Ragitsu Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 How would it be possible for the archetypal fantasy bard to be a villain/mastermind, and what could motivate them to be evil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Main Man Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? How would it be possible for the archetypal fantasy bard to be a villain/mastermind' date=' and what could motivate them to be evil?[/quote'] A bard knows many things of many lands he travels and sings about them. In a world of magic, what if there are legends of songs so powerful, so evil, that the merest thought of knowing and performing them is enticing? How hard is it to imagine the Anti-Life Equation as a song instead? Or what of that infamous play The King in Yellow? Could a bard sing a song so powerful that he awakens the Great Old Ones and ushers in the end of the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Money. Power. Respect. A Jedi craves not these things, but it's easy to see how a bard might. I could see such a bard in a court environment, playing upon the fears and desires of his listeners as though they were strings on a lute. I could see such a bard ensorcelling a horde of weak-minded men and orcs with his silver tongue. I could see such a bard gallavanting across the milieu serving only his own selfish desires, caring nothing for the trail of empty purses and broken promises in his wake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? A bard deals in secrets, hypocrisy, lies, as his unit of currency. It wouldn't be hard to conclude that anyone claiming to have a moral compass was only lying to himself. Also, just as a halfling could be head of the local thieves' guild, there is nothing preventing a bard from becoming a spy master, to the head of the secret police, to the power behind the throne, if not the occupant thereof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Money. Power. Respect. A Jedi craves not these things' date=' but it's easy to see how a bard might. I could see such a bard in a court environment, playing upon the fears and desires of his listeners as though they were strings on a lute. I could see such a bard ensorcelling a horde of weak-minded men and orcs with his silver tongue. I could see such a bard gallavanting across the milieu serving only his own selfish desires, caring nothing for the trail of empty purses and broken promises in his wake.[/quote'] Hm...how about a bard despot ruling a kingdom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? A bard deals in secrets, hypocrisy, lies, as his unit of currency. It wouldn't be hard to conclude that anyone claiming to have a moral compass was only lying to himself. Also, just as a halfling could be head of the local thieves' guild, there is nothing preventing a bard from becoming a spy master, to the head of the secret police, to the power behind the throne, if not the occupant thereof. There seems to be some bleedover between a bard and a rogue/thief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? The Pied Piper of Hamlin, dialed up to 11. The bard was deceived, used, betrayed, his life destroyed. Now he uses the compelling power of his songs to orchestrate an exquisite revenge on all who wronged him, ruining everything and everyone they care about, in his hatred recking not if some of those are innocent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowsoul Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I agree with the idea of music which can corrupt those who listen to it. Imagine of all the stories about Heavy Metal artists of Goth bands were actually true. Perhaps the Bard's music was taught to him by a Demon in a sort of 'crossroads deal'. The bard as a diplomat, spy or assassin is also entirely possible. I think that a master villain would show a pleasant, even harmless, face to the world while concealing a ruthless streak or even sociopathic tendencies. Don't know if you've ever read the Woman in White but there is a villain in that who would suit the model perfectly. Count Fosco He is charming, amusing and very good company. He is also greedy, calculating and completely unrestrained by morality, though he is capable of feeling affection for people, even if they get in his way. While seeming to be nothing more than an entertaining eccentric on the surface, Fosco manages to mastermind a complex and cruel plan to destroy a young woman and steal her fortune. He will also happily kill people who threaten his plans. Your Bard will probably have more ambitious plans than Fosco but I think that this would be a good way to build the character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuSoardGraphite Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? A Bard who is good at his craft will gain the ear of kings and emperors. They will oftentimes be present at important functions and hear about everything happening in the land/kingdom. They may get to like the taste of the good life and a thirst for power. A crafty Bard (and aren't they all such Bards?) could learn to manipulate his host very subtly with his magic music, swaying his sovereign's decisions this way or that way with a song or two. I imagine such a character would be the power behind the throne. Everyone thinks the lack of protection in The Wilds, the lack of response to the drought and famine and heavy taxes are the fault of a despotic king, but in reality it is due to the machinations of his court Bard. Very few people, even at court, should suspect this character because he seems completely harmless and unassuming, but he is a master of manipulation and a powerful wielder of the Song Arts. While such a character may not initially seem very threatening, think about his abilities and what he can bring to bear against the players. With his Song Magic, he can command a legion of loyal slaves with which he can assault the player characters. He can lull the characters to sleep, cause them to see things that aren't there (or not see present dangers). Utilize his music to summon and command beasts to unleash on the characters. And now that he has found Kal Maldor's Incomparable Lute, the most exquisite Magical Instrument ever crafted, all he must do is master the 8 Dragon Notes to play Vallisarious's Irresistible Requiem which when played to perfection will Sing all souls in the area into their proper afterlife....regardless of whether that soul is inhabiting a living body or not (note, the Bard who plays the song is immune) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Typist Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Motivation- disillusionment. His friends were all killed in some adventure, and he's seen the same happen to many other good people (he does collect stories, after all). Now he wants to punish all of those who stood by, or perhaps he even wants to undo all of creation because he has seen all the suffering that exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Hm...how about a bard despot ruling a kingdom? I could actually see this happen if the bard were some sort of musically-inclined prophet or priest. Performance art has always been a staple skill of real life despots, and I don't see an insurmountable gap between speech, poetry, and music in terms of swaying the masses. If Justin Bieber were to order his disciples to loot and riot at the height of a concert, is there any doubt that many of them would obey without question? And that's without bringing magic into the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I could actually see this happen if the bard were some sort of musically-inclined prophet or priest. Performance art has always been a staple skill of real life despots' date=' and I don't see an insurmountable gap between speech, poetry, and music in terms of swaying the masses. If Justin Bieber were to order his disciples to loot and riot at the height of a concert, is there any doubt that many of them would obey without question? And that's without bringing magic into the mix.[/quote'] or music! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Here's a champions version: The Music Meister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I have the idea now stuck in my head to make a Fantasy Villain based on some annoying music star in our day. Perhaps Bono, political leaning minstrel who wants to save the world and when things don't go as planned he tries to take over. You could base his bardic songs on U2 tunes. Or have his quotes peppered with their lyrics. *giggle* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? The Pied Piper of Hamlin' date=' dialed up to 11. The bard was deceived, used, betrayed, his life destroyed. Now he uses the compelling power of his songs to orchestrate an exquisite revenge on all who wronged him, ruining everything and everyone they care about, in his hatred recking not if some of those are innocent.[/quote'] Yeah, even as a kid, I thought "that Piper guy doesnt seem too nice of a person" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted February 1, 2012 Report Share Posted February 1, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? or music! *smacks Enforcer* True, but you're not supposed to actually say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? To expand on my earlier post: A bard is more than a spell caster with the incantation and extra time limitations. As useful as that ability is, the bard is a loremaster, a herald, sometimes an official emissary, and more often an unofficial one. The bard's more useful power is his ability to say just the right thing to accomplish his goal. Be it to amuse ("please put money in the hat"), exhort ("We few, we JOLLY few!") or to sway a wavering noble ("You need to decide where your loyalties lie!"), a bard is an excellent persuader. That he could get fed up with courtly intrigue and decide to make like Samson in the Temple isn't out of reach at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vondy Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? If you de-emphasize music for lore, magic, and social acumen (presence skills, contacts, etc) a bard is an ideal master villain. One possible interpretation (if you add magic): René Emile Belloq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolon Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? A bard is a master manipulator. I would assume he would have some henchmen or very powerful friends he manipulates via all his skills to have a sort of shared power but would always have some ace to make sure he is in control really. I think he would be a fantastic master villain who would get away since he is underestimated and might even have a puppet on the throne or as the target of the rage for his acts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? If you de-emphasize music for lore, magic, and social acumen (presence skills, contacts, etc) a bard is an ideal master villain. One possible interpretation (if you add magic): René Emile Belloq. I want to keep the music factor prominent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stomperdude Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I am playing a Heroic Adventure as a sadistic bard with a vampiric sword, it's not too much of a stretch to have him try and take over a town or even a kingdom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I want to keep the music factor prominent. Bard, twanging lute: "Oppress, oppress, oppress, the townsfolk!" cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? I want to keep the music factor prominent. Oh, certainly. We're just pointing out that while a few dice of mind control with the invisible advantage are the bard's most obvious powers, they aren't his only ones, and outside of tactical considerations, might not even be his best ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vondy Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Motivation- disillusionment. His friends were all killed in some adventure' date=' and he's seen the same happen to many other good people (he does collect stories, after all). Now he wants to punish all of those who stood by, or perhaps he even wants to undo all of creation because he has seen all the suffering that exists.[/quote'] Which in an Asian drama, or some Norse Sagas, or Greek and Roman myths would make him the Hero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Re: Bard villain/mastermind: how? Back in the day When I ran a second edition AD&d game My master villain was a lich/bard who was in the service of Orcus. I stole terribly from the music I was listening to at the time: The bard was named Lord Osbourne, And his concubine was Lita. A castle made of basalt: a song of epic slumber and race of minions who could only be harmed by healing magics (they were benign besides that). Those were the days Of 20 hour games only with breaks for the bathroom and a McD's run ( lemme get this straight , you want 35 cheeseburgers 10 of them plain). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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