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Vegemeister's Challenge #1

Discussion in 'Challenges' started by Vegemeister, Jul 26, 2007.

  1. Vegemeister

    Vegemeister Seventh Year

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    Type: AU/Crossover

    Premise:

    This challenge is based on the idea that music can be used to produce magical effects when the powerful emotions it induces are properly directed. ​

    Summary:

    Soon after Harry is placed with the Dursleys, they remand him to an orphanage, where he learns an instrument (try to avoid the guitar) and is taught to sing by an aging black man by the name of Curtis. Harry is a lonesome boy, and somewhat socially inept, as a result of his lack of parents and his prior experiences in the Dursley household. In an attempt to resolve his behavior problems, the nun running the orphanage assigns him to be mentored by a middle-aged ex-con by the name of Elwood Blues...

    Harry must somehow defeat Lord Voldemort with Music, (which is "The Power the Dark Lord knows not") and ridiculous hijinks must ensue. Bonus points for Harry/Luna.​
     
  2. Solomon

    Solomon Heir

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    For instruments, I suggest the following, for manliness or just plain awesome:

    Wind Instruments:
    Flute
    Alto Saxophone (Maybe Tenor)
    Bassoon
    Oboe

    Assorted, Non-Wind Instruments:
    Viola
    Bongo Drums

    That's all I've got, for now...

    On the challenge itself...interesting, but could be a bit more detailed.
     
  3. The-Hyphenated-One

    The-Hyphenated-One Chief Warlock DLP Supporter

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    Right now that's really just an idea for a story. You need to flesh it out a bit for it to be considered a challange. Does the author include his years at the orphanage and his years at hogwarts? Will he be recieving special "magical" training, because there is no way he would know that music would defeat Voldemort.

    Give the author more to work with.
     
  4. garion1500

    garion1500 Third Year

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    Interestingly, in Janny Wurt's Wars of Light and Shadow series, music played by a master bard with a perfectly tuned instument (a lute in this case) could actually activate or alter magical wards based on the perfect intonations and frequencies or melodies played. It would be interesting if Harry could do something like this at Hogwarts. Perhaps he could even "play" spells and create magical contructs by playing certain songs or melodies.
     
  5. kit

    kit Second Year

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    Whoever chooses to write this, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT USE THE OBOE. I played it for three awful years, it sounds like a dying duck.
     
  6. deathinapinkboa

    deathinapinkboa Minister of Magic

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    Perhaps he could play a Didgeridoo.
     
  7. Skeletaure

    Skeletaure Magical Core Enthusiast ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

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    Lol, I think the obvious choice would be voice or piano.
     
  8. malaga

    malaga Auror

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    No, piano isn't portable enough. He'd be without it at Hogwarts, unless he found the RoR or something. A sax could be cool.
     
  9. Solomon

    Solomon Heir

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    If it weren't for the fact that it's not even remotely portable, I would have suggested a Xylophone in that list I put up. A shame that it's not, though.

    A Soprano Saxophone is fine too.
     
  10. Spanks

    Spanks Chief Warlock

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    Its got to be something he can carry around in his back pocket. Maybe a kazoo or a tamborine. They aren't heavy, so Harry can do some serious ritualistic dances and shit while playing the instrument.
     
  11. Solomon

    Solomon Heir

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    Well, at first he could just have it strapped to him - or carried around in a simple form, much like a briefcase - then have it shrunk later on when he knows how to cast that charm. Anything that he could reasonably play while moving is fine, really.
     
  12. Vegemeister

    Vegemeister Seventh Year

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    I agree with the sax.
     
  13. Mordecai

    Mordecai Drunken Scotsman –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

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    The author is Prodigy had a fic up at one point, I think he deleted it though, which used the idea that music is magical. It had a man move in a couple of doors down from Harry, and Harry is attracted by the sound of music. The man turns out to be some sort of person that Dumbledore wouldn't approve of, thus ensuring that Harry likes him, and he promises to teach Harry many things, including how to play the cello. It was actually quite a good fic, but got deleted before it really took off.
     
  14. Solomon

    Solomon Heir

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    The cello is an interesting instrument, to be sure (I played it for a couple years way back when), but not quite portable enough for anything except performances. It certainly wouldn't work in a magical duel, that's for sure.

    If you can find it again, though, let me know; I'd be willing to give that story a read all the same.
     
  15. Snarf

    Snarf Squanchin' Party Bro! ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

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    I'd definitely pick a smaller instrument, maybe a violin even if you can pull it off because it's portable and I've always been able to tell the different tones to a musician's piece when they are using a violin better then I could when they were using almost any other instrument. It would allow for better range of emotion within Harry, but you would have to stop him from turning into an emo with a violin that plays harsh melodies that strike up storms when he is angry.
     
  16. Solomon

    Solomon Heir

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    Eh...Viola > Violin, in my opinion. Of course, there's also the Alto Sax, which is my current favorite non-Guitar instrument at current; maybe it's because I used to play it (and still can, if I remember where it is)? Who knows.

    As stated before, a Soprano Saxophone is fine too.
     
  17. Tehan

    Tehan Avatar of Khorne DLP Supporter

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    I can't believe that not one of you mentioned the harmonica. For shame.

    Also, how about bells? Necromantic bells from Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series, to be specific. His magic system was fun. Especially necromancy. A real bitch to explain to the uninitiated, though.
     
  18. Olfrik

    Olfrik Seventh Year

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    I am all for the Didgeridoo. Make him grow up with the Aboriginals.
     
  19. PlacatedTurtle

    PlacatedTurtle Backtraced

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    I want to know what kind of orphanage would let a random old black man hang around with the children.
     
  20. InfernoCannon

    InfernoCannon Seventh Year

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    The Spoons? They'd be easier to carry around than anything else and if he looses some he just steals them from the Great Hall/Kitchen.

    Maybe Curtis works there because he couldn't make it into the music industry?
     
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