|
Post by hengest on Dec 18, 2021 9:35:21 GMT -5
A thread for instruments. My hope is that I will have at least a solid handful, of course discussion is welcome, as always. I expect to work them into my world-type system, as it might be a decent "hook" into that system to have the odd instrument appear that is from a "lower" place (i.e. magical instruments of unusual type, fairy instruments, etc)
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Dec 20, 2021 21:14:19 GMT -5
Hackin's Lute(See this thread for explanation of numbers.) The lute is a 4.5, due to strange circumstances in its history, likely to be found in the standard 6.0 area of gaming. To appearances, this is an unexceptional but well-made instrument. The soundboard is decorated with several cheerful-looking birds, although it is not clear what medium or technique was used to apply them to the wood. However, the following attributes will become apparent over time: -the courses never need changing, and in fact cannot be changed -the instrument does drift out of tune, but never while being played -if broken, the instrument heals itself when no one is looking. This is a 4.5 instrument, but there is no question that it can be played poorly. It does not endow the player with skill. However, it does tend to grow close to a player rather more quickly than one might expect. Further, most listeners find that much of the "character" of a skilled player's technique carries over from instrument to instrument pretty well. With Hackin's Lute, it goes the other way somewhat: skilled players tend to sound more like each other than they otherwise would. The character of the instrument is brought out by the player. It is somewhat, but not entirely, as if the skilled player becomes the instrument by which the lute is expressed. The rapid bonding of the player and instrument has an analogue in relationship between the instrument in performance and the audience: to the audience, music played skillfully on this instrument is exceptionally absorbing. None of this approaches anything like magical enchantment or mind control, but the music is beyond engaging in the direction of entrancing. Masterful play could easily make the player quite well-known and even wealthy in the right circumstances.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Jan 12, 2022 10:50:41 GMT -5
The Virginal of AtherineThis keyboard instrument, in "fairy" terms, is a solid 8 in a gaming area of 6 or lower. It is more "modern" and can barely be maintained, never reproduced, by 6-craftsmen. Its origin is uncertain, but has been at court for some time. The instrument also has a character-value of around -5: it is an unwholesome device. Listening to its music extensively may have a corrupting effect, causing hearers to lean towards the maximum of "squalor" that can exist in a superficially civilized society, but this effect is not mind-control, merely an influence. Some do not like the instrument, possibly for this reason, and avoid hearing it played, but it is likely to have a significant following when played skillfully. Any keyboard instrument is a novelty and this device is obviously carefully crafted, granting prestige to its owner and performer. The image below is merely a guide to imagining its appearance. The Virginal of Atherine is similar in that it has two manuals and an inlaid lid. The picture visible whe nthe lid is raised, however, is different: it strangely depicts a similar instrument being played during battle.
|
|