A few Mad Minstril song suggestions... [some spoilers]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.adom (More info?)

Just thought I'd run these past the group to test the water before
submitting an RFE - look away now if you don't want spoiled (I don't see the
point in spoiler space as it's long and mostly cryptic):


Khelavaster, my dreams of thee have been dark of late,
And I fear that you are doomed to a terrible fate,
The forces you battle grow in strength and cunning,
But ever you insist on fighting, not running.
What can save you now from certain death?
What can save your life at its very last breath?
But then what force can save any of us in any battle or strife?
What hope can cure anyone at the end of their life...?

[The hint being that an AoLS can save Khelly, in the same way it can save
anyone from any death...]

Guth'alak, what tales you do tell
Of druids black and creatures fell,
But I see the true aim in your quest so "pure",
Always you seek to balance nature:
A druid is vanquished, but a healer is hidden,
So of good and evil the world is ridden.
But be careful, kind druid, when balancing the scales,
As nature won't save you from all your ails...

[A cynical look at Guth'Alak from the Mad Minstril's point of view. The
song shows that there are two mutually exclusive quests, and also sort of
hints at the fact that neutral characters need to strike a balance between
law and chaos - you can't all be good now, kids!]

Hey you - yes, YOU! Can you hear me from over there?
How many fingers am I holding up?
If you can't see six you're blind as a pup!
But it could help in some places up high you may fare
For if you really can't tell if it's day or night,
And you can't see friend from foe or stranger,
You won't need the will to walk through danger,
And what you can't see can't possibly hurt you, right?

[People with low Perception (less than 6) don't need a high willpower to
enter the great rift (though obviously the last line's a joke)]

Whatever happened to honour amongst thieves?
Cloaked in the dark, run a knife through his back...
What twinges their hearts and causes them grieves?
Catch him unawares and then stab and hack...
When you've learned all you can, do you need a master?
You can gain power if the right blood you spill...
Who will take over when he faces disaster...?
Steal his title when you finish the kill...

[If you kill Yergius, the master thief, you will become head of the Thieves'
Guild, and no one will care (apart from Barnabas, who lowers his prices for
you...) This is my favourite song - sounds cool if you say the left-hand
lines in a loud, slow cynical voice, but the right-hand lines in a low, fast
whisper.]

The Song of Creation

Ayssia's horn did start to toot,
Corellius followed in tune with his flute,
But Lol'th got annoyed and told them to mute,
And the One couldn't play a thing!

Onn bashed hard on his big heavy drum,
Istaria plucked on a harp with her thumb,
But Ssraxx thought the whole thing was dumb,
And the One couldn't even sing!

Issrecht played her Mandoline slow,
Whilst Morodwyn tried to clean his oboe,
But Vagrak laughed and jeered at the show,
And the One raged at everything!

And if high and low you seek to roam,
You'll find the tune written in a very weird tome,
But with the music as it was meant to be played...
Bring it here and you'll be well-paid!

[Hint about the library and the weird tome.]

Here is one final thing I wrote which isn't a hint and doesn't really fit in
anywhere in the game, but could be quite funny placed somewhere (I always
thought there should be a historian in the inn in dwarftown that tells funny
or interesting little stories about the ADOM world):

Some men have said that the feet of hurthlings can nay be harmed, not by
fire, blade nor magic. And they do say that this is a truly astounding
thing. And some men consider the foot of a hurthling to be an item of great
luck and protection, and many have one hung above their door or mantle.
Though these days 'tis frowned upon to go hunt for one, so 'tis considered a
prized heirloom to be passed from father to son.
But women do look upon men and declare them fools. "For how," say they,
"Can the foot of a hurthling be a lucky thing, when with their large
uncomely feet they are not able to wear shoes and footware of elegant crafts
and beautious materials? And especially 'tis a great misfortune unto them,
as with their short stature they could really do with a decent pair of
heels..."
And lo, 'tis little mystery why hurthlings do look upon humans and say
"The Big Folk really are very dumb."

--
Darren Grey