8.1.3 THE BARD CLASS

(See also: HELP BLADEDANCE, HELP COMPOSITION, HELP SAGAS, HELP WOE, HELP CLASS)

Rising from humble origin through tutelage at the feet of the Elder God Scarlatti, the Bards of Achaea have long carved themselves into the living memory of Sapience as masters of song and movement.

Yet their music was lacking. Yet their movement was inhibited. Limited by the confines of their art, they could not fell the great threats of the world. Their vivid voices could move a mortal heart, but could never touch a beast's soul. Their sublime harmonics heralded music's irrepressible might, but they had no meaning.

They had no tale to tell.

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..
...

But no longer.

Refined by the gift of the Great Bard in the year 948 AF, the talents of Sapience's Bards were transformed from swashbuckling skalds into keepers of legacy. Wielding the lethal art of the Bladedance and its corresponding bladesong, with rapier in hand it is the Bard who composes great works to bolster ally and devastate foe. And in their chronicling of history is the most grandiose of all their arts: the Saga. Famous and pivotal tales that shaped Sapience in the Modern Age, the history of the new era is foundation to all the Great Bard believed mortality capable of achieving.

But in the mountain city of Cyrene stands an edict most different. Bards of lowland cities recite Sagas of the land. Those of Cyrene are bound to but one, singular epic: the life and legend of Black Pazuzu, Prince of Woe. Spanning the length and breadth of the fell demon's existence from beginning to end, it was Cyrene who shouldered the burden of Achaea's most ancient evil. And in so doing they alone may tell the tale of his terrible sin.

A Bard's skills include Bladedance, Composition, and Sagas. A fledgling Bard possesses Bladedance and Composition, and gains Sagas upon embracing class.

Woe is an alternative iteration of the Sagas skill and is exclusive to Cyrene.

(See also: HELP BLADEDANCE, HELP COMPOSITION, HELP SAGAS, HELP WOE, HELP CLASS)