Unusual Bard Trainers

[Torm]

Two Words... Jack Black

INSPIRATION! Your man ends up in a fight to the death situation with an evil Bard. After defeating him, while looking through the now deceased Bard's belongings, he finds an Manual of Musical (Rock ) Instruction. Turns out the Bard was another, Eviller Bard's apprentice, and later he'll run into him and they will see which of them is the strongest guitar player to ever live! Or some such.

I've even got an idea on a special ability for the evil Bard (either one, take your pick) that I've used before in one of my games. His singing, in addition to any other normal Bard abilities, causes everyone within his hearing to have to make a Will Save DC 14 to avoid being stunned. Each round, the DC goes up by one, and if they fail two in a row, they go to Sleep. If they make their save in one round they're free, but they still have to make it the following rounds, or they start to succumb again. If they are Elves or otherwise immune to Sleep, they only get to the stunned stage, and can break free any round they make their save. If the Bard gets all of his opponents disabled, he begins taking them somewhere still within hearing range and HANGING them, one by one, starting with any Elves, of course. He fights with a special melee weapon (I'll leave that up to you, but it should probably do some sort of bonus sonic damage.)

But remember, I don't need no instruction manual to know how to ROCK!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I really like the idea of visions within dreams to drive characters to take a certain path...

Can utilize any story here that you like... character falls asleep and dreams of a woman/man/ghost/instrument... it becomes their quest--their obession-- to find this person/thing... and upon finding it they begin their training.

However, the bargain with the devil/some other evil has it's potential... thinking, devil went down to Georgia... would be fun.

Kudos to your player Targeteron.

 

[Targeteron]

First, thank you all, Some very interesting ideas here. You guys are great. So lets see what we can cook from this.

Hmm i know my Player wouldn´t willingly do a bargain with a demon/devil but i like that idea.

After thinking about it and putting it together i have the following:

The Rogue comes into contact with one of the Ghostly Bards Items or establishes a connection to him somehow. He begins to Dream about another Halfling, a Bard this time, who explains to him that he is imprisoned in a place deep underground and needs Help. In exchange he will train him in the bardic ways. Player goes on a quest to find him.

What the PC doesn´t know: The Halfling is actually a Tiefling/Halfling Bard that a long time ago struck a bargain with a Demon to become the best Bard around, forfeiting not his soul, but the soul of one of his blood, deliverable to the demon in a very specific fashion (Has to be another Bard for one). The Bard agreed, but left all his family behind and travelled as far away from them as possible. Figuring if he would not be around to deliver someone before he dies the bargain would be off. The Demon didnt see it that way and upon the violent death of the bard during an adventure bound his soul to the beloved instrument of the bard. That way he would still be able to deliver him one of his blood one day. The Instrument went through alot of hands, till it got lost in the deep dungeon of Barakus. There it has been for some 100 Years, not touched by anyone. But then the amazing thing happened: One of his blood came close to his "prison", the PC. Several hundred years alone in the dark can do weird things to a mind, so id wager the Bard is not entirely stable. Alas he still remembers his deal with the demon. He just wants to get out of this dreaded existence and get the deal over with so he can finally rest in peace.

Could make for some interesting plots. While he first trains the PC in the way of the bard he simultaneously just plots to get the PC where he wants him to deliver him to the Demon, so he may be free. Could happen anytime, anywhere.

Thoughts, suggestion?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I read a piece of short fiction once that detailed a story not unlike that of the legend of Robert Johnson, in which the main character sold his soul to a supernatural being (clothed in eveloping clothes) in exchange for a long life full of all kinds of good events.

When the main character died after a long life, he was confronted by the supernatural being that worked the deal for his soul. He looked around at the beautiful scene around him, and asked the being when he would be admitted into Hell.

The being said "Hell?" then shrugged off its clothing, revealing iridescent wings and a halo- "Devils are not the only ones who are willing to buy a soul."

In other words, the supernatural being who is the source of the Bard's deal could be benign instead of malevolent.

 

[Targeteron]

Thats true Dannyalcatraz. But my inner RatBastardDM(tm) demands some dark twist Still, it will be great to throw them off balance with something like that sometime.

 

[Darklone]

Copper dragon.

 

[Targeteron]

Just a little bump for the night, would like to get some more input. The one and only bump i will give it, i promise

 

[Deadguy]

Forgive me Targeteron, since this doesn't tally with your idea, but I just wanted to put the thought down:

As I read this thread I was thinking, what is noted for its musical talent. And it crossed my mind that few sing so beautifully as a songbird. And in D&D a songbird can be a polymorphed person, or even an awakened bird that has learned the secrets of Bardic Music.

Just a thought...

 

[Targeteron]

the bird idea is just cute. i might have to think about that some more. I can just see the halfling with a colorfull bird on his shoulder! Guess i will have to see how rat bastard i wanna be thanks!

 

[Pbartender]

However, the bargain with the devil/some other evil has it's potential... thinking, devil went down to Georgia... would be fun.

Tommy Johnson: I had to be up at that there crossroads last midnight, to sell my soul to the devil.

Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated... What'd the devil give you for your soul, Tommy?

Tommy Johnson: Well, he taught me to play this here guitar real good.

Delmar O'Donnell: Oh son, for that you sold your everlasting soul?

Tommy Johnson: Well, I wasn't usin' it.