Bardic Names

Bardic names are one of the most peculiar traditions in the world. The tradition is chaotic and follows few rules, much like the bards that practice it. A bardic name is a title that a specific bard uses to mark their work, introduce themselves, and establish their identity.

A bardic name collects the fame and infamy of every bard attached to it, and it's possible for multiple bards to have the same name if they are closely related in some way, or if the title is passed on. Lady Serenity, who's bardic name is referred to as The Ivyhollow Legacy. Ivyhollow is a bardic name she shares with her father and it strikes up controversy due to the fact that her father, Dimitris Ivyhollow, continues to produce new works under his name posthumously.

As you might imagine, there's a lot more to a bardic name than it's simply being a name or title. Bardic names are stories more than anything. Taking on a bardic name means that there is some important event in your life that has come to define you, or in some ways determine an aspect of your personality. There's always a story behind your bardic name and why you chose it. It can also be directly given to you by others, which makes it more complex if they have more than one.

Pseudonyms

The concept of bardic names came from the first true Bard himself. Gregori Darset, The First Poet Laureate of Estoya wanted to differentiate his arcane work as a mage and his artistic expressions as a bard. It would be almost a decade before he fully dedicates himself to Bardic Lore, and he wanted to be free of any type of persecution from mages, many of whom did not take the concept of a bard seriously despite Gregori's Talent.

For many bards, choosing a bardic name is often for the purpose of using a pseudonym. It allows you to build a secret identity around yourself you can adopt at any given point in time. It also allows you to deny things connected to you simply because that is not your name. Bards who double as spies often have many bardic names. Some of them are to be burned and forgotten once they've completed their task, or to live on in infamy in the minds and hearts of those they wronged.

Darset referred to himself as O. S Laureate, which would later pave the way for the official title to be recognized by the government of Espada and the rest of the world soon after. Being The Poet Laureate isn't just a position of office, it is a bardic name you share with the legend himself, and all others who have the title. It's a way of enjoying the fame and sharing (not to mention playing a role in) a story that traces its way back to the first bard in history.

Fun fact: O. S Laureate

Darset's first works of art were hidden behind his pseudonym for two reasons. Firstly, it was far more common for women to be artistic, and it was looked down upon for a man to engage in such feminine work. This changed rapidly, especially after the discovery of bardic lore. Secondly, for nearly a decade after the discovery of bardic lore, men were significantly less successful when compared to women in the field.

This goes for anyone in an artistic career, and not just the bards. His bardic name allowed him to impersonate a different gender, avoiding lost commissions and sales of his work on the grounds of having a male creator. This problem was finally addressed when investigations found that even criticism of an individual's work can be radically more negative if the work is written by man, especially if the work lies in specific genres and styles. Bardic Colleges were appalled, and demanded that anyone who submits work must do so anonymously to prevent any individual members from placing this bias on the work. When famous, works written by men became more prevalent, particularly when Darset revealed his pseudonym to the people.

Simple and Complex names

There are two kinds of bardic names: simple and complex. A simple bardic name is used the same way any name is. A single word that identifies the bard, but is not their name given at birth. Cinder, O.S. Laureate, and Ivyhollow are all simple bardic names that can be substituted for one’s real name.

A complex name is more of a title, and can be used separately or in conjunction with other bardic names or one’s real name. The Ivyhollow Legacy, Legacy being a complex name given to a bard who uses a name after inheriting it, is a complex name Serenity uses, but she also uses the simple name Ivyhollow as a first name or surname. Both mean the same thing, but can be useful in different situations.

With Cinder Of The Fields, “Of The Fields” is actually a complex bardic name attached to the simple bardic name of Cinder. Some complex names function more like titles either in a prepositional phrase or in a title like The Ivyhollow Legacy. Bardic names can be combined, swapped, replaced, abandoned, readopted, or inherited in any number of ways. The more it changes, however, the less fame one can gain for any one deed, creation, or event. The more consistent the name, the easier it is to make famous.

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Names have power

In the present day things have changed regarding bardic names. Many still choose to use them for pseudonyms, but the choice is a lot more important to a bard than it was before. As time went on and bards grew to become the harbingers of culture they are, each name came with stories attached to them. At first these were simply interactions that others had with the bard.

Eventually, these stories would evolve to include deeply personal narratives that depict moments in the bard's life. In the same way that the name came to find the bard in the eyes of those who experience their work, it slowly began to define the bard as an individual. It marks their influence on the cultures they touch, and that means these names can grant power through Bardic Lore.

The power of a bard that comes from the connections they have with elements of culture they resonate with. Their names are no different. Bardic names became a method of obtaining bardic power. A bard can use their name to develop an entire identity and literally become that identity with flawless precision and do it without effort. Elements of their name allow them to tap into Powers related to it, including Cinder Of The Fields who found her name allowed her to radiate heat and ashes, embers rising to the sky.

How to gain a Bardic Name

Gaining a bardic name is not too complicated. You could simply choose one. You can also inherit the name from another bard when said bard retires. You can also be given the name by others, usually a group of bards, a bardic college, or even a university as a statement to your accomplishments or hardships.

Regardless of how you gain the name, it's important it is meaningful. A bard that lacks a good reason for their name does not truly have a bardic name. As said before, there is a personal connection to that name. It's a statement of whom the bard is. There is a story involved that led to the name being chosen. The longer you have it and the more you add to its story, the richer and more powerful the name is.

The trick isn't having or gaining the name, it’s building it when you have it. Most bards do not have the luxury of a famous name, and have to build that fame from scratch. With every completed project, every commissioned work, and every story added, fame will begin to grow and the name can grant various benefits to the one who possesses it.

Identity Theft

Bardic Seals are a staple for a bard, and are a token of their identity. Most bardic seals are simply an official token of membership to a college or even commemorate a great work, deed, or event. A common problem among bards in certain parts of the world is having ne'er do wells impersonate the bard, often while doing deplorable things or advertising intentionally bad or subpar work.

It's a fact that you cannot truly steal a bardic name, Bardic names are tied to the filter of the soul and cannot be forged. The problem is most of the common people don't know this, and even if they did, they don't know how to test for it and demand proof from these impostors.

Famous bards who have names worth stealing find that by creating personal bardic seals, they can prove who they are to those who recognize it. There is always the risk of someone forging the seal, but attempts at doing so are laughably obvious.