BARDS

What is a bard?

"In Celtic cultures, a bard is a professional story teller, verse-maker, music composer, oral historian and genealogist, employed by a patron (such as a monarch or chieftain) to commemorate one or more of the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. With the decline of a living bardic tradition in the modern period, the term has loosened to mean a generic minstrel or author (especially a famous one)."

~Wikipedia

"Bards were versatile arcane spellcasters, capable in combat, art, and magic alike. Bards practiced magic as they would art or song, using their artistic talents to induce magical effects that either bolstered their allies or hindered their enemies, typically through charms and illusions. In addition to their magical skills, bards were artistically talented and extraordinarily well-learned, possessing knowledge in a wide range of fields. Bards were among the most versatile of adventurers, capable of learning from practically any trade."

~Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook 2

Famous Bards Throughout History

Here is a list of bards both famous and infamous, historical and legendary, fictional and non-fictional. The links are to their corresponding Wikipedia.org (W) or Fandom.com (F) pages.