Connects to: 19.31.02, 26.20, 29.24, 38.28, 40.20, 44.19 and 51.29.
This southern patch of scrubland is broken up by a sudden sinkhole, fifty feet wide. A narrow spiral of steps is carved into the rock and the glow of fire flickers in the deep. Thickets of wormroot cluster around the edge of the pit. From the dusty interior there rises a whistling, as if of wind, but musical. Though the notes change, a trained musician will notice an underlying theme within them. The gnolls who dwell here will allow no-one to enter the pit, so its contents are unknown.
Within sight of the sinkhole is a large tower called the Fire Fang, which is the furthest campus of the Bardic College in the City of Smoke. Here, gnollish singers come to learn one of the most ancient of bardic arts: the Song of Dust and Flame. Taking as its starting point the music that issues from the pit, this song is one that lasts for the entire journey from here to the Keening Sea. As far as any sages know, this pit is where the elemental line of fire begins - from here it curves northeast, passing through the ruins of Bergolast (38.28) and eventually reaching the seashore (44.19). Each movement in the Song of Dust and Flame relates to a different landmark on the line. For one who sings the song correctly, it is impossible to become lost even in the most benighted deserts (most of which cluster around Bergolast).
For this reason, a bard who has learned the Song of Dust and Flame is never out of work. Caravans arrive from Nororak (29.24) and the August City (26.20) in the north, and from the lonely grey folk in the west. They join the fire line some way north of its beginning, and follow it until it crosses the River Hyad, their final destination being Hyfalls (40.20) or the City of Smoke. Always they trail behind a gnoll singing the song of his ancestors in a low, dirge-like voice. Always this dirge leads them through to safety. Occasionally a bard will also be employed to lead treasure-seekers into the ruins of Bergolast.
It is considered bad luck for the Song of Dust and Flame to end. Although there is a final section of the song corresponding to the shores of the Keening Sea, it is usually not sung. Instead the bard simply turns around and sings the song backwards as they return the way they came.
Connection:
- At least one gnoll is able to call forth images from smoke while singing the Song of Dust and Flame (19.31.02).
Hooks:
- If the gnolls don’t want anyone going into the pit, who carved the steps?
- Is the pit really the beginning of the fire line? How does a ley line begin or end, anyway? What’s down there?
- Who are the lonely grey folk of the west?
- Are there any other songlines that the gnolls know?
