Book Of Sorrows (songs of the dead)

[Arianna]

Tribute to Croaker Lysobarr


Come gather round all, from near and far,
I will tell now the tale of Croaker Lyosbarr.
In the High moors did…. the Lyos clan reside
Fifth son, the youngest of the Barr families pride.

In his fourteenth year, went on quest for a name
With three days of fasting, ‘twas a vision his aim.
Instead of a dream, received a bolt from on high,
Which damaged his voice and left him to ask why.

Now his clansmen think of him, as an omen bad,
So to Waterdeep came this strapping young lad
Where his skill with a blade finds him work fast
And no one there cares at all of his past ……….

Quick with his fingers, in the shadows could hide
But a most loyal friend to have by your side.
He followed his heart instead of the Law…
Truth … to him , was as plain as the scar down his jaw.

He trained in the footsteps on one Jacho Send
Was left quite despairing when the man met his end .
Left with only one friend he could call true
He walked the knifes edge in bounds that he knew.

He thought to find love with an elven maid,
Who wore polished armor and carried a blade.
Wrote her a poem, which at court did present,
Proclaiming his love, thought she ignored his intent.

The elven maid became a knight, and so he was to learn
That other maids she did prefer, would not his love return.
It broke his heart……… to learn her stand
Tried to forget …………by roaming the land.

For deeds of valor done by his hand,
Was made a knight in Yartar’s land
There he bought land where apples grew
Where he hoped to retire ‘til the plague swept through

Was a hunter of slavers who dealt in the ‘ Deep,
Had joined the protectors, the city does keep.
Gained a friend in the Blackstaff mage
Who gave him a token to on missions engage.

After all his wandering the land around
In Waterdeep a true love found
A patient bard with eyes of green
Who told him of her love so keen.


He traveled far he traveled wide,
In search of a friend who was once by his side
To many a place did he wander and seek,
But the prospect of finding became rather bleak.

So he traveled instead to the Frozen north.
Where a kinship with the Elk tribe came henceforth.
Returning again to the Marches land,
He discovered a town in need a hand.

Lhuvenhead was searching for a man of repute,
To take up a Lordship that was destitute.
For twenty years has the land been without,
A man who could turn the towns luck about.

The town it did look like a good place for trade
With the Elder’s agreement a Lord he was made.
He worked hard to make it the town succeed
While helping others in Everlund as was a need.

No one knows how and no one knows why,
Nor when or where this this man did die.
But to a Tempite priest a vision came,
Of him entering the halls of Tempus without shame.

There now he resides in name and glory ,
And the rest of you, now know his story.
So all take a moment to remember the man,
He was a brother, a lover, a simple man of the clan.







-- ------------------------------------------
BALLAD OF BRAND ASEGIR

By Ashale’n Dervise

One day there came a warrior
Holy, pure, with honor true,
Servant of the Crying God
To serve mankind his only due.

He gave of himself, all he had
His faith was strong, godly blessed
Honor guided his every step
Found his beliefs put to the test.

The path chosen led to turmoil
Perhaps ‘twas pride that caused his fall
Though none but he shall ever know
Honor now his soul’s single call.

Abandoned He his holy calling
Another path chose he to tread
Lost in darkness, denied all Gods
Clung to honors comfort instead.

Fate in turn brought evil to him
Bourn by a silver elf unknowing
Ancient, cursed, soul seeking axe
Honor strained when blood starts flowing.

It calls to him, doth Crimson’s Edge
Twists his mind to its demand
Honor’s all that keeps him sane
‘Til his will gains self command.

Darker powers now give purpose
To man and axe, who work as one
Trust his friends no longer give him
Honor’s all that’s left when done.

Strives to fulfill orders given
Lest punishment his Lord demand
Charged with killing ’dales guards
Honor contorting in fates hand.

Brought before a justice tilted
Convicted before the trial began
Fate now sealed by decree
No honor left for a broken man.

That day a warrior strode forth
Unholy, evil , blackguard He
Faces now the axe mans block
Honor now his soul’s set free.

________________________

In Memory of
Aeluren d’Sh’star

Written by
Ashale’n Dervise 1372

Evil born and evil bred
Turned her face from the life she led
Traded a whip for a sword to the moon.

Learned to love, learned to care
Found a love her life could share
Fate turned, life fled from her too soon

Found a home in the moonwood here
Caring for the land so dear
Set about healing where it bled

Took a goal to a temple build
With Elistraee’s alter was it to be filled
Now it will hold her memory instead.

It’s not your race
Or the color of your face
That shows where your heart lays.

It’s the deeds that you do
With a life that’s led true
That counts at the end of your days.

_______________________________

Jacho’s Song
By Ashale’n Dervise
(told in a sing song fashion to Lute accompaniment)


Gather my friends, and to me an ear Lend,
For I now tell you the tale of Jacho Send.
Twas’ Algarond that gave him birth, though soon was stole away,
To Zhentil Keep was he sold, by Wizards come from Thay.

He was raised, to be a slave, for a Master errands ran,
Forbidden was He to speak a word to any other man.
Fourteen years lived He this way, beatings were his lot,
Til’ the day He beat back, killed his master on the spot.

Freed he did, the other slaves, and burned the tower down,
Never looking back again, he escaped that hellish town.
Guarding for a caravan, to Waterdeep did come,
There again did errands do, to make a tidy sum.

To Llork town, he chose to go, adventure for to find,
There found himself in trouble, with evil, Zhentish kind.
To Loudwater he quickly fled, and work he found to do,
But curious he wandered off and trouble found him too.

Into the city dungeon, he wandered to and fro,
He found a sight, he had not seen, and chose to closer go.
A Tanari beast, with vultures head, drew him near with magic,
Proceeded then, to rip his throat, death then came most tragic.

But the Gods yet had a plan , returned him to this plane,
Raised by a priest , who pity took, in Illmater’s name.
He gather the few things he owned, and to Waterdeep did head,
On the road, there bandits met, was beaten, robbed and left for dead.

Reduced to rags, and copperless, nothing to his name,
He begged, to keep his belly fed, until a patron came.
A hundred crowns did Jarlen give, afforded him a new start,
Then in Waterdeep went He to work, so he could get his part.

When he spoke, to rid the town, of evil in the place,
Enemies were drawn to him, he could not show his face.
To the sewers, he was lured, by one who would have him dead,
One who cared, warned “make amends” or you’ll lose your head.


Upon the road to Anarouch, a bandit king, He met,
Fighting for his life he fled, north to Olamaa, nearly spent.
A friend he meets in town there, by a commoner, is attacked,
Defending thus, they kill the man, incurring Zhentish wrath.

Then was taken by the Zhents, to be tried for crimes committed,
Standing trial, their case presented, wits against opponent pitted.
Executed, was his friend, because he magic’s used.
All possessions confiscated, poor again, is not amused.

Forced by need, since he was broke, to toil for the Zhent,
Saved their lives, but no rewards, were willing to be spent.
The bandit king, gave him work, a chance to return Zhentish favor,
Acquired knowledge to pursue, vengeance He could savor.

Trouble once again finds him, to Daggerdale flees,
His heart and hands he puts to work, for a new light he sees.
Purity desired, redemption sought, for stains upon his soul,
The force of good he seeks, to aid the Dales, for peace of heart his goal.

Sands did call to him once more, by chance did meet Bedine,
Trust they give and peace he finds, acceptance, within their kind.
Finds some solace in desert gods, to them he learns to pray,
Feeling touched, by Elah’s hand, praying in the dawns new day.

With gift in hand, returns to the ’Deep, a conflict to appease,
Given then a task, though for friendships sake, chooses to not please.
Plots and plans He tries to do, still cannot carry through,
The East it calls him once again, to it he flees, to live and do.

There he lives for much time, meeting witches, in the sands,
Adventures, many does He find, keeping him from other lands.
Dreams of being a king someday, to power hold, the Blackroad rule,
His sworn enemy, the Zhentish horde, he wishes to de-jewel.

To Daggerdale his adventures lead, a brother, he finds there,
Then an evil lich, who just had to go, for in a tower he made his lair.
Unwitting, did fund his own demise by crowns filched from his coffers,
With an arrow pieced his throat, though a final unearthly howl he offers.

For his efforts , the Dales honors him, a warrant for to trade,
So He then starts, hoping with merchant ways, to put away his blade.
On return to the ‘deep, Zhentish scum upon the road, does then chance to meet,
Accuse they him, of spying for the Dale-Lord, threats they do repeat.

A stone of power, masked Lords sought, so took up the task,
Save the city, from the Masters threat to open the gate, they did ask.
A journey to Hell and back again, brought the stone to Faerun’s land,
Stolen was it once more, for profits gain, this time by a friends hand.

The lure of profit great, returned him to the ‘Deep
Where immense responsibilities, are handed in a heap.
A trusted friend He found at last, then an unrequited love,
Balancing the weight of work, with orders from above.

To a Festival was he invited, dressed in velvet black,
There did witness competitions, of wit and word there was no lack.
With mingled awe and dread, meets Silver Dragon and High Lady too,
Then Melikki, did honor all, appeared …… blessing the entire crew.

Many worries did follow him , as he went about his day,
To Gondalims, his feet took him, to some friends a visit pay.
In conversation deep they sat, there entered then a mage quite rude,
When nicely asked to close the door, the mage replied with remarks crude.

Warnings were given, by each side, though sadly unheeded went,
Fighting ensued, forgotten was caution, as anger they did vent.
The mage was powerful, quite so, a banshee’s wail cast,
There did strike poor Jacho down, that breath it was his last.

Twenty-one years, my tale unfolds, some for each year of his life,
For one so young, he had his share, of trouble and of strife.
Many things in his life he did, some wrong, and some right,
But only the gods can judge him now, removed he is, from spite.

We, his friends, remember him for what he means to each,
Hold in our hearts, the memory, of all he had to teach.
Now my friends the tales done, nothing left to plan,
So raise your cups, toast with me, the life of a complex man!

_______________________________________

Shadow Hunter
By Ashale’n Dervise



Stalking Hunters for the sport,
Watching, for it’s death they court.
Who will be the next to fall
Will the Shadow get them all?


Now the Bride is lying dead,
Life from Her the Shadow bled.
No more slavers will she kill,
But the Shadows hunting still.


Searching for the Huntress, bold
She who dared to take their gold.
Quietly the Shadow waits,
For the one that Drow hates.


Boldly forth, to meet her foe,
No longer is she hiding low.
The Huntress does the Shadow meet,
But quicker still is Shadows feet.


The Huntress breaths her last with pride,
Now She’s gone to join the Bride.
Battles done and now, a earned rest ,
Their deeds are done, they passed the test.

----------------------------------------------

[Lafter]

hehe .. I cant belive I just read this ...very well writtin .. but the subject sucks ... it all about dead mates oh mine

[Cayssan]

*sniff*

[RangerDeWood]

well I'd only played with two of them, but their ballads and tributes are well done. Kudos.

[mxlm]

Sounds as though that Croaker guy was a ...*pauses, looks at Wild Wombat's imposing physique*...friendly feller. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Nicely done, Ari