A Canticle For Shallows-Folk

(Not-so) Short Stories

From The Author: This year, I have been so busy with other Faire projects that this, nearly 2 weeks into the Faire, is my first blog entry for this Fantasy Faire. I feel pretty bad about that, but I suppose I really should apologise for the nonsensical doggerel below. Apparently, I have not yet managed to make my way out of Wistlyn Shallows….

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_005-blog-1.png — *Sing! I’m happy: why does this head-toad look so terrified?*

Sing, my Tadpoles, sing my Froggos
Sing the Tales of Wistlyn Shallows
Call the Fireflies and the Minnows
Snails and Tuttles, listen well.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_029-blog.png — *Ecosystem*

Framed by Branch and distant banjo
Dusty moon past Spooder’s web fork
Paths of glass and daisies that grow
Up into the azure night.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_030-blog.png — *Heavenly chords*

More than you imagine, Tourist:
Spooder, Snek and Oxford Purist
Tuttle, Snail and Queen be nourished
By the Royal Tater Tot.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_025-blog.png — *Nonsense*

Nonsense? Yes; we don’t deny it
Minnows with their lamps supply it
Likewise, Fireflies, try it? Buy it!
Magical ingredients.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_033-blog.png — *Sneeeek*

Dr Nanners, coiled and charming
His clarinet’s quite disarming
For discerning Shallows learning
And he’ll set your broken limbs.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_034-blog.png — *I say!*

Oxford Froggo’s got his head on
Straight: just ask him, and he’ll dwell on
Dryden, Chaucer, and Poseidon
Never mind his pretensions.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_026-feat-sandie-rau-blog.png — *Tuttle— Featuring Sandie Rau*

Tuttle, Tuttle, French and Friendly
Stir that soup, but do it gently
Generous and complementary
Just don’t ask him how it works.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_036-blog.png — *Goofy, or Terrified? You be the judge….*

What are these three snails afraid of?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_035-blog.png — *Hoodoo Tammy!*

Hoodoo Tammy! That’s the name of
Every Bottle Chopper’s frame of
Reference for pure terror.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_037-blog.png — *She’s over it!*

Tammy, on the other hand is
Feeling her last nerve start to frizz

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_039-blog.png — *Every. Blessed. Time.*

“I don’t care which one of you is
Starting hijinks: stop it now!”

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_046-feat-kylie-lacombe-blog.png — *Daisy Froggo, Featuring Kylie Lacombe*

Daisy Froggo, all alone

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_047-blog.png — *Their Frogesty*

Queen Froggo up on their throne

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_008-flickr.png — *Macho Froggo*

Macho Froggo, dance cyclone

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_041-blog.png — *Hope & Tater Tots*

Sing for Hope and Tater Tots.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_044-blog.png — *The Hatchery*

Don’t forget the Hatchery
Where you may find these treasures three!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_012-blog.png — *Don’t mind me!*

And me? I’m happy as can be
Balloons and Toads and Sneks on me

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_009-blog.png — *Daisy Dance*

And now I’m off to dance daisies
Until my feet are tired and sore.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is snapshot_018-blog.png — *Spooder’s Fork*

And children, there’s nothing to fear
From Shallows Stories far and near
The Nightingale’s voice reaches here
The Web is strong: you’re safe now.

Good night, Shallows, Branch and Bayou:
Spooder’s in his Fork and all’s right with the pond.

Notes & Credits:

Balloon Girl Avatar (all items sponsored by my lovely sponsors or available at Fantasy Faire unless otherwise noted!):

Hair: Analog Dog (natch!), Lullaby + Snek Clip (A weekend sale item that might still be at the Analog Dog Main Store—but check out their Faire Store as well!)
Skin: Lumae, Edie, in Tone Moss (At the Lumae Main Store!)
Outfit: Kai Design, Tara Furs, RFL Colours (At the Kai Design Faire Store!)
Makeup (Forehead fade, cheeks, eyeshadow, forehead accent & Liner), Hexumbra, Lestyn (At the Hexumbra Faire Store!)
Body Tattoos: Not A Peep, Leaves Embrace (At the N.A.P. Faire Store!)
Wings: Petrichor, Dene Wings (At the Petrichor Faire Store!)
There’s a Toad On Mah Head!: Quills & Curiosities, Pudgy Potato (At the Quills & Curiosities Faire Store!)
Eyes: Syren’s Song, P13RC3 (At the Syren’s Song Faire Store!)
Boots: Neutral Tones, Twisted Boots (Not at Fantasy Faire)
Balloons: SLC/Body Language, Daydream Balloons, part of Cloudy Tuesday Morning AO (Not at Fantasy Faire)

In Wistlyn Shallows:

Froggos: Kotte, Froggy (Not at Fantasy Faire)
Hoodoo Tammy: Quills & Curiosities, Ten Ton Tammy (At the Quills & Curiosities Faire Store!)
Dr Nanners: Jian, Ball Python (Not at Fantasy Faire)
Hope the Luna Moth: Love, Luna Moth (LOVE is at Faire, but this item is in their Main Store, not their Faire Store!)
Tuttle: Hannah Kozlowski, Turtle Mother Swimming (Not at Fantasy Faire)
Spooder: Headhunter’s Island, Tarantula (Not at Fantasy Faire)
Just About Everything Else: Rivendale (Rivendale Faire Store!)