Bards are skilled instrumentalists, reciters, and singers, but their true value lies in their role as keepers of the ancient legends and lore. They are considered scholars and sages of the oral tradition, and are important in any council deliberations.
Bards can be found in one form or another at all social levels, from the esteemed court skalds down to the humble village lore-keepers. Some live as wanderers, seeking and spreading knowledge wherever they are able, while a brave few seek to forge legends of their own as adventurers. A bard may be called upon to play or recite for the entertain of their audience, lead the crowd in well-known songs, or compose a verse praising or poking fun at someone.