Bard
Bards are arcane spellcasters who produce magic through the use of their own artistic talents. Bards act as entertainers, adventurers, spies, diplomats, historians, musicians, mages, and warriors - sometimes all at once. Due to their versatility. the phrase "jack-of-all-trades" is often used to describe bards, and bards are considered to be the most versatile of all adventurers. Among the people of Faerûn, bards are considered either wondrous or annoying, or some mixture in between. Many bards are aligned with the Harpers, who make extensive use of them as their top agents.
Nearly all bards are trained in formal colleges or by bardic masters. In the past, there existed seven "elder colleges" that taught bards increasing levels of skill, but their decline has led to a more fractured bardic community. The term 'college' now can mean two things: the learning establishment where a bard is taught, or the type of training a bard receives. For example, the College of the Herald in Herald's Holdfast instructs the bardic members of the Heralds of Faerûn, but it teaches the College of Lore, which is also taught by the College of New Olamn in Waterdeep. Not all bards train at colleges. Some train with a mentor, in a similar manner to the master-apprentice relationship of wizards. Yet others are self-taught, picking up bits and pieces of bardic lore where they can find it.
All bards are taught to play musical instruments, and it is through these instruments that bards use their magic. While not all bards practice music, most of those trained at colleges do. Bardic magic uses the Words of Creation, fragments of the language of the gods. It is woven into song and performance with ancient techiques, allowing bards to cast spells like wizards and sorcerers can. By harnessing these powers, they can also imbue their allies with confidence and power, or use more specialised techniques as trained by their college.
There are many bardic colleges across Faerûn, some of which are listed below.
The College of New Olamn in Waterdeep teaches the College of Lore. Originally known as Ollamh or Olamn, it was one of the seven elder bardic colleges. It was the seventh and final level of education before the system's decline. However, it was reopened as New Olamn in 1364 DR by Danilo Thann, who saw a need to establish a bardic college in the city of Waterdeep. Today, it is considered one of the premier bardic colleges in all of Faerûn.
The College of Fochlucan in Silverymoon teaches the College of Lore. One of the seven elder bardic colleges, it was the first level of education before the system's decline. The college has operated through a number of sites and names over the years, with the current iteration funded by the city of Silverymoon and the Harpers. It is a part of the Conclave of Silverymoon, one of the largest universities in the world.
The College of the Herald in Herald's Holdfast teaches the College of Lore. Located near Silverymoon, the College of the Herald teaches bardic members of the Heralds of Faerûn knowledge of history, legends, and folklore. As the Heralds believe in the spreading and preservation of knowledge, their College is open to non-Heralds as well.
The College of Canaith is located in the northern part of the Purple Hills of Tethyr. It was originally part of the bardic elder colleges, acting as the fourth level of education. Long abandoned, it has since been rebuilt and reopened in recent years by the halflings of the Purple Hills.
The House of the Lute is located in Baldur's Gate. Less of a traditional college, it is instead a kaeth house where bardic masters train apprentices in soundproofed rooms.
Academia Vilhonus is located in Arrabar, capital of Chondath in the Vilhon Reach. Founded before 300 DR, it is well-known for its extensive library and long history across the Reach. Students are required by law to paint circular markings on their foreheads, with one dot indicating the ability to read, two to write, and three proficiency in the Art.
The Golden Flute Tavern is located in the Uptown District of Ravens Bluff. While it does act as a regular tavern, it also offers training for fledgeling bards in exchange for their donating one percent of their income to the Flute.
Other, less formally-established bardic colleges exist, such as the Skalds, warrior bards common throughout cultures of the North; or the College of the Moon, bards trained by the druids of the Moonshae Isles.
Nearly all bards are trained in formal colleges or by bardic masters. In the past, there existed seven "elder colleges" that taught bards increasing levels of skill, but their decline has led to a more fractured bardic community. The term 'college' now can mean two things: the learning establishment where a bard is taught, or the type of training a bard receives. For example, the College of the Herald in Herald's Holdfast instructs the bardic members of the Heralds of Faerûn, but it teaches the College of Lore, which is also taught by the College of New Olamn in Waterdeep. Not all bards train at colleges. Some train with a mentor, in a similar manner to the master-apprentice relationship of wizards. Yet others are self-taught, picking up bits and pieces of bardic lore where they can find it.
All bards are taught to play musical instruments, and it is through these instruments that bards use their magic. While not all bards practice music, most of those trained at colleges do. Bardic magic uses the Words of Creation, fragments of the language of the gods. It is woven into song and performance with ancient techiques, allowing bards to cast spells like wizards and sorcerers can. By harnessing these powers, they can also imbue their allies with confidence and power, or use more specialised techniques as trained by their college.
There are many bardic colleges across Faerûn, some of which are listed below.
The College of New Olamn in Waterdeep teaches the College of Lore. Originally known as Ollamh or Olamn, it was one of the seven elder bardic colleges. It was the seventh and final level of education before the system's decline. However, it was reopened as New Olamn in 1364 DR by Danilo Thann, who saw a need to establish a bardic college in the city of Waterdeep. Today, it is considered one of the premier bardic colleges in all of Faerûn.
The College of Fochlucan in Silverymoon teaches the College of Lore. One of the seven elder bardic colleges, it was the first level of education before the system's decline. The college has operated through a number of sites and names over the years, with the current iteration funded by the city of Silverymoon and the Harpers. It is a part of the Conclave of Silverymoon, one of the largest universities in the world.
The College of the Herald in Herald's Holdfast teaches the College of Lore. Located near Silverymoon, the College of the Herald teaches bardic members of the Heralds of Faerûn knowledge of history, legends, and folklore. As the Heralds believe in the spreading and preservation of knowledge, their College is open to non-Heralds as well.
The College of Canaith is located in the northern part of the Purple Hills of Tethyr. It was originally part of the bardic elder colleges, acting as the fourth level of education. Long abandoned, it has since been rebuilt and reopened in recent years by the halflings of the Purple Hills.
The House of the Lute is located in Baldur's Gate. Less of a traditional college, it is instead a kaeth house where bardic masters train apprentices in soundproofed rooms.
Academia Vilhonus is located in Arrabar, capital of Chondath in the Vilhon Reach. Founded before 300 DR, it is well-known for its extensive library and long history across the Reach. Students are required by law to paint circular markings on their foreheads, with one dot indicating the ability to read, two to write, and three proficiency in the Art.
The Golden Flute Tavern is located in the Uptown District of Ravens Bluff. While it does act as a regular tavern, it also offers training for fledgeling bards in exchange for their donating one percent of their income to the Flute.
Other, less formally-established bardic colleges exist, such as the Skalds, warrior bards common throughout cultures of the North; or the College of the Moon, bards trained by the druids of the Moonshae Isles.
Famous in the Field
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