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Uncanny Valley is IUEO now and the subjective version has been split; cleaning up misuse and ZCE in the process
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* UncannyValley: In-universe, Dorus. Shena senses this in "Frozen Mind".
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* SymphonicMetal: Mostly with synths a la Music/{{Nightwish}} but they love a good orchestra, too.
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* SymphonicMetal: Mostly with synths a la Music/{{Nightwish}} Music/{{Nightwish|Band}} but they love a good orchestra, too.
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* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: A hard 7 for the most part, though they like to take it up to 8.
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Disambiguating; deleting and renaming wicks as appropriate. Moved to discussion
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* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
** ''Soulless Child'' then begins with the NotQuiteDead Daltor still in the clutches of the brainwashed dragon, [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight urging it to fight the will of Sendor]] as he reaches for [[HiddenWeapons a dagger stashed in his boot.]]
** ''Soulless Child'' then begins with the NotQuiteDead Daltor still in the clutches of the brainwashed dragon, [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight urging it to fight the will of Sendor]] as he reaches for [[HiddenWeapons a dagger stashed in his boot.]]
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* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Daltor recounts his wrongs and vanity and subsequent CharacterDevelopment in "A Greater Purpose" as he's about to face a wildly-empowered Sendor and the Black Crystal Sword.
** ItsAllMyFault: "Flaming Heart". "Across This Life" and "Showdown" sees Sendor trying to [[BreakThemByTalking break]] Daltor with this trope.
** ItsAllMyFault: "Flaming Heart". "Across This Life" and "Showdown" sees Sendor trying to [[BreakThemByTalking break]] Daltor with this trope.
to:
** ItsAllMyFault: "Flaming Heart". "Across This Life" and "Showdown" sees Sendor trying to [[BreakThemByTalking break]] Daltor with this trope.
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** [[spoiler:Sendor, by Daltor]] in "Showdown".
** [[spoiler:The Supreme, by Lork]] in "Titanism".
** [[spoiler:The Supreme, by Lork]] in "Titanism".
to:
** [[spoiler:Sendor, [[spoiler:Sendor]], by Daltor]] Daltor in "Showdown".
** [[spoiler:TheSupreme, Supreme]], by Lork]] Lork in "Titanism".
** [[spoiler:The
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* BlackSwordsAreBetter: There's even a White Crystal Sword mentioned in this first part of the saga, [[spoiler:but the [[EvilWeapon Black]] one has a ''[[SealedEvilInACan demon]]'' trapped inside.]]
to:
* BlackSwordsAreBetter: There's even a White Crystal Sword mentioned in this first part of the saga, [[spoiler:but but the [[EvilWeapon Black]] one has a ''[[SealedEvilInACan demon]]'' trapped inside.]]
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* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.
to:
* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero [[NiceJobBreakingItHero freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.it]].
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** And now Daltor's case: sure, he meant well to fight [[BigBad Sendor]] and shattering the Black Crystal Sword seemed to be the only way to overpower him, but how much did he know about '''[[SealedEvilInACan that eldritch demon that blackened the crystal that trapped it in the first place?!]]'''
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the Dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the Dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
to:
** And now Daltor's case: sure, he meant well to fight [[BigBad Sendor]] and shattering the Black Crystal Sword seemed to be the only way to overpower him, but how much did he know about '''[[SealedEvilInACan [[SealedEvilInACan that eldritch demon that blackened the crystal that trapped it in the first place?!]]'''
place?!]]
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill theDragonhunter.dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the
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* DoubleEntendre: "Oscurità" can either refer to the '''[[ThePowerOfHate darkness]]''' Lork is sowing and growing in his own heart, or, the '''[[TheUnfavorite obscurity]]''' that [[FreudianExcuse his father]] seems to have relegated him to despite dedicating his life to him and the White Crystal.
to:
* DoubleEntendre: "Oscurità" can either refer to the '''[[ThePowerOfHate darkness]]''' [[ThePowerOfHate darkness]] Lork is sowing and growing in his own heart, or, the '''[[TheUnfavorite obscurity]]''' [[TheUnfavorite obscurity]] that [[FreudianExcuse his father]] seems to have relegated him to despite dedicating his life to him and the White Crystal.
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* [[AlliterativeName Sara Squadrani]] - vocals (2007-present)
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* [[AlliterativeName Sara Squadrani]] Squadrani - vocals (2007-present)
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* [[FiveManBand Six-Man Band]]
** TheLeader: [[LeadBassist Martino]]
** TheLancer: Claudio
** TheBigGuy: Federico
** TheSmartGuy: Daniele
** TheChick: Sara
** SixthRanger: Simone
** TheLeader: [[LeadBassist Martino]]
** TheLancer: Claudio
** TheBigGuy: Federico
** TheSmartGuy: Daniele
** TheChick: Sara
** SixthRanger: Simone
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* IdiotBall:
** Sendor and Daltor in ''A New Dawn Ending''. Sendor's former lover Shena already told him ''souls can't simply be brought back with magic'', not even theirs combined, and not even of the Black Crystal Sword. But Sendor, mad with desire to bring back their son Surod, uses the Sword for that purpose anyway, AllForNothing.
** And now Daltor's case: sure, he meant well to fight [[BigBad Sendor]] and shattering the Black Crystal Sword seemed to be the only way to overpower him, but how much did he know about '''[[SealedEvilInACan that eldritch demon that blackened the crystal that trapped it in the first place?!]]'''
** Sendor and Daltor in ''A New Dawn Ending''. Sendor's former lover Shena already told him ''souls can't simply be brought back with magic'', not even theirs combined, and not even of the Black Crystal Sword. But Sendor, mad with desire to bring back their son Surod, uses the Sword for that purpose anyway, AllForNothing.
** And now Daltor's case: sure, he meant well to fight [[BigBad Sendor]] and shattering the Black Crystal Sword seemed to be the only way to overpower him, but how much did he know about '''[[SealedEvilInACan that eldritch demon that blackened the crystal that trapped it in the first place?!]]'''
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* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay: At the last minute (or more precisely the last track of the album), Daltor, with dragon, crashes into the sight of his fellow kings as well as Dorus lying on the ground, and picks up his silver sword, ending the album with [[ToBeContinued an oncoming battle royale between Daltor and Sendor]].
to:
* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay: At the last minute (or more precisely the last track of the album), ''Soulless Child''), Daltor, with dragon, crashes into the sight of his fellow kings as well as Dorus lying on the ground, and picks up his silver sword, ending the album with [[ToBeContinued an oncoming battle royale between Daltor and Sendor]].
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[[folder: Tropes concerning Ancient Bards in general]]
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* {{Determinator}}: Shooting the dark PerformanceVideo parts for "Impious Dystopia" entailed the band endure temperatures as low as ''five degrees Celsius'' in the middle of the night as the pyrotechnics all around couldn't warm them enough. Sara in particular took this up in [[AwesomeButImpractical nothing but a lace gown]] over a {{Shorttank}} [[SerialEscalation while enduring bilial colics]]. [[https://twitter.com/SaraSquadrani/status/1115194842563346433 And she's proud of it!]]
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* GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe: How the cover of ''Origine'' as well as the "Impious Dystopia" video depict Eirene. Lork is a bit more of a Green-Skinned Space Dude.
to:
* GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe: How the cover of ''Origine'' as well as the "Impious Dystopia" video depict Eirene. Lork is a bit more of a Green-Skinned Space Dude.Dude in the former and a shadowy figure playing with fire in the latter.
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[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Sword Saga]]
!!Recurring tropes
[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Sword Saga]]
!!Recurring tropes
to:
[[folder: Tropes
!!Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Sword
!!Recurring
!!!Recurring tropes
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!!Part One
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!!Part Two
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* YouKilledMyFather: Eirene is urged by her grandfather in "The Great Divide" part three to forge the White Crystal Sword and avenge her father.
[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
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* YouKilledMyFather: Eirene is urged by her grandfather in "The Great Divide" part three to forge the White Crystal Sword and avenge her father.
[[/folder]]father.
[[/folder]]
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* AltumVidetur: Occasional, but most prominent in "Home of the Rejects".
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* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides a beastly gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.
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* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides a beastly gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.soprano.
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[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Saga]]
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[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Sword Saga]]
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Taken literally when Daltor shatters the Black Crystal Sword.
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* QuarrelingSong: "Soulless Child" between Sendor and Shena. The former berates the latter for refusing to use her magic to save their child, while Shena claims not even the Black Crystal Sword can bring a soul back.
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* QuarrelingSong: "Soulless Child" between Sendor and Shena. The former berates the latter for refusing to use her magic to save their child, while Shena claims not even the Black Crystal Sword can bring a his soul back.
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* TheWorfEffect: "Through My Veins" oversees the Alliance battling Sendor, [[FaceMonsterTurn whose grip on the Black Crystal Sword imbues him with power]], but getting defeated [[ConservationOfNinjutsu one by one]] in the process, forcing them to retreat.
to:
* TheWorfEffect: "Through My Veins" oversees the Alliance battling Sendor, [[FaceMonsterTurn [[EvilWeapon whose grip on the Black Crystal Sword imbues him with power]], but getting defeated [[ConservationOfNinjutsu one by one]] in the process, forcing them to retreat.
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* Simone Bertozzi - guitars (2018-present)
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* Simone Bertozzi - guitars guitars, vocals (2018-present)
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The first three albums of the ''Black Crystal Sword'' mythos revolves around an alliance of the monarchs of Lastworld, together with their messenger, on a quest to return the eponymous weapon after it was stolen by the [[EvilSorcerer dark wizard]] [[BigBad Sendor]]. After a long hiatus the band came back together to continue the saga, kicking off the second part with the genesis chapter ''Origine'' in 2019.
to:
The first three albums of the ''Black Crystal Sword'' mythos revolves around an alliance of the monarchs of Lastworld, together with their messenger, on a quest to return the eponymous weapon after it was stolen by the [[EvilSorcerer dark wizard]] [[BigBad Sendor]]. After a long hiatus the band came back together to continue the saga, kicking off the second part with the genesis chapter ''Origine'' ''[[{{Prequel}} Origine]]'' in 2019.
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* Sara Squadrani - vocals (2007-present)
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* [[AlliterativeName Sara Squadrani Squadrani]] - vocals (2007-present)
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* PainfulRhyme: In "The Birth of Evil", Sara seems to rhyme ''sword'' ([[NoPronunciationGuide serd?]]) more with ''world'' than the usual ''war''.
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* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides the gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.
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* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides the a beastly gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.
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* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[OhCrap freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.
to:
* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[OhCrap '''[[NiceJobBreakingItHero freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.
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* BlackCloak: Sara used to wear a pimped-out cloak in her ''Alliance'' days. Come ''Soulless Child'' she's opted for a purplish-blue BadassCape, then by ''A New Dawn Ending'' she's averted either trope completely.
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* BlackCloak: Sara used to wear a pimped-out cloak in her ''Alliance'' days. Come ''Soulless Child'' she's opted for a purplish-blue BadassCape, then by ''A New Dawn Ending'' she's averted either trope completely.
* LyricalDissonance: Their music seems to stay fairly consistent no matter ''what'' the mood of the lyrics is.
* PainfulRhyme: In "The Birth of Evil", Sara seems to rhyme ''sword'' ([[NoPronunciationGuide serd?]]) more with ''world'' than the usual ''war''.
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* SpokenWordInMusic: Quite a few apart from the Storyteller herself.
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* SpokenWordInMusic: Quite a few apart from the Storyteller herself.few.
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* MeaningfulName: "Eirene" is a variation on Irene, the name of the [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek]] goddess of peace.
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[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Saga mythos]]
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[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Saga mythos]]Saga]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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* ArcNumber: In ''The Alliance of the Kings'', 4. The Alliance is composed of Lastworld's four monarchs (Daltor the King of Westland, Alron the Prince of the North, Rahed the King of Elves, and Shena the Queen of the Icy Forest).
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* ArcNumber: In ''The Alliance of the Kings'', 4. The Alliance is composed of Lastworld's four monarchs (Daltor the King of Westland, Alron the Prince of the North, Rahed the King of Elves, and Shena the Queen of the Icy Forest). Also, "Four Magic Elements".
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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* PowerMetal:
to:
* PowerMetal:PowerMetal: '''OH HELL YES.'''
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/35923533_10156439036449805_4972147118748729344_n.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:350:L-R: Federico, Claudio, Daniele, Sara, Simone, Martino]]
-->''The Black Crystal Sword Saga...BEGINS!!!''
Founded in 2006, '''Ancient Bards''' is a [[SymphonicMetal Symphonic]] PowerMetal band hailing from Emilia-Romagna. They are well-known for two things: their high-energy EpicRocking and an all-original HighFantasy narrative their entire discography so far was founded upon. The band gained further recognition when vocalist Sara Squadrani collaborated with Dutch prog project Music/{{Ayreon}} as [[SatelliteLoveInterest the Girl]] in ''The Theory of Everything'', released 2013.
The first three albums of the ''Black Crystal Sword'' mythos revolves around an alliance of the monarchs of Lastworld, together with their messenger, on a quest to return the eponymous weapon after it was stolen by the [[EvilSorcerer dark wizard]] [[BigBad Sendor]]. After a long hiatus the band came back together to continue the saga, kicking off the second part with the genesis chapter ''Origine'' in 2019.
[[folder:Members]]
!! Current lineup
* Martino Garattoni - bass (2006-present)
* Daniele Mazza - keyboards (2006-present)
* Claudio Pietronik - guitars (2007-present)
* Sara Squadrani - vocals (2007-present)
* Federico Gatti - drums (2011-present)
* Simone Bertozzi - guitars (2018-present)
!!Former members
* Alessandro Carichini - drums (2007-2011)
* Fabio Balducci - guitars (2007-2014)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Discography]]
!The Black Crystal Sword Saga
!! Part One
* ''The Alliance of the Kings'' (2010)
* ''Soulless Child'' (2011)
* ''A New Dawn Ending'' (2014)
!! Part Two
* ''Origine'' (2019)
[[/folder]]
[[hardline]]
!The Black Crystal Trope Saga
[[folder: Tropes concerning Ancient Bards in general]]
* AltumVidetur: Occasional, but most prominent in "Home of the Rejects".
* EpicRocking: Lots.
** LongestSongGoesLast: The closer type to boot!
*** "Faithful to Destiny" (08:45, ''Alliance'')
*** "Hope Dies Last" (14:31, ''Soulless Child'')
*** [[TitleTrack "A New Dawn Ending"]] (16:37)
*** "The Great Divide" (14:48, ''Origine'')
* ForeignLanguageTitle: "Oscurità" and the bilingual "Spiriti Liberi". ''Origine'' also counts.
* GreekChorus: Provided by an actual choir.
* GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe: How the cover of ''Origine'' as well as the "Impious Dystopia" video depict Eirene. Lork is a bit more of a Green-Skinned Space Dude.
* HeavyMithril: ''The Black Crystal Sword Saga''. Need I say more?
* BlackCloak: Sara used to wear a pimped-out cloak in her ''Alliance'' days. Come ''Soulless Child'' she's opted for a purplish-blue BadassCape, then by ''A New Dawn Ending'' she's averted either trope completely.
* LargeHam: Heck, the instrumentation ''itself'' loves this trope!
* LyricalColdOpen: "Soulless Child".
* MaleBandFemaleSinger
* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: A hard 7 for the most part, though they like to take it up to 8.
* MultilingualSong: Mostly English, but makes room for passages in Latin and even entire songs in their native Italian.
* PowerMetal:
* [[FiveManBand Six-Man Band]]
** TheLeader: [[LeadBassist Martino]]
** TheLancer: Claudio
** TheBigGuy: Federico
** TheSmartGuy: Daniele
** TheChick: Sara
** SixthRanger: Simone
* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides the gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.
* SpokenWordInMusic: Quite a few apart from the Storyteller herself.
* SymphonicMetal: Mostly with synths a la Music/{{Nightwish}} but they love a good orchestra, too.
* WordSaladLyrics: Their English lyrics would suffer this at any point in an album.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Saga mythos]]
!!Recurring tropes
* GriefSong[=/=]HeroicBSOD:
** Shena recalling [[DeathOfAChild her son's death]] as she watches Daltor and Sendor fight during "In My Arms".
** Eirene finding her father's dead body in "The Great Divide".
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice:
** [[spoiler:Sendor, by Daltor]] in "Showdown".
** [[spoiler:The Supreme, by Lork]] in "Titanism".
* PowerCrystal: All LifeEnergy in this universe flows through the White Crystal. You can also use it to forge a CoolSword that can trap demons, [[AwesomeButImpractical although it's kinda easy to shatter]].
* SelfEmpowermentAnthem: "Light" is this for Eirene.
** Some of Daltor's passages in "To the Master of Darkness" as well.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Lork, and to some extent, Daltor.
!!Part One
* AllForNothing: Sendor uses the Black Crystal Sword to bring back Dorus' soul in "Hope Dies Last" but to no avail.
* ArcNumber: In ''The Alliance of the Kings'', 4. The Alliance is composed of Lastworld's four monarchs (Daltor the King of Westland, Alron the Prince of the North, Rahed the King of Elves, and Shena the Queen of the Icy Forest).
* BlackMagic
* BlackSwordsAreBetter: There's even a White Crystal Sword mentioned in this first part of the saga, [[spoiler:but the [[EvilWeapon Black]] one has a ''[[SealedEvilInACan demon]]'' trapped inside.]]
* CameBackWrong: [[TheReveal "Soulless]] [[TitleTrack Child"]] narrates how [[BigBad Sendor]] [[LoveMakesYouEvil went to extreme lengths]] [[{{Necromantic}} to revive his and Shena's dead son]] who came back a SoullessShell.
* CollapsingLair: "In the End".
* DeathByOriginStory[=/=]TroubledBackstoryFlashback: [[DeathOfAChild "All That Is True"]] and [[BreakTheCutie "Flaming Heart"]].
* DeathWorld: Noland is almost devoid of civilization and even the seas no longer hold life.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Daltor's father.]] And then you find out [[KickTheDog Sendor made him do it.]]
* FireIceLightning: Fire, ice, water, and thunder make the "Four Magic Elements" mentioned in ''Alliance''.
* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[OhCrap freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.
* HeroicSecondWind: "The Last Resort".
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the Dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
** ''Soulless Child'' then begins with the NotQuiteDead Daltor still in the clutches of the brainwashed dragon, [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight urging it to fight the will of Sendor]] as he reaches for [[HiddenWeapons a dagger stashed in his boot.]]
* MacGuffinTitle: The [[BlackSwordsAreBetter Black]] [[ArtifactofDoom Crystal]] [[EvilWeapon Sword]] gives its wielder immense strength and magical powers and even ''immortality''.
* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay: At the last minute (or more precisely the last track of the album), Daltor, with dragon, crashes into the sight of his fellow kings as well as Dorus lying on the ground, and picks up his silver sword, ending the album with [[ToBeContinued an oncoming battle royale between Daltor and Sendor]].
-->'''Daltor''': Raise the sword! For the glory and peace, ''let the fight begin!''
* QuarrelingSong: "Soulless Child" between Sendor and Shena. The former berates the latter for refusing to use her magic to save their child, while Shena claims not even the Black Crystal Sword can bring a soul back.
* SdrawkcabName: Dorus? [[spoiler:Surod.]]
* UncannyValley: In-universe, Dorus. Shena senses this in "Frozen Mind".
* UnwittingPawn: Dorus. [[SoullessShell Not that he knows.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Sendor just wants his son back.
* TheWorfEffect: "Through My Veins" oversees the Alliance battling Sendor, [[FaceMonsterTurn whose grip on the Black Crystal Sword imbues him with power]], but getting defeated [[ConservationOfNinjutsu one by one]] in the process, forcing them to retreat.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Daltor recounts his wrongs and vanity and subsequent CharacterDevelopment in "A Greater Purpose" as he's about to face a wildly-empowered Sendor and the Black Crystal Sword.
** ItsAllMyFault: "Flaming Heart". "Across This Life" and "Showdown" sees Sendor trying to [[BreakThemByTalking break]] Daltor with this trope.
!!Part Two
* DoubleEntendre: "Oscurità" can either refer to the '''[[ThePowerOfHate darkness]]''' Lork is sowing and growing in his own heart, or, the '''[[TheUnfavorite obscurity]]''' that [[FreudianExcuse his father]] seems to have relegated him to despite dedicating his life to him and the White Crystal.
* FantasyCounterpartReligion: The one described in "Origine" oozes particularly with Buddhist influence.
* FemalesAreMoreInnocent: In "Aureum Legacy", the father gives Eirene, [[StartOfDarkness much to Lork's dismay]], the White Crystal, as he senses his son still had some issues to sort out.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Lork says this verbatim in "Oscurità", trying to justify why he should've been the one to inherit the White Crystal.
* InMediasRes: "Impious Dystopia".
* MadnessMantra: ''There's not a hint of dark in me, no hint of dark in me, no hint of dark, no darkness in me...''
* AMinorKidroduction: "Fantasy's Wings" introduces siblings Lork and Eirene running around as a festival for the Supreme is being set up around town.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Almost verbatim in "The Hollow".
* PlaceOfPower: The White Crystal World.
* SingleTear: "The Great Divide" part two.
* StartOfDarkness[=/=]FaceHeelTurn: The entire ''Origine'' album for Lork.
* YouAreInCommandNow: The Chief of the Rejects passes the torch to an exiled Lork, knowing he ran from home after [[SelfMadeOrphan murdering his father]].
* YouKilledMyFather: Eirene is urged by her grandfather in "The Great Divide" part three to forge the White Crystal Sword and avenge her father.
[[/folder]]
-->''The Black Crystal Sword Saga...BEGINS!!!''
Founded in 2006, '''Ancient Bards''' is a [[SymphonicMetal Symphonic]] PowerMetal band hailing from Emilia-Romagna. They are well-known for two things: their high-energy EpicRocking and an all-original HighFantasy narrative their entire discography so far was founded upon. The band gained further recognition when vocalist Sara Squadrani collaborated with Dutch prog project Music/{{Ayreon}} as [[SatelliteLoveInterest the Girl]] in ''The Theory of Everything'', released 2013.
The first three albums of the ''Black Crystal Sword'' mythos revolves around an alliance of the monarchs of Lastworld, together with their messenger, on a quest to return the eponymous weapon after it was stolen by the [[EvilSorcerer dark wizard]] [[BigBad Sendor]]. After a long hiatus the band came back together to continue the saga, kicking off the second part with the genesis chapter ''Origine'' in 2019.
[[folder:Members]]
!! Current lineup
* Martino Garattoni - bass (2006-present)
* Daniele Mazza - keyboards (2006-present)
* Claudio Pietronik - guitars (2007-present)
* Sara Squadrani - vocals (2007-present)
* Federico Gatti - drums (2011-present)
* Simone Bertozzi - guitars (2018-present)
!!Former members
* Alessandro Carichini - drums (2007-2011)
* Fabio Balducci - guitars (2007-2014)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Discography]]
!The Black Crystal Sword Saga
!! Part One
* ''The Alliance of the Kings'' (2010)
* ''Soulless Child'' (2011)
* ''A New Dawn Ending'' (2014)
!! Part Two
* ''Origine'' (2019)
[[/folder]]
[[hardline]]
!The Black Crystal Trope Saga
[[folder: Tropes concerning Ancient Bards in general]]
* AltumVidetur: Occasional, but most prominent in "Home of the Rejects".
* EpicRocking: Lots.
** LongestSongGoesLast: The closer type to boot!
*** "Faithful to Destiny" (08:45, ''Alliance'')
*** "Hope Dies Last" (14:31, ''Soulless Child'')
*** [[TitleTrack "A New Dawn Ending"]] (16:37)
*** "The Great Divide" (14:48, ''Origine'')
* ForeignLanguageTitle: "Oscurità" and the bilingual "Spiriti Liberi". ''Origine'' also counts.
* GreekChorus: Provided by an actual choir.
* GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe: How the cover of ''Origine'' as well as the "Impious Dystopia" video depict Eirene. Lork is a bit more of a Green-Skinned Space Dude.
* HeavyMithril: ''The Black Crystal Sword Saga''. Need I say more?
* BlackCloak: Sara used to wear a pimped-out cloak in her ''Alliance'' days. Come ''Soulless Child'' she's opted for a purplish-blue BadassCape, then by ''A New Dawn Ending'' she's averted either trope completely.
* LargeHam: Heck, the instrumentation ''itself'' loves this trope!
* LyricalColdOpen: "Soulless Child".
* MaleBandFemaleSinger
* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: A hard 7 for the most part, though they like to take it up to 8.
* MultilingualSong: Mostly English, but makes room for passages in Latin and even entire songs in their native Italian.
* PowerMetal:
* [[FiveManBand Six-Man Band]]
** TheLeader: [[LeadBassist Martino]]
** TheLancer: Claudio
** TheBigGuy: Federico
** TheSmartGuy: Daniele
** TheChick: Sara
** SixthRanger: Simone
* SopranoAndGravel: SixthRanger axeman Simone provides the gravel to Sara's mighty (mezzo-)soprano.
* SpokenWordInMusic: Quite a few apart from the Storyteller herself.
* SymphonicMetal: Mostly with synths a la Music/{{Nightwish}} but they love a good orchestra, too.
* WordSaladLyrics: Their English lyrics would suffer this at any point in an album.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes concerning the Black Crystal Saga mythos]]
!!Recurring tropes
* GriefSong[=/=]HeroicBSOD:
** Shena recalling [[DeathOfAChild her son's death]] as she watches Daltor and Sendor fight during "In My Arms".
** Eirene finding her father's dead body in "The Great Divide".
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice:
** [[spoiler:Sendor, by Daltor]] in "Showdown".
** [[spoiler:The Supreme, by Lork]] in "Titanism".
* PowerCrystal: All LifeEnergy in this universe flows through the White Crystal. You can also use it to forge a CoolSword that can trap demons, [[AwesomeButImpractical although it's kinda easy to shatter]].
* SelfEmpowermentAnthem: "Light" is this for Eirene.
** Some of Daltor's passages in "To the Master of Darkness" as well.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Lork, and to some extent, Daltor.
!!Part One
* AllForNothing: Sendor uses the Black Crystal Sword to bring back Dorus' soul in "Hope Dies Last" but to no avail.
* ArcNumber: In ''The Alliance of the Kings'', 4. The Alliance is composed of Lastworld's four monarchs (Daltor the King of Westland, Alron the Prince of the North, Rahed the King of Elves, and Shena the Queen of the Icy Forest).
* BlackMagic
* BlackSwordsAreBetter: There's even a White Crystal Sword mentioned in this first part of the saga, [[spoiler:but the [[EvilWeapon Black]] one has a ''[[SealedEvilInACan demon]]'' trapped inside.]]
* CameBackWrong: [[TheReveal "Soulless]] [[TitleTrack Child"]] narrates how [[BigBad Sendor]] [[LoveMakesYouEvil went to extreme lengths]] [[{{Necromantic}} to revive his and Shena's dead son]] who came back a SoullessShell.
* CollapsingLair: "In the End".
* DeathByOriginStory[=/=]TroubledBackstoryFlashback: [[DeathOfAChild "All That Is True"]] and [[BreakTheCutie "Flaming Heart"]].
* DeathWorld: Noland is almost devoid of civilization and even the seas no longer hold life.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Daltor's father.]] And then you find out [[KickTheDog Sendor made him do it.]]
* FireIceLightning: Fire, ice, water, and thunder make the "Four Magic Elements" mentioned in ''Alliance''.
* FromBadToWorse: During "Showdown" Daltor manages to shatter the Black Crystal Sword and by "A New Dawn Ending" he and his gang pick up the pieces just as [[CollapsingLair Sendor's castle begins to fall]]. And then it's revealed, [[TheVoice by his father]], that by shattering the sword, Daltor actually '''[[OhCrap freed the Dark Demon trapped inside it]]'''.
* HeroicSecondWind: "The Last Resort".
* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In "Daltor the Dragonhunter", [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Daltor faces a black dragon]] [[spoiler: which he finds out to be the guardian of the ArtifactOfDoom]] [[MindControl commanded by Sendor]] to kill the Dragonhunter. The dragon seizes Daltor, dropping his silver sword (which is then entrusted to Dorus) and leaving the rest of his gang to believe he had been killed.
** ''Soulless Child'' then begins with the NotQuiteDead Daltor still in the clutches of the brainwashed dragon, [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight urging it to fight the will of Sendor]] as he reaches for [[HiddenWeapons a dagger stashed in his boot.]]
* MacGuffinTitle: The [[BlackSwordsAreBetter Black]] [[ArtifactofDoom Crystal]] [[EvilWeapon Sword]] gives its wielder immense strength and magical powers and even ''immortality''.
* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay: At the last minute (or more precisely the last track of the album), Daltor, with dragon, crashes into the sight of his fellow kings as well as Dorus lying on the ground, and picks up his silver sword, ending the album with [[ToBeContinued an oncoming battle royale between Daltor and Sendor]].
-->'''Daltor''': Raise the sword! For the glory and peace, ''let the fight begin!''
* QuarrelingSong: "Soulless Child" between Sendor and Shena. The former berates the latter for refusing to use her magic to save their child, while Shena claims not even the Black Crystal Sword can bring a soul back.
* SdrawkcabName: Dorus? [[spoiler:Surod.]]
* UncannyValley: In-universe, Dorus. Shena senses this in "Frozen Mind".
* UnwittingPawn: Dorus. [[SoullessShell Not that he knows.]]
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Sendor just wants his son back.
* TheWorfEffect: "Through My Veins" oversees the Alliance battling Sendor, [[FaceMonsterTurn whose grip on the Black Crystal Sword imbues him with power]], but getting defeated [[ConservationOfNinjutsu one by one]] in the process, forcing them to retreat.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Daltor recounts his wrongs and vanity and subsequent CharacterDevelopment in "A Greater Purpose" as he's about to face a wildly-empowered Sendor and the Black Crystal Sword.
** ItsAllMyFault: "Flaming Heart". "Across This Life" and "Showdown" sees Sendor trying to [[BreakThemByTalking break]] Daltor with this trope.
!!Part Two
* DoubleEntendre: "Oscurità" can either refer to the '''[[ThePowerOfHate darkness]]''' Lork is sowing and growing in his own heart, or, the '''[[TheUnfavorite obscurity]]''' that [[FreudianExcuse his father]] seems to have relegated him to despite dedicating his life to him and the White Crystal.
* FantasyCounterpartReligion: The one described in "Origine" oozes particularly with Buddhist influence.
* FemalesAreMoreInnocent: In "Aureum Legacy", the father gives Eirene, [[StartOfDarkness much to Lork's dismay]], the White Crystal, as he senses his son still had some issues to sort out.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Lork says this verbatim in "Oscurità", trying to justify why he should've been the one to inherit the White Crystal.
* InMediasRes: "Impious Dystopia".
* MadnessMantra: ''There's not a hint of dark in me, no hint of dark in me, no hint of dark, no darkness in me...''
* AMinorKidroduction: "Fantasy's Wings" introduces siblings Lork and Eirene running around as a festival for the Supreme is being set up around town.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Almost verbatim in "The Hollow".
* PlaceOfPower: The White Crystal World.
* SingleTear: "The Great Divide" part two.
* StartOfDarkness[=/=]FaceHeelTurn: The entire ''Origine'' album for Lork.
* YouAreInCommandNow: The Chief of the Rejects passes the torch to an exiled Lork, knowing he ran from home after [[SelfMadeOrphan murdering his father]].
* YouKilledMyFather: Eirene is urged by her grandfather in "The Great Divide" part three to forge the White Crystal Sword and avenge her father.
[[/folder]]
