Bards

Bards are people who specialize in story-telling, ballads, and extensive knowledge of history. They are also the teachers and scribes of ShadowStar. A number are master musicians and some invent ways to make music, or develop new theories in science and math. (In fact, bards are more scientific-thinking than some, though no, they won't come up with electricity or computer chips this century!).

What's a bard? Bards are the masters of words and the arts. Some are historians and storytellers, using their skills to keep the memories of Shadow Star's past and pass it on to future generations. Some set their words to music and pass their messages though lyrics and song. They are master entertainers, musicians, writers, teachers, and performing jack-of-all-trades.

  1. Bards
  2. Types of Bards
    1. Writers
      1. Poets
      2. Storytellers
      3. Scribes
    2. Musicians
      1. Composers
      2. Instrument Makers
    3. Teachers
      1. Historians
      2. Mathematicians
      3. Scientists
    4. Entertainers
      1. Performers
      2. Conjurers
      3. Dancers
      4. Actors
  3. The Ranks of Bards
    1. Apprentices
    2. Wanderers
    3. Masters
    4. Guildmaster



Types of Bards

The Bard Guild covers most of the performing arts practiced in Shadow Star. These arts are divided up into specializations, also called factions. All wanderers are required to specialize in at least one area for their mastery test. The various factions can be divided up into four main groups: Writers, Musicians, Teachers, and Entertainers. Most bards usually specialize in one or more subgroups of the four major groups. A bard who specializes in one of the major areas is expected to be proficient with all the sub-areas as well.

Writers

Masters of the written word. It is a given that writers can read and write at least Commontongue, though the majority often know more than one language. Usually this is a racial language (Gnomish, Wyrlaen, Khori~nath) or possibly an animal language, but is sometimes the Ancient Tongue. Tests, however, are mostly exclusively over Commontongue only. Writers are also proficient at making paper and binding books. The mastery test for a writer is to read some of their works out loud; they are usually judged on content and not performance unless they are also being tested as a performer.

Poets

Poets convey emotions through the written word. Their studies tend to be more rigid than the other writers. They learn a variety of poetic structures and meters. Poets are also adept at reading poetry. Poets often seem to be more magically inclined than the other factions and the poetry they write has a magical ring to it, as though bells and harps play while the poem is read aloud. Some teachers use poetry as teaching devices. Poets often also specialize in performing or some area of teaching. Their mastery test is to read a few of their poems aloud.

Storytellers

Writers of prose, they fill their books with everything from fables and plays to fiction and textbooks. Many historians often specialize as storytellers to better record their knowledge. Their mastery test consists of reading all or part of one of their works.

Scribes

Scribes are one of the most common factions of bards. Experts in reading and writing, often in multiple languages, they take dictation for people and read written material aloud. Clear enuciation is a requirement. They are the link between the illerate population and the written word. Scribes in general are often teasingly poked fun at by the other, more "creative" factions. The test for a scribe is to read aloud a sample letter and to take a dictation.
Messengers are a subdivision of scribes, concerned with the relaying of messages and materials. Writing is not a strict requirement of this group; only relaying the message in the fastest possible way is. Hence, the rise in rank for messengers tends to come much more quickly, but at the expense of being teased by other guild members, even scribes, for taking an easy path.

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Musicians

The masters of song and tune. Being able to read music is as much a requirement for a musician as being able to read the written word is for a writer. Many, many musicians specialize as performers. The tests for a musician are usually specified by the subgroup(s) they specialize in; some musicians are tested on their abilities to sing and/or play a simple scale and to read a piece of music.

Composers

Composers are writers of music. They often play one or more instruments and have an ear for harmony both between notes and also between various types of instruments. Some composers take jobs as conductors as well.

Instrument Makers

Instrument makers often have some artisan background. They are skilled at picking excellent materials and finely shaping instruments to produce optimal sound. Many also tinker with existing instruments or invent new ones. Being able to tune a wide variety of instruments is a must. Their test consists of presenting an instrument they have made, possibly performing on it, and also tuning an instrument of the judges' choice.

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Teachers

Since the end of the Age of Darkness, teachers have been highly sought after to bring knowledge back to the people of Shadow Star, but are rare in number. The druid Marcan, tutor of King Ryntan, is often considered the father figure for all teachers. More prestigious teachers tend to land good jobs in the main cities while lesser known ones live and teach in small villages. With most bards having the benefit of being taught by a teacher at one point in their lives, few will tease a teacher the way scribes are gently poked fun at. Their test is to give a sample lesson--often children or wanderer bards are brought in to judge the effectiveness of a lesson, or to have the privilege of the lesson, if the wanderer being tested is well known.

Historians

Historians are concerned with discovering the past of Shadow Star and preserving it. Nothing makes a historian happy like an ancient, decaying book. Historians are skilled at preserving books and restoring them. A historian's mastery test is rather difficult; they must discover and deliver a report on some facet of Shadowstarian past. Some historians also specialize as poets or storytellers and deliver history in poetry or prose.

Mathematicians

Whereas a writer's language is words and a musician's is melody, the language for a mathematician is numbers. Math is not a highly developed science and so there are few master mathematicians. Their test is usually along the lines of a teacher's test. However, a wanderer who can present the panel with a new theorum is practically guaranteed a mastery.

Scientists

Some scientists have a mage or healer background. Scientists often further specialize into a specific field; astrology, astronomy, and geology are the major ones, though some choose physics, biology, architecture, acoustics and other such fields. Most study theory rather than practical use; few are inventors. Their test is like a teacher's test, though a scientist with a new discovery is almost certain to pass.

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Entertainers

Entertainers are called by some the life of Shadowstar. Most are travelers, though a few more well-known entertainers can secure spots in big cities. They usually travel alone as one-man shows performing on the streets, or as small troupes. It is every entertainer's dream to secure and deliver a good show at one of the annual balls and festivals held in Cascadia; as such, the city is often considered the entertainer's heartland. Their test, of course, consists of putting on a good show!

Performers

These people deliver the products of musicians and writers. A signifigant number write their own material, and many are adept at playing instruments, often multiple instruments. They know all the secrets to projecting sound in a variety of places and emphasize their delivery with their whole body. For their test, performers perform a few pieces. These may be their own if they are being tested as a writer or composer.

Conjurers

Entertainers adept at sleight of hand, juggling, and other such tricks. Conjurers rarely work with other conjurers. Some use magic to aid their performances, but most consider it cheating. They are also skilled with jokes and puns. If a conjurer can make the judges laugh or, more rarely, manages to pull a trick over them, their test can usually be considered successful.

Dancers

Dancing is a highly popular specialization, especially among young girls. They use their bodies to convey what a performer does with their voice. Dancers are often started young and trained in gymnastics as well. Many use percussion instruments in their performances and some also specialize as conjurers. Many choreograph their own dances. Their test is twofold: one dance to a pretermined choreography of the testee's choice, judged on aestetics and difficulty, and then a second dance is done on the fly, to a song of the judges' choice (though usually well known).

Actors

Actors are entertainers combining their voices and bodies to take on a new persona. Some specialize as storytellers, writing their own plays. Actors usually travel in troupes, sometimes in the company of different types of entertainers. They are also masters of costume and disguise; it's said that some thieves take tips from skilled actors or enlist their help. Their test usually consists of a monologue; a storyteller may use one they have written themselves.


The Ranks of Bards

The Road to Mastery is a long and often difficult road, taking a decade or more to achieve the final goal--recognition as a master of your field. The ranks are Apprentice, Wanderer, and Master. Masters may also vie for the ultimate position in the Bardic Guild, that of the Guildmaster.

Apprentices

The first step toward mastery. Apprentices enter the trade knowing only rudimentary reading and writing skills, if any at all. They are usually apprenticed during their middle childhood to late teen years. An apprentice may be taken in by a master, or they may attend a school with other children, though a rare few are self-taught. Apprenticeships usually last for a few years. Apprentice studies are kept very general and usually are focused on writing. A proficiency test is usually taken to mark the passage to a wanderer, but is not required; in fact, it is usually only used within the schools. Some masters may test their apprentices in a similar manner, but most often the change in status from apprentice to wanderer is gradual.

Wanderers

Having mastered the basic literary skills, a Wanderer is the stage where a training bard branches out. They often pick up a smattering of mathematics and sciences, and begin looking into one or more areas of specialization. Some stay in schools; however, it is far more common, especially in small towns when what few schools they are only teach the basics, to be taught by a master, or to travel on a journey of self-teaching and discovery, hence the rank name. Wanderers are often assigned to help teach apprentices. The passage into mastery is marked by a test, given by the Bard Guildhall in Cascadia and judged by a panel of judges. The test varies depending on the area of specialization. All bards must have at least one area of specialization in order to take the test. This is often the longest stage of a path to mastery, ranging from five or more years to a few or several decades, and wanderers usually start in their mid-teens or older.

Masters

Masters are the few and proud who have passed their test in their area of specialization. They are good enough at them that they can teach their specializations to apprentices and wanderers. Many masters end up teaching at schools around Shadow Star. They are usually at least in their twenties and remain masters[ for the rest of their lifespan, barring unusual circumstances, such as disgracing the Guild.

Guildmaster

The one and only, the head of the Bard Guildhall stationed in Cascadia. He is a master who is voted into the position by his peers. The Guildmaster usually has a mastery in more than one area, and a minimum of wanderer-level knowledge of the other arts is required. He is the leader of the Guild, and tends to the bards as the royals do to all of Shadow Star.

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Bard Guild Members


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