The Baron stood in the wings, waiting for the opening act to shut up and get out of his way. Tonight this would be his stage. The opening act finished up it's set, plus a 2 song encore and then departed, leaving the stage empty. He adjusted his armoured gloves restlessly. In stage gear The Baron was an intimidating sight. At 6'3" he was a tall guy, but with the extra height afforded by his armoured boots he measured a full 6'8", dwarfing those around him. As he strode on stage, his crimson cloak swirling behind him, he began to feel the hatred bubble up inside him. The lights were down, but for a solitary red light that bathed the stage in it's glow. The rest of the band took the stage and the show began.
As the lights began to intensify, bringing the band into view, The Baron began his throaty howl. The audience fell quiet as the terrifying figure on stage glared down on them, fire in his eyes. He was dressed in a strange bastardized combination of Victorian era formal wear and plate armour, a deep red cloak draped from monstrous looking shoulder plates, it's white fur trimming a stark contrast to the black looks he cast around the room. He raised his arms, his armoured gloves giving his hands the appearance of metallic claws, each finger ending in a razor sharp point. He stood, one foot on the monitor in front of him, one arm outstretched over the front row, the other clutching a microphone that appeared to be made of bones. He lifted the mic and began to speak...
"I, am The Baron." he roared angrily. Pure rage dripping like acid from each and every word. The front row recoiled. A few drunks in the crowd chuckled.
"WHAT IS SO FUNNY?! The Baron screamed into the microphone, staring daggers at the offenders. The drunks stammered, opening and closing their mouths like stunned fish.
"I, am The Baron. Your Lord. You will kneel before me, or you will be crushed. NOW! BOW BEFORE YOUR LORD!
The drums fired up behind him, a snare roll like machinegun fire, before launching into a heavy rock beat, double kick lines providing plenty of punch. The guitars roared throaty powerchords as The Baron howled and danced manically at the front of the stage. Like a man possessed he darted back and forth across the front of the stage howling demonically and intimidating the ones up front. Then he began to sing. not as the crowd had expected a death metal growl, but a controlled roar. There were notes, the lyrics were understandable. For all the Baron's posturing and threats of violence, the band, and it's crazed singer were very tight musically. The performance seemed to rally the crowd who had fast been retreating away from the stage, bringing them up closer drawing them in. As the song drew to a close The Baron stood at the front of the stage and addressed the crowd:
"NOW, KNEEL BEFORE YOUR LORDS!"
A few enthusiastic crowd members knelt jokingly. The Baron pointed to them:
"The faithful will be saved! As for the rest of you...
As he said this, the bassist and one of the guitarists walked forward to join The Baron, the three then proceeded to throw fake blood over the people close enough to be hit. The band played through a 5 song set before departing the stage to mixed reviews.
