Ragitsu Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I am finding the image of a bard-ruler on a throne, singing to his masses, a bit of a hard sell. Not impossible, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I am finding the image of a bard-ruler on a throne' date=' singing to his masses, a bit of a hard sell. Not impossible, though...[/quote'] Why's that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I am finding the image of a bard-ruler on a throne' date=' singing to his masses, a bit of a hard sell. Not impossible, though...[/quote'] Go with Ireland. Singing as well as poetry recital and general oratory were considered kingly virtues. Does your bard have to be human? Some of Tolkien's Noldor were pretty evil and treacherous: And no Tolkien elf was worth the points on his ears if he couldn't carry a tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Typist Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Rock star as a ruler, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowsoul Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? You could draw on Rock Stars/Singers like Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie and Lordi. What would a Demonic Bard be like? Maybe someone who was employed to turn the screams of tormented sinners into sweet and poisonous music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I am finding the image of a bard-ruler on a throne' date=' singing to his masses, a bit of a hard sell. Not impossible, though...[/quote'] I don't see him on a throne so much as standing in front of it. More likely, though, you could ditch the throne and replace it with a pulpit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I don't see him on a throne so much as standing in front of it. More likely' date=' though, you could ditch the throne and replace it with a pulpit.[/quote'] Or a stage! cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethosos Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Point of note: It's not the music, but the power behind the music that you could tap into without "singing". In fact, Oratory is considered a performace art in its own right; a corrupt noble could easily whip up a frenzy in a crowd against someone/something and let it ride, just by a little public speaking. Or look up "bladesong", which is more of "singing" the power into a weapon--which is pretty neutral by itself, TBH. your choice. Still, if you wanted to include actual music, why not combine it with unholy powers? Think charismatic priest of some dark god... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted February 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? But, if you have a skilled speaker/general socialite, you pretty much drift away from "bard". To me, in this instance, it is the music/singing that is crucial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethosos Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I know, I'm just pointing out the other uses for "performance arts" as a bard. Still, a warbard might be something I'd see as being evil; stir dark passions in men's hearts to incite anger/frenzy. Doesn't have to be on the battlefield to be sucessful--I recall the latest Valdemaar short story series includes an example of a bad use of Bardic power in this fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? The storytelling/oration skills for bards is an integral part of them, not just the music/singing. But if you need that, there have been plenty of examples, and a few more off the cuff: A King leads his people in "religious" hymns that he weaves with his magic to ensure loyalty or whip into a frenzy for war. The power behind the throne, a jester/minstrel who has ensnared his liege with magic songs. The ruthless head of a spy ring, dedicated to a king/country and using their performances as cover for travel into foreign country As to his motivations to be evil...any of them will do; such as: He's sold his soul to be the most famous bard of all time and now his criminal empire stems from the lives he's corrupted along the way. She seeks the finer things in life and uses magical songs to ensure she gets them. He's a bloodthirsty killer of innocents and uses his magic flute to lead them to their dooms - but to ensure a steady stream of innocents he funds orphanages and "Bard's Colleges," where his agents and underlings screen for the perfect targets for him. Egotist who uses his powers to influence other bards and highly placed figures to keep his fame alive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gojira Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Depends on the type of campaign. I was thinking about a "Dark Bard" as part of a Tuala Morn campaign. In that campaign world, Druids and Bards are part of the culture, and it might be considered proper for a noble man or some other social ranks to have formal training in the bardic arts. Just because you know how to play an instrument, can speak well in public, and know (in verse) the history of your people, doesn't necessarily make you a nice guy (or gal). I'd say villainy has nothing to do with that skill set, the two are completely orthogonal, and once you start thinking about them that way it's easy to see how a bard could be "evil." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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