well. "The version at the well was our grandfather's doing. You see, he could never figure out how to sing the words correctly so he made up his own lyrics in a language he did know."
Moira nodded. "But since we weren't saying goodbye to the audience and in order to maintain a level of respect for our goodbye ritual, we performed the fake version of the song and dance."
Shiarra gave a nod. "Thank you. It is very beautiful. I'm glad to hear the real thing."
The two women entered the car and left.
"Shiarra, can you tell me about that song? It seemed to have affected you greatly." Jeanette asked as she drove.
"They were singing in one of the revived and now almost dead Neo-Algonquian Languages. You see, back in the 2300's people lamented the fact that so many beautiful languages and cultural beliefs perished. So, they found the recordings of people speaking these languages and performing these types of rituals and tried their best to revive them. Even though their attempts couldn't bring back what was lost. They wanted to honor their ancestors by at least trying. Even I don't know if my ancestor's recreation was acceptable or not."
Jeanette looked over to her employee. "I didn't know that."
Shiarra smiled sadly. "Yeah, however history likes to repeat itself. I thought I was one of the only ones who spoke any of the dialects of this twice dead languages left." Shiarra explained, still surprised by the two. "I had no idea that the two of them had connections to those people. I wouldn't have guessed it based on their pale and freckled completion."
"Wait, you knew what they were singing about? Can you tell me?"
Shiarra smiled "It would be too hard to explain in detail, and their dialect was a bit strange to me so there are parts I can only infer. But if I tried to keep it simple, it would go something like this: 'We ask the spirits of nature and the guiding light to keep our friends safe as they face the challenges ahead of them. That if the challenges are too much and they are called to pass on, we ask that you guide them to where they belong. Until we meet again, may you be kept safe in the cycles of change.' It is a really touching goodbye."
"Wow, and you said that was the simple version?" Jeanette looked shocked. "The song wasn't even that long."
"That is one of the greatest parts. They didn't have to say much at all to give a very beautiful message."
Jericho and Moira watched the two drive off.
He walked inside. "Are you coming? We still have a quest to complete with an unknown deadline."
"Alright!"
© J Eranoth