View source for Remembering the Bardic Voice, Volume IV (book)

[[Category:Book]]
Remembering the Bardic Voice, Vol. IV<br>                  
By Siraan Lisange                                      
                                                       
-- Introduction                                        
                                                       
Throughout history bards have been the keepers of      
lore and oral traditions handed down through many      
lands.  To this end I write these journals that tell   
of my wanderings.  Shortly I shall retire to the       
quieter life, as I have been offered a place in the    
Therengian court, but my heart remains on the dusty    
roads where the tones of a lute can be heard coming    
from a distant tavern.                                 
                                                       
In this book I have recorded two more serious roles    
the bardic folk have played, that of the standard-     
bearer and healer.  Though both offices often          
endanger the singer's life or sanity, I still          
encourage bards to experience at least one of these    
posts during their life and travels. It is a bard's    
duty to see that certain roles are filled, no matter   
where we travel, and that is the trust I place in      
you, my peers, students, and descendants of bardic     
kindred.                                               
                                                       
See that your duty is never forgotten.                 
                                                       
                                                       
-- Standard Bearing                                    
                                                       
Although too often lacking in these parts of late,     
the standard bearer can be found in armies of many     
lands.  It is in this office that a bard is called     
upon to be more than a minstrel and traveler, but to   
also bear inside themselves a strength and             
determination beyond what most mortals can endure.     
In this office a bard is called on to be not just a    
minstrel and traveler but to wield a strong arm with   
a determination beyond that of most mortals.           
                                                       
The standard bearers of an army do just what the       
title describes -- they bear the pennants, flags and   
standards for the ruler or cause that they represent.  
More than this, they also are responsible for          
improving and holding high the morale of their         
comrades in arms.  To this end I have heard, even      
sung on occasion, stirring renditions of national      
anthems, battle hymns, and even one or two rousing     
rounds of "The Tavernkeep and His Lady" to keep the    
laughter flowing among the squads.  Well into the      
night while the camp prepares for a scant few hours    
of rest one can usually find a bard or two instilling  
some much-needed confidence into the troops.           
                                                       
However, the role of a bardic standard bearer is not   
one limited to boosting soldier morale during the      
late hours of night.  The bard must continue to do so  
even during the long days of battle, rousing the       
troops not only with song and ballad but with magic    
as well.  The simplest of enchantes, when raising the  
strength of an entire army, can turn the tide of a     
war.  However, this power must be tempered with        
wisdom as well.  Should the bards of opposing armies   
not use their full repertoire of enchantes and         
instead sing the most aggressive ones at their         
disposal, the results can be cataclysmic.  In this     
manner the infamous "Rage of the Clans" gained     
its name, for in the midst of a clan war armed with    
bards on both sides, such bloodshed was seen that was  
unheard of for centuries before.  There were no        
winners in that battle, so total was the loss to both  
lands.  Perhaps a better name for it might have been   
"Blood of the Clans," for that is one that it truly    
earned.                                                
                                                       
The standard a bard holds is itself often a target of  
an opposing army's efforts.  Even the youngest         
footsoldier knows that the standard of a king, clan    
chief, or hero inspires allies on in battle.  This is  
why bards who wish to travel with an army must be      
strong of arm and trained in weaponry beyond that of   
most of their guildmates, to guard their standard and  
ensure that above all it stays aloft.  Bards training  
in this are often scoffed at by their colleagues,      
because such training in weapons is not required for   
advancement among the echelons of the Guild, but       
nonetheless is necessary if a bard wishes to survive   
past the first battle.                                 
                                                       
As you can tell by this time, dear reader, the role    
of a standard bearer is one fraught with desperation   
and peril, and one that asks a strength and endurance  
beyond what most will ever need.  But the role of a    
standard bearer is more rewarding than most other      
roles a bard may find himself in.  For when after a    
long battle you survey the chaos, the remnants of      
mortal bodies whose souls have fled to Urrem'tier's    
embrace, and your flag still stands proudly above the  
carnage, you truly understand what it is to feel       
alive.  Tread not lightly into this role.              
                                                       
                                                       
-- Herbalist                                           
                                                       
When one speaks of herbalists, what comes to mind are  
those hardworking, empathic souls who care so much     
for their fellow being that they take onto themselves  
the wounds of others.  While true healers and life-    
givers, they are not the only ones you can find        
tending to the injured and fallen when one conflict    
or another has given birth to bloodshed.               
                                                       
Without the empathic gifts of a guilded healer, one    
must rely on knowledge and skill in their stead.       
Seek out the extensive libraries inside each of your   
guildhalls or, whenever possible, those of your        
kindred who have already devoted their time to the     
alchemical arts.  From these people and tomes you can  
learn ways to heal wounds in ways that may rival the   
speed of empathic healers, and do not depend on one's  
own strength and endurance to work.  Such tinctures    
and salves made in this manner may also be passed on   
to others, and a single jar can save the wounds of     
many from infection, rather than one.                  
                                                       
This is not to say that a bard's magic can be of no    
help when they seek to aid another.  For the           
steadfast herbalist the simplest of Lilt's can be      
used to speed an entire infirmary on its way to        
recovery, easing the pain of wounds to the point       
where the patient's own relaxed posture can better     
aid their own healing.  Such work is tireless and      
thankless, and the sight of so many wounds has driven  
many a stir-crazy bard to abandon their playing in     
favor of attempting to tend to the wounds on their     
own, but this is folly.  A simple set of bones in one  
hand, and a bottle of healing unguent in the other     
can work wonders if the bard has the patience to       
utilize them.                                          
                                                       
For this reason, in addition to so many others, a      
bard's presence upon the battlefield can be more than  
a merely token one.  Their training in weapons gives   
them the freedom to go where an empathic healer may    
not, and to defend themselves against the enemy in     
their sojourn amongst the armies.  Many a time a bard  
armed only with his or her bag of healing reagents, a  
dagger, and the simple rhythms of "Drums of the        
Snake" to better aid them in the arts of evasion and   
stalking, has proven themselves to be an asset in      
even the seemingly most dire of situations.            
                                                       
Some concern may be given at this point that the role  
of a bard as a herbalist is one that only addresses    
the needs of others, and that the bard himself is      
left wanting of purpose.  To these people I advise to  
look to themselves, in the role of an herbalist.       
Learn the simplest salves to ensure your voice and     
arm stay true, and arm yourself with these - I         
guarantee that during your travels, be they on road,   
through tavern, or in a battle, you will find need of  
them yourself.  And if others find use of them as      
well, so much the better.  You will have fulfilled     
your duty and kept the knowledge alive.                
                                                       
        Safe traveling.                                
                                                       
                          ...Siraan Lisange...
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