Rock Bard
Rock Bards are bards who had taken to using electricity and other magic to enchance their music. Rock Bards are often praised and adored for their ability preform while controling the various effects they
Career
Qualifications
Being a bard is easy, often requiring only a good voice or a talent for an instrument. Storytelling is optional but not required, and looks are also a great asset as well.
To be considered a Rock Bard, much more experience and skill is needed to reach. Rock Bards not only needs to be experienced in music, but they often need to be experienced in Artificing to craft and maintain their instruments, be knowledgeable in Arcana to control the various effects, as well as a technical mind to be able to keep track of everything while in the middle of a performance. This is not adding any extra flairs a Rock Bard may add to their performances, like acrobatics and dancing.
Career Progression
Rock Bards normally begin as an ordinary bard and rarely progress past that. To even have a chance to become a Rock Bard, one has to make the contacts to obtain materials needed to craft an Lightning instrument capable of handling the Lightning that courses through it while protecting the holder. Even then, one needs to then learn how to control such power while in the middle of performance.
This massive jump in the concentration required to multitask performing and casting magic discourages bards from progressing, as the time required to perfect the technique is immense.
It is why those who are able to accomplish such feats are often highly regarded. Rock Bards who can achieve being able to play their Lightning Instrument are extremely popular, and garners the attention of other Rock Bards. When Rock Bards meet, on occasions they will form a Band together, with their experience complimenting each other.
Payment & Reimbursement
Rock Bards have Major and Minor Performances, with each paying out different amounts.
Minor performances are the kind of performances that other Bards would partake in with a tavern, or on a town street. The unique sound of their instruments often attracts large crowds, a lot of them offering tips and payment.
On occasion, Rock Bards are known to rent out small venues and have patrons pay for entry to enter. These performances tend to be the most lucrative for them, as they can set up the stage to allow use of some of their effects and other magic. People are willing to pay to see a watered down version of their major performances.
Rock Bards and Bands are in high demand, with many towns and cities wanting their talent to help celebrate festivals and events. Normally, organizers have to bid for the services of Rock Bards, offering substantial financial funding for what comes to be an hour or two of performance.
Despite the crowds these events bring in, Rock Bards often only take a fraction of the takings of their performances as profit. These performances for festivals and celebrations are a chance for a Rock Bard to go all out, showing everything they can do. These shows are extravagant, both in visuals and costs. Between Material Components needed for their magic, expensive maintenance and replacement for their instruments, and incidental expenses, much of the time Rock Bards need to pay a great amount after each major performance.
Other Benefits
Rock Bards are popular, and they are often able to find free food and lodgings wherever they travel for a small performance. Most occasions Rock Bards do not go all out for these performances, only using spare instruments and only a little flair.
A lesser known benefit Rock Bards receive is the influence on high members of society. Rock Bards often have contact with royalty, wizards, and other important figures. These contacts helps Rock Bards either become more popular, gain better resources or funding for better equipment, or even political power.
Perception
Purpose
Rock Bards were at first conceived to spread positive messages in regards to the use of Magic. After the Ultima War, where magic users earned a bad name for their power, a small group of Artificers sought to find a way to bridge the gap. They decided on the medium of Music, eventually coming to develop the first Lightning Instruments.
The Artificers used these Instruments as a form to convey positive uses for magic, though their lack of talent left much to be desired for. As such, they chose to give the instruments over to actual bards who knew how to use them.
Social Status
While Rock Bards on their own are often treated as celebrities by the general public simply due to their music, most magic casters deeply respect their trade. To perform the music they do while they are casting spells and channeling lightning thru their instruments requires great concentration that most Wizards wish they could achieve.
The talent of Rock Bards, even basic ones who do not use the flair, are at least respected for their accomplishments.
Demographics
The Music Rock Bards perform is oftentimes enjoyed by all. Even if one doesn’t enjoy the music from one Rock Bard, they may enjoy the music of another.
History
The first recorded Rock Bard on Pallet is [Anthony Howlsong], a Lycanthropic Bard from the outer Continents. While not a wizard or artificer himself, he had a gauntlet capable of channeling the magic that he used to charge his Guitar. This was the first inspiration for the creation of Lightning Instruments.
Artificers worked on first Lightning Instruments to help bridge the rift between Spell Casters and the General Public. Progress has been slow but it is generally agreed that Rock Bards has had a positive effect on people's opinions on Magic.
Operations
Tools
Lightning Instruments are items capable of being charged with electricity to produce unique sounds. The sound produced depends on the shape of the instrument. A Lightning Guitar tends to have bright, powerful and sustained sounds, while an Electric Piano is capable of producing a variety of sounds from different instruments.
In addition to their instruments, Rock Bards often possess a series of accessories that allow them to conduct grand effects. Crystals that can be attached to their instruments can be activated to sustain the magic channelled through it so the Bard can cast another spell. Positioned on stages can be a series of pyrotechnics that they can set off with either a pedal or controlled by someone behind the stage. Some Bards may have an additional instrument stored in an extradimensional space hidden on their person or on stage somewheres.
Finally, Rock Bards often have a series of speakers and amplifiers somewhere in the venue so that everyone is able to hear the performances.
Type
Entertainment
Famous in the Field
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