Bard

The Bard Common Roles Acrobat, actor, adventurer, adviser, alchemist, ambassador, assassin, buffoon, courier, diplomat, diplomatic aide, freedom fighter, herald, jester, juggler, messenger, minstrel, music instructor, teacher, tutor Common Races Humans, Gobbers, Halflings, Oruch Influencial Faiths Ceinara, Tarien Common Organizations Bards often belong to the Explorer's Guild, though many may choose to strike out on their own. Academies exist to train bards in their craft, and may be considered organizations, as well as traveling theatrical groups. Pathfinder Rules for Bard

Bards can be wandering minstrels or entertainers, and beyond. The Emblem of Ea bard, in fact, often moves beyond this role. Bards are those who have taken their capabilities and used them more for the sake of adventuring, learning and the uncovering of ancient and arcane lore. Some bards do this while others use their skills and music to advance as diplomats, ambassadors and chroniclers who use their intimate knowledge of magic and lore keeping to the benefit of larger organization. The magic of music making that a Bard wields may have a number of different origins. Some believe that it is a remaining resonance of the celestial chorus that began when the world was made; The Eidolon Hymn. Some bards spend their entire lives following the legend of the Eidolon Hymn and seeking to decipher its mysteries.

Selentia of the Myrrish Kingdoms is well known as a land of a thousand princes and princesses and their elegant tastes, love of lore keeping and music and refined beliefs have produced a number of diplomats and lore keepers. In other areas, Bards most often appear in lands rich with a sense of history or recent troubles and happenings of historical importance. Many large cities, such as Alexandria City, often produce them. Among the barbarian cultures and less refined lands where history, knowledge and lore is passed down via verbal traditions, bards also may emerge. Here they function as war chanters and battle skalds as well as being responsible for passing on the tales and traditions of their tribes from one generation to the next.

The Eidolon Hymn

The music of creation resonates through the world and it is by this music that bards are able to work their wonders of arcane magic and simulate some aspects of divine magic. Some Bards spend their entire lives in pursuit of the Eidolon Hymn, seeking out the courts of the ancients where the divine power of the gods gathered and desiring to interpret the various stanzas of the celestial song. Efforts are made to create great choirs that sing the song and perform it before congregations of the mighty churches across the land.

Bard

Role: Bards capably confuse and confound their foes while inspiring their allies to ever-greater daring. While accomplished with both weapons and magic, the true strength of bards lies outside melee, where they can support their companions and undermine their foes without fear of interruptions to their performances.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Die: d8

Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).

Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
						1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Bardic knowledge, bardic performance, cantrips,countersong, distraction, fascinate, inspire courage +1	1	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Versatile performance, well-versed	2	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3	Inspire competence +2	3	—	—	—	—	—
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4		3	1	—	—	—	—
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4	inspire courage +2, lore master 1/day	4	2	—	—	—	—
6th	+4	+2	+5	+5	Suggestion, Versatile performance	4	3	—	—	—	—
7th	+5	+2	+5	+5	Inspire competence +3	4	3	1	—	—	—
8th	+6/+1	+2	+6	+6	Dirge of doom	4	4	2	—	—	—
9th	+6/+1	+3	+6	+6	Inspire greatness	5	4	3	—	—	—
10th	+7/+2	+3	+7	+7	Jack-of-all-trades, Versatile performance	5	4	3	1	—	—
11th	+8/+3	+3	+7	+7	Inspire competence +4, inspire courage +3,lore master 2/day	5	4	4	2	—	—
12th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8	Soothing performance	5	5	4	3	—	—
13th	+9/+4	+4	+8	+8		5	5	4	3	1	—
14th	+10/+5	+4	+9	+9	Frightening tune, Versatile performance	5	5	4	4	2	—
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+9	+9	Inspire competence +5, inspire heroics	5	5	5	4	3	—
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10		5	5	5	4	3	1
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+10	+10	inspire courage +4, lore master 3/day	5	5	5	4	4	2
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+11	+11	Mass suggestion, Versatile performance	5	5	5	5	4	3
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+11	+11	Inspire competence +6	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+12	+12	Deadly performance	5	5	5	5	5	5

Starting Kits

Concept	Attributes	Feats and Skills	Notes
War Chanter	Cha 16+	Key Feats: Weapon Focus, Dazzling Display Recommended Feats: Choose a few feats that focus on one type of combat, though combat is only a secondary focus. Bards are good in many areas, and masters of none. Key Skills: Intimidate or one of the following Perform skills keyed to Versatile Performance: Perform/Comedy, Perform/Keyboard Instruments, Perform/Percussion Additional Skills: N/A	You are the warlord, the courage in your allies' hearts - and terror in the enemies'. Use your bardic abilities and spells to bolster your partymates and Dazzling Display to demoralize the enemy.
Archer Bard	Dex 14+, Cha 16+	Key Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot Key Skills: N/A Additional Skills: N/A	You prefer to stand back and inspire your allies from afar.
Skald	Str 14, Con 14, Cha 16+	Key Feats: Arcane Strike, Power Attack, Toughness Recommended Feats: Cleave Key Skills: K/Military Tactics, K/History Recommended Skills: N/A	You inspire your allies from the thick of battle. It may be wise to carry a shield.

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