Creepiest Nursery Rhymes -DnD Appropriate

[Dimcair]

As it says in the title, I am looking for the best, creepiest nursery rhymes that are DnD compatible.


Own creations welcome if you feel up to it! Especially some that fit the forgotten realms!


Anyone?

[hamishspence]

This one was originally from the Warhammer novel Hammers of Ulric - "Barak" was a serpentine horror that legend said would eat the world. Swap "Barak" for "Dendar" and it still scans:

Ba ba Barak, come see thee tarry!
Slow not, wait not come and harry.
Ba ba Barak come and sup,
And eat the world and sky right up!


For an actual Dendar-related children's rhyme (Prince of Lies novel):


In Shar’s domain of night I rest,
So dreams may show me how I’m blessed.
If screams of terror break my sleep,
Then Dendar’s sunk her fangs too deep.

[Dimcair]

Myself just remembered one from a adventure path:



Mumble Mumble Scarecrow
Alone in the Maze
Sleeping in the daytime
A stitched man he stays

But when the moon she rises
Up Mumble Gets
He shakes his hands at first
And moves his feet the next

And when the dog is snoring
And when you’re fast asleep
Mumble Mumble Scarecrow
Will find you good to eat

- Varisian Nursery Rhyme



Thanks for the contribution Hamishspence, I'll include it in my collection.

[hamishspence]

While this is more "sailor song" than "nursery rhyme" I can imagine a sailor with a nasty sense of humour singing it to their kids like it was a nursery rhyme:

From Dragon Magazine's: Demonomicon of Iggwilv : Dagon

There once was an island dead west of the sunset,
A place where the sun's rays danced carefree and bright.
It's shores all a'sparkle in white shining beaches,
And jungles aplenty with game day and night.

They say that the people who dwelt there were happy,
They say that they lived their lives simple and fair.
Yet one day a bitter wind rose from the ocean
And took the poor folk by surprise unaware.

For ruin had risen in thunderous fury,
A ravenous shadow fell over the shore.
And when Father Dagon's black gullet gaped open
The waves ran with blood and the isle was no more.

[Crooked Man]

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

[Dimcair]

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

.... cudos lol

[NecroDancer]

I have one from the Adventure Zone.




Pulled from my home inside a cloud

lost to the dark I drift alone

now I'm returned beyond the shroud

ever to reign upon my throne

here in my Crystal Kingdom


I saw beyond the omniverse

far past the places we should see

but for my vision I was cursed

torn from my home and family

lost to my Crystal Kingdom


Saved from the darkness by my child

locked in a cage of glass and steel

but my true love remains in exile

beckoning me to break the seal

into this Crystal Kingdom



Kept from our children, lovers, friends

subject to laws we did not make

this is where separation ends

and souls of the lost will come awake

enter this Crystal Kingdom