Song of Sorrows

In the still, dark hours of the night, a haunting melody drifts through the streets of Aru’Mas—a mournful, ethereal tune known as the Song of Sorrows. This disembodied voice, deep and resonant, sings in an ancient, almost forgotten language that defies all attempts at translation. The sound is at once beautiful and chilling, carrying a sadness that resonates deep within the hearts of those who hear it. The voice seems to wander as if the singer were strolling through the winding streets, yet no one has ever seen the source of the song. Despite the many theories surrounding its origins, the truth of the Song of Sorrows remains an unsolved mystery.

Description and Effects

The Song of Sorrows is unlike any natural phenomenon, both in its form and the effect it has on those who hear it. The voice is rich and sorrowful, and though it carries a tune, it feels weighty, as if each note were burdened with ancient grief. It is heard only at night, weaving through the narrow streets and alleys of the city, its volume fading and growing as if the singer is walking just out of reach. While the language is unknown, listeners often feel as though they can almost grasp the meaning behind the words—a sense of loss, yearning, and sorrow so profound that it touches even those who hear it only briefly.

Those who hear the song often report feeling a heaviness in their hearts, as if sharing in the singer’s grief. Some describe a strange melancholy that lingers long after the voice has passed, leaving them reflective or even tearful without understanding why. It is not uncommon for people to close their doors and windows at night, hoping to avoid hearing the Song of Sorrows and the inexplicable sadness it brings.

Attempts at Translation and Their Consequences

Over the centuries, countless scholars, mages, and linguists have been drawn to the mystery of the Song of Sorrows, desperate to understand the meaning behind its ancient words. Yet the song resists all attempts at translation, as if protected by some dark enchantment. Those who attempt to use magic to discern its meaning find their spells backfiring in unexpected ways. The act of casting translation magic on the song results in intense psychic feedback: the caster suffers psychic damage and is immediately struck with a level of exhaustion, rendering them weakened and shaken. These effects are so severe that even the most skilled mages have been dissuaded from further attempts, unwilling to risk their own mental well-being.

Despite this, some scholars have persisted in trying to decipher the song through manual means, studying its patterns and attempting to compare it to other ancient languages. But each attempt has proven fruitless, and the song’s meaning remains elusive. One notable scholar, Archanist Zarel, was once renowned for his work in ancient languages but became obsessed with the Song of Sorrows. He spent years trying to unravel its secrets, keeping himself locked in his study with notes strewn across every surface. Eventually, his obsession led him to madness. Witnesses claimed he could be heard muttering fragments of the song in a feverish state, as if haunted by the melody he could not escape. Zarel’s decline is a stark warning to others who would follow in his footsteps.

Theories and Folktales Surrounding the Song

The Song of Sorrows has inspired numerous legends and folktales over the years, each one attempting to explain the source of the haunting melody. Though no single story is accepted as truth, the people of Aru’Mas share these tales as a way of coping with the mystery that lingers in their streets.

  • The Wraith of a Lost Lover: One popular tale suggests that the voice belongs to a ghost—a man who lost his beloved and now wanders the city each night, singing a song of mourning that only the dead can understand. According to this story, he was separated from his lover by a tragedy long ago, and he still walks the streets searching for her spirit. Those who believe this tale leave small tokens of affection, such as flowers or locks of hair, on their doorsteps at night, hoping to appease the spirit and avoid hearing his sorrowful tune.
  • A Forgotten God’s Lament: Another legend claims that the song is a remnant of an ancient god, forgotten by time and stripped of worshipers. This god, abandoned and grieving, is said to wander Aru’Mas in search of those who will remember him. This theory has led some to believe that the song is cursed, a trap to ensnare listeners and draw them into the god’s sorrow. Some devotees who hear the Song of Sorrows believe it is a test and seek to record the melody without interpreting its meaning, hoping to earn favor by honoring the god’s grief without prying into its secrets.
  • The Warning of a Doomed Sailor: Another story tells of a sailor who ventured into realms beyond Ahvantir and returned, changed, with knowledge that no mortal should possess. The sailor, burdened with a vision of terrible fate, began to sing this song, hoping to warn others. But the words were cursed, and now his spirit sings them even in death. Those who follow this tale believe that the song carries warnings about dangers from the astral seas, and some sailors avoid hearing it altogether, fearing that it will draw misfortune to their own journeys.
  • The Cry of the Once-Was Choir: A more ominous theory suggests that the Song of Sorrows is sung by a chorus of Once-Was spirits—those who died in despair and are now bound to the city, singing of their unfulfilled lives. This theory suggests that each voice heard in the song is another lost soul, joining the mournful tune over the centuries. According to this tale, the song will continue to grow louder as more souls are added, until it fills the entire city and cannot be ignored. Elders tell this story as a cautionary tale, reminding people to live without regrets lest they join the mournful chorus.

Superstitions and Reactions in Aru’Mas

The people of Aru’Mas have developed a number of superstitions and practices in response to the Song of Sorrows, attempting to protect themselves from its unsettling influence:

  • Nightly Wards: Many residents place small charms or wards on their doors at night, believing these to keep the song’s influence at bay. Some popular charms include polished stones, scraps of parchment inscribed with protective symbols, and small bells, which are said to drown out the song’s notes if it drifts too close.
  • Silent Hours: Out of respect for the haunting melody, some neighborhoods observe an informal “silent hour” after midnight, during which people refrain from singing or playing music. They believe that other sounds might anger the spirit and increase the song’s sadness, intensifying its effects on the living.
  • Closing Windows and Doors: Many citizens take care to close their windows and doors tightly on nights when the Song of Sorrows is heard. Some say that hearing even a faint whisper of the song will invite misfortune or melancholy, while others simply wish to avoid the inexplicable sadness it brings.
  • Avoiding Transcription: Attempts to transcribe the song are seen as taboo. While some scholars may continue to study it, the general populace believes that writing down its notes or words brings bad luck. Music shops refuse to sell blank sheets on nights when the song is heard, and citizens who have tried recording it in the past report disturbing dreams or feelings of unease.

The Song of Sorrows: A Reminder of Life’s Fragility

The Song of Sorrows is a constant, unchanging presence in the city of Aru’Mas, a haunting melody that touches the hearts of all who hear it. Its origins and purpose remain shrouded in mystery, and its verses are as incomprehensible as they are beautiful. For the people of Aru’Mas, the Song of Sorrows is a reminder of life’s fragility, a connection to the forgotten past, and a warning against letting grief and despair consume one’s spirit.

While the true meaning of the song may never be known, its mournful tune endures as part of the city’s character, weaving sorrow and mystery into the fabric of Aru’Mas. Those who hear it are left with an unshakable sense of empathy, as if they too have experienced some ancient loss, a feeling that binds the city’s people together in shared sorrow. As long as the Song of Sorrows echoes through the night, it will continue to haunt and inspire those who call Aru’Mas home, forever a mystery, forever mournful, and forever unforgettable.

Children …

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