AuldDragon's AD&D Blog

The last of the elven deities published in Dragon #155 and updated in Dragon #236 is Melira Taralen, goddess of musical creation and musicians. Dragon #236 also described Melira as patron to elven minstrels (the kit from PHBR07 Complete Bard’s Handbook) and half-elven bards, which gave me an opportunity to create a sect of her belief that holds her as a true half-elven deity.

Melira Taralen (PDF Version)
(The Songstress, the Soprano Spellsinger, Patron of Bards and Minstrels)
Lesser Power of Arborea, CG

Portfolio:                 Music, songwriting, spellsinging, elven minstrels, half-elven bards
Aliases:                     None
Domain Name:           Olympus/Arvandor (Evergold)
Superior:                   Hanali Celanil
Allies:                       Apollo, Bragi, Corellon Larethian, Damh, Eilistraee, Hanali Celanil, Lliira, Khalreshaar (Mielikki), Milil, Oghma, Olidammara, Sharess, Stillsong, Sune, the Seldarine, the Seelie Court
Foes:                           Eshebala, the Queen of Air and Darkness, the drow pantheon (except Eilistraee), the goblin and orcish pantheons
Symbol:                     A golden lute on a blue background
Wor. Align.:             LG, NG, CG, LN, N, CN

Melira Taralen (meh-LEE-rah TAR-ah-len) is the elven goddess of songwriting and music. She is patron of those elves who devote themselves to the magic of music as well as a growing number of half-elven bards. She fosters the talents of the young while always encouraging the proficient to explore their skills to the fullest.

Elven myth invariably describes Melira as the daughter of Hanali Celanil, although her father isn’t as often named. Most elves assume Erevan Ilesere is her other parent, but sometimes it is said to be Corellon Larethian, and even more infrequently her father is said to be one of the other prominent male members of the pantheon. Only Fenmarel Mestarine is never said to be her father, for she was born after Lady Goldheart spurned his advances. Recently, as more half-elves have been drawn to her faith, a new heterodox view has risen among many of these members of the faith that Melira’s father is actually from outside the Seldarine, marking her as a true half-elven power. Her father’s identity in this view varies but is always a power seen as allied to or at least friendly towards the elven pantheon in some way, such as Apollo, Baldr, Freyr, or Lathander. In this perception she is often seen as closely associated with Khalreshaar, an aspect of Mielikki that has come to take on a half-elven character as well.

It is said that Hanali sent the Songstress to Corellon in order to hone her musical skills and greatly impressed the Coronal of Arvandor with her natural talent. To reward her skill and the beautiful music she created, he decreed that he would be her patron, mirroring the relationships that many of her followers would benefit from, and gave over to her the domains of musical creativity, songwriting, and the ability to weave magic through song, as well as the duty of supporting and nurturing the professional creation and recitation of music. Melira has taken to these duties with gusto and looks upon all elven minstrels and half-elven bards as her disciples.

Outside of these tales, Melira typically appears in heroic myths about the younger generation of elven deities. Such tales have this group of gods, usually some subset of the Songstress herself, Araleth Letheranil, Kirith Sotheril, Naralis Analor, Sarula Iliene, and Tethrin Veraldé as they seek out enemies of the pantheon, hunt down fearsome beasts, or search for forgotten relics. Melira’s role in these tales revolves around her musical magic as she cheers up her companions when they become despondent, sing songs to beguile their foes or earn a friendly reception with suspicious forces, and compose celebratory songs about their completed adventures. In this way, her tales serve as a role model for her devoted, adventurous followers to look to for guidance on how to live their lives.

Melira resides with her mother Hanali at the pool of Evergold in Arvandor, providing music and singing all who pay a visit to its waters. As such she is close to the other residents, especially Lliira, who dances joyfully in perfect time to the music. She enjoys wandering and exploring as well, and in her travels, she has become close friends with many powers who enjoy or play music, although her closest friendship, and her most intense musical rivalry is with Milil, the Lord of Song. She feels that he may be encroaching upon her elven and half-elven following, but this simply motivates her to work harder to encourage elven and half-elven music making through her church. Despite this, the pair are strong friends and occasionally serenade visitors to the pool of Evergold with incredible duets highlighting respective mastery of the musical arts. Melira is said to have an occasional romance with Olidammara and while she enjoys stories of his exploits, she finds the Laughing God far too roguish for her tastes at times.

The Soprano Spellsinger takes great interest in the musical achievements of her followers and frequently dispatches an avatar to enjoy their songs and give subtle advice to improve their compositions. She especially enjoys seeking out hidden talents and giving them a gentle nudge towards developing their musical skills. She often travels in disguise, appearing simply as an aging or experienced musician looking to pass on a simple yet well-crafted instrument to someone who has the desire to play but no instrument of their own. She also seeks to use her music to bring fractured communities together, especially when these divisions leave them weak to outside aggression. Melira rarely takes direct, violent actions against enemies of her followers, favoring instead solving such problems with more subtle actions.

Melira’s Avatar (Bard 28, Cleric 22)
Melira appears as a vivacious elven (or, on occasion, half-elven) woman with bright blue eyes and long flaxen hair; in half-elven form she favors short-cropped brown hair. She wears a robe of bright blue or a green vest and leggings of striped white and blue. She always carries an exquisitely crafted golden lute with her. She draws her spells from all schools but favors those from the school of song, as well as all spheres save law and necromancy.

AC −3; MV 15; HP 154; THAC0 6; #AT 1 or 2
Dmg 1d6+3 (short sword +3) or 1d6+3 (short bow +2 and flight arrows +1)
MR 80%; SZ M (5½ feet tall)
Str 15, Dex 22, Con 18, Int 20, Wis 19, Cha 23
Spells P: 12/11/11/10/9/6/3, W: 6/5/5/5/5/5/1
Saves PPDM 2; RSW 4; PP 5; BW 8; Sp 5

Special Att/Def: Melira prefers to avoid engaging in melee, favoring instead the use of magic or song to prevent or resolve conflict, although she can be a fierce foe to those she feels deserve it. If melee is necessary, she uses F-Sharp, a short sword +3 gifted to her by her mother Hanali that deals double damage to all evil creatures that use sound, music, or illusion to harm or trick other beings (harpies, evil bards and illusionists, etc.). If she finds her magic ineffective and melee undesirable, she makes use of a short bow +2 and an endless quiver of flight arrows +1. Melira owns the Golden Lute of Arvandor, a gift from Corellon for her fine skill at singing and playing that is able to duplicate the powers of any common magical musical instrument (chimes of opening, horn of blasting, etc.).

At will, the Songstress can cast audible glamer, Leomund’s lamentable belaborment, Otto’s irresistible dance, permanent illusion, rainbow pattern, and Tasha’s uncontrollable hideous laughter. Once every three rounds she can cast animate object in addition to any other action she takes simply by singing a short lyric.

Melira is only struck by magical weapons, and she is immune to all spells that adversely affect her movement, illusions, and all sound-based attacks and powers.

Other Manifestations
The Songstress most commonly manifests as the gentle, melodious strumming of a lute to signify her favor. She has been known to guide followers to safety with a soft, lilting voice singing a wordless song that comes from the direction of safety, and she occasionally warns of danger with an angry, jarring strum of lute strings. Finally, she looks kindly upon musicians in the midst of a performance of their lives and wraps them in a pale blue radiance that moves all listeners to tears from the beauty of it. Any musician granted such a boon finds their Charisma permanently increased by one point during all future performances and when utilizing any music-related proficiencies.

The Seldarine call on agathinons, asuras, and ancient treants as their preferred servants, but Melira also calls upon nightingales and other songbirds as her favored servants, as well as aasimar, artist tasked genies, atomies, bhaergala, campestris, einheriar (all bards, minstrels, song wizards, and other musicians), eladrin (especially firres), faerie fiddlers, gonn, hollyphants, korreds, lillendi, pixies, satyrs, singing trees, and weredragons. She displays her favor through the discovery of aquamarines, blue quartz, milky quartz, moonstones, and turquoise stones, as well as bluebell flowers. Her disfavor is displayed through the breaking of instrument strings, inexplicably discordant notes from nearby instruments and singing, and the overpowering honking of geese and other beautiful but loud birds.

The Church
Clergy:                      Specialty priests, mystics, bards, minstrels, song mages
Clergy’s Align.:      NG, CG, N, CN
Turn Undead:           SP: Special, Mys: No, B: No, Min: No, SM: No
Cmnd. Undead:         SP: No, Mys: No, B: No, Min: No, SM: No

All specialty priests, mystics, and multiclassed half-elven cleric/bards of Melira receive religion (elf) and reading/writing (elvish) as bonus nonweapon proficiencies. All members of her church must be proficient in singing or a musical instrument of their choice.

The faith of Melira is a small but growing one, especially among half-elves. Her church brings joy and entertainment to their communities through regular musical performances, be they simple tavern songs in the evening or large concerts before hundreds of listeners. They operate musical schools in towns large and small, accepting anyone who wishes to learn. They promote the joy of music, encouraging all to express themselves through song. While they seek to nurture any with great talent for music, they are not snobbish in their views of music. While they acknowledge that the most skilled have the most to offer, they proclaim the importance of personal joy derived from making music, even among those with no skill or ability. They preach that a simple soul enjoying singing poorly is more important than a highly skilled musician who derives no pleasure from their playing.

Dedicated temples are a rarity for the church of the Soprano Spellsinger. Those that do exist are found exclusively as part of large musical colleges the priesthood operates. These temples tend to be constructed with acoustics in mind, having an altar on a stage in front of a fan-shaped congregant area, and all architectural elements serve to enhance the aural and visual beauty of the altar-stage. Stained glass windows and sculptures are common, depicting elven musicians playing a variety of instruments; heroes, gods, and famous residents are typically displayed in such features. The Meliran church is far more likely to construct shrines to their goddess, with many found within or as an annex to temples of Hanali Celanil. These shrines are small comfortable chambers where a musician can play for a small, intimate audience without disturbing other attendants of the temple, and they feature a small altar with an idol in the form of a musical instrument, and many of these shrines are built with small windows that can be opened to let a breeze play through a set of chimes for those who wish solo contemplation with soothing musical accompaniment. Outside of the temples to Hanali, the shrines are also found in elven music halls, taverns, and other places where public music is common. These shrines are simple alcoves with bright blue decorations and an idol in the form of a musical instrument. Finally, wild areas with naturally perfect acoustics are deemed sacred, and simple shrines are constructed that often have wooden, bone, or shell wind chimes.

Novices in the service of Melira are known as Untuned, while full priests of the Songstress are known as Melodials. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by the Meliran priesthood are Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Octet, and Nonet. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as brystars. The Soprano Spellsinger’s clergy consists of high elves (32%), grey elves (22%), half-high elves (15%), half-grey elves (12%), sylvan elves (10%), half-sylvan elves (6%), half-elves of other extractions (2%), and elves of other subraces (1%). The clergy of Melira is roughly evenly split between females (52%) and males (48%). The vast majority of the Meliran priesthood are specialty priests (70%) with rest consisting of elven minstrels (including other bardic kits; 15%), half-elven bards (including multiclassed cleric/bards; 10%), mystics (3%), and song mages (2%).

Dogma: Music suffuses all life, brings vibrancy and joy to all who experience it. The making of music is a pleasure open to all, and all should participate regardless of skill. Music has power over elf and beast alike, and it has a magic all its own. Share music with those who will listen, teach it to those who will learn, and use it to bring calm and comfort or much needed release to those who suffer.

Day-to-Day Activities: Playing and teaching music occupy the time of most members of Melira’s clergy. In large cities they often teach in a musical college or conservatory, while in small towns and villages they are simple tutors. Many become attached to a specific establishment or noble house, while others travel about to share their musical knowledge. Almost all members of the church also spend time in self-study, learning new instruments or musical techniques, and many are eager to learn about musical traditions from other races and cultures.

Important Ceremonies/Holy Days: The clergy of the Soprano Spellsinger observe no specific holy days of their own, instead holding that the time of public festivals, including those of other faiths are sacred. Besides joining in the festivities with music, dance, and other performances, they conduct their own private preparatory ceremonies with singing, dancing, and poetry dedicated to Melira. This is a time for joyous celebration as well as an opportunity to get peer feedback on new creations and routines.

Major Centers of Worship: The greatest temple of Melira in Realmspace is the Collegium of the Amber Lute in Leuthilspar on the island of Evermeet. This historic college of music and song is located near the estate of House Ahmaquissar and has taught many of the greatest elven minstrels and spellsingers to come from the island. Enrollment is open to any elf who shows an interest and a talent, although they don’t have the capacity to accept all entrants.

Affiliated Orders: The Cantabanks of the Songstress is a loose organization of minstrels, bards, and other musicians who travel across elven and non-elven lands, entertaining those they meet. They perform a secondary service as messengers and newsmongers, and especially when visiting human lands, they seek to learn about the disposition of the realms towards elven lands so as to warn their fellow elves of any potential dangers or threats.

Priestly Vestments: When performing during ceremonies, the Meliran clergy wears pale blue robes in a style that accentuates and does not hinder any performances they participate in, and for the same reason, no headwear is included in their garb. The collars, hems, and sleeves of the robes have thin lines of white embroidery in parallel, one line per rank of the priest, up to nine; after that, the raiments include intertwined green and gold lines to symbolize that the priest is of a high rank. The holy symbol used by the priesthood is a light blue oval or lozenge amulet with the image of a lute in the center. Wealthy priests may have symbols of turquoise and gold, but most members of the clergy are happy with painted wooden symbols.

Adventuring Garb: When traveling or attending to everyday tasks, the Meliran priesthood favors light but sturdy clothing that allows for freedom of movement. Bright colors are popular, especially if such shades accentuate public musical performances. Light armor such as leather is favored, but all members capable of wearing it strive to gain their own elven mail. Weapons used by the clergy tend to be light as well, favoring single-handed use other than short bows and staves, the latter which is useful in walking long distances. Almost every member of the clergy will have an instrument close at hand.

Specialty Priests (Brystars)
Requirements:          Dexterity 13, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 13
Prime Req.:                Dexterity, Wisdom
Alignment:                CG
Weapons:                   Dagger, short bow, short sword, all bludgeoning (wholly type B) weapons
Armor:                       Leather armor, padded armor, studded leather armor, elven chain mail
Major Spheres:         All, chaos, charm, creation, guardian, healing, protection, summoning, sun
Minor Spheres:         Divination, plant, wards
Magical Items:         Same as cleric and bard
Req. Profs:                Artistic ability (poetry or songwriting)
Bonus Profs:             Musical instrument or singing (pick one)

• Brystars must be elves or half-elves. While most brystars are high elves or grey elves, elves and half-elves of every subrace are called to be specialty priests of Melira’s clergy.
• Brystars are not allowed to multiclass.
• While unable to turn undead normally, three times per day brystars may sing a song of turning. This functions as a normal turning attempt but requires the use of a musical instrument and the undead to be turned must be in auditory range at the time of the attempt.
• Brystars receive a +2 bonus to their saving throws vs. sound-based attacks and spells.
• Brystars can sing a song of sleep (as the 1st-level wizard spell sleep) once per day using either their voice or an instrument (or both).
• At 3rd level, brystars can perform a countersong as a bard, nullifying auditory attacks and effects three times per day.
• At 3rd level, brystars can cast sound bubble (as the 1st-level wizard spell) once per day.
• At 5th level, brystars can perform a song of holding once per day using either their voice or an instrument (or both). This song works on either 1–4 humanoids (as the 2nd-level priest spell hold person) or one single monster (as the 5th-level wizard spell hold monster), as desired by the priest at the time of performance.
• At 7th level, brystars can perform a song of suggestion (as the 3rd-level wizard spell suggestion) or a song of sending (as the 5th-level wizard spell sending) once per day. Both of these powers must be vocally sung with no necessary instrument accompaniment, although such accompaniment has no detriment.
• At 10th level, brystars can cast wall of sound (as the 3rd-level wizard spell) once per day.
• At 12th level, brystars can perform a song of mass suggestion (as the 6th-level wizard spell mass suggestion) or a song of mass charm (as the 8th-level wizard spell mass charm) once per day using either their voice or an instrument (or both).
• At 16th level, brystars can perform a song of binding (as the 8th-level wizard spell binding) once per month. This song is typically used to restrain a rampaging extraplanar being or as a threat to make it leave.

Meliran Spells
1st Level
In Tune (Pr 1; Alteration, Enchantment/Charm)
Sphere:                    Charm
Range:                     0 or 30 yds.
Components:           V, S, M
Duration:                 Special
Casting Time:          1 rd.
Area of Effect:         Special
Saving Throw:        None

With this spell, the caster is able to tune their body in to the natural rhythm of an activity. Actions such as running, swimming, rowing, etc. all receive a +3 (or +15%) bonus to any relevant checks. The benefits of being in tune to the action are gained no matter how long the activity lasts, so long as there are no breaks and only one check for the action. For example, taking a running jump across a chasm gains the benefit of this spell, as would swimming across a river. If the activity requires no check but has a limited duration due to fatigue (such as walking or rowing under normal conditions), the caster can either perform the activity for 15% longer or is only three quarters as fatigued (if such rules are used).

This spell can be cast on another creature as well, but the priest must perform rhythmic music for the duration of the activity. In this manner the caster can affect a whole unit of creatures performing the same action, up to four times the caster’s level in individuals. Only priests of fifth level or higher can cast this version of the spell, but they can incorporate lower-level priests in a cooperative variant so long as they can all cast the spell and perform the same rhythmic music. This is most commonly used for long marches of soldiers or workers or the rowing of a galley-type ship. When used in this way, the marching or rowing or similar activity can be performed 10% faster (covering additional distance in the same amount of time).

The material component for the self-affecting version of the spell is a small tuning fork. For the variant that affects another creature or creatures, a rhythmic musical instrument is necessary as well, which is not consumed.

2nd Level
Earworm (Pr 2; Enchantment/Charm)
Sphere:                    Charm
Range:                     30 yds.
Components:           V or S, M or V, S, M (see below)
Duration:                 Permanent
Casting Time:          1 rd.
Area of Effect:         1 creature
Saving Throw:        Neg.

This special curse causes a single song or limerick to get stuck in the target’s head, replaying itself at inopportune times. For example, while concentrating on a task or spell, the song may resurface unbidden and be distracting; in such a case a saving throw versus spell is required or the activity is ruined. The target may also find themselves whistling or humming the song in times when they need to be quiet, thus giving away their presence; a saving throw versus spell is allowed to maintain control over this compulsion. Finally, it may play over and over in their head when they trying to sleep; a successful saving throw vs. spell will allow the target to get to sleep reasonably quickly; failure means the cursed creature is kept awake for a number of hours equal to the difference between the roll and the needed score, divided in half. For example, if a creature fails their saving throw by 4 points, it took them two hours to get to sleep. Over time, this insomnia and recurring music makes the cursed individual quiet irritable. For every two days the curse continues, they suffer a −1 penalty to reaction checks (Dexterity and Charisma both), to a maximum of −5.

The curse can only be lifted with a remove curse, limited wish, or more powerful magic.

This spell must be cast through a song, either sung or played on an instrument. Usage of both vocals and an instrument penalizes the initial saving throw for the curse by −2.

3rd Level
Harmonic Melee (Pr 3; Alteration, Enchantment/Charm)
Sphere:                    Charm
Range:                     20 ft.
Components:           V, S, M
Duration:                 Special
Casting Time:          1 rd.
Area of Effect:         Special
Saving Throw:        None

With this spell, the caster can harmonize the movements of allies with song, allowing them to fight with greater precision. The caster can affect one ally per two levels, but the spell must always affect a minimum of two allies. For the duration of the song, the chosen allies gain a −2 bonus to their armor class, a −1 bonus to initiative, and +2 bonuses to saving throws and attack rolls. Finally, on every third round, affected creatures gain a bonus attack on top of all their normal attacks at the end of the round. These bonuses only apply in melee combat and end for an individual ally should they opt not to participate in melee combat (flee, utilize a missile weapon, drink a potion, cast a spell, etc.) as their actions fall out of sync with the song. Actions such as shield punches, trips, parries, and the like are all allowed, however, and the individuals may advance up into melee, even over the course of multiple rounds, so long as that is their sole action if there are no other nearby enemies to combat. In order to gain benefits from this spell, all allies to be affected must initially be within 20 feet of the caster, but afterwards can move up to 120 feet away so long as they can still hear the song clearly. Thick walls, silence spells, and dense fog can all muffle the song enough to break the bonus.

The caster must be proficient with a musical instrument in order to cast this spell, and it must be played for the full duration. If the song is disrupted in any way, the spell immediately ends. The caster loses any Armor Class bonuses for shields and Dexterity for the duration and may move up to half their movement while the song continues.

The material components for this spell are the priest’s holy symbol and musical instrument (if the song is not sung); neither are consumed in the casting.

4th Level
Discordant Voice (Pr 4; Alteration, Enchantment/Charm)
Sphere:                    Charm
Range:                     0
Components:           V, S, M
Duration:                 2 rds. + 1 rd./level
Casting Time:          7
Area of Effect:         60-ft. radius
Saving Throw:        Special

By means of this spell, the caster begins to sing and play a musical instrument in a discordant manner. Their song is constantly off-key, out of tempo between instrument and voice, and just generally grating and painful to listen to. While the song continues, all of the caster’s foes within the area of effect suffer a +1 penalty to their initiative rolls and a −1 penalty to attack rolls (no save) as they are constantly put on edge from the discordant song. Each round the caster can focus their song on one target, and should they fail a saving throw versus spell (modified for Wisdom), any spellcasting is disrupted, attacks are made with a −4 penalty, and they suffer a +2 penalty to their Armor Class. The caster can sing the discordant song for as long as they wish to a maximum of 2 rounds plus one round per level. The caster need not have the singing or musical instrument proficiency in order to cast this spell; having one or both incurs a −1 penalty to all saves as the caster knows even better what sort of music will be the most discordant. Other than movement at half speed, the caster can take no other actions while performing this spell, and shield and Dexterity bonuses are lost for the duration.

The material components for this spell are a mint leaf and a drop of honey, both of which are consumed, as well as any musical instrument that the caster can play while singing. The instrument is not consumed.

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