I recently got inspiration for a character or NPC from the most unlikely source. An up and coming musician from Norway recently won the Norwegian final in Eurovision Song Contest. Thing is, that up until now, I've had a generally poor opinion on the music that comes out of that contest. But this guy is really good.
Anyway, his song is called Faerie Tale, the performance itself made me think a young Merinita Magus, with Faerie Blood, using music to make people around him dance, sing, drop their weapons, just be happy.. The Pied Piper also comes to mind, but this guy plays a fiddle, or rebec, to be more historically precise.
In any way, a wandering, happy go lucky magus with a fiddle. What could be more classic?
So, how to do it? I'm thinking Performance Magic from Mysteries. I don't have RoP: Faerie yet (slow post these days). Is it as simple as using Mentem at Voice, Group and Performance Duration?
So, Rego Mentem, Base 5, +1 for Performance Duration, +2 for Voice Range, +2 for Group Target. That's level 40 for a spell that makes a group of people just be happy, sing and dance for as long as they hear the music? Hmm.. quite a high level, isn't it?
By the way, here's the performance. It's based on classic Norwegian folk music with some Russian elements. It very popular in Norway now. I really like it. youtube.com/watch?v=jTdndLFY ... re=related
I might take the opportunity to recommend the series "The spellsong cycle" by LE Modesitt.
For the game, adding "Song" (+1M, like Diameter) duration and a range like voice that isnt restricted by anything except how far away the singer can actually be heard(same magnitude as Voice but requires singing).
And then, im not sure if these are our currently used version but if not, its close enough to give you an idea of how we have used it very successfully:
Spellsinger Major Virtue, adds ability to use Sing+Com Roll vs Spell Magnitude to add Roll Result to Spellcasting result and Int+Music Theory vs Spell Magnitude to add Roll Result to Lab Total if relevant to task
Spellsinger Minor Virtue, adds ability to use Sing+Com Roll vs Spell Magnitude to add Sing Score to Spellcasting result and Int+Music Theory vs Spell Magnitude to add Music Theory to Lab Total if relevant to task
Spellsinger Major Flaw, MUST succeed with Sing+Com Roll(botchrisk) vs Spell Magnitude to Cast a spell, MUST succeed with Int+Music Theory(botchrisk) vs Spell Magnitude to do any Lab Work
Spellsinger Minor Flaw, must succeed with Sing+Com Roll(botchrisk) vs Spell Magnitude or Cast spells at halved Casting Totals, must succeed with Int+Music Theory(botchrisk) vs Spell Magnitude or do Lab Work at halved Lab Totals
Btw, the song was pretty ok. Reminds me a little of some older song, cant recall which one though.
A minor quibble, but that's only 6th magnitude and so, whilst still high level, very achievable. And, given that it lets you basicly make a group of people dance for as long as you can play, extremely powerful so it seems fair.
Also, it sounds like a fun concept and certainly one which could allow for an interesting and subtle (especially gently-gifted) character.
Yes, this character would be very friendly and Gentle Gifted. I'm sure there will be some nifty stuff in RoP: Faeries for this concept too.
And the spell is very doable. A concept I usually use when choosing or creating spells with my characters or NPCs, are "spell trees". One spell builds on another, branching out into variations and more powerful versions. Some lower leveled musical spells would be in order, I think.
Nice, maybe I can finally get my self away from my Bjornaer characters and finally try something different next time.
On a related note, the main redcap in my saga has a magical Qitar (Iberian precurser to the guitar). Playing certain note combinations casts various charm spells, sleep, etc. He's an attractive, bawdy lad known for his wit, amusing stories, and way with the ladies. He often gets those traveling with him into trouble....
