Aran's Lexicon of Song and Poem By and for Aran Arinvaul's use and no one else's.

The Price of Life is Gold [Consider revising; weak rhyme scheme; if I sing this in the Lower dumps I may just get killed or even Upper with the "Slave" notion. Avoid playing this around Paladins and *any* Cleric. ]

If there is anything worth to me, More than my life is a tiny yellow rock, you see, Of course it is gold, gold! Perfect, shiny, world's Lifeblood, I'm told!

Embrace it! Love it! Cherish it! Give it all to me! Give me enough to make of it a sea!

Gold, gold!! Give any to me and I'm sold!

Embrace it! Love it! Cherish it! Just give it all to me! Want to open the lock to my friendship? Gold is the Key!

The right price will buy anything! A sling to fight, a song to sing, Yes, it can buy everything! Even a slave, if you please!

Don't give me those angry looks; I tease, I tease!

Embrace it! Love it! Cherish it! Just give it all to me! Do not be foolish, do not be uncouth; give it all to me, I plea!

And with that, I take my leave!

The Beast's Perfection [A rather fine poem. I asked some simple-minded kin to tell me what ryhmed with "foul". What in the Nine Hells possessed them to tell me the following : towel, paw, dowel, cowl, and owl? I stuck with a smart one, "howl".]

The creature, black and foul, Tore into the night. It's claws ready, it howled, Ready for a fight!

The warriors dreamed of this day, The demon's head was a thing to pay! But to their horror they found, The Scout they sent to hound, The creature, with it's claw and sound, Made him dead on the ground.

The creature laughed and shook, It seemed as if the scout they forsook, For It killed him easily, The poor man had no time to flee- -the creature was great, it's bloodlust impossible to sate!

The men ran to It, attacking it fierce, but it was far, far too late, anyone in the creature's way- death was it's fate.

Elfie and the Gnome [So damn botched and the ryhme scheme is horrible. I oughta keep it, even though I hate each stanza. Elfie likes it, and as far as I'm concerned, she's my only friend, besides for that kind looney, Brass, and a few others.]

The Gnome with the Steel Mask nodded. "Come, a journey with me!" A touch to her arm seemed like nothing to you or me... But soon Elfie would see!

She was in a maze of arch and stone, Elfie ran through the place, all alone. She stepped and sprinted, until she came to the Gnome, It grasped Elfie's head, and spoke magic from a Tome.

The Elf struggled and wriggled, But the magic didn't let up; even a little. Yet a woman came from an unknown source. The Gnome told the woman "to pass the test she needed to gut Elfie with force!"

Yet the woman dested the idea of it. The Gnome and her had a fit! They argued and argued, then argued some more, Until the Gnome agreed to send Elfie to her place of before [the trial].

Brass's Lament : The Dread Dirgist [I've been inspired by the Looney. I'm not sure if this is what he meant, but I thought it sounded good. A scary or a happy-sounding song. Songs for the Dead.. The Dread Dirgist! Sounds good.]

Right now, I am The Dread Dirgist, singer of the dead! If you have a taste for the macabre, I certainly will keep you fed!

The Bones of the Dead flow among Sanctuary, like rivers among the ground.. Do not be careful to cross it, do not tarry! For while it rushes with new feed, it never makes a sound.

The Dead are many; warriors, merchants, and peasants, to list a few... But if you were to try to know them all, you wouldn't have a clue, For the River always grows, every minute, every hour. With every skull and femur of every race, the flow will soon become a hill, then a tower.

Before the Tower that is Death, we cower, cower.

Field Journal of Aran Durendal

I was meaning to keep a separate working for each of the subjects; the Arts and my Life and Discoveries, yet buying a new book would be frivelous and prevent me from being quick on foot.

[Warehouse-Mycopolis-Lower Sanctuary-Underdark]

I traveled with a few companions to this place. I can only recall their first names-Roshvander, Sai-something, Rem, and Salvadora. An odd crew, but Roshvander and Salvadora seemd like an okay patch. Well, I didn't get the details of who owned the place; Sai-something and Rem ran the whole bleeding way, and Sai just told me to keep up.

When we arrived, we encountered some fungi-covered boxes with a low green light flourishing from under each crate. They smelled horrible. It didn't really matter, because the first thing I can recall from the place is going black for a long time, then waking up. I had something that was kind've like a long dream, but it had only been about one-third of an hour. Even though I had just ate, drank, and rested just before the task, I was punished for my short reverie.

I was immediately fatigued and felt a slight weaker; much like when I blacked out in the mines, only to return to the Crypts months later*.

After catching up with my eager companions, I acted as gentlemanly as you could. I bowed, I said 'please' and apologized for my short absence. They waved me off and told me to just follow and kill the Oozes that had somehow taken over the place.

After we eliminated the sick things on the base floor, we went into the cellars, only to find it was flooded. Grand. What did we find in there? More clear-slugs, and a huge, jelly-like cube. I got my hand stuck in it, which made me about vomit. Even though the gel wasn't uncomfortable or painful, I could feel a dead burning while my hand was in it.

After our leader, Sai-something, checked all of the disgusting crates for findings, we headed back, weary and tired.

I'm hating all of this hard-work, but Fed was right; I'm getting more gold than ever-but is it worth it? I nearly died back there-what would gold be used for then? To line the pockets of my so-called companions?

I'm sticking to easy work whenever I can for now, but I'm still short on gold. No one seems to be responding to my fliers, so maybe I should go off and actively sell them.

Takes work and money to sell, though.

*I'm quite sure that I had some kind've long-term blackout, and they thought I was dead. Gods, these people don't have much brains.

[The Bald Goblin-Tunnels-Lower Santuary-Underdark]

A curiousity right here. Some goblin selling some watered-down ale and some vile liquid that smelled -and probably tasted- horrible. Still, I wonder if he would mind if I took his hideout... with or without force.

The Fall of Sanctum [I think this is beautiful. It's so perfect and-well, I've never seen much like it. It's modern and fantastic-I'm going to play it for the Lucius man. I think I should keep a little updated version of it, adding and crossing out more and more as it goes. I should remember though that the ryhming pattern verse is : A-B-B-A-B.]

The Fall of Sanctum is a Sad Sight Indeed, So Many Things Beckon It to Succumb, The Goblins, Metal, Slugs and all of the Evil Seed, Over Sanctum they plot and loom.

Mycopolis, The Druid's Land, Is Besieged by Goblin and Slug of Great, Driven by Territorial Want that only Our Lands can Sate... Will Mycopolis Fall by Their Hand? The Only Being that Know's is Fate.

The Dwarves of Grey, Lay their Hammers down and Leave, "You're on your own," they Say... Will we be crushed by threats because of the arms we cannot achieve? The Only Being that can Turn it All is the Thieves.

The Slaves that Escape Their Master, Grow Greater by Day, But the Amount of the Dead grow Faster.. Will We be Exterminated by the Numbers on the Ground that Lay? I say "Yea," there is no Way to stop this Disaster...

As Go to Our Demise with Speed, With much Detest and Plea, Soon we will all See, That Our Time Has Come.

The Fall of Sanctum is a Sad Sight Indeed, So Many Things Beckon It to Succumb, The Goblins, Metal, Slugs and all of the Evil Seed, As I End this Song, Closer comes Our Doom. As Sanctuary falls, so does Our Tomb.

[Allies in Sanctuary]

• Metys - Minstrel. Uses a drum-like instrument. Seems a little afraid of everything. A bit foolish and green to the Dark, but a nice guy.

• Rem - Some kind've Warrior-Minstrel. Uses scimitars. Trustworthy-maybe.

• Fed - He's a little wierd, and foolish, too, but I'll have to keep enough friends.

• "Sev" - Stays with Elrindra most of the time. Don't know here name. Helpless git. Makes fun of my music. Unknown real name-could be just a nickname that Elrindra gave her.

• Westmore - A priest of Illmater. Seems pretty nice.

• Brass - Nice guy. A fellow musician. Little on the wierd side.

• Elfie "Elrindra" - Rude and mocks my music and my way of dressing.

[Ilmateri Statements]

Got a commision from Westmore. Real nice guy. I've been looking in the libraries, especially the one in New Dunwarren. I've got some important topics written up.

Basic Information Ilmater : The Crying God, The Broken God, The Lord on the Rack, The One Who Endures. Home Plane : The House of the Triad.

Worshippers "Followers of the Ilmater are often perceived as martyrs and intentional sufferers, to the point of ridicule by some. However, they are known as some of the best healers in the realms often being found in some of the worst possible conditions, helping the oppressed, the diseased and the poor. In adventuring groups, they are often the ones who will take all risks to save a person in danger, putting the needs of others above their own, to the exclusion of their personal risk."

Dogma [Basic] "Help all who hurt, no matter who they are. The truly holy take on the suffering of others. If you suffer in his name, Ilmater is there to support you. Stick to your cause if it is right, whatever the pain or peril. There is no shame in a meaningful death. Stand up to all tyrants, and allow no injustice to go unchallenged. Emphasize the spiritual nature of life over the existence of the material body."

Allies [Basic] "Ilmater is an older deity who has long been associated with Tyr (his superior; didn't know that!) and Torm, who together are known as the Triad. The Triad work together closely, for in union they are stronger than as individuals. Ilmater is also allied with Lathander."

Foes [Basic] "He opposes deities who enjoy destruction and causing pain and hardship for others, particularly Loviatar and Talona, whose natures are diametrically opposed to his own. Other foes include Bane (doesn't everyone hate Bane?) , Garagos, Malar, Shar, and Talos."

Tidbits of Information "In exploration parties, those of the Ilmateri are often the ones who will take all risks to save a person in danger, putting the needs of others above their own, to the exclusion of their personal risk."

Excerpts from The Holy Axiology of the Crying God "One must help all who hurt or in pain, no matter who they are. Friend or foe, it makes no matter; all are in our purview."

"The truly holy must take on the suffering of others. Not by suffering needlessly, but by taking the world's woes upon their own shoulders."

"If you suffer in his name, Ilmater will support you. Faith shall not go un-noticed from those who walk the most difficult of paths. The path of the Broken God. You shall bear the suffering of others, and Ilmater shall do the same for you if you do such with true intent."

"Stick to your cause if it is right, no matter the pain or punishment. Solemn dedication shall prevail, your fortitude and condition renewed after your task.,"

"There is no shame in a meaningful death."

"Stand up to all tyrants, let no wrong go without justice."

"Emphasize the spiritual life over material possessions and body. Distance oneself from the body, and stay close to the mind and soul."

[Things to Do]

• Research on Ilmateri Lore. Need stories specifically.
• Write a few basic hymns on Ilmateri Doghma.
• Get more gold.
• Find Elfie and ask her about this "Meladon Maps" business.
• Ask her if she needs a nice slogan or motto-that pays me.
• Write a few normal songs. I'm sick of the Cying God already.
• Buy some nicer armour.
• Get a finer weapon.
• Refresh the postings.
• Contact the Auditorium; find more about it.
• Look into these strange explosions. Rewards are abound!
• Contact Westmore; never gave me my pay for my performance.
• Practice Lute Scales. Chromatic and Basic.