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by Colin Chapman
Ahtal
Two-stringed Sarista fiddle.
Anak
Five-tined ivory marimba, struck with a mallet.
Daro
Small Dracartan drum of fired clay and land lizard hide, struck with the palm of the hand.
Djaro
An unusual Djaffir instrument in the form of a smaller, extremely taut, shortbow, the string of which is struck with a wooden rod to produce a distinctive "twanging" sound. The djaro can also be used as a bow with the following statistics:
| DR | WT | STR | Range |
| Djaro # | 5 | 4 | -1 | 50' |
Lutara
Three-stringed baritone lute of the Sarista.
Madao
Two-chambered wooden Mandalan flute.
Mandalo
Four-stringed Zandir mandolin, played with a plectrum.
Mandola
Mandalan "rainmaker", composed of a 3'-6' length of hollow bamboo, partially filled with small river pebbles, and sealed at both ends.
Rasa
10' long Sun-Ra-San flute, carved from the tailbone of a sea dragon. The far end of the rasa is supported on a forked pole stuck in the ground, when it is being played.
Shakir
Djaffir maraca, formed from a dried gourd partially filled with dried seeds.
Silnarast-Lado - by Joseph Porrett
The Silnarast-Lado is an arcane instrument created by the Oedomancer Silnarast. Silnarast had always been passionate about both music and magic, and in fact studied under the Bodorian maestro, Sola Lado. He created this instrument to honor his instructor, and to fuse his two loves.
The Silnarast-Lado is a box shaped instrument 18" long, 12" wide, and 9" high, with several dials and bottons on the front and a silvery lens on the top. A foot pedal and two metal styluses complete the instrument.
When the instrument is activated, the silver lens creates a spherical arcane field above the box. Floating in the field are seventy-seven *tonals*, small color coded spheres of energy. Each tonal creates one note when struck by a stylus, and a melody can be created by striking tonals in a sequence. There is another level of musical subtlety though; a tonal can also be spun, creating a constant tone, the volume of which is set by the foot petal at the time of the spinning. To add yet another layer, the tonals can be moved around the arcane field and set into orbit around other tonals, creating oscillating tones. Up to seven tonals can placed into an orbit, but only the most masterful practitioners of the Silnarast-Lado can make it sound pleasing to the ear. (It should be noted that a botton on the lower front of the box will return the tonals to their "default" position in the field.)
A master of the Silnarast-Lado often has several different tonal orbits rotating while playing a melody, all the while breaking orbits and creating new ones. It is almost as impressive to watch as it is to hear, since a great deal of manual dexterity is needed to make the haunting music of the Silnarast-Lado.
The pedal, as noted before, sets the volume of an orbiting tonal, but also can control the overall volume of the instrument. The dials on the front allow the musician to set the "sound" of the tonals, from chimes, to flutes, to percussive, the Silnarast-Lado can simulate a variety of sounds, though only one at a time. Silnarast is currently working on a version that allows different tonals to be set as different sounds which would add yet another layer of complexity, but also add versatility.
Needless to say, the Bodor have embraced this instrument. There are only eight that have been created and all but one have been purchased by Bodor (the other one was bought by a Sindaran who collects instruments). Silnarast sells his instruments for no less than 2000 g.l.
Tchan
Dracartan red iron cymbals.
Tube Drum
A Za "drum" formed from a long, open wooden tube of varying length, the top held off the ground at a 45o angle. The tube drum is played by being struck squarely across the top of the tube with a leather paddle, and produces an echoing booming sound.
Uka
Drukh "howling drum" formed of flayed skin stretched across a framework of rib bones. Played by wetting the fingertips in blood, and rubbing them across the head of the drum.
Uraj
Huge Rajan bellows-driven pipe-organ that requires 20 slaves to operate it.
Zilo
Zandir silver chimes, struck with a small crystal rod.
| Instrument | Cost |
| Ahtal | 15 g.l. |
| Anak | 5 g.l. |
| Daro | 1 g.l. |
| Djaro | 8 g.l. |
| Lutara | 20 g.l. |
| Madao | 1 g.l. |
| Mandalo | 15 g.l. |
| Mandola | 2 s.p. |
| Rasa | 10 g.l. |
| Shakir | 1 s.p. |
| Silnarast Lado | 2000+ g.l. |
| Tchan | 3 g.l. |
| Tube drum | 1 g.l. |
| Uka | 10 g.l. |
| Uraj | 500+ g.l. |
| Zilo | 5 g.l. |
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