Bard

Invoking magic through music, dance, and verse, Bards are expert at inspiring others, soothing hurts, disheartening foes, and creating illusions. Bards are a common sight in Aurelia. They can learn their trade from a member of a college. As bards themselves they usually travel the world either by themselves or as troupes. Bardic magic harnesses the power of performance and the emotions they can evoke.   Anything can inspire a new song or tale, so Bards are fascinated by almost everything. They become masters of many things, including performing music, working magic, and making jests. A Bard’s life is spent traveling, gathering lore, telling stories, and living on the gratitude of audiences, much like any other entertainer. But Bards’ depth of knowledge and mastery of magic sets them apart.   There are four known bardic traditions in Aurelia. Bards of each tradition organize themselves in a college, which helps them preserve the traditions common to their college.

College of Dance

Bards of the college dance express their magic through dance and other styles of movement. These dances can be accompanied by music, but it is not necessary for their magic to take effect. Dancers have impressive physical capabilities which they use to great effect.   Most larger traveling troupes have a one or two bards of this college with them who are responsible to choreograph and lead any performance of the troupe that involves dance or other movement. They often train other dancers who are not bards themselves.   The bards of this college have formed actual phyiscal colleges in several capitals of southern Aurelia. There is a college to learn dance in Amara's Seat, the Golden Citadel and Andraste. Dances have a long and storied tradition in these locations with very different styles each.

College of Glamour

The College of Glamour is closely connected to the Feywild. These bards learn bewitching and alluring magic to make their performances unforgettable and irresistable. A useful skillset for diplomats and spies when employed in the right circumstances. The college has a strong presence in the Eldertree Forest due to its close connection to the Feywild. Bards of this college can be found at the courts of most lords and ladies, creating an impressive network for political intelligence gathering.

College of Lore

Bards of the College of Lore collect tales, spells, songs, traditions and other cultural artifacts from all over the continent to preserve the histories and traditions of the peoples of Aurelia. Most of these bards choose a focus, like a genre or type of tradition they collect, while traveling the land. Once they have gained new insights they go to an university or similar learning institution to teach what they have learned for a while, or bring their documents to a library, an archive or other memory institution to have their insights preserved for future generations. They often work by themselves or in small groups on a specific project to complete. The college of lore largest gathering are conferences where they enable exchange between the different bards.

College of Valor

Bards of the College of Valor are daring storytellers whose tales preserve the memory of the great heroes of the past. These Bards sing the deeds of the mighty in vaulted halls or to crowds gathered around great bonfires. They travel to witness great events firsthand and to ensure that the memory of these events doesn’t pass away. With their songs, they inspire new generations to reach the same heights of accomplishment as the heroes of old. They are the least formally organised college of bards in Aurelia.