Alanis Dirgesong

Alanis Dirgesong was a traveling bard who specialized in depressing and despondent songs in the mid-to-late 14 century DR. "Our lives, which fall like leaves in Uktar, blown off life's tree by death's cold wind, flutter to the ground, spent and lifeless, then buried in snow that Auril sends."

- Alanis Dirgesong, mournful bard

Description
Alanis had long black hair and gray eyes. She dressed in a white blouse with a black leather bodice and leggings.

Personality
She had a constantly gloomy mood, and enjoyed wallowing in self-pity and woe in any circumstance.

Abilities
Alanis had a variety of bardic magical abilities that she used to protect herself and enhance her performances. She adored portraying her spells as evidence of her futile struggle against her doomed fate.

Possessions
Alanis carried a short sword and wore enchanted +5 leather armor. Her tool of the trade was a black harp, and she also carried a ring of free action and an onyx dog figurine. She traveled about on a pony.

Activities
Alanis traveled the Realms and performed her music widely, gaining a significant following despite her depressing and pitiful persona. She wrote and performed songs about subjects such as doomed lovers, infants dying in the crib, futile struggles against fate, and adventurers that were lost and forgotten. He work was adored by Lord Rhyn Mournsoul in particular.

History
In the, she was traveling in eastern Cormyr and stayed overnight at the Journey's Rest inn. When the vampire innkeepers Ryanna and Moria attacked the other customers, she immediately accepted her death and began composing an epitaph. Fortunately for Alanis, the vampires did not consider her a target as she was too famous and her disappearance would draw too much attention to the inn.

Trivia
Alanis Dirgesong is likely a reference to the real-life singer and songwriter Alanis Morissette, who is not quite as depressing.