Arya Dawnsinger
Bard with a missing Love

Race: Human
Birthplace: unknown
Home: unknown
Occupation: Grandmaster Bard
Alignment: Neutral
Affiliations: Multiple
Known For: Songs and poems
Present status: unknown

Seer Character
Effective Era: Renaissance
Biographical Information
Courtesy Great Lakes Community News

Arya and her lover, Cantas Nightsong were embroiled in turmoil surrounding several magic songbooks and were separated from each other. After many grand adventures, they were reunited.

A more detailed record of Aryas Adventuers follows, originally compiled by Elwynn the Druid.

Greetings, adventurer. I put pen to paper this day to bring to light the events in the life of Arya Dawnsinger. Her days can be followed, and perhaps understood by the wise among you, by studying a series of books, poems, and songs that have been revealed in various ways. In some cases, my parenthetical notes may enhance your reading. Begin here, gentle reader, for an understanding of events. My thanks to the kind and wise Seer, Lady Scyllirya, who has assisted with this digest.


Preface: The Story of Arya Dawnsinger
Part the First: A Poem introduces Arya Dawnsinger
Part the Second: Deadwinter Night Takes Questors to the Hedge Maze
Part the Third: Questors to Deceit
Part the Fourth: A Treasure Hunt to the South Poses New Questions
Part the Fifth: Trouble in Trinsic Reveals more Verses
Part the Sixth: Ice Dungeon
Part the Seventh: Crimson Shroud hold Finding the Musik
Part the Eighth: A Madman in Dungeon Wrong Leads to Cantas Nightsong


Preface: The Story of Arya Dawnsinger

Arya Dawnsinger lived happily near the town of Skara Brae. She was a simple bard and loved to wander the taverns, sharing her music. As it does to many of us, love came on the wings of a man who shared her love of music as well. His name was Cantas Nightsong. The two were very happy and planned to be married the following spring.

As love does not often wait, one day on an outing to Ice Island, they found warmth in each other's arms and became lovers. Later that afternoon, Cantas wandered off from her and found a cave. As he played his music, Arya wandered toward him playing a game of hide and seek with their songs. Before she reached him, however, an opening appeared in the rock wall, and four books were revealed. Cantas took one of the books up, and found it was filled with strange songs. Quickly, he gathered up the others, but not before Arya saw them.

He explained to her what had happened, and handed her one of the books, Soul of the Music. She looked through it and found it filled with lovely ballads. She asked if she could keep it and he said yes.



As the weeks went by, a change occurred in Cantas. As he pored over the first book, little was noticed except that the title was Soul of the Light. If anything, it seemed to make him happier. However, as the second book, Soul of the Dark, was being read and committed to memory he began to be moody and difficult.

Lastly, he began reading Soul of the Dead, and the world changed for Arya. He became sullen and moody, and though asserting that he loved her still, he spent little time with her, and more and more with the books. Arya realized that it was the books that had changed him. Finally, he asked her for Soul of the Music back. At first, he was pleasant, but as she refused he became more and more insistent, and at last threatening.

Arya said she would go and get it, but instead stole into his chambers and took the first two books. She could not take Soul of the Dead, for it never left his possession now. Under cover of the darkness, she left everything she loved, for the sake of what she loved. She knew that whatever evil had affected him, could not be complete without all four books.

But she knew too that he would never rest until he had them, and that his powers grew day by day.

The flames of love had warmed her, but now they burned with a pain beyond understanding.


Part the First: A Poem introduces Arya Dawnsinger

One day the Seer Scyllirya happened upon a strange poem. She roamed the lands with it, asking if anyone knew of the author, Arya Dawnsinger. After realizing the power of the poem, Scyllirya asked citizens of the realm to help her to find Arya.

Don't Stand Too Close to the Flames
(A poem by Arya Dawnsinger)

Here a legend of cold fear
Will I a sing a little space
It could cost the traveler dear
If he does not run apace

In the hour of three times three (This line refers to 9 am by the Eastern Sky)
As time is measured in the east
The vast tomb of the dead shall see
Legions rise to murderous feast

Three the number, mark this day
In a room with bloodstained stones
Three the letters one must say
In a room of whitewashed bones

The word a puzzle, here its parts
One dire, but not ice
Two wind, but not drawn
Three once, but not twice

Speak the word and call the dead
Nothing more should need be said
But beware what you set free
Lest you find as them you'll be


A study of the poem led many citizens to the Yew crypts for what was to be the first of many adventures, and there were many undead there. In the crypts, the brave adventurers said the word finally, which was "DIN", and undead swarmed the chamber. After putting the undead to rest, a book was found, a piece of Soul of the Music.

Excerpt from Soul of the Music
(author unknown)

Ribbons of scarlet, winding down
Upon my love's hair as a crown
Touch the cheek of she who sleeps
Soft the love, her dream it keeps

Set a place with silver fine
Light the candle, pour the wine
Come and taste of love's array
Knowing nothing gold... can stay

Once a song did warm the night (VERSE 3 - revealed)
Til other music took its light
Even ice can burn and dance
When the music has its chance

Deep inside the darkest heart (VERSE 4 - revealed in Dungeon Shame)
Was a place of noble heart
Maybe not forever lost
But it now is tempest tossed


Courageous adventurers and wise scholars studied over this work. What was its meaning?


Part the Second: Deadwinter Night Takes Questors to the Hedge Maze

Arya roamed the lands, seeking her own identity, and others to aid her in finding something... someone. She gave them a copy of a song, a beautiful but deadly song. She somehow sensed that it was important. It led her friends to the Spider Temple in the hedge maze. There her heroes met battle for her.

Deadwinter Night, excerpted from Soul of the Music
(author unknown)

Where roads twist and pathways turn
Where the spider's temple burns (The line refers to the Hedge Maze)
There will tortured souls be blest (Spectres and wraiths)
And with the sword be put to rest

With the blessing of the child
Come the spirits dark and wild (They were released when child was blessed.)
She must never harmed be
Though the many be set free (Our heroes kept the child, Luce, alive and returned.)

If she die then haunted still
Will be the house upon the hill
Secret way where footsteps lead
Will her spirit bend and bleed

Til upon the tower tall
She will wait for night to fall
Weary se'enights must she wait (It foretold an event seven nights later.)
To find the healer of her fate

Then the strong and brave and true
Bring a gem of crystal hue (The priest brought a blessed diamond.)
And a priest to bless the stone
Must be the magic to save alone

This one knows the mystery
Of flames and past and reverie (Indeed she did, the flames were passion.)
Yet she does not comprehend
What light knows or how to mend



Part the Third: Everdreams Leads Questors to Deceit

After the battle in the hedge maze, Arya became more and more distressed. She recalled very little of her past, yet she knew that the story being revealed verse-by-verse was somehow her own. The next verse appeared in her book, and as she went from place to place singing it, the undead rose from the ground to haunt and pursue her.

Arya realized after reading Deadwinter Night that something... was needed. She did not know what and searched her books, to find some answer. The verses of one, Everdreams, stood out as she read them:

Excerpt from Everdreams
(author unknown)

Once in a place where all is ice (The island of ice and the dungeon Deceit)
Two found their brief paradise
Yet the music changed the light
Making day into twilight

If a key could here be found
Then gathering the table round
All would find the minstrel's lair
And she would her story share

Yet the way is danger bound
Creatures of the dead there found
In an ancient banquet hall
Where the mighty once did fall

Clear the room of what it hold
Fire and wind and bitter cold (Undead, fire and water elementals)
Then the key will there appear
Of what the singer holds in fear

With this key, the singer find
Then her tale... will at last unwind
Everdreams they live there still
In the music's heart, their will


The verse seemed to refer to the Island of Ice and the dungeon of Deceit. In Deceit's banquet room, the questors were faced with many elementals. After they were all killed, a book appeared on the table. In it was written the name of Cantas Nightsong. The book, entitled She who holds my heart, seemed to be a note to Arya. 

She who holds my heart

(by Cantas Nightsong)

It may be ... too late. The books have worked their evil magick. Know this. I love you no matter what the future holds...or does not hold. They touch us both...these books. I know not how to change what they have wrought. Perhaps they themselves will give us a clue...Or perhaps we are forever lost...We can try to save our love from this evil but not all is true...


The task now seemed to be to find Arya, and to give her the book, for surely the name "Cantas Nightsong" was some sort of clue.

When her friends brought her the book and spoke the name of Cantas Nightsong, her story came pouring from her heart just as you read it above as her memory returned. She gave them the next verse and explained that as they aided her, new verses appeared in the Soul of the Music. She told them about the three books, and explained that she had them hidden away. Quite mysteriously, the words are not all there. Magically they would appear, and as one song is finished, another begins to grow. She tells them that as she finds out each finished song, she will share it with them, and that maybe when the books are finished, and answer can be found.


Part the Fourth: A Treasure Hunt to the South Poses New Questions

A treasure hunt began after Arya found a fragment of a page in the woods near Trinsic. Many brave souls met Arya at the Trinsic gates, and she gave them this verse, and told them that someone ripped this page from one of the books just before she left home, and she had found a piece of it in the Trinsic woods. The first part, that she gave them was:

Into the jungles, seek to find
Past water square and tangled vine
Let honor be your compass guide
Yet stop where the dead rest and reside

There find and save the one who'd take
Dark words all for her sister's sake
Yet only part of what was lost
Does she still hold at dire cost


Questors ventured south and found Lyra Dawnsinger, Arya's sister. She gave them the fragment in exchange for knowledge of Arya and her whereabouts. She told them that her father had the next part and that he was dead, and she does not know what happened to the others, but that there were two more pieces as well. Her verse says:

Your journey now must onward wend
To find a tiny woodland glen
Where many swear by, few have found
Here stands one still of honor bound


Lyra thought she was in the right clearing, but it was not this one, it was the shrine of Honor. When the brave warriors arrived there, they found the ghost of her father, who spoke the next two verses to them and then vanished, without a trace:

Still the puzzle cannot unravel
There upon the dirt and gravel
Is an answer to your quest
Seek you then the shrine of death

Enter then the tiger's mouth
And without rhyming issue forth
Study these words for what is best
For next you must travel to the...



As the verses seemed to indicate, at a small altar to the east, many undead roamed. After the adventurers dispatched them all, a book appeared upon that altar, and the next two verses were revealed.

Now continue on your way
The dead about you now do lay
Find a church now tumbled down
And a chest that someone found

Here an answer must be revealed (At first this last verse was lost to a thief, who erased part of it.)
Or the singer's fate is sealed (He later revealed the words to the heroes.)
Do not be quick to judge before
You have all you bargained for


More verses were revealed that led the brave adventurers onward that night.

Fragment of a page from... Soul of the....

Now your Footsteps shall you turn
And seek a Temple pillar'd round
Seek Over Under Then on High (This line was erased)
The Direction in this Book is nigh (the first letters of each word spell south)

Here the ancient dead await
In numbers legion to seal your fate
Yet in their midst the song alight
That leads to one once honor bright

This is not an end you run
But here your journey's just begun
I wish you luck in all you dare
Be you brave, or foolish, who venture there



At last they arrived at a circular set of pillars, surrounded by reapers and teeming with undead. Here there were gems, gold, and treasure maps lying about. In the midst of all this were three books. Two were blank, and titled: Finding the Music, Hymn and Finding the Music, Dirge. The third book's was title Finding the Music, Hymn or Dirge, and contained the following verses, the first of which Arya had spoken before in a strange and unnatural voice:

Finding the Music, Hymn or Dirge

What Deceit, who the deceiver,
What the truth, who the believer,
All is mirror, all illusion
To draw you on to your confusion. (This verse is most confusing)

Half her key will never open
The lock of truth you do betoken
Half a door, and half a room
Half the lantern, half the gloom.

Seek the singer then to find
When this mystery will unwind (Arya was found and the verses below uncovered)
Four the number, three the days
Four in darkness, are their ways

The first day seek in cold,
The second, in fire's tower
The third in error bold
The fourth in a city's bower

The first unlocked by ice
The second cloaked in red
The third behind bars lies
The fourth sits on a bench




Part the Fifth: Trouble in Trinsic Reveals more Verses

The adventurers, over the next week, tried to find and speak to Arya, but each time the birds came first, then the undead to block their way. Finally in Trinsic, Theo and the others of the Council, Militia, and many friends spoke to her and went to seek the verses. When she was presented with them, and she scribed them in her book and the next verses appeared in her book:

Here the warbler seeks her mate
Aid to find him and her fate
Yet know that all is still confusion (These lines are still unclear, and tell us there may

All is mirror, all illusion be more to all of this than meets the eye.)
Truth will come, when truth it may
Still you can aid to open the door
Seek the key's part in the dark of ice
On the next day with a four (January 14)

Seek you on the frozen ground (This seemed to point to the Ice Dungeon.)
There a man whose lost needs found
Give him what he seeks and then
The next key will in order ascend




Part the Sixth: Ice Dungeon

Studies of previous verses did lead to the Ice Dungeon where brave questors next sought their clues. There they found an old man who had been on a shopping trip. The birds aided them and showed the way to him. After some deaths, and some confusion, they found the man's shopping list, and since he would not leave until his goods had been retrieved, they found everything for him. They gated him to the bank in Papau where he gave them a book with the next verses in it. He said that a man had given it to him in exchange for making some clothes. The verses found are below:

Fire does not always burn
Sometimes it can light and turn
So you need the fire to find
Upon the twice ten at half past nine (January 20)

Measure time by eastern sway
Lest the next key you miss that way
Do not be too early, too late (If the heroes miss the time, the key would be gone.)
Or the key will seal her fate




Part the Seventh: Crimson Shroud holds Finding the Musik

As the previous verses indicated, a group of brave adventurers gathered at Krista's Ranger Station to quest again. Seer Scyllirya offered to aid them since they were unsure of whether the place indicated was the fire dungeon or the lighthouse. She provided gates to both locations so they could look for clues. As the intrepid warriors fought their way past hellhounds, spiders, and snakes, they noticed that the dungeon was also inhabited, uncharacteristically, by songbirds. This must be the place!

At the tower of mages, many more mages than usual seemed to be about. Suddenly, at half past the hour, one appeared cloaked in red, and named Crimson Shroud. He rudely told them to get out, and when they questioned him further, he told them that he knew nothing of this Arya, and was most evasive on the question of Cantas. As they pressed him for details, he said he would be right back and disappeared for a few moments. Suddenly, evil mages were everywhere! It was a trap, the people thought to themselves. As the last evil mage fell, undead followed in their wake. At last Crimson Shroud reappeared, surprised that they were all still alive.

Swearing he would have to do it himself, Crimson began to cast. Brave Red William and two of the Orc warriors ran up to him and attacked him to keep him from casting, and to save their friends. The cowardly and vile Tyler, taking advantage of their status as attacker, felled them and looted them, recalling afterward as the others went after him.

Finally, they overwhelmed and killed Crimson Shroud, but not until after a fierce battle ensued, as he called forth more of his evil minions. Thinking they had won at last, they opened a gate to safety, just as an elder gazer, in reality the transformed Crimson Shroud, appeared to them and floated off, laughing, and finally disappeared. Upon the body of Crimson Shroud, they found the verses below: 

Finding the Musyk, Righting Wrong

Now the dance of ice and fire
Turns to the dancer, in his way
Now the wages of desire
Sin and evil, all must pay

Find the road to error winding
Walk to where men lie in cages
Madness, now is for the finding
And for him his rightful wages

Last this step and yet illusion
This puzzle yields not easily
Look in the mirror of confusion
Do not believe all that you see.

Add the first four odd numbers
Then add again the final two
On that day you seek the Musyk
The hour late, and dark its hue

It shall come at the witching hour
As it falls on eastern skies
As night turns to the next day
So will the music's master rise




Part the Eighth: A Madman in Dungeon Wrong Leads to Cantas Nightsong

Late on January 28, a gathering of adventurers left Krista's Ranger Station for the Dungeon Wrong. After fighting their way through endless ettins and ogres, the team arrived down on the second floor. There they encountered an Arya Dawnsinger imposter who toyed with them and eventually attacked, leading to her death. Soon after, a madman named Ralph Dimwiddie was noticed in one of the prison cells in the southwest cell block. Bedraggled and ill of health, the man asked for a rescue. He also indicated that he might have information of use to the group of questors that he would gladly exchange for a green apple. Eventually he was transported to the Ranger Station where he was bribed with multiple items of produce into giving these verses:

Darkling's thrush that cannot sing
Takes flight then with idle wing
By ship he travels to its streets
A city with few doors he seeks

There the crimson and the gold
Speak the stories yet untold
One goes his way to fire's tower
The other sits alone in a bower

What you seek you may not find
What you find you cannot take
In a city where songs unwind
Tell the lion for his dove's sake


Seeking an end to Arya's dismay that night, the heroes examined these verses and continued searching, this time for Cantas Nightsong. The lines seemed to indicate an island, at first perhaps Magincia. However, there was a better answer. Since Nujel'm is also an island, has few doors, and must be traveled to by ship (having no moongate), the group paid a visit.  An inquisitive adventurer known as Kernal Sanders located Cantas sitting under a gazebo just east of the bank.

Puzzling indeed was that Cantas seemed sympathetic and not so warped by Soul of the Dead.  When Heather of CMG revealed that they wished to aid Arya, Cantas warned that she was in grave danger, since she had taken the books from him (in an effort to preserve him!). The group, including Cantas, returned to the Ranger Station for the night. Further discussions with Cantas ended with a plea that she be found and the revelation that it would not be that night.

No sooner than most folks disbanded and retired for the evening, an attack of undead was delivered upon the Ranger Station. A dark and awesome mummy was seen calling out for Cantas.

It would seem some new questions were revealed this night. Where is Arya and what must be done to save her from the effects of the books? Is Cantas genuinely concerned about her? And are these undead that call out his name in search of him? Or are they commanded by him? And when will Arya be found? Perhaps soon?!


-The Druid Elwynn

P.S. Thanks go to Yew and Trinsic residents and supporters, the Bloodrock Clan Orcs, OGD members, Krista's Ranger Station friends and patrons and many many individuals! I fear that the number of those who have exhibited honor and courage in these matters is simple too high to mention everyone! You know who you are! Arya greatly appreciates your efforts.

And to Seer Scyllirya very special thanks for all her hard work!

Related Persons:
Cantas Nightsong
Crimson Shroud

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