Tuluki Bards

[Pariah]

So I never really understood Tuluki Bards.

I've been around long enough to have played when Tuluk was full steam ahead and have ran into many bards.

However, I don't really understand what they actually DO besides for prance around and sing and rhyme.

Is that sorta it?  They get paid to be like a performing troupe, essentially a noble's personal little solo artist?

I figure since I never really knew when it was a thing, and it's going to be a thing again, I'd ask what the hell a bard really is.

[mansa]

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheBard

In medieval Gaelic and British culture (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall) a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. The word itself is loaned from Scottish Gaelic, deriving from the Proto-Celtic bardos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European, which roughly translates as "to raise the voice; praise."

The typical trope is a jester, an actor, a thief, a politician, a storyteller, and a swordsperson all rolled into one.

[Veselka]

A bard can be many things.

They can be an aide, an assassin. A propaganda spreader, a spy. A paid ally, an unpaid enemy. A hunter, a crafter. They can be defined by playing music, or not. They can settle in a position, or decide to go for the full monty. They can pursue all the charms of the Circle, or just settle for a few. Be an amateur, or try to be a professional.

To me being a bard isn't the end all be all of what the character is, it's just one more definition for a PC. Just like 'hunter' or 'warrior' can define a PC. How much of a warrior or fighter is your Bynner? The same applies for a Bard of the Circle.

[Tuannon]

I would like to see solid guidelines for each School/Troupe/House of Circle Bards' list of tenets and a movement toward each bard carrying some or all of those tenets.

Personally, I think Circle bards are a Tuluki institution that replaces the "example" responsibility of Allanaki nobles. Within the confines of their circle's modus operandi, a Circle bard should be an example of an IDEAL Tuluki citizen or at least a near perfect ideal depending on their tenure and mindset and what have you.

Sure, Chosen are here to teach and what not, but they're not so overtly a flag for their House as their backward southern cousins.

[Fernandezj]

I would like to see solid guidelines for each School/Troupe/House of Circle Bards' list of tenets and a movement toward each bard carrying some or all of those tenets.

Personally, I think Circle bards are a Tuluki institution that replaces the "example" responsibility of Allanaki nobles. Within the confines of their circle's modus operandi, a Circle bard should be an example of an IDEAL Tuluki citizen or at least a near perfect ideal depending on their tenure and mindset and what have you.

Sure, Chosen are here to teach and what not, but they're not so overtly a flag for their House as their backward southern cousins.

Only one rank of bards (the lowest) relies on nobles. So I don't know that any emphasis on nobles is necessary.

[Tuannon]

Tuluki bards should act in the representative sense like southern nobles.

I'm not saying they rely on them.

[Nao]

Are there any downsides to making your normal citizen a bard that's born into the circle? Or expectations? It seems like you'd start without a patron in that case.

[Pariah]

So not to be dismissive, but they are just all the normal roleplayed and actual roles with a little charm bracelet?

[mansa]

So not to be dismissive, but they are just all the normal roleplayed and actual roles with a little charm bracelet?

Any player can choose to have their character become a bard.  It's similar to "joining a school / trade" and coming out with some knowledge and experience.  It's similar in theme to joining the Atrium.

[williamson]

Remind me. Can only Tuluki citizens join?

[mansa]

Remind me. Can only Tuluki citizens join?

In my opinion, I think that may be a case of the "Non-Citizens can join, but <politics>".   It would definitely prevent any memberships from getting higher than apprentice, as you need to have a Patron to excel, and none of the Chosen Lords would ever give money to a southern bard.

[Veselka]

Previously never heard of a non citizen joining any Circle.

[Bebop]

Remind me. Can only Tuluki citizens join?

I THINK a non-citizen being accepted into a Circle would be almost unheard of considering the Occupation and recent events. 

Staff can comment but I can't imagine a scenario it would be acceptable for say a southern born person to be admitted into a Circle.  A tribal, maybe?  But Tuluk is all about tattoos and eugenics.  To not be inked and be in a Circle would be weird.

[Pariah]

Remind me. Can only Tuluki citizens join?

I THINK a non-citizen being accepted into a Circle would be almost unheard of considering the Occupation and recent events. 

Staff can comment but I can't imagine a scenario it would be acceptable for say a southern born person to be admitted into a Circle.  A tribal, maybe?  But Tuluk is all about tattoos and eugenics.  To not be inked and be in a Circle would be weird.

Brings up a good point, I'm really hoping to see the nobles and templars play as if they've been locked in a city their whole life and treating it with wonder and apprehension.