The College of Bones

Bard's are most often found in The Freeholds and in Estoya, but a Bardic College was created in The Provinces of Mhirriah, a unique bardic college that operates within the everyday life of the people.

This would further place them in a role that is more official and governed by the Church of Mhirriah. Digging into the cultural heritage of the people in the provinces is a task that is forbidden by anyone who is not of sufficient rank in the church's hierarchy, and as such Bards are not allowed to collect and protect it. The College of Bones was established to collect the more current histories as well as to mark down the deeds and final wishes of those who died, handle legal documents, and act as morticians.

Those who trained at a The Bardic University, usually the Rouxsgate university as the provinces of Mhirriah lack a university of their own. They would travel back to seek patronage at the college of bones where they learn many skills to ply their trade. Those who operate within the college act as personal biographers for those who hire them, as well as notaries for official documents that pass hands between one party and another within their presence.

The House of Bones

The House of Bones lies in the middle of a graveyard in an underground crypt. This graveyard is considered holy ground as one of the many Ozolithian Markers that Mhirriah, The Warrior Empress created lies at its center. To be buried here is to receive a high honor and the only ones who fill the graves are those who prove themselves most worthy in battle and in the eyes of the church.

Within The House of Bones you will find rows and rows of shelving upon which blank parchment, chisels, spare quills, and wells of ink are neatly organized. Getting closer to the center where the vault lies, one will see more shelving. Skulls line these shelves in abundance. Thousands of skulls with the engravings of last wishes and great deeds etched upon them. It is common for each of them to be painted.

Common practice dictates that the skull should be painted in the favorite color of the person whose skull it belonged to. Intricate patterns are laced throughout and the writing filled in with a matching, but contrasting color to ensure it can be ready easily.

The Vault of Bones

The Vault of the college lies at the lowest level of the crypt. It is protected by many enchantments and strange conjured golems, fashioned from the leftover bones of the deceased who reside within the crypt. The golems are formless and use the bones to completely change and shift their form and size to match a threat that may wish to enter the vault without proper authorization. They can even break down, forming many skeletal formations that can all act independently of each other.

Within the Vault one will find ancient funerary rites as well as documents deemed valuable to the church. Unlike other bardic colleges, the bards in the College of bones are not allowed to enter the vault for any reason. The only ones allowed in are members of the church, to possess a series of fail-safes that can bypass the various forms of protection the vault has.

There is a secondary vault bards use for themselves containing various weapons and texts that each focus on a respect for death. Bards of the College of Bones see death as a form of evolution or change and value any great works that share in this view.

Coroners

Those who operate within the College of bones are well acquainted with many examples of anatomy. They are capable of performing autopsies and determining causes of death. They are capable of performing most funerary rites held in each province, as well.

They prepare the bodies of the dead and engrave what effectively stands as a last will and testament of the deceased onto the subject's skull. The Seal of Bones is then placed on the forehead of each skull, as the engraving is considered an official document enforced by the church.

This is to establish that the last wishes the deceased were properly carried out and the engraving and stamp on the skull is to demonstrate a sense of finality to the process ensuring that the dead can rest easy.

The Seal of Bones

Each bard of the college possesses a stamp that depicts the Seal of the college. Stamping the seal on a document makes that document official in the eyes of all who dwell in the provinces by authority of the Mhirrian church. The stamp depicts a spider made of bones, the abdomen of the spider being a skull.

The spider sits on a white spearhead on a black field. The stamp uses ink with traces of the bard own blood as well as drops of blood from all parties involved when used. If used for a funeral, a small bone from the deceased is ground into dust and used in the ink instead.

This is to ensure documents cannot be forged as matriarchs of the church can test the ink and also determine whether or not blood was willingly given.

by Sylvia Ji

Syllabus

---

Theme: The theme of the College of Bones is ending as well as death. It is a known fact that death is not the end and yet people in this world still fear it. Death is considered a natural enemy to most, but to the College of Bones, it is a dear friend.

A Thesis on Endings

No one likes endings, no matter how great they may be. Sure the process of experiencing the ending could be pleasant, but you will never be able to shake the dread of what comes after, that dreaded "The End" that buttons up all things in life. Some who are nearing the end of a book may very well shut it and set it aside for an indeterminate amount of time just to avoid it.

Such behavior is reflected in the natural avoidance all living things have towards their own ending. Death is something that we do not take well. It's sad, it's sudden, and it's rare for it to be anticipated or predicted with enough time to prepare for the event itself. It is a rare occasion for someone to die happy, having lived a full life that they are prepared to leave behind. It is rare for someone to be ready to let go of a loved one who teeters on the edge of life and death as well.

Bards of The College

The College of Bones does not simply stop at celebrating life, but also celebrate death. They take inspiration from Arcana Mortis. Their works are often bewildering to those who do not understand them. These works are filled with color and life despite their subject matter.

They do not dress in all black but instead choose to wear colors that are far more vibrant. Others tend to notice the remarkably cheerful disposition each bard of the College of Bones has. They refuse to mourn the passing and instead choose to soothe those who do. They are incredibly empathetic, and rarely miss a chance to be supportive.

Routine: Passing

The bard prepares the opponent for death, actively seeking answers to uncomfortable questions in what some may confuse as witty banter or taunting threats. The bard asks about loved ones during the fight, asks about what to put on a grave or what their last wishes are. The target must be within 15 feet to hear, and likely won't answer unless deeply concerned about whether they will die in this fight. The target must roll for composure (tr:14) each turn or lose their turn, frozen in fear of their own demise. The bard must take an action to try and soothe their opponent to continue the routine on the next round.

Routine: Ending

If the bard lands a killing blow on an opponent, especially if they answered any questions while using Passing, they are obligated to assure the target that they will personally see to the target's last wishes. When they do this, they gain health and power points equal to their soul target rating, and are bound by law and oath to fulfill the promise they made during their free time. If the bar fails to do this or takes too long and then the ghost of the deceased we'll anchor itself to the bard's soul and haunt them until they do.

Composition: Requiem

Often called dirge, funeral, and wake, this composition is one that has a foreboding element to it, whether through the medium of painting, dancing, or the playing of music. As long as the composition is active, any intended targets inside of a 45 ft radius must pass a composure roll of 14 or the anxiety will overcome them, but won't affect them immediately. If they fail 2 rolls in a row they will be brought to 1 HP.

Composition: Eulogy

Eulogy is a composition that reveals key information about the target, but only surrounding their fears of death. Any target within eyesight can be affected by eulogy. The bard can tap into the devastation brought on by the last wishes that will not be fulfilled. The Bard can make a soul check of 11. If successful, the character can gain critical information about the current story that the deceased might know, and can fulfill their unfinished business for a set amount of experience. The amount is up to the GM.