College of Valor

The College of Valor is an Archetype of the Bard Class available to players during Character Creation. It is the rarest type of Bard in The Old World, though still relatively widespread. Valor Bards train in both Combat techniques and the arts, wading into the thick of battle and using music to disorient and frighten the enemy while rallying their comrades (see https://www.dndwiki.io/subclasses/college-of-valor, but note the variant rule detailed below).

Unlike Lore Bards, Valor Bards are seasoned warriors with little patience for courtly intrigue. Their music is rich and stirring, meant to inspire and intimidate rather than beguile. The College of Valor is, first and foremost, a war college, training its adherents in swordplay, tactics, and military history. From tribal skalds to modern fife and drum corps, Valor Bards are at home on the front lines of battle and are held in high esteem by their fellow soldiers.

The College of Valor has its origins in Mennavjar and Vestenjar, where tribes of seafaring Barbarians launched numerous raids against what is now Dunlagh, Eisen, and Ussura during the Age of Reckoning. The raiders brought with them chanters and musicians who used the power of song to stoke their warriors' battle fury. In time, some of these raiders were assimilated into native populations and their traditions spread to neighboring regions. Today, Valor Bards are primarily found among the militaries of Latia Major and Latia Minor, though the original skaldic traditions are still practiced in some parts of Thule.

College of Valor Bards are subject to the following variant rule:
When a Bard joins the College of Valor at 3rd Level, they add "Booming Blade" and "Green-Flame Blade" to the list of cantrips they may learn. These count as Bard Spells should they choose to learn them.