Bard

On with the show!

Come one, come all! Assemble within these fine halls and hear the tunes of our illustrious minstrel in our newest play, the scoundrel, thief and woman! Rejoice in the beauty of love in it's dawn, and the sorrow in it's twilight.
-Some tavernkeeper, somewher... maybe?

The question as old as time itself. A mystery as compelling as they get. A-...
Yeah, yeah... we get it!
Bards. The second oldest profession to exist. But what are they exactly, and why do they have such a stigma over their arts?
The question hardly even has an answer, since every culture has it's old version of these singing showmen. Be it the northern warrior skalds that sing their hymns in battle and glorious tales in meadhalls, to the fancy southern artists that chant through their souls and preach through wise minds.
Some hate them, and believe song and dance to be a worthless rite of weakness. Others believe life isn't even worth to live without it, and that the techniques of the bards are some of the most divine talents people have been blessed with.
Through their abilities to grip the heart of crowds, wether poor or rich, young or elderly and more, a bard plays a role much bigger than most would believe. They are the very outriders of culture, traversing the worlds with a power of tongue which may sway public opinion, seduce the innocence from the virgin ladies and gentlemen and basically... cause all manners of mischief and chaos. They could be your winning boon, praising your rule and good deeds to have the crowds cheer your name, or absolutely destroy you in tides of torches and pitchforks.
Not all bards carry a silver tongue alone though, as there are whole schools of vocal magics which some can bend to their will. Be it breathing words of fire in their show, or diminishing the pain in the knees of soldiers in march. The possibilities to their powers may only be limitated to their creativity and skill. Which begs the question, why can't the bards simply sing their way to world reknowned fame.
Sadly, the dangers such jesters put on many a nobles or warlords power have made bards target for harasment wherever they go. Even in a crowd of people that love them, be it civilians, soldiers or high society, there is always a risk that someone doesn't like them very much and want their shenanigans dealt with.
Thus most bards do not dare express their full creativity in the arts, and often remain stationary in some specific location, or array of locations where they host their shows.
The results of this have made bards, minstrels and other entertainers of song and more focused in only specific areas of their craft, and mainly just local celebrities. While there are some that manage to rise to certain fame though, the risk and price on their head also tend to rise, which is why you see the big clash of local village minstrels that are popular in one or two towns, and the nation famous royal entertainer who can never be too far away from his guards.

Type

Entertainment