If the heroes could play instruments, what do you think they'd play? Sarmenti is the obvious one, but what about the others?
ho boi... this one took a while to make. I have a lot of headcanons, not gonna lie, but bear in mind that my knowledge of music is mostly based on a few years of learning to play the piano (fruitless endeavour, ngl) andĀ Sidewayās rants about itĀ (honestly, go check the dude, heās amazing and talks on a level even someone with zero knowledge can understand).Ā
So brace yourself, a lot of very odd things are incoming with a lot of sample links. Because itās hard to explain music in words. Thou hast been warned.
Heroes are sorted in alphabetical order by their class, with addedĀ ācanonā names for clarity.Ā
Abomination/BigbyĀ - oof, only starting, and this one was already a hard one, but I think I have one that would fit him:Ā a glass harp. We have records of it being used as early as 1492, so it should fit the setting, I guess? And also it fits him, imo. Thereās more to this man than his chains and his rags, as thereās more to some water-filled glasses than what they look like. Also, it doesnāt require a lot, just glasses, some chalk and water. And lots and lots of patience. Fitting, donāt you think?
Antiquarian/JosephineĀ - this one gave me the biggest pause. Because frankly, I donāt really have an opinion on Josephine. She was a useful mule in-game but as her own person...? Ehhh... This one was hard. But I can proposeĀ tambourineĀ despite it being canonically used by Jester (based on his trinkets), maybe? Itās both unassuming and can be used for more than you can initially imagine, but still sounds very distinct - much like the antiquarian class in itself. I can also definitely see her sneaking one in her bags on an expedition (before I went and double checked, I was sure she was holding one in the Curious Incantation skill icon).
Arbalest/MissandeiĀ - something likeĀ french hornĀ comes to mind, frankly, with all the march references she has in her toolkit. Or maybe aĀ trumpet. Trumpet fits a bit better, imo, considering the āMarked for Deathā quartet sheās part of. Metallic, militaristic, much like her armour and her crossbow. Or her character. But also capable of sounding incredibly sincere and gentle.
Bounty Hunter/TardifĀ - yet another one which gave me a big pause. But he looks a lot like Varangian Guard, imo, so I looked up some Byzantine instruments and found one that I think fits both his āalways on the roadā bounty hunter lifestyle, his aesthetic (since it can be played without taking off his helmet cloth... I guess, donāt quote me on this one), and the feelings he probably invokes in people upon meeting them -Ā aulos. Just listen to this beauty, especially the starting dissonance. It sounds like an alarm siren to me. And if itās not Tardif in music form, I dunno what is.
Crusader/ReynauldĀ - a strong contender for āhis voice is his instrumentā because of his chanting, but nope, while our boi Rey can yell commands in a way that makes Barristan proud, I donāt think that singing is his strong suit. If we abandon his demonstrative disinterest in anything not Verse-related for a moment, I really wanna put something like zitra in his hands to show his gentler, humane side and because he is now strongly associated with Franko-German origin for me thanks to @engelsschwert and his real-world inspiration.Ā PsalteryĀ might fit it better? Sounds closer to how I can imagine him, at least. And the name is like āpsalmsā too. But itās still a part of the zitra family, so a win-win, imo.
Flagellant/DamianĀ -Ā his voice. No, really, I can easily depict this man bellowing the gregorian chant with the might needed to be heard from any remote part of a cathedral. Human voice is an incredible instrument after all, it was the very first one we had, and I believe Damian can use his to the fullest. It also fits theĀ āhaving nothing but burdenā mentality of flagellants, I think? You canāt get any more minimalistic than that. I think his singing voice also makes Rey jealous but heād rather die than admit it.
Grave Robber/AudreyĀ - she most likely knows how to play some āproperā, āfeminineā and classic instruments likeĀ the harp. Because of that, she most likely hates it with passion and would rather strangle you upon the request than play a melody, even if she can play decently āsince that is whatās expected from a proper ladyā.
Hellion/BoudicaĀ - another contender for using her voice as a musical instrument, more in a āwar chantā scenario. But also I can see her usingĀ tagelharpa. I suppose sheās meant to be Celtic with name and all, but Celtic lyre is too gentle-sounding, and I donāt think she was a chieftain/chieftain's daughter to be given a carnyx to play. So yeah, may be historically inaccurate since we cannot prove her being related to Vikings if we omit stereotypes, but the sound fits, imo, and DD as a whole is a historic nightmare, so...
Highwayman/DismasĀ - this one was incredibly easy and strong:Ā harmonica. Small, compact, can be made out of a leaf and a comb, or just a leaf if you know how. Easy to use on the road, easy to conceal if needed. Can be used to gouge our someoneās eye in a clutch. Ideal for a constantly low on funds runaway convict or a vagabond. Also it feels like a very cheeky instrument (pun definitely intended) and it fits the character quite well, imo.Ā The saxophoneĀ comes close second if weāre going bonkers. Oh, you all know why. Heās the most shipped character for a reason.
Houndmaster/WillamĀ - Iām not gonna beat around the bush with our beloved dog guy. Itās theĀ Irish tin whistleĀ also known asĀ feadóg.Ā Donāt judge me. I couldnāt pass this one.
Jester/SarmentiĀ - althoughĀ the luteĀ might be his preferred music instrument, I wouldāve really, really loved it if the mad lad found remains of anĀ organĀ in the Abbey and with enough help from Baldwin and the company could restore it. Because honestly, the guy is a mad genius, and have you seen how many pins, keyboards and the like the thing has? The sheer freedom, range and scale! Heād fit right in, just as much as I believe in his dedication to break through this monster of the instrument and make it obey his whim.Ā
Leper/BaldwinĀ - canonically plays theĀ fluteĀ (at least until the point where he still has some lips left to do it); however, based on the noble upbringing of that era, he probably knew some other, āproperā instrument as part of his upbringing.Ā Oud, maybe? Itās very complex from what I could gather, and has a lot of regularly used scales, but you wouldnāt assume it by looking at it. Much like you wouldnāt assume that a mere leper is a once-King.Ā
Man-at-Arms/BarristanĀ - I can easily imagine him knowing the drums.Ā Snare drumsĀ to be specific. But not in a way of music, not entirely, more in a way of military-signals-turned-music, if that makes sense? Though I believe he can perform one hell of a solo if you nag him long enough.
Musketeer/MargaretĀ - this one was more of a continuation of Arbalest, Houndmaster and MAA quartet, if you will, much like the Margaret herself is, mechanically at least, just a reskin of Misendei. So to finish the arrangement, I decided to give herĀ fifa. Not only does it fits their general āsoldierā idea, but also itās a flute, an instrument that got a lot of āfeminizationā and sounds gentler than the trumpet, but is capable of sounding just as harsh and demanding if needed.
Occultist/AlhazredĀ - another strong contender for his voice being his instrument. If the guy can yell āĀ Y'LW'NAFH N'GHFTĀ ā without stuttering, he deserves it, in my opinion. But I also findĀ kamanchehĀ quite fitting. It sounds like a lament, to me, which fits Alhazredās narrative and the instrument itself also looks both sophisticated and very elegant. It can also be considered a ritualistic instrument, used at many celebrations and is widely used in classical music.Ā
Plague Doctor/ParacelsusĀ - this one was tricky, and at first, I even thought Iād have to admit that she isnāt musical but. But. What is the music if not the fluctuations in the air? What are they but math and physics, give or take? And if so, you can make a scientific way of producing it - aĀ marble machine. Unorthodox, just like the woman in question. And admit it, it even looks like something sheād try to build just to drive Sarmenti up the wall.
Shieldbreaker/AmaniĀ - initially I wanted to give her a rattle (Iām a horrible person, Iām aware of it). I also was sure she had some sort of jingles, much like Jester, during her moves, but no. The problem is, sheās one-handed, and itās rare you can use an instrument with only one hand. But I found one and it actually fits her, thematically -Ā zills! And first ones of those were found in Greece around 500 BC, so no issues in using them in our medieval-ish setting.
Vestal/JuniaĀ - this one was also a doozy to think of, but I think I have a very nice fit:Ā a handbell. It can be gentle, it can be deafening, itās useless in untrained hands, and has the added bonus of having a strong link to church bells if you squint hard enough. Also most of the carols Iām aware of use bells, so do with it what you will.