Bards

Bards in Thedas are storytellers, but not as minstrels (only). The tales they weave make kings and break empresses. They are agents, spies and manipulators all and they often have a patron who is an employer of various talents. In some cases a bard might be artistic and most assuredly they are intimately familiar with all relevant cultural aspects, but their main skills lay in their ability to get information, use it and destroy it. Sometimes people die, but this is not the primary motivation. They are not assassins.

Bards play a Game, a Grande Game, and they do not have to be in Orlais, nor playing an instrument, to employ their various skills.

An Introduction to Bards
The first bards who were more than just "minstrels" were formed as the personal security for a small group of powerful nobles in Orlais. However, their exact origins have been kept from the vast majority of historical records, which is not surprising given their nature. What we do know is that from these noble sponsored "security" groups came a larger culture of training and espionage. As the Great Game evolved, so did the need and attributes of the bards. Some say that the bards created the intrigue of the game, playing one noble off against another, and others say that the nobles created the needs for such spies. The truth may never be known.

Types of Bards: Academy Trained and Freelance
Primarily there are only two ways of becoming a bard and each avenue produces variation in skills and contacts. Those trained by an academy are deemed entirely legitimate and classically trained and come with more powerful contacts. Those who are freelance are more suited to the lower nobles and their fluid nature and severance from the Academies can be seen as an advantage in and of itself.

Contracts
The contracts are drawn up in an office within Elcoe by specialised bards known as greffier. These are expert writers and creators of documents and have a thorough understanding and complete knowledge of Thedas' legal systems. Les greffier are master wordsmiths who work closely with the upper echelons of the bards guild. Though many a student and bard have and will try, they simply cannot out manoeuvre these greffier during negotiations. The contract are flawless, the legality of them recognised throughout the Guild and in Thedas.

There is one office - in Elcoe, where most contracts are drawn up. Those in the other academies are often given part of the Master of Bards of that academy's office to work in. As less than two dozen exist of these specialists exist it stands to reason that they are in demand.

Copies of the contracts exist for the academy it is assigned to, each academy for institutional record and the Master of Bards at Elcoe. The bard who agrees to the contract is given a copy and it is kept in a location agreed to between the parties involved in deciding its terms. Breaking of a contract is deemed reason for destruction of it. If the bard breaks the contract then they are charged with having committed a most grievous offence and handed over to the authorities. If the other parties break the contract then they are dealt with either by the Master of Bards or the Emperor's personal security.

The contents of each contract varies from bard to bard, since every bard has individual talents and specialist training. However, what is covered are the terms of their employment, which patrons they will definitely work for, what their rate of pay and/or commission is (again this depends on the bard, for a first contract a stipend of 5 sovereigns a month is typical. For a fully fledged bard, it varies but they tend to work on commission with the typical starting rate of 5%) and under what circumstances the contract may be cancelled. This includes a "buy out clause" where a wealthy patron can buy the exclusive services of the academy bard, but only for the length of a year. After that year expires a new contract with the academy is agreed, and a new buy out clause negotiated. Once that contract is agreed the patron may once again bid for the bard. The Master of bards has the right to deny a patron, but must present good reason to Les Greffier. This suggests the buy out clauses have loopholes which are only beneficial to the Master of Bards. This buy out clause is only included in those contracts in which a bard has completed of the decade of training. Before that point the bards are not able to be bought by a patron and can hold only one contract - with their mentor.

Financials
Money is an important aspect of a bard's life for several reasons. It is used to gain access to desirable clientele, or to buy away unwanted attention from local authorities and and other bastions of law. It can also reflect status in itself; a bard with coin is a capable bard, a desirable bard, a talented and prestigious bard. Until first contract with academy all monies are owned by the academy and overseen by the Treasurer, all in accordance with the bard's mentor. Money earned can also give weight to a bard's position in contract negotiations.

The Guild of Bards is essentially a bank for Bards, as well as the other functions it serves. Thus, any Guild-owned property can be used for a Bard to see their money organised, before being delivered to a commis de bureau. Guild-owned properties rarely charge Bards for anything they might be selling and will often attempt to sway them into performing in exchange; there is no contract involved and this is a common way for bards to pay their way, especially outside of Orlais. Contracts made between a Bard and management of a Guild-owned property regarding the property are considered cause for breach of a bard's contract (or contracts) and will see the managerial personnel's employment terminated.

Some bards are known for spending lots of money, others for being frugal. It is a common assumption that bards like to spend a lot, owing to the status that money brings with it. The truth of a bard's spending are only known by those who see the contracts, for the exact details of a bard's finances are recorded in the contracts they have signed, as it pertains to each party they agree terms with on each contract.

Rules and Discipline; Rewards and Punishments
Le Comportement le plus Respectueux:
 * I will never agree to undermine or help in undermining the country or government of Orlais in any way.
 * I will always ensure the safety of my nation’s ways and secrets as well as turn in any traitors to our guild.
 * I will use death as a last resort if a matter of conflicting interests arises between me and another member of our guild.

This document is a part of every bard's first contract - that which they sign with their mentor - and is then folded into every other contract they sign. Every bard is taught to follow this code as a part of their lives; of their very being.

There are bards, apart from the ones who never attended an academy, who choose to violate the code for the right price, even though they are members of the Guild. These bards are often used by certain parties to serve interests not always beneficial for the Emperor of Orlais.

The very existence of a bard is ever-changing; it is a life of fluid circumstances with unpredictable situations lurking around every corner. As such the rules held to within academies are mostly changeable, with very few being set in stone. Each academy will adhere to the code. Permanent rules found in most academies involve:
 * Respect of academy property
 * Respect mentors
 * Never be late - for anything (be it training, work, meetings)

Since bards are taught to bend rules to their favour the rules of the academy are thus a daily challenge in and of themselves - it is a paradox and one that is difficult to figure out for those destined to leave the academy without graduating as a bard. Discipline for breaking rules comes by the discretion of the mentor for early students; for those in contract with the academy the Master of Bards becomes directly involved. It is not uncommon for punishments to be folded into lessons, the opportunity to merge the bard's teachings with the life they are being prepared to live is deemed too good to be ignored. Those bards who manage to decipher that their punishment and teachings are being mixed together are often considered to have great potential for both tremendous success and catastrophic failure; it is rare for a mediocre bard to be aware of the process they are being guided through in this way.

The rewards for a bard can be plentiful, and are most often delivered in a similar fashion to that which a bard can expect beyond the academy walls. Each reward is usually tailored to each bard, as chosen by their mentor. If the reward is to be especially grand a mentor can seek the Master of Bards' help with making it a reality; it is often in the best interests of a mentor to do this for a reward might also be disruptive to the academy and so the Master of Bards would appreciate knowledge of it beforehand at the very least.

Bardic Academies
Academies are exactly what one might expect, which may be surprising considering the mystery that surrounds bards. These are places of training, of excellence and here students learn every aspect of bard life, from languages and dance to combat and stealth. This is a rogue's life and within the walls of each academy the skills and abilities of the bards are perfected.

The glamorous aspects of bard life are concentrated upon by most people when it comes to these academies but one must not assume that this existence is one of ease and merriment. Many fail at the early stages and mistakes have high costs, thus the academies only allow the most promising and skilled of people to enter.

Académie Elcoé
An example of such an academy is that of Elcoe in Val Royeaux. Elcoe is one of a handful of academies across Thedas. It is known as a bard school and is referred to as such, which may be strange when one considers that the art of bards is that of espionage and discretion. Of secrecy and lies. Is Elcoe what it seems? It is unlikely, but the mask it wears is known only to those with most influence in Orlais and Elcoe has thrived for centuries, thus it's obvious existence does not work against it. This particular academy is run by a single person - the Master of Bards. The teachers within the academy are known as Bardmasters.

The institution itself is a large structure, taking up a great section of the outer city wall of Val Royeaux with its marble domes and the thin towers at each corner of the main buildings. The territory of this college does not lay only in the city, however, the construction of the building is about as unique as the learned individuals it produces. Two enclosed passageways run from the two towers closest to the wall and then through the massive border structure itself to open up into the exterior gardens and practise grounds which are themselves bordered by an even taller wall than that of Val Royeaux.

The city-side gardens of Elcoe are a marvel, larger than many of the city's parks. They are cut into many sections by paths but dissected into three thanks to the enclosed passageways of stone which are impenetrable even from the gardens. The central garden is thinner, yet longer than the other two.

The interior is reminiscent of the early Divine Age, with wide hallways and many windows, and huge archways of stone that are similar to the cloisters of the Grand Cathedral. The Elcoe Estate has several floors as well as access via the cellars and basements. It is decorated with antique furniture and tapestries, and there are many different types of room used for various purposes. Everything from lecture halls and practice halls to solars and music rooms. It is similar to the University of Val Royeaux, though slightly smaller, the use and architecture is somewhat the same. There are newer editions and wings to the estate, added over time as the academy evolved.

Académie Locations
There are a few other academies throughout Thedas - however, there are no more than five outside of Orlais. One of these academies is known to be in Lothering. The other academies in Thedas often use the infrastructure that Elcoe does but there can also be differences. The leaders of the academies comprise a council of sorts, for the academies and the Bards Guild.

Académie Elcoé - Val Royeaux

 * Master of Bards
 * Xavier Platini


 * Bardmasters
 * Lecarsle Divual


 * Bards
 * Remi Moreau
 * Innora


 * Trainees
 * Rayelle
 * Rosaline Monet

Training and Recruitment
The specific details of training espionage, violence and the like are not known to anyone outside of the academies, but that this training takes place is an obvious and correct assumption. To gain student status individuals engage in six weeks of training with a variety of teachers. Those applying to be a student must show talent in key areas in order to be admitted into the academy. Such areas include; espionage, hand to hand combat, mathematics, more than one language mastered, memory and recall, climbing and sprints, knowledge and/or talent in art and culture. Advanced training often begins upon the signing of the contract with the academy. Initial training can be a period of up to ten years after enrolment, depending on the student

Académie Contracts
Students sign a contract with their teacher upon enrolment. After the initial ten years of training the student refreshes the contract with their teacher, who then becomes their mentor, whilst a new contract is signed with the academy. Material connections are usually strengthened upon refreshing of the contract with the mentor.

Students always become financially tied to the academy upon signing their contract - they are immediately indebted to the academy; the debt is paid off as the bard puts their skills to use in paid work. The contract with the academy is reviewed annually, with the Master of Bards. As the bard improves their standing, and thus earnings, they often increase the quality of their positioning in the review of the contract.

The Guild of Bards
There is a singular guild in Thedas for bards - The Guild of Bards. The academies and the Guild are tied together, having been woven closer and closer for hundreds of years.

Freelance Bards
Apart from the bards who have studied in a Bards’ Academy and follow the ways of the guild there are also others who haven’t attended any school. Their training is usually performed by senior spies who prefer working on their own and tend to reveal the nature of their techniques and skills to their promising students. These senior spies are often not graduates of an academy and, if they are, then they certainly need to keep such trainings secret (a difficult task in a world full of spies) otherwise they will be forced to step out of the Guild.

Freelance bards are not bound by the Code though it is up to their ethos whether they are to follow it or not. It is to be noted that should they choose not to follow it, they tend to take up contracts which may not always prove beneficial to their nation. For this very fact they are usually mistrusted by the authorities and their hiring may raise many suspicions; a further investigation then might be required.

These bards are not unfamiliar with the Great Game even though they are not graduates of academies. Quite the opposite really! Potential employers hire academy trained and freelance bards alike (even when they acknowledge the risks) with each and every one of them being an important asset to the nobility’s game. Such jobs occur usually when the nature of the contract is quite shadier than usual, thus the freelancers are usually assigned to these kinds of jobs.

However, it is not uncommon for the spies who have studied in an academy to see the freelancers as inferiors since they believe their colleagues lack knowledge and proper training and tend to rely on pure experience more often than not. Though that may be true in most cases, there are some bards who have studied thoroughly the way of arts as well as the ways of espionage and are far from being inferiors.

It is to be noted though that, generally, freelance bards raise suspicions and are not easily trusted, a fact which has impact on the contracts they are offered.

Freelance Bards and the Guild
The Bards’ academies and the Guild are tied together, with the two having been woven closer and closer for hundreds of years. Thus, bards who are not graduates of any academy are by default not part of the Guild nor are they forced to follow its ways. However, some of them, for reasons of their own, often like to change that fact, trying to become a member of the Guild.

It is not an easy task and it usually requires a lot of work from their part. It’s not uncommon for the Guild to deny their joining. In case the freelancers wish to become a part of the Guild is taken into consideration then it is asked of the freelancers to attend one of the academies and, thus, officially integrate themselves into the Guild’s mechanism. From that moment on, they lead the typical life of an academy student, they get financially tied with the academy and, later, when their skills are put to use, they are able to pay off their debt and be a part of the academy-trained bards' society and the Guild itself.

Orlais
The Great Game refers to the never-ending competition for influence, power and status between the Orlesian nobles. Every Orlesian noble is a part of the Game whether as a player, manipulating, scheming and plotting against the rest of nobility or as a pawn, being the subject of the Game’s ways. As it is, there is no way not to participate in the Game unless one’s dedicates their life to The Chantry or other organizations like The Templar Order or The Circle of Magi.

The goals of the game can vary, be it reputation, personal prestige or patronage and the means of playing it are far from fair. Conspiracies, malicious rumors, briberies and scandals are few of the bloodless ways to play and when they’re not enough it is not uncommon to witness little sinful crimes taking place at the courts of Orlais.

This Game has greatly helped bards’ institution flourish with the supposed minstrels being a highly important asset for someone who wishes to play the Game. These men and women are usually hired by nobles in order to discover and exploit the secrets of their adversaries and it is always safe to assume that they are present at every event or ball which is taking place at any time. Matching wits or outwitting a bard is considered a major thrill for any player, thus nobles gladly welcome bards even though they might be suspicious of their ulterior motives.

Outside of Orlais
Even though the Great Game is something Orlais is mainly known for, that doesn’t exclude the fact that similar games are being played in other parts of Thedas too. Perhaps they lack in glamour and intrigue, with the Great Game of Orlais outshining the rest across Thedas, however nobles all around the world scheme against each other and bards are always there for them to hire.

However, the amount of scheming, wicked intrigues and backstabbing is certainly less but that doesn’t mean it is nonexistent.

Bards and the Rest of the World
No one truly knows the true beginning of the bards’ institution, with their exact origins having been kept from the vast majority of historical records. However, it is said that all started with the first bards working as personal security for a small group of powerful nobles. Up to this day, most people are falsely under the impression that bards and their games are only being played in Orlais, however this is far from true.

Bards exist in other parts of Thedas too. In fact, there are a few academies outside of Orlais where bards receive training, with one of them being in Lothering. These schools often use the infrastructure that Elcoe does. Bards who attend these colleges are also considered part of the Guild, they follow its line of action and are bound by its rules and code. They are often hired by nobility of any country they are finding themselves in and their role is similar to the role of Orlesian bards. They might not be playing the Great Game but the way they play does not differ all that much. Freelance bards do exist in other countries too, with them being a more common sight there than in Orlais itself.

The Guild is the same for all bards and academies throughout Thedas and they are all considered a part of it. However, the academy trained bards usually stay and act within the borders of the country they trained in with any contracts given to them rarely being a foreign matter.

Last but not least, the Orlesian bards are perceived as the best trained spies. This very fact is not odd considering that not only Orlais has excellent academies and bards of great skill but, also, its bards tend to be always active with the Great Game and intrigue never ceasing to exist within their country’s borders. It is to be noted that even though bards are present across all of Thedas, only in Orlais are they known well amongst even the most common people, for the games they play. ..