College of Lore

The College of Lore is an Archetype of the Bard Class available to players during Character Creation. It is the most common type of Bard in The Old World, with roots in the days of ancient Latium and Syrneth. Lore Bards are of little direct use in Combat, but possess a plethora of useful skills and excel at inspiring and protecting their allies (see https://www.dndwiki.io/subclasses/college-of-lore).

As the name implies, Lore Bards receive a broad education, learning history, theology, and a variety of other subjects in the course of their training. This allows them to craft songs and tales of unparalleled vibrancy and makes them a useful resource for patrons who might have need of their knowledge. The College of Lore also includes etiquette and statecraft, as its adherents frequently find themselves embroiled in politics. In many cases, a Bard's performance is merely a cover for their true role as an emissary, spy, or even assassin.

Lore Bards may be found in most regions of the Old World, but are particularly common in Latia Major and Ashur, where they find ample use for their skills among the courts of Human and Elven aristocrats. The oldest colleges in Hellada and Sihalis have trained Bards since the Golden Age, though some institutions in Montaigne and Vodacce arguably carry greater prestige. In recent years, Alderac too has produced Bards of tremendous skill, many of them Tiefling, as it is one of the few places where such folk may receive an education free from prejudice.