Inspiration

This lute is made of a light coloured wood and features ornate inlays along the fingerboard.  Silver and red gems decorate the soundbox making it appear like a display piece for an eccentric noble rather than an instrument of music.  Despite this the lute produces a rich sound and never seems to be in need of tuning. When played the gems pulse faintly in time to the music, and the lute ensures that all within 200ft of the perfomer(s) can clearly hear both the music and the words being sung.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The lute can be used to create a hypnotic effect which can influence listeners.  It can be used to convince the audience that a story told in a song is the absolute truth or it can be used to convince them that the player, or someone they designate, is someone worth giving their lives for.  Used in moderation both abilities have been used to help support various regimes but brought down several others when used injudiciously.
Those affected by the lute’s ability to convince them of the truth of a story have been known to twist and distort the narrative when confronted with an opposing truth, seeking to find a way for conflicting truths to be real at the same time. This has led to groups tearing themselves apart as each member tries to reconcile things in their own way.

History

While the creator of the lute is not certain, several groups have claimed responsibility. Both the followers of Beris, and those who follow the Sylvan Trickster consider the lute to be a tool of their patron, though neither group would wish to reclaim it and interfere with the fun the lute can cause in the wrong hands. Whoever or whatever created it, the lute has existed since the first age, though it was sealed in the Vault of the Successor for many centuries.

Item type

Musical Instrument

Current Holder

John Fennan

Activating the powers of the lute takes considerable musical skill. In order for the hypnotic effect to be placed on listeners the music and lyrics need to fit together. Simply using an existing repetitive melody and overlaying generic lyrics where a few names are altered won't be enough to ensnare the audience. Both the music and lyrics need to tell the story at the same time. The performane also needs to be incredibly precise. A wrong note or mispronouced word can cause the hypnosis to fail, or worse instill the wrong message.
As a result some of those who have made use of the lute have employed teams of musicians. One to compose the music and lyrics, one to play, and one to sing.