"Musical Characters"

[Eisaac]

During my long time of roleplaying (about 16 years since I was introduced to D&D 1st edition) I had to think of a whole lots of stuff (you all probably know this, you are there too ). Dungeons, Campaigns and numerous characters. Listening to heavy metal helps!!!

I have based a few characters on the lyrics of songs, or just took a bunch of motifs from some and combined them together.

Two (GOOD!) examples for songs that can be used to create characters are from the band "Manowar". The first song (Defender) is a paladin. The second song (Dark Avenger) is more interesting: it is about something like a fallen paladin, a 'person' who uses evil against evil (like murderer of murderers)

(Parental advisory chorus on "Dark Avenger" )

Defender

Narration:

"When you are old enough to read these words

Their meaning will unfold

These words are all that's left

And though we've never met, my only son

I hope you know

That I would have been there to watch you grow

But my call was heard and I did go

Now your mission lies ahead of you

As it did my so long ago

To help the helpless ones who all look up to you

And to defend them to the end"

Defender

Ride like the wind

Fight proud, my son

You're the defender

God has sent

Father, father, father

I look up to you and heed thy call

This letter ends my search

I'll live your dream now passed on to me

And I now wait to shake the hand of fate

Like the dusk awaiting dawn

So wizards cast your spell

With no heart to do me well

So it is written, it shall be

Defender

Ride like the wind

Fight proud, my son

You're the defender

God has sent

Dark Avenger

He broke the laws of the elders

So they plucked out his eyes,

Took his land and fortune,

Left him to die

Bound on the shoreline,

Left for the tide,

Sees his life-blood leaving...

Circling lower, the vultures fly

His bones may be broken

But the spirit can't die

And the Gods see his anguish

And give him a sign

From the floor of the ocean

The ship of the lost souls rise

And they take him where no one sleeps while the undead cry,

Where no one sleeps while the undead cry...

And in the world above

The elders sing,

On his land they live...

Let death's bell ring

Narration:

He was met at the gate of Hades

By the Guardian of the Lost Souls,

The Keeper of the Unavenged

And He did say to him:

"Let thee not pass

Abaddon

Return to the world

From whence you came

And seek payment

Not only for thy known anguished

But to vindicate the souls

Of the Unavenged"

And they placed in his hands

A sword

Made for him

Called: Vengeance

Forged in brimstone

And tempered

By the woeful tears of the Unavenged

And to carry him up on his journey

Back to the upper world

They brought forth

Their Demon horse

Called: Black Death

A grim steed

So fiercely might

And black in colour

That he could stand as one with the Darkness...

Save from his burning eyes

of crimson fire

And on that night

They rode up from Hell

The pounding of his hooves

Did clap like thunder !

[Chorus:]

Burning, death, destruction

Raping the daughters and wives

In blood I take my payment

In full with their lives

No one can escape me

On Black Death I ride

When kissed by the sword of Vengeance

Your head lays there by your side

I take the lives of all that I once knew

The torn flesh of a slow death waits for you

[Chorus:]

Burning, death, destruction

Raping the daughters and wives

In blood I take my payment

In full with their lives

I spare not land or servants

My wake is smoke and flame

I take their wives and daughters

They stand there watching, watching

Hoping to get my life

But when I'm through they know they must pay

[Chorus:]

Burning, death, destruction

Raping the daughters and wives

In blood I take my payment

In full with their lives

With their lives

With their lives

With their lives....

[Lord Ser Brightblade]

Manowar!