Page 13 - Xanathar's Guide To Everything

DEFINING WORKS
d6 Defining Work
l “The Three Flambinis,” a ribald song concerning ;
mistaken identities and unfettered desire *
2 “Walt: ofthe Myconids,” an upbeat tune that chil- l
dren in particular enjoy _
3 ”Asmodeus's Golden Arse," a dramatic poem i
you claim was inspired by your personal visit to I
Avernus -
4 “The Pirates of Luskan,” your firsthand account of
being kidnapped by sea reavers as a child
5 "A Hoop, Two Pigeons, and a Hell Hound,” a sub-
tle parody ofan incompetent noble
6 “A Fool in the Abyss," a comedic poem about a
MUSIC 13 THE FRUIT OF THE DIVINE TREE THAT VIBRATES jester's travels among demons
with the Words of Creation. But the question i aslryou is.
can a bard go to the root of this tree? Can one tap into the INSTRUMENT
source ofthot power?Ah. then what manner of music they In a bard’s quest for the ultimate performance and the ,
would bring to this world! highest acclaim, one's instrument is at least as import-
ant as one’s vocal ability. The instrument’s quality of
—F1etcher Danairia, master bard manufacture is a critical factor, of course; the best ones
make the best music, and some bards are continually
Bards bring levity during grave times; they impart wis- on the lookout for an improvement. Perhaps just as im—
dom to offset ignorance; and they make the ridiculous portant, though, is the instrument’s own entertainment
seem sublime. Bards are preservers of ancient history, value; those that are bizarrely constructed. or made of
their songs and tales perpetuating the memory of great exotic materials are likely to leave a lasting impression
events down through time—knowledge so important on an audience.
that it is memorized and passed along as oral history, to You might have an “off the rack” instrument, perhaps
survive even when no written record remains. because it’s all you can afford right now. Or, if your
It is also the bard’s role to chronicle smaller and more first instrument was gifted to you, it might be of a more
contemporary events—the stories of today’s heroes. elaborate sort. Are you satisfied with the instrument you
including their feats of valor as well as their less than have, or do you aspire to replace it with something truly
impressive failures. distinctive?
Of course, the world has many people who can carry
a tune or tell a good story, and there’s much more to any INSTRUMENTS
adventuring bard than a glib tongue and a melodious d6 Instrument
voice. Yet what truly sets bards apart from others—and l A masterfully crafted halfling fiddle
from one another—are the style and substance of their
performances. 2 A mithral horn made by elves
To grab and hold the attention of an audience, bards 3 A zither made with drow spider silk
are typically flamboyant and outgoing when they per- 4 An orcish drum
form. The most famous of them are essentially the D&D 5 A wooden bullywug croak box
world’s equivalent of pop stars. If you’re playing a bard, 6 A tinker’s harp ofgnomish design
consider using one of your favorite musicians as a role
model for your character. EMBARRASSMENT
You can add some unique aspects to your bard charac- Almost every bard has suffered at least one bad experi-
ter by considering the suggestions that follow.
ence in front of an audience, and chances are you’re no
DEFINING WORK exception. No one becomes famous right away, after all;

Every successful bard is renowned for at least one piece perhaps you had a few small difficulties early in your ca—
tear, or maybe it took you a while to restore your reputa—
of performance art, typically a song or a poem that tion after one agonizing night when the fates conspired
is popular with everyone who hears it. These perfor- to bring about your theatrical ruin.
mances are spoken about for years by those who View
them, and some spectators have had their lives forever
changed because of the experience.
If your character isjust starting out, your ultimate de-
fining work is likely in the future. But in order to make
it t
any sort of living at your profession, chances are you siciA. Walk. \ qnsnit W‘L-‘I wthdh, Mu: L35 t
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already have a piece or two in your repertoire that have Music is wt. .
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