On the high seas, near the coast of Modnik, a lone ship gently graces across the waves, three distinct voices echoing outwards.
‘SEE, I TOLD YOU ALL THIS TIME, OUR OWN VOYAGE, BACK ON THE HIGH SEAS AGAIN, THE SALTY WIND ON MY SCALES. AH IT’S THE THING IT TELL YOU. DO WE REALLY HAVE TO GO BACK JAX?’
‘Oh yes we do lovely. Ytic is our home now dear. I prefer it to the Plundered Isles in all honesty. The wine is a lot better. Also we have friends there now, in case you've forgotten already'
‘YEAH, BUT YOU CAN’T REALLY SAIL A SHIP IN YTIC CAN YOU? AND YOU CAN’T COMMIT PIRACY. AND SMUGGLING. HOW ARE WE MEANT TO GET OUR SHINIES IF WE CAN’T STEAL THEM ANYMO-‘
Jax gives Jex her usual frown
‘RIGHT FINE. IT’S WHERE ALL THE SHINIES ARE AFTER ALL. THAT AND FRIENDS TOO, I GUESS’ Jex mumbles
‘U-uhmm y-you know w-what really uhh li-lifts the spirit o-on the highs-seas, a sea s-shanty!!! I uhm h-have a p-pretty good o-one a-aswell!’
‘Mhm, for example like the one we wrote for remembrance? To remind the future and all about the antagonist and what to do in a thousand years?’
‘N-no, n-no, uhm y'know a p-proper sea shanty, a-about the s-seas, s-sailing and uhm sh-shinies … I g-guess t-that’s what uhm m-most of t-them are a-about a-anyway. It g-goes like t-this’
Jix clears their voice and attempts to put on their best singing voice
“C-come on y-you young s-sailors! I’ll s-sing you a t-tale
of three young keen heads, all J’s by the name!
F-for shinies, for gold, t-they all w-would have s-sailed
hoor-raw, o-hauley, for shinies we’re bound”
Jax begins the second verse, the hydra steadily beginning to sing in unison
“The anchors on board and the cable’s all stored
oh-handy, oh-dandy, for the sail’s all aground!
Sailing the coast, where we take all our hoard
hoor-raw, o-hauley, for shinies we’re bound”
The hydra synchronises, beginning the chorus
“For where the winds don’t blow, our voyages long
oh-heave, oh-ho, for shinies we’re sworn!
For where the high seas flow, we sail at dawn
hoor-raw, o-hauley, for shinies we’re bound!”
“OH, AND UP JUMPS THE HYDRA WITH THEIR SLIPPERY TAIL
weigh-hey, oh the racket they made!
THEY CLIMB UP ALONG THE REEF, AND RUIN THE TOP-SAIL
hoor-raw, o-hauley, for shinies we’re bound”
‘H-hey it d-didn’t g-go like t-that J-jex!’ Jix protests
‘CALL IT A LITTLE ARTISTIC REFINEMENT FROM YOURS TRULY’ Jex laughs along
‘Hello, Jax to the other J’s, we still have a chorus, don’t we?’ Jax affirms, and the Hydra begins yet again, their voices rippling across the water
“For where the winds don’t blow, our voyages long
oh-heave, oh-ho, for shinies we’re sworn!
For where the high seas flow, we sail at dawn
hoor-raw, o-hauley, for shinies we’re bound!”
The three heads continue singing without a care in the world, gliding along the high seas. 1)
“Aye! Gather 'round! Gather 'round and hear our song!”
The crowd swells as the hydra takes a break after the last shanty. A lonesome bee joins. They have seen this performance many a time.
“Now,” says Jax, “I know most of what we sing is sea shanties. But, uh…”
“THE LYRICS JUST FIT BETTER TO A FOLK SONG” shouts Jex.
“Yes, yes, that's quite right. So, this next number, to recap, not a sea shanty, but a nautically-themed folk song.”
The Hydra starts strumming at the guitar that sits in their lap, while each head prepares to sing its verse. Jex goes first. It wasn't readily that Jax conceded the first spot to her brother, but the third verse - Jax's verse - is much more important to get spot-on, so she chose to take it in the end. Jix is a little more confident going between the two siblings, so… that leaves Jex to take the lead:
“OH SIT DOWN SEAFARERS, GRAB A ROUND OF STRONG ALE
AND LISTEN YE WELL TO THE HYDRA'S LONG TALE
THERE'S MUCH TO BE SAID, AND LITTLE TIME TO TELL
ABOUT THE ANTAGONIST AND HOW HE FELL”
“About the antagonist and how he fell!” comes the echo, all three heads singing in unison.
Next up is Jix, who starts a little late and stutters for a moment behind the tune of the guitar, but manages to catch up soon enough.
“'N-eath A-a-anton's control did all Modnik long writhe
'Til a fight to the d-death, and t-the fight of your lives!
But when fair Snuffsmot landed the telling blow,
Only then did we realise how our fates may go.”
“Only then did we realise how our fates may go” the heads sing in unison.
Jax quietly clears her throat before her own verse:
“Without an antagonist, this world will end
But we chose to our lives and our freedom defend
So a lost soul named Ahmed gladly took up the throne
And was sealed away from all he had known.”
By now, the audience is joining in with the echoed lines: “And was sealed away from all he had known”
The final verse is split between the three.
“By this ancient seal is our freedom ensured,”
“B-but one day 'twill break, and we'll take up the s-sword,”
“AND WE'LL SEAL AWAY AN ANTAGONIST AGAIN,”
“To ensure that this world, it never does end.”
“To ensure that this world, it never does end!”