Happy Halloween everyone. A strange year it is when running around on this day without a mask is scarier than with.
Anyways
Duo of Dissonance
Ascension Stage 1
Ascension Stage 2
Ascension Stage 3
Erich
"Hello Master, Servant class Archer. My name is Florence Foster Jenkins, the greatest opera singer the world has ever seen! I will give you the best show you can imagine, I guarantee it Master!"
"Pleased to meet you Flor…who's there? Show yourself!"
"How can that…I am sorry, but that is…he is my partner…we… we work together…I…"
"Florence? Are you okay?"
"Eh what? Oh you are the one in charge here i suppose? Let me introduce myself! I am Foreigner Lady Florence Foster Jenkins! I am sure you have heard of me, everyone by now should know the greatest singer of the 20th century! And this here is my Mas…-I mean friend Erich. He is a man of few or rather no words at all. He prefers to listen to me, who can blame him, right? Yohahahah."
Class: Foreign Archer
Other Classes (If Applicable): Archer, Avenger
True Name: Florence Foster Jenkins
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Place of Origin: Historical Fact, America
Parameters:
STR: E
END: E
AGI: E
MGI: D
LCK: C
Height: 164cm
Weight: 78kg
Likes: her music, art, piano, bringing joy with her singing, fashion
Dislikes: criticism, silent audience
Talent: making people laugh, piano, "singing"
Natural Enemy: the press
Attribute: Earth
Armament: a microphone, black cello
Catalyst: tickets or articles for/about her performance in Carnegie Hall
Description
Happy, delirious, arrogant, lovely. There were many words that described this flamboyant lady, but "good singer" wasnt one of them. Florence is known in history books as the worst opera singer ever. Despite or because of exactly that questionable talent of not holding rhythm, pitch or tone even if her life depends on it made her famous and popular in buzzling New York City. During her musical career she performed on several private stages and kept delirious of her infamous reputation as laughing stock, blocking any criticism as simple envy of others and preventing potential critics from even visiting her shows. Her life was good, she was able to do what she loved for the last three decades since she started her musical career in her fourties. But then she gave in and agreed to perform in front of the public for all viewers to hear. Critics, newspapers, people who wanted to mock the cult figure, all flocked to her last and most magnificent performance, her magnum opus. Lady Florence, in her golden years, age 76, performed splendidly. Full of energy she sang with all her might, all her passion, all her love, all her very being. Never did she put that much heart into her act before, because she knew it would be the last time she could grace the world with her alluring voice before retirement. She left the stage exhausted, but happy, with the brighest smile as she just sang the most beautiful opera the world has ever heard.
The Lady woke up in the next morning, excited to see the newspaper and how they would praise her last show…
"Lady Florence indulged last night in one of the weirdest mass jokes New York has ever seen."
"Mrs. Jenkins has a great voice. In fact, she can sing everything except notes ... Much of her singing was hopelessly lacking in a semblance of pitch, but the further a note was from its proper elevation the more the audience laughed and applauded."
"The funniest, saddest of all concerts"
"The blissful dowager on the platform seemed completely unaware that 3000 persons were laughing at her - not politely mind you, but uproariously and in gales"
"The most pathetic exhibition of vanity i have ever seen""
"...pathetic...""...Joke...""...pathetic...""...Pathetic...""...Pathetic...""...hopelessly lacking...""...Pathetic...""...Pathetic...""...Audience laughed...""...Pathetic...""...Pathetic...""...PATHETIC..."
"Am I really...such a pathetic singer?"
…something in her shattered that morning. For years she and her friends upheld the believe she was a great opera singer, a diva with a wonderful voice that brings joy to the hearts of people.
The critical reception crushed her feelings, broke her golden heart and shattered the strong defences of her ego. The shining smile of the charismatic lady vanished from the face of our earth..and should soon be replaced by a sinister smile of something from the core of a dark dimension. The evening of October 25th 1944 would start the countdown of her final days.
Unbeknownst to her and others, her bizarre tones, grotesque melodies, unfathomable rhythms and strange voice did not just make waves in the Carnegie Hall or in the press. Far, far from the skyline of New York, far from the shores our solar system or the coast of our galaxy, her act found an audience that should never have listened.
For the next few days she was depressed and without joy for life or music. The only thoughts that swirled through her mind were
"Am i truly such a terrible singer?" "Did everyone lie to me?" "Why did i embarass myself for decades?" "How can those people be so cruel?" "Was i wrong?"
"Am i…pathetic?"
These questions haunted her and kept her awake during the night from the 30th to 31st of October.
To her surprise somebody answered…
"No you are not."
in a voice that was both beautiful and terrifying, soothing her troubled mind as if all her doubts were melting into black mud.
From the shadows of her room an elderly man appears with large bulging eyes and long nose. Without moving his lips and with a ghastly smile he assured her
"You have a wonderful talent. They were just not ready to hear your splendid voice. I am the only one who truly sees the wonder that is your singing. Together we can create art, which carries beyond this world and will reach the gods themselfs, so they shall adore you too!"
His eyes start glowing and his gaze pierces her very soul. There Florence could feel how that man picked up her broken pieces and rearranged them to a much superior melody...
"Lady Florence allowed us last night to indulge in the most breathtaking performance New York has ever seen."
"Mrs. Jenkins has the greatest voice. In fact, she can sing everything ... All of her singing showed, that compared to her all others were hopelessly lacking in a semblance of pitch ... her proper elevation made the audience cheer and applaude."
"The most beautiful, saddest of all concerts. Please dont let it be her last!"
"The tremendous dowager on the platform seemed completely unaware that 3000 persons were in awe of her - not mildly mind you, but uproariously and in gales they cried at such incredible talent"
"The most perfect exhibition of modesty i have ever seen. Lady Florence is perfect.""
"They really do love me."
She now understands that her work was just the earthly prelude to her cosmic sonata, that shall reach even beyond the heavens. And humanity…was just an unworthy audience.
Those close to Lady Jenkins will report that on the last day of October she was finally able to relax.
And her love for music returned stronger than ever. She also felt inclined to search for inspiration, as she herself wanted to create a new sonata, that is worthy only for her glorious voice. She was seen that day, on October 31st, in a New Yorker music sheet store, shopping, frantically looking through the sheets of past masters. Upon finding one particular unfinished sheet from a certain Russian composer she suffered a heart attack. Her doctor theorized it was due to the exhausting performance days prior or maybe the crushing criticism or maybe even deep in the labyrinth of her psyche she wished that her biggest greatest act should be her last legendary performance. But she seemed revitalized that morning and to have fully recovered from the cruel rendition of her divine talent. Could that really be the case? If it was just her aging body or perhaps the Counter Force itself to prevent the dark potential she acquired to fully blossom is up to debate. But in the end she wasnt able find those sheets again. For the rest of her last days after her heart attack she remained bedridden. But she did not lose her ability to sing. At night she would create her own music and sing…not many would ever hear it, but her voice sounded…even more strange than usual. She was gifted in that night by the foreign god and gained artificial magic circuits in her throat. Lady Jenkins learned to use them and it culminated in her first success. After singing the first part of her Magnum Opus, The Opera for the Dark God, on 7th November 1944, she was able to disturb the hymn of the world enough to create small rifts across the globe. Most were too small and insignificant, but there were at least two that were big enough to let foreign horrors into our world. One was an airborne monster and appeared in Serbia, which attacked Russian and American Air Forces. After the incident it was agreed by both sides to rather claim they misidentified the other for Germans instead of claiming to have fought an alien thing, in fear no one would believe them anyways.
The other rift opened near Hokkaido, Japan and let in a handful of maritime humanoids, which attacked a submarine and led to the sinking of the USS Albacore.
Her long time partner and manager claimed that on their last interaction she pointed to her briefcase and said to him "I am leaving everything to you.".
That is not entirely true, she pointed into an empty corner of the room and mumbled "I leave everything to you." as the mysterious old man from that night vanished into thin air. Two days later, on November 26th 1944, Florence Foster Jenkins took her last feeble breath. On her lips a strange smile, as if she was waiting for this moment.
After her soul left this realm and the world started to construct a wraith for her, the man gained access to it due to their shared contract and was able to bide his time with it. Manipulating her Spirit Origin enough for her to become a Heroic Spirit. After that he released her Origin back to the root and waited patiently for the day to come when she was to be summoned for the right time…
In the end her bizarre tones, grotesque melodies and unfathomable rhythms were not made for human ears, but for ears far more sinister and far away. Her dissonant performances reached the far ends of dimensions and attracted the attentions of eldritch musicians that took a liking to her unique talent and invited her to the darkest court in all existence and beyond. Together with a mysterious musician, the mute viol player Erich Zann, they form the strange Duo of Dissonance.
Class Skills
Divinity D
The level of one's aptitude as a Divine spirit. After becoming partner with the entity she met in the night to Halloween, she gained a part of their divine power, granting a low rank in it.
Existence Outside the Domain B
A Skill inherent to the Foreigner Class, asserting one's existence outside of time and reality. Foreigner is partially resistant to physical and mental damage, as her true self exists far beyond the reality perceivable by humans. This defense can be bypassed if the attacker themselves is connected to "something beyond man", like by possessing the Divinity Skill.
While both entities which empower her are mighty in their own right, they are just considered "servants" of beings of greater power.
Insanity C
A Mental Pollution-like skill gained from contacting an evil god that can easily erode the fragile common sense and morals of humans. However, the main qualification for the Foreigner class is to defy this erosion, either by maintaining their integrity as they descend into madness, or instead of being consumed by madness, they consume the madness itself.
Foreigner invited the madness and fueled her to keep the delusion of her talent alive.
Independent Action -
The ability to remain independent even when rejecting theMagical Energysupply from one's Master; the ability that allows for action even in the absence of the Master.
This skill has been sealed or is unavailable. Servant does not react to questions regarding that.
Magic Resistance C+
Grants protection against magical effects. Cancel spells with a chant below two verses. Cannot defend against magecraft on the level ofHigh-ThaumaturgyandGreater Rituals. Foreigner has a remarkable resistance against music-related magic.
If not for her own Resistance to Music Magecraft it would be denoted as Magic Resistance (False). She is neither a true magus, nor did she ever encounter magic before meeting her benefactor that one night. Her Resistance during battle comes from the protection she enjoys from Erich.
Personal Skills
Maddening Symphony A - A mesmerizing-kind of skill, that grants plus modifiers when exercising music related magecraft and the ability to inflict madness and chance to lower the AGI stat upon every being unfortunate enough to hear the sounds of the user. Comes with a low rank in Charisma. To avoid suffering from this skill one has to be blessed by an Outer Entity of equal or higher standing or has lost the gift of hearing. Those with high Magic Resistance may withstand the horrid tones of Foreigner.
A frightening skill that Foreigner can use to attack and defend herself. Her singing acts as a Mental Attack against enemies and civilians. Listeners who fail the Resistance check (Magic Resistance under rank C) are driven slowly but surely to madness by the absurd sounds Foreigner produces, but still feel inclined to listen to them. Even when foes can avoid the effects of her voice on themselfs, they have to deal with the civilians she attracted with her concert, making them to dancing and laughing fools following her demands for simple tasks.
But dont be fooled, not all of them enjoy it. While many are directly driven to euphoric madness, some resist that urge, but fall victim to the disruption of their "Musica Humana", the inner sound of humans, that keep body and soul in harmony. Her tones influence that music and let them lose control over the movements of their body, making them move like mad dancers. They are now suffering from Choreomania, the dance sickness, that was infamous, especially during the middle ages. If they didnt fall into madness from her singing, they will do when they are slaves to their own bodies. Even Servants can be affected by it to some degree. They may resist the worst case scenario of being unable to control their body, but the music can still disturb their own inner music and slow down their reaction time.
As her benefactor plays for the court of things beyond our comprehension, her artistic talent is made for those beings. Therefore Servants with Existence Outside the Domain of rank C or higher are unaffected or even find it pleasant.
"See them chant and frolick to my music, what a wonderful sight! You know the music is great when the audience cant stop laughing from excitement! Erich, keep up with my tempo, lets make them dance to an even finer tune!"
"Dance little puppet! How does it feel to not be in control anymore, huh?"
Mana Burst (Music) C
This skill is the increase in performance by infusing ones voice or musical instrument with Magical Energy and instantly expelling it as sound. It is a variation of Mana Burst (Wind) that is limited to the voice of the owner and sound of instruments they use.
The main way for Foreigner to attack. She imbues her voice with Mana and can emit sound waves that act as blasts of wind, able to blast holes though walls with ease or high frequency waves that are able to burst eardrums and shatter glass. Erich can attack with this skill as well, infusing his black violoncello with mana, he can create cutting blades of sound, that have enough impact to decapitate normal humans.
"As one of the greatest opera singers of her time it is only proper to have an outstanding control over your voice. I think in your termonology you could say the audience having a BLAST listening to me incorporated as a skill YOHAHAHAHA…"
"Come Erich, show those culture banauses that music can be a cut throat business…"
Protection of the Music God E
It usually makes it possible to distinguish all kinds of sounds and play a masterful music performance…
well that is not possible for Foreigner. She may know vaguely how famous pieces of art are supposed to sound, but she is unable to replicate the intended way of performing. It is best to ignore that she has it.(Foreign) EX
Denotes the owner of this skill as an exceptional performer for the "ears" of Outer Gods.
It is so outstanding that Foreigner was granted a Blessing by her benefactor and gained artificial magic circuits in her throat that allow her the ability to exercise music magecraft.
"What do you mean it is Rank E? E stands for Excellence, right? Of course it does, your smile tells me everything, darling."
"Told you...Talent can be a curse sometimes."
Noble Phantasm 1
Dark Demonic Angel of MusicFleeting Echo of the Flautist of Horror, Tru'Nembra
"Look at my adorable friend here. Isn't he cute? Dances around like a little child when I sing. It brings me the greatest joy to watch him play around. And he is so helpful as well! He is like a walking gramophone!"
"Play his death cry again, little one…wonderful. Let's see if the next one can hit a higher note."
A being of swirling, visible sound, permanently playing ghastly tones and dancing maddenly to an unearthly melody. It seems to consider sounds as nourishment and "feeds" on them, growing the louder the environment is. In combat it lowers the opponents ability to resist mental interferences, like that of their music, and protects her from attacks. It too has the Mana Burst (Music) skill, its full potential is unknown, but it is sure to have a higher rank than Foreigner herself. It can part into several smaller pieces.
It has the ability to record sounds and replay them whenever it is commanded too. Some sounds it can reproduce only one time, some several times. It is not clear what the conditions are to replay it multiple times, but it is theorized echoes play a part in it. This ability can be used to replay previous performances of Foreigner when she is unable to or provide background tunes to currently unavaiable instruments. Darker uses are to let it split up and record enemy voices and replay them to lure their allies into a trap. It can even wrap itself around the foe and they are forced to listen to the vortex of tones that it harbours inside. No one dared so far to eavesdrop the inner cacaphony of that strange thing, but enemies who were victim to it had their mind broken…and their face almost ripped of.
During combat that thing can drive itself into a frenzy, could target allies and even ignores some commands of Foreigner. When that happens the usually smiling Erich then starts to look grim, reaches for his back and takes out an instrument, something that looks undescribable and can only be akined to perhaps a drum. Playing it blares out a deep and intimidating tone, that instantly calms down the living Echo or reigns him in. Afterwards, Erich looks like always, creepy, smiling, playing his cello.
Still, it is their favourite audience and singing partner. Foreigner seems to be one of the few mortals to appreciate it's strange performance as the vaguely humanoid figure dances around her and it is the only being that truly appreciates her voice.
It is actually summoned by Erich and when not in combat or dancing in insane rhythms, it is housed in the body of Erich's instrument. The identity of said being is a projection of Tru'nembra, the flautist from the horrible court of the foolish god of another dimension.
Noble Phantasm 2
Music of the SpheresFinal Opera for the Dark God
"Hear the muffled maddening sound of the vile viol and the thin monotous whine of accursed flutes of my friends and listen to my otherworldly glorious voice that even the Gods adore!
Ymg' ilyaa n'gha llll ymg' ahlloigazath ya!
My song shall rise to the depths of the universe, oh hear you gods, this is for you!
Music of the Spheres! Musica Inhumana! Opera for the Dark God!"
Even the ancient greeks knew every astral object has a distinct and unique sound they make, their own special hymn, even the earth. It is usually silent to the normal ear, but it is essential to any living thing residing on that planet or star. If this sacred melody is disrupted, the nature is as well. Disrupt the humming of the world and environment is out of control. That is what the Duo of Dissonance does. They perform their strangest opera, their bizarre Magnum Opus, driving listeners to madness, cursing them and disrupting the earthly melody, causing catastrophes that act as background music to their opera of doom. The earth starts to quake and grants the performance an eery bass; the sea starts rising parallel to the tempo; the sky darkens and lightning zaps to the beat, burning the celebrating maniacs to a crisp as they cheer the end of the world; ley-lines become unstable and start leaking out to the surface, looking like the Northern Lights fell down to the ground.
The stage is set for the Angel of Music to start his performance. Seemingly feeding upon the sounds of his masters, it grows to a tornado of lingering notes, lifting the crowd into the sky and let them fall down to the ground like the petals at the end of Foreigner's acts. During the performance a rift in the sky starts to open and invites an even bigger crowd. In pour low daemons from another realm and "dance" with the audience in blood-red pirouttes, clenched at their necks. The longer the show goes on, the bigger the rift and the more dangerous it becomes for our reality. Only the awful song of Foreigner and the screeching noises of Erichs viol are in your ears - at first, but slowly some other noises are mixed in from above. From far away you hear tones similar to drums, just much more brutal and terrifying and flutes that sound like the death cries of entire worlds. The rift that opens is a gateway to the court of the Daemon Sultan, the sinister concert hall of the true Tru'Nembra and of Skarl. Should Foreigner be allowed to sing her entire performance, the rift will be big enough to let the world hear the entire orchestra of the Evil Gods and spread the madness over the entire globe. And then, if all the crazed masses sing with her, maybe the slumberer awakes…
That is the power of music so foul, so grotesque, so vile, that even the earth itself stops for a second and forgets to prevent calamities and foreign interferencesto occur. During the time the Music of Spheres is active, the correctional forces of the world are disrupted. Therefore the amount of magical energy Servants take from their master is reduced drastically, certain mystical events last longer and so on, making it a double edged sword as enemies can use this time period for potentially stronger attacks without the correctional forces weighing on them. Servants of the class Foreigner with Existence Outside the Domain get a rank up in all stats during the song. The higher the rank, the better the effect for them. As the target of the NP are not the foes directly, but the world itself it can be considered Anti-World.
Even servants who are deaf are still affected by the effects following the disruption, because the holy hymn of the planet influences everyone born on it. Besides the physical consequences, the Noble Phantasm is an unavoidable Mental Interference attack with varying effect, from sheer panic to an uncomfortable feeling, the spectrum can be filled completely. Most Servants will still be able to fight on, only weak Masters may be a problem.
If the NP is interrupted the correctional forces kick in again, the nature calms down and the rift closes rapidly. The weak daemons who couldnt flee back into the rift are then to be killed of. The Opera severely strains Foreigner's throat. If she doesnt succeed, she is likely unable to fight by herself, being even more reliant on Tru'Nembra's Echo and Erich.
The usually smiling Erich then starts to rise and gives Foreigner a dark and disappointed gaze. From the depths of Erich's cello a dark voice, frightening, yet beautiful, can be heard saying "...Pathetic..." Foreigner then trembles in fear and starts pleading
"Erich, please forgive me! I will become better…ouch…I promise next time I am able to handle the ritual! Please…Master Skarl…"
For your imagination
Little Ones's final form
The falling petals
Entrance of the audience
Tactics
Florence: She mostly keeps her distance and attacks with her Mana Infused voice, taking on a rather passive role as she lets her companions do the work for her.
Avatar of Tru'Nembra: Uses wind and sounds to attack. Their gusts are effective enough to block weapons of servants. It's fighting capability is comparable to high tier Servants and is the biggest threat among the three fighters that make up Foreigner. It can part itself into three seperate, smaller beings to fight from several sites.
Erich: He mostly sits on his stool and plays his violoncello to provide the music for Florence' ghastly tones. If needed he provides support by forming blades of compressed sound from his bow by playing his instrument. If enemies start attacking Erich, he just quickly and almost mockingly evades. His parameter are unknown, but it is at least A in Agility, because it is extremely hard to catch him. When Florence is in danger of losing or is vulnerable, Erich will finally stand up and protect her. He does not actively attack, he blocks any incoming attack with his bow or viol and body blocks hits to prevent harm from Florence. At moments like this it is revealed how high his Endurance parameter is.
PersonalityLady Florence is...eccentric. She loud, she proud, she doesnt know what the heck she talking about. Oblivious about her infamous reputation as the worst songstress, like during life time, she compares herself to the greatest singers in her craft. Criticism is envy, mocking laughter is roaring applause and bad reviews are non-existent. She loves what she does and despite her overt pride and belittling of critics, to all others she is a caring person. Despite her not realizing why the audience is laughing, she does know they do and she uses that to bring joy to the world. Her voice was bad, but she was still loved by the public as a great entertainer and made even the most sophisticated upper class gentlemen people forget manners and roar in laughter. She sang in radio shows as well, countless tired soldiers who had seen death vistas during the war finally had a good laugh and alleviated their suffering for at least a little while. One good known line came from a young soldier "I have lost my left leg during the Battleof Quadalcanal…but Lady Florence makes me happy to be alive."
She is a talented pianist as well, offering piano lessons before she started her singing career and even performing as a young prodigee for the president. That encourages her to teach others the art of music.
She also had a peculiar taste in fashion. She changed her outfit several times during performances, regardless how small the audience. She is most famous for her big angel wings she donned while she was hanging from the ceiling. Her extravagant style is not for everyone, as it consists of many shiny and moving things, that make her look rather silly.She also loved to throw flowers and their petals into the audience to ornate her acts. If she had to do an encore, her partners had to collect all the flowers from the ground so she can throw them around again.
Like with many Foreigner Servants, with increasing influence from the Existence Outside the Domain, she too changes her demeanor. For her she becomes more…selfaware in a sense. She starts to make references to her bad voice and shows a sense of bloodlust against anyone that openly shows her disdain for her music. She mentions a hate for humanity in general, as they mocked an old lady into the hands of a monster and therefore her own death. That illuminates a bit what she thinks of her situation. Her bright attitude deteriorates into a demeaning arrogance towards others.
She then makes actively use of her "Musica Humana" attack and loves to see the victims drive themselfs mad. Her style changes too, her usually bright colors are replaced by a simple black dress. Her famous angelic wings changed to black and make her look like a Fury.
Relationships and Quotes
"Stare into the sun too long and you go blind. Ironic, the most beautiful thing to look at does this to you.
No wonder people go deaf after hearing me sometimes, Yohahahaha."
"What hidden skill? Oh you surely mean my Shapeshift (Outfit) skill? Yeah i wonder why you cant see it, but i can change my outfit any time. A woman of my standing cant allow herself to be seen in the same garment for too long!"
"Care for an encore? You have no choice anyways."
"Your screams are perfect background music. As thanks I shall sing on your funeral."
Mozart: "I just performed for the greatest composer in history! Amadeus Mozart himself! My singing of Eine kleine Nachtmusik moved him to tears. Take that, you cheap haters!"
*meanwhile in Mozarts room* "HAHAHAHAHA I CANT ANYMORE HAHAHAHA OH MY STOMACH, I JUST CANT AHAHAHAHAH" *rolling on the carpet*
Salieri: "Oh by the way, I forgot to mention, there was that strange man secretly listening to my performance for Amadeus recently. He suddenly transformed to a red beast and wanted to charge at me while singing, but apparently the security held him back. Here, it is an autograph of mine, he shall have it, he surely wanted one, but I cant give piano lessons to all of my fans."
Yan Guifei: "You just missed the opportunity to listen to a world premiere! Lady Florence sang for the first time in Chinese! YOHAHAHA! I did not know what I sang, but I performed it per excellence! The young Yang Guifei gave me the text, that kind girl even translated the lyrics for me and played the bee-waah to it! It was such a refreshing experience, how could I miss the chance to expand my glory to the far-east? I know the people of the east are a bit more reserved and dont cheer loudly like my fellow Americans, but I hope they show me that serene smile like she did."
Thomas Edison: "I just had the honor of performing for the President - no all the Presidents of the United States! That is my second time performing for the president! How wonderful, a glory they couldnt enjoy during their lifetime, now they had the chance. I never sang for a great white lion, mind you. I could see how his wild mane stood up, thats a lion equivalent tp goose bumps, right?"
Elizabeth Bathory: "Oh there you are! Here have this. You will have the best seat right at the front row! Be punctually, seee youuuu~"
"What is this all about? Oh a flyer. HEEEEH? Concert of Florence Foster Jenkins and Elizabeth Bathory?! Did they…did they really book a whole stadium? But…how…WHY?"
Carmilla: "This Carmilla seems to have a problem with me. Try me, I shall give you a taste of your own medicine"
Iskandar: *Loudly laughs and applaudes during her performance*"Hahaha, splendid. So what if her singing is terrible? A good performance is not solely dependent on the voice! She brings joy in her own unique way. I heard during her life she sang for soldiers and helped them laugh again. What more does it need for her to be respected?! I would glady invite her to sing for my Ioniai Hetairoi! WAHAHA! Encore, Lady!"
Blackbeard: *foolishly dances and claps to her music* "I am not sure if is doing this by himself or he failed the Resistance Check…"
Li Shuwen (Old): "Master, please spare me a moment. It is about Lady Jenkins or rather about her companion. I feel great danger from that man named Erich. It seems to be like a massive amount of Yin poured over a good amount of Yang. What I mean is, he is even more mysterious than we might think."
Yagyu Munenori: "Beware, Master. The man named Erich Zann is dangerous. You surely know that yourself. He seems older than me, but he is as agile as me. As a normal musician? And his movement are rather peculiar. As if a sword is perfectly swung, but by the wrong wielder. Please be careful around him."
Paracelsus: "Mysterious…Ahh Master. Apologize my mumbling. I was wondering about that Elemental of Lady Jenkins and Mr. Zann. I observed them and couldnt help but wonder…if we can even say that thing is an Elemental. It at least doesnt work like any Elementals I can create and it's movements are too sharp. It is either a new category I am not aware of or they are superior to my own abilites. I am sorry Master, I have much to improve."
So who is Erich Zann?Erich Zann was an elderly musician that played at a cheap orchestra in the city. As a young student found out, he played at night perfect, but unearthly music on his violoncello. The fascinated youth witnessed his nocturnal symphony, but one night he heard him scream. He then visited the elder and Erich offered to write a written explanation of the circumstances he is in. But he was interrupted by a low, but intended sound from outside the mysterious window, the student was never able to look out of. The musician then started to frantically start playing his instrument in horrific fashion, as if he tries to keep something out. Still a mocking sound echoes through the window in form of a powerful gust of wind. That unnatural, almost sentient howling wind carried the written notes out. Trying to catch them, the young men was able to finally look out of the window. Instead of the night sky and the city lights he saw a black void of infinite chaos. Panicked he wanted to safe Erich, but he just found him dead - still playing his instrument. He ran out of the room, the house, the street, the entire neighborhood…and never found it anywhere again.
Erich was an musical magician and was one of the last strongholds against the dark forces from a foreign realm. After the student left, the entity called Skarl demanded from Tru'Nembra, the wind that attacked the two, to erase the neighborhood from the texture of the world and bring the body. He then possessed the remains of Erich Zann - the Gatekeeper of Music.
His abilities were inherited to Skarl and added them to his. His abilities are Mana Burst (Music), Magic Resistance, Magecraft(Music) and Territory Protection, the Gatekeeper skill, but focused on protecting Florence.
And what is Skarl?Years before that infamous author had his fever dreams and saw what things lurk beyong the thresholds of our reality, there were others who had the same dreams, but saw something different. One of them was a man called Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany or better known as Lord Dunsany. One night he saw in a dream how an ominous Drummer played to keep a master out of sight asleep. He felt how intense the music was and knew the master has to be kept asleep or else…
Inspired he wrote the book The Gods of Pegana in 1905 and included the vision he had in his work and gave the being he saw a name: Skarl the Drummer. How fate has it the same work inspired the works of Lovecraft. When he dreamt, he saw the thing at the center of that dimension and heard the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes and also…muffled maddening beating of vile drums..
But one question remains. It is not what Lord Dunsany or even if he saw it. It is "When did it happen?"
Time is something that only really exists for mortals and foolish like they are they cant comprehend when it is not working according to their imposed logic. Dunsany did not see the present, nor the future, nor the past or even more distant past. He did see something that was beyond time - before time. Whatever we theorize what the origin of our universe may be, it doesnt apply to the dimesion where the Demon Sultan resides. In fever dreams they understood that he shall not awake. But that which sleeps, had to fall asleep. What happened before that?
Skarl may be the oldest thing in existence we know of. He was tasked with playing for Mana-Yood-Sushai, the being that eternally slept, but had to keep sleeping or else he would wipe everything clean. Be it the gods, the world, Skarl or even himself. He would then recreate everything and will start his eternal slumber yet again, until he awakes for his new creations. For long strange aeons Skarl served and sang and danced and played. But over unspoken time, even that without mind shall create one. Skarl was victim what we would describe as emotions. Long he fulfilled his duty, but without sweet release of end. He hated it and one day he stopped. A misguided attempt of suicide of a being that can not die any other way than being wiped from existence. Mana-Yood-Sushai awoke. But it wasnt his time. Still he fulfilled his duty. He erased the gods, he erased the worlds, the mortals, even himself before recreating everything. Just Skarl was left behind. As punishment for not fulfilling his oath and the audacity to awake his master himself, he was kept alive and tasked with the same mission, yet again. Knowing he could not do that again or else the hell of existence repeats itself, he had to find another way to awake the great slumberer. Contempt for everything is what would describe him the most. For even the greatest things in their plane are considered eternal and undying, but he knows, when eternity ends, they are allowed the sweet relief of death. So he decided to help mortal beings to wake his master in his stead, so they are to blame and bring the eternal end for him and them.
Creator's Notes
Ffs i didnt expect that my sheet is that long and that formatting it takes even longer. Sorry you had to read that. I have to shorten my sheets.
Anyways. Florence is a "Foreign Archer". I consider Foreigner as mostly an "Overclass", a class you can slap over a more common class. Compare it to "Berserker Saber" and stuff from Singularity 1. And hey, finally a Foreigner sheet that is not completely powered by a HPL creation, great right? Right? As Dunsany's creation is a clear precursor for Azathoth and the idea to create a literary universe, i thought i make this apparent in the backstory as well.
Oh and she really did have her heart attack on halloween, i was surprised that the timing fits so well, wasnt really mentioned in the texts i found about her.
Thx if you even read half of this wall of text and feedback pls.
As the cherry on the cake, listen to her beautiful voice and why she was so (in)famous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcs9yJjVecs
And thx for Royd for letting me make a reference to his Scriabin sheet.