Forgotten Ballads

The forgotten ballads refer to a collection of music that nearly everyone in Valadia knows, yet the origins of which remain nebulous. There are a few different songs that are considered part of the forgotten ballads, ranging between short and long, with and without lyrics, and varying topic matter.

The Songs

While there are many songs that are considered by some to be part of the forgotten ballads, there are only five that are near-universally agreed to be a part of them. The first of these five songs is Goddess's Tears, a 10-minute song played on a lyre, with lyrics telling a story of a demi-celestial who abandoned their god. The second, known as Fountain of Blood, is an upbeat and high-energy song typically played on a flute, about six minutes long with no lyrics. Third is Flight, a quick 2-minute song played on a lute with nonsensical and fantastical lyrics, popular among children. The fourth is Songbird's Duet, a 4-minute song performed on a pan flute with quick changes between two "parts" of the song. It is possible, though difficult, to play with a single performer, and much easier to play with two. The last song is The Songstress's Goodbye, a sad 20-minute-long song performed on the lyre with vocalisations, but no lyrics.

Debated Origins

There are a few theories as to where the forgotten ballads actually came from. One theory is that they have been passed down through the generations, though the lack of older documents referencing the songs seems to go against this theory. Though some continue to defend the theory, saying that the records of these songs could have just been destroyed everywhere they appeared, though this explanation and the theory remain highly unlikely. Some think the songs were created by an anonymous songwriter who circulated the music and lyrics around the continent to various performers, which is by far the most popular explanation.