Journal of Vera Grer: On the Dirgesinger

[CainSF]

((Insert aporpriate date here))

I and some of my companions have just incountered something that chills me to my core. What started out as a simple goblin slaying run turned into what some may call destiny. It was as we were reaching the the entrance to the second level we were ambushed by goblins. We were quick to dispatch them but then it happened. It was a song unlike any I had ever heard. As it touched thier courpses it seemed to send them to convulstions before finely.._ their skeletons riped from thier mangled bodies.
Unfortunatly that was not the last of it. I knew I had to find out more about this song, so I urged the others on. Below we heard more noice through what turned out to be a secreat door. Soon enough we were faceing hords of undead..We bairly survived. Among the bodies were what looked to be cultests. From the markings Cultests of Bane, though I cant be sure. Again the music returned louder and more twisted. The bodies rose to fight us again. I can still hardly believe we servived, I remember calling to fall back but that is all... Once I healed the others I wanted to simply be out of that cave and away from that foul mockery of music. Intime we made it to the fianl chamber, where we faced the latest chief of the goblin tribes as well as another cultest. I had thought these cultests had been the source of the song, and I wanted to find it for sure to make sure it could be stoped.
We were going to find out soon enough. The music returned again and this time I was able to make out the distorted thing somewhat. It was so strange, a mix of mulnorand and elven..and cold as ice. A powerful wright was pulled from the chief and I would have sworn it screamed without sound...
With our triumph of the spirit the master finaly showed himself. I had to diswade my companions, still hungry for battle from attacking him because I knew we were no match. As he spoke to us I spied his harp. A retched thing of bleached bone with vocal cords for strings, vocal cords he clamed to be from famous minstrals. What more he claimed that the song itself was tought to him by the "Grisley madens of Baator." The mad fool actualy plans to perfact it. He called it a song of life before calling it a song of undeath... I can only guess that it was the first befor being twisted into its curent state, yet he claimed he was going to perfect it. As he left I swore I would stop him. I have to be there when he plans to use it again. I had tried and failed to produce a countersong on our first encounture but I musn't again. With luck, and the hopefully the favor of Milil I will be able to create countersong to stop his, a true song of life against his song of undeath as it were.
I go now to the library in Sundren. There I shall work on my countersong and try to find anythign I can to help me understand this song of undeath. May the Lord of Song watch over me and guide my fingers and flute so that I can stop this mad man and help put to rest the minstrals who made that accursed harp.

[CainSF]

*Dated a few years later*

Research has not gone well. Every thing I come on just seems another dead end. I have studied lore on arcane dispelling and books of musical theory but had found nothing specific to this song of undeath..or any song of life. I am sure I have improved my skills but I doubt it is enough.

I revisited the goblin caves again. As I suspected I found no further clues. There was one book I found interesting inthe cheif's feeble collection, but it doesn't seem it will be any of use.

In the end I have summorized a sort of plan from what I can put together. The song of undeath is a complicated but part of its power is the negative energy infused in its notes. If I can find a way to to infuse my countersong with positive energy...I believe it will help. This has proven more difficult then I would like. Not only are my healing spells relatively feeble compaired to what I believe this will require, but adding the energy requires verbal components that make it like trying to look in two directions at once. I believe the key may have been in that foul harp of his. The bone and vocal cords, my in themselves be infused with negative energy. If my theory is correct I must find someone who can infuse my flute in a similar fasion. I would feel best if I could find a preist of the Lord of Music to do this, but the Preasts of Helm were sugested to me. I may have to go to them. I do not suspect that it will be a simple matter to resolve, and not without cost. But I must do what I can. Many others don't seem to see this matter as grave as I do. But perhaps I may convince the preists if I perform some service for them.

[CainSF]

*A few days later*

I've got it! Part of the key is the spirit of the flute! To summerize, I have just been brought back from the dead again and I almost feel like it was ment to be. i had this revilation while there though I can only faintly remember it now..its like a dream you have woken up from, all foggy. What I do remember was something dark with aomeone else. But that wasn't important, what was was the flute. I had what seemed my flute, but not. It was like a ghostly copy of it. I also remember when I played a song on it, the notes had been so pure and warm, so full of life- - -if only I could remember the melody.
Still my revilation revolves around the flute. Why was it there? I can think of only two reasons. Either a) my flute has a spritit of its own that fallowed me, or b) the flute was a part of my self. If either is the case, if I can find a way to tap into that, to bring out that pure music, perhaps then I could bring out the song itself. Still I may still need to get my flute enchanted with positive energy. If I cover every angle, I may stand a chance in this.