Bards

The tried and true poets serve quite a purpose in Ashtree, performing as storytellers, jesters, skalds, and occasionally minstrels (if they know how to play a musical instrument). Those who partake in more dangerous arts are either revered as sages of valuable information, or broken messes of people.

Career

Qualifications

Most are either travelers or people on a pilgrimage that know the art of entertaining others with beautiful poems and stories alike. There's no "bard's college" in Ashtree that people know of, as bards here are more like the actual Irish bards or Norse skalds, who are wandering entertainers and storytellers, gathering tales as they travel. They also have a vaguely mythological or magical background, associated with a "don't shoot the messenger" type of superstition. Of course, most aren't magic-users or clerics, but some are still afraid it's a divine messenger of Nontellok or Blaviert.

Career Progression

There are a few master bards who actually have heralds talking to townsfolk about their upcoming appearances. They might be just that famous... and hold an equal amount of secrets. Usually, if one reaches such a status of renown, they'll be good to retire with all the riches they've earned.

Payment & Reimbursement

Professionals, especially who are selected as jesters in noble courts, are usually on a monetary and lifestyle level that only those in the upper class have, such as the nobles they serve. Most others swing wildly between being dirt-poor and having enough money to open up their own tavern. They might find absolutely no work in one settlement, while getting tipped hundreds of Royals in a different one by a noble who decided to be "with his people." In fact, their payment is usually enough to grant them to keep living in that area, and the tips are what make or break their career.

Other Benefits

Fame, recognition, possibly having enough wealth to join the elites, etc. It's not easy to do, however, as they are leading a lifestyle with more career competition than the average modern actor. If they like traveling (most people don't, and for a good reason), then they might enjoy being a bard and going from town to town more than most people.

Perception

Purpose

It more or less encompasses most entertainment roles in this society and culture, and many are actually hired to record the exploits of different "heroes" (a better term would just be adventurers) once told the details. Some will actually follow orders and be used as hirelings for said adventurers, as they can experience their deeds up close. They can then retell these stories for entertainment. However, many might come back scarred for life or knowing secrets that no non-adventurers should know. The bards that do this sort of work usually are more popular and earn more money with their stories, but they are called lorekeepers for a reason. Not because they know plenty of stories, but rather that they've seen things. Little bits of history, folklore, and even the all-encompassing cosmic horror of the Old Gods can be seen often, and that is why you should always trust a bard. They can be useful assets for any passing by in search of gossip. Some don't retire from these experiences, however, and actually become adventurers.

Social Status

They are overall considered middle-class, but as mentioned before, this can swing wildly.

Operations

Tools

Depending on their specialization, they might take a musical instrument, a book of poems or stories, or just some trinkets and baubles from their journeys to show as evidence (whether real or not) for the actions of those they followed.

Materials

Some write their own stories and songs, so a quill, inkwell, and some paper might be found in the typical toolkit.

Provided Services

Those that perform in taverns as entertainers who have only maybe heard a bit about the deeds of different adventurers, whether those deeds are real or not. However, adventurers might hire one to do one or more of the following:

• Write down a summary of what they did during a period of adventuring for the PCs. Instead of having the players come up with a summary, the bard will write it for them. See the article on writing adventure summaries.
• They might know some things from previous stories that they've either heard from passing adventurers of experienced themselves. Hiring them to get information on gossip is a bit more risky than with a sage, but the knowledge might be more esoteric and lead to adventure sites more often.

Most bards will operate at the same expenses as a sage of their HD.

Alternative Names

Jesters, Singers, Entertainers, Rats (derogatory), Lorekeepers

Type

Entertainment

Demand

For however many taverns there are in a settlement, you'll usually find an equal amount of bards needed for them.

Used By

• Kingdom of Ashtree
• Kingdom of Haralyn