I love spending hours making playlists, especially when there's a theme or a challenge involved.  Today's challenge is to make a playlist for my main Dungeons and Dragons character, Derma Titus (Yes, I went there). Building playlists help me to develop and understand characters better, so this is a win-win.  Along with each song in my playlist, I'll include either a "why" or a short background story explaining my choice.  The Spotify playlist will be linked at the end.

Ok but first I should probably tell you a little bit about our campaign.  We're playing in a home-brew world of my brother's creation called Ark.  My first character, a Druid named Irma (Irma Gerd if you really are curious, and even if your'e not, you know now anyway) came across a special ring in the forest that connected her to an Esper named Diniva.  This ring gave her some pretty dank giant golden wings as well as an out of body experience that freaked out her companions who then ditched her.  Soon after she fought a really drunk manticor all by herself (it broke it's own jaw by opening its mouth and that pretty much set the tone for this campaign).  Unfortunately she ran into a Hydra and boy oh boy, that did NOT end well for Irma. Irma had a companion named Robin who 1) also had an Esper ring and 2) managed to survive the hydra encounter (barely) and also take Irma's ring (#bless).  Robin, highly distraught, finds the nearest town and (OMG HOW CONVENIENT) meets Irma's sister Derma.  They connect and Robin gives her all of Irma's stuff (except her money because Robin is literally a thief), including the ring (!!now Derma has DANK WINGS!!)

Alright, let's get started. I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

1. Moaning Lisa Smile- Wolf Alice

This song was inspired by Lisa Simpson- the band wanted make a character and show her pursuit for happiness, and how she eventually finds a group that makes her feel accepted.

In my DnD campaign, I play a druid who feels more connected to cities and adventuring than with her own family and nature.  When she begins adventuring with her party, it was the first time she felt like she belonged anywhere.

2. Birch Tree- Foals

"The city I was born in/ I left a long time ago/ we lost touch/ grew apart old friend". This song is about growing older and having nostalgia for a place you used to go.

Despite leaving her village to get revenge on her (soon-to-be) ex-Husband Whitus Titus, and feeling a deep connection to bigger cities and adventure, Derma is nostalgic for her life prior to her troubled marriage.  She worries that she wasted years of her life on Whitus that she'll never get back, and sees adventuring as a way to make up for it.  She also misses her sister, Irma, who was killed by a hydra, and longs for the time they used to spend by the river during their childhood summers.  Irma was her best friend, and when Derma left, she cut contact with everyone except her.  But eventually their communication slowed as well, something Derma deeply regrets.

3. All I Want- Ride

This song was written about the current state of things in the UK.  When Derma was growing up, all she wanted was to leave her small druid village for a bigger city. She didn't want to live her life as a simple druid.  She wanted something more.  She felt stifled.  When Whitus Titus came along, she saw him as her "out"- and while he was, it was not in the way she expected.  He was a handsome, smooth-talking traveler.  Derma thought if they married, she would be able to travel with him.  Whitus and Derma hit it off and were soon married.  Whitus had to leave right after the wedding (for an important business meeting), and promised Derma that he would return a wealthy man.  It was months before he came back to see her.  Derma was furious but quickly forgave him.  His business deal had fallen through and he had not wanted to return without keeping his promise.  He left to try again. While away, Derma was running an errand in a nearby town. She overhead two women tlaking about a man that had promised to return to her as a wealthy man, so they could be married.  The other asked his name (Spoiler, it was Whitus Titus).  Derma forgot about her errand, went home, packed a bag, and only told Irma where she was going.  All she wanted was to find Whitus Titus and get her revenge.

4. Anemone- Brian Jonestown Massacre

This song is about a toxic relationship.  The title could be a play on words: "Anemone"/"An Enemy". 

"You should be picking me up/ instead you're dragging me down/ flying over my head/ you're landing all over town"

Despite her anger towards Whitus, there's still a part of Derma that longs for him.  She wants to make him jealous, she wants to have power over him the way he had power over her.  She wants him to be scared of her.  He is her enemy but she still cares about what he thinks of her deep down.

5. Friends With My Sister- Now, Now Every Children

I chose this song mostly because of the title.  The lyrics don't have much to do with Derma...

When Derma was living in Wolfwater, where Whitus was rumored to be living, and gathering strength for her revenge, she met a traveler named Robin.  This traveler was clearly distraught, and she told Derma that her traveling companion had been killed.  Her companion's name was Irma. They mourned together, and Robin joined Derma on quests for her guild, along with a couple of other new friends: Molldar and Kush.  Derma never forgot that Robin was friends with her sister.

6. Flying- Free Ferry

Shortly after meeting Derma, Robin gave her one of her sister's prized possessions- a magic ring.  This ring connected her with Diniva, and caused her to grow a large pair of golden wings when she put it on.  Derma is known around the lands as Angel Mother, for the great deeds she has down with her fellow companions in the #DankTank, including saving her town (Wolfwater) from crossbreeders.

7. Daydreaming- Radiohead

"And it's too late/the damage is done"

Things were going great for Derma and her companions Robin, Molldar, and Kush.  That is, until they decide to explore a dungeon tomb.  They accidentally woke up Myoza the Hateful, who proved to be too much for them.  Derma and Kush managed to escape, but both Robin and Molldar were defeated.  This was a big loss for Derma, who had just begun to feel like she belonged somewhere.  

8. Amor Fati- Washed Out

"Relax, slow down/ Let hope decide/ Even though he’s hard to forgive/ But you can’t help fall in love/ If you know your flaws, you know that/ You'll be all right in time"

Amor Fati is a Latin phrase that translates to "love of fate", or "love of one's fate".  This is an attitude that Derma forces herself to take after the loss of two of her closest friends. Everything that has happened in her life, both good and bad has led her to the next great thing.  It has been necessary.

9. Rhinocerous- Smashing Pumpkins

One of Derma's newfound favorite ways to destroy her enemies is to turn into a Rhinoceros. Everyone was shocked the first time she did it (including her new companions, Gaige, and a Dragonborn named Da'Anna),  Kush was trying to reach a diplomatic solution with some bandits at their hideout, but Derma had a previous grudge against these particular bandits, and decided to wreck them.  She did.

10. Gathering Speed- Fu Manchu

"Ive never felt quite alive/ Gear grindin into overdrive"

Upon discovering her abilities in combat, she is coming into her own as a bold warrior, and finally feels like she has the reputation and momentum to make Whitus tremble in fear for his life.  She doesn't want to kill him, she just wants to break him.  This song speaks to a slightly darker side of Derma that she doesn't let a lot of people see.  She doesn't talk much about her revenge quest, and has let her good deeds become her public face.  But her motivation has always been of revenge.

 

Ok! Well there it is! My DnD character in 10 songs.  Thanks for reading! As promised, here is the playlist: