My Bardess needs Music!

[Kizara]

So, in an upcomming campaign I'm going to be playing a very different kind of character.

A runaway elven half-fey (feelings of not accepted, hard to fit in with peers, etc etc, cliche stuff) princess who's out to see the world and everything in it. A very inqusitive, extrovertive, witty, generally charming and surprizingly sharp young woman who woos others with her ability to perform.

She's going to have Perform (sing) and Perform (dance).

Now, what I need from the board is 3 things:

1) MUSIC! I don't listen to pop, or much music in general. What I generally listen to is metal or harder rock (Nightwish, System of a Down, Nickleback, etc). I need something impressive, moving and haunting with a strong exotic flair, but also period-appropriate (thus no synthetic sound basically) . She's not Britney spears, she has an Int of 16. Also, foreign accents are a plus.

2) A name. Something pronouncable by a normal person would be preferred.

3) If anyone has an actual half-nymph template (instead of the half-fey one) that would be great. Beyond the abilities being largely redundant with bard, I don't like the wings the template gives (she's not a fairy any more then a nymph is).

Btw, the character will be starting at lvl 3 and have stats of: 12, 22, 14, 16, 12, 22 (after template, obviously).

EDIT: Picture

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Star_Moon_bucket/ElvenSwordswoman.jpg

Thanks in advance!

[Zincorium]

I would be strongly inclined to suggest come celtic or irish influenced music. Loreena Mckennitt or Dolores O'Riordian of the band the Cranberries both show a very strong female voice and the music doesn't depend on any sort of modern instrumentation. Note that this is only my preference.

[Kizara]

I would be strongly inclined to suggest come celtic or irish influenced music. Loreena Mckennitt or Dolores O'Riordian of the band the Cranberries both show a very strong female voice and the music doesn't depend on any sort of modern instrumentation. Note that this is only my preference.

Got any youtube links to any specific recommendations, or do I have to hunt for it myself?

[CaptainSam]

... sharp young woman who woes others with her ability to perform...

Woes? She makes them unhappy? Do you mean woos. Just my little joke!

Music: Easy-peasy. You really want Clannad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUiu-JztpKE). That particular track should move and impress.

Name: Also easy-peasy. Here's Behind the Name (http://www.behindthename.com/random/). Loadsa names there, just use the fairy/goth one, or play around.

Template: Can't help you there, but if you don't like the wings, don't have them. If I remember, only 40% or so of the fey template have wings. They look stoopid anyway.

By the way, have you seen the size of that girl's left hand? It's MAHOOSIVE!!!

[Mad Maudlin]

I'll join the choir of voices saying celtic music, and add a suggestion of Vienna Teng - She (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kngtsyw1QZ4) has (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sSXxY7WIhTg&feature=related) some (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ii1gy690sHQ) nice (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E0yi7N0cxrU) stuff (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BJbip5Wk3_Y), and they don't need to be played on piano to sound haunting etc. (Apologies for the anime-videos, they were the best sound quality I could find)

As far as a name goes, I'd say the simpler you go, the cuter you'll sound - something like Ellia or Jendy, that sounds like a normal name, just slightly more exotic. The trick I always use is to find a regular name with plenty of syllables, then knock one off. So, instead of Victoria or Vanessa, you name her Toria or Nessa.

[Wraith]

I'll throw in 2 cents for Blackmore's Night (http://www.blackmoresnight.com/), as to my mind they sound quite appropriate for a "medieval" setting while still having some modern kicks to make them fun.

"Shadow of the Moon" and "Cartouche" are a couple of their more eerie-sounding tracks, though they have a lot of other stuff. Just try to stay away from the Deep Purple covers, and I suspect that it'll be fine :smalltongue:

[Glawackus]

I second the motion in favor of Clannad. :smallcool: Two bands that are more synthy, but still might be able to sway you, are Mostly Autumn and Karnataka. I'll dig for YouTube links in a little bit.

[Telonius]

You need music - is that for a character theme song, or do you need things that she plays when she uses bardic music or casts spells?

[wadledo]

#3:Page 10. (http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Templates.pdf)
It actualy looks weaker than Half-fey, but meh.

[Person_Man]

1) Vienna Teng (http://viennateng.com/listen/). One of my favorite artists.

2) You could always just use the word Fey or Fairy in some other language. They tend to be short, pronounceable, and easy to find with a simple Google search. Sith, Fata, Hada, Sidhem, Peri, Fada, Farisees, Banshee, Shee, Brownie, Coblyn, Dryad, Ellyllon, Mab, Gwragedd, Annwn, Phouka, Sidhe, etc.

3) There is no such a thing as a half nymph in the official rules. If you don't want wings, use Feytouched (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a).

[Solo]

1) MUSIC! I don't listen to pop, or much music in general. What I generally listen to is metal or harder rock (Nightwish, System of a Down, Nickleback, etc). I need something impressive, moving and haunting with a strong exotic flair, but also period-appropriate (thus no synthetic sound basically) . She's not Britney spears, she has an Int of 16. Also, foreign accents are a plus.

I'm fond of Chinese Erhu music myself.

Yuan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejnrt0s5ZTY)

天山风景 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re6LVYisnYY&feature=PlayList&p=EDCB1253C26BBC09&index=11)

[Devils_Advocate]

Apparently, there's a half-nymph template (http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Templates.pdf) in Dragon #313. There are several homebrew ones online, as well.

(FYI, if you want to use the internet to find the definition, the location, or a description of something, using Google and/or Wikipedia tends to be faster and yield more results than asking actual humans.)

[Kizara]

Thank you all so very much, I will do my best to check out all your cool music links.

The template in particular is made of win.

EDIT: That name generator is an awesome reasource as well. Many thanks, you earn a cookie.

On a side note, while I appreciate the music given and am reviewing it, I'm finding most of it is moderately haunting but none of it has any good energy. She is young and very energetic, and those slower songs might be appropriate at times, for the most part I want her to get people off their feet and into dance instead of making them think about haunting mysteries of the world.

[Darth Mario]

Thirded for Clannad. Another group to look at is Capercaillie, one of their songs can be found here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyxOh6MO0dI) Note that it is one of the worst music videos I have ever seen, but the music is great, if you willing to put up with just a little synth.

[Telonius]

Thank you all so very much, I will do my best to check out all your cool music links.

The template in particular is made of win.

EDIT: That name generator is an awesome reasource as well. Many thanks, you earn a cookie.

On a side note, while I appreciate the music given and am reviewing it, I'm finding most of it is moderately haunting but none of it has any good energy. She is young and very energetic, and those slower songs might be appropriate at times, for the most part I want her to get people off their feet and into dance instead of making them think about haunting mysteries of the world.

If you're looking for moving plus power, you might want to look into some jazz singers. I'm not very familiar with the genre at all, but I'm sure somebody on the boards would be.

[Mad Maudlin]

As far as jazz goes, maybe something like Katie (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PNHkS__348E) Melua? (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bPNaOt646_M)

(Edit: Having watched the videos I must admit, she's not great live...)

[Xyk]

1) Sith, Fata, Hada, Sidhem, Peri, Fada, Farisees, Banshee, Shee, Brownie, Coblyn, Dryad, Ellyllon, Mab, Gwragedd, Annwn, Phouka, Sidhe, etc.

Sith?! What language is this that you speak? Sith are dark jedi! Not fairies, silly.

[Kizara]

If you're looking for moving plus power, you might want to look into some jazz singers. I'm not very familiar with the genre at all, but I'm sure somebody on the boards would be.

For the music thing, I am currently looking to use a combination of Faith Hill, the New Nightwish (with Anette; yes I like Tarja more but Anette sounds alot more like my character would, youth and all) and the celtic stuff for when she sings in elven or wants to do something more somber.

Thing is, when I'm talking about energy and power, I'm thinking this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80MNY2Xm6sA&NR=1

And this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmKXHXgdwbk&feature=related

And this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1agsSZqqWTc&feature=related


And this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRwz0RoJcJE&NR=1

Oh, and for something a little more fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vshlrz2B63o


And yes, I don't really get how to do the weblinks-as-part-of-normal-text thing.

[Moff Chumley]

Renaissance. Good songs are Mother Russia, Carpet of the Sun, and Ashes are Burning. No links, but look 'em up anyway.

[Talya]

Loreena Mckennitt


Enough said for period-appropriate music right there.
Here's a few I used for my bard:

Danté's Prayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDw3CyOmj20)
Ce He Mise le Ulaingt? (The Two Trees) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrMc_jDI1NE)
Mummer's Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCiDm8H1ggU)

[Ascension]

It's a little late, I suppose... Wiki records it first appearing in 1580... but I highly recommend Greensleeves. A bit strange for a female bard too, I suppose, but it just sounds so great!

[Talya]

It's a little late, I suppose... Wiki records it first appearing in 1580... but I highly recommend Greensleeves. A bit strange for a female bard too, I suppose, but it just sounds so great!

Since I already posted a few by Loreena McKennitt, here's her version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2b1aXMVKLQ

[Orak]

I have an idea for gameplay for your bardess. When you use your bardic music abilities use a theme song for each ability. I did this for a bard that I played and it worked really well. I had the Rocky theme song, some Whitesnake song that I just can't remember at the moment. It worked well cause the songs themselves matched the bardic ability being used.

I originally got the idea from a post on these boards a year or so back.

[Kizara]

I have an idea for gameplay for your bardess. When you use your bardic music abilities use a theme song for each ability. I did this for a bard that I played and it worked really well. I had the Rocky theme song, some Whitesnake song that I just can't remember at the moment. It worked well cause the songs themselves matched the bardic ability being used.

I originally got the idea from a post on these boards a year or so back.

That is more-or-less exactly what I intend to do, and the main purpose of this thread.

-----------------

As for the Loreena McKennit, she is basically the same style of stuff other's have posted, only generally better. Thanks for the Mummer's Dance especially, I've always heard that song but never knew who did it.

Thing is, I need stuff that's alot more fiery and saucy to suit her personality. She's alot more of a flirt then she is a haunting, distant beauty. Something like "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" is more appropriate then "Greensleeves"; although the Greensleeves is a good one in the back pocket for when she performs at 'home'.

[MisterSaturnine]

Thought I'd chime in, going with the Irish theme from before, with Damien Rice. Definitely fiery (depending on the song), and though he is male, most songs wouldn't even need tweaking to fix.

Some songs I would suggest for her would be I Remember (both Lisa Hannigan's part and Damien Rice's part), Rootless Tree, definitely Coconut Skins, and maybe Insane (which he hasn't recorded), with some of the lyrics tweaked.

Links to the lyrics below.

I Remember (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/damienrice/iremember.html)
Rootless Tree (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/damienrice/rootlesstree.html)
Coconut Skins (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/damienrice/coconutskins.html)
Insane (http://www.lyricsdownload.com/damien-rice-insane-lyrics.html) (also, the line in the chorus "sometimes you breathe all over my scar," should not say scar, it should say skin).

[Grug]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-onpZ_Gy20) is very appropriate, and with lyrics! I know it always makes me almost cry when I hear it.

[Kizara]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-onpZ_Gy20) is very appropriate, and with lyrics! I know it always makes me almost cry when I hear it.

Thank you. (nothing more need be said)

[Da Beast]

Were did the picture in the first post come from?

[Iku Rex]

The Voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNiv8MR4JE), Lisa Kelly

March of Cambreadth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZJ6g2kiMeI), Heather Alexander.

[Kizara]

Were did the picture in the first post come from?

My archives. I have about 1,600 pics on my computer in my "Character Art" folder. When I'm bored I troll the net looking for anything I might want to use to inspire my RPing, and save anything decent.
I BELIEVE that one was from a Lineage 2 promo I saw months back, but really that's just a guess based on the art style. The pic name is "elven swordswoman".

[Kizara]

The Voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNiv8MR4JE), Lisa Kelly

March of Cambreadth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZJ6g2kiMeI), Heather Alexander.

"The Voice" was fantastic, she even LOOKS close to my picture. I'll definately be checking out the rest of her stuff.

The other video is less of a perfect match, but it's still great for bards/dnd in general, thanks for the link!

[GutterRunner]

The Lord of the Rings soundtracks. All songs (tracks with singing rather than just music) should fit the setting and some have a suitably unearthly/magical feel for a half nymph bard.

[Farmer42]

The first 3 min or so of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvgCNPVW0us) always works when she's really down and out. Spooky as hell.

[Abbott]

Personally, I love this song and think it would make a great addition to your bardess' repertoire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQZPozjCX8

It might be a bit modern, but it's still quite haunting.

[Cuddly]

I'm going to recommend Suzanne Vega (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omyXU1uxNE4&feature=related). Folk-ish. Maybe a little too anachronistic, but dig around a bit and I bet you can find a good, upbeat, track or two.

[edit]
Actually, I never realized how produced and full of synth her stuff was. Some of her other stuff is really sparse on instruments, though.

[Skelengar]

There's always "Last of the Wilds."

[Darth Mario]

There's always "Last of the Wilds."

Well, yeah, if it had any vocals in it, there would be "Last of the Wilds."

[Kizara]

1) I'm going to repeat that "The Voice" by Celtic Woman was stunning. It is so appropriate, it helped me define and better visualise my character. Thank you so much. Also, ALOT of their stuff is REALLY good, although not all appropriate. I suggest any fan of celtic stuff look at them, they are alot more interesting (IMO) then some artists reccomended earlier in this thread.

2) LOTR stuff is a good idea, I'll look into it. Don't know why I didn't think of it, especially as my character is partially inspired by Arwen. (She's gestalt with ranger on the other side)

3) Farmer, I actually didn't care for that. Thanks anyways though.

4) Abbot, absolutely, that one is added. Love the lyrics.

5) Blood Makes Noise wasn't bad and I added it, Queen and the Soldier kinda grew on me, but I won't likely use it for this character. Overall, her stuff doesn't seem like a very good fit.

6) Yea, well Nightwish FTW of course, but while that song is pretty awesome, its unusable in this context.