C9: The Bardschool

Originally a small adjunct to Grey College, the Bardschool broke away nearly a century ago over a dispute in the curriculum. The college attempted to channel students into a specific area of expertise, whereas the Bardschool offered a much broader, more general program. As it happens, many of the Bardschool's graduates have gone on to become great bards of the harp, lute, or flute.

Though small, with only 30-40 students at a time, the Bardschool features superb instructors in each of its fields. These are men and women motivated more by a desire to spread knowledge than to live well, for their skills could command high teaching fees.

The tuition at the Bardschool roughly approximates that of Grey College. There is no set period of instruction at the school, though students generally can gain little more after five or six years here.

The Bardschool has an impact on the city that goes far beyond its size, however. The practical jokes performed by its students (and by others, in revenge upon those same students) are nearly legendary. Bardschool students never cease attempting to embarrass the students and faculty of Grey College, which is their most constant rival. The Bardschool fields teams for every competition and college game at the arena, again overcoming the limitations of its small size. The student body is composed of splendid specimens of physical fitness and wit, so they more than hold their own against the larger schools.

The High Tutor and headmaster of the school is Lactile Furlo, a master bard. His ribald sense of humor sets the tone for the pranks of his students and faculty.

But the bards serve a serious role as well, particularly in chronicling the day- to-day life, and the grander historical march, of the Free City and its people.

True, the scholars in the Great Library perform much the same function, with access to a greater wealth of facts and figures. One who wishes to learn the exact value of the jewels traded through the city during a specified year will indeed do better by consulting the library's history.

But for one who wishes to remember the sunsets that blazed during a misty autumn, or the lyrics of a song raised in celebration of the fall harvest, there can be no substitute for the History of the Bards.

---

C9: Bardschool. A century ago, several music tutors from Grey College broke with their school and established the Bardschool in a building adjacent to the main campus. The Bardschool now handles about three dozen students at any time, most going on to become nonadventuring musicians. Some become true bards, however, spreading this school’s fame far and wide, and others become famous teachers who gain great pay in neighboring states. Students usually remain at this school for a half-dozen years, though adventuring students return for further training on an irregular basis, The faculty, staff and students of Bardschool have a friendly rivalry with Grey College and compete against that facility in sports and other events. Practical jokes played on Grey College, however, have become a tradition of the former and something of an irritant to the latter.

The High Tutor and Headmaster of the Bardschool is 60-year-old Lactile Furlo [N hm B12; hp 31; Int 15, Cha 15; many potions and music-based magical items], who encourages the light-hearted antics. A grand document called the “History of the Bards” is kept here, detailing life in the city with a poetic and artistic view; the work is quite large and has many famous graduates as its contributors, Outsiders may read the document for a small fee; it does have some useful historical information not found elsewhere, which might be of use to adventurers.

DM's Notes: Adventurers learned long ago that ancient legends and songs sometimes had important clues to treasures buried in their lyrics. Bards certainly know this; even the most fantastic descriptions in old tales might hold a glimmer of truth. The songs and lore of the Great Kingdom, from its earliest days to its final collapse, are often “mined” for secret references to lost artifacts, wizards’ towers, old dungeons, and so forth. For a fee, outsiders can read through the vast collection of material stored here, or pay for performances of certain old songs. Bards, of course, can also help identify notable armor, weapons, and devices found in old hoards, and some have a tremendous knowledge of the heraldry of the Flanaess.