A minstrel of the Old World
A minstrel, also called a bard, is a wandering musician, storyteller and entertainer who travels the roads of the Old World bringing their songs and entertainment to those who desperately need it. The term originally described any type of entertainer such as a musician, juggler, acrobat, singer or jester; recently it has come to mean a specialist entertainer who sings songs and plays musical instruments. The original and most renowned minstrels were Elves but now many Humans follow in their footsteps.[1a]
Minstrels are close to sacred in the Old World. They can walk into some of the most dangerous dens of cutthroats and come out unscathed (as long as they're willing to provide free entertainment, of course). Occasionally, a minstrel will accept patronage from a noble or merchant and settle down for a time, composing songs at their patron's request. Eventually, though, the open road calls and the minstrel moves on again.[1a]
The Hall of Minstrels in the Bretonnian city of Brionne is the most important centre for those entertainers in the world of Mallus. It stands on a small prominence in the southern quarter of the city, and is surrounded by a garden. The building itself is circular, built of white stone, and home to an auditorium with flawless acoustics. Minstrels can be found performing there at any time of the day or night.[5a]
High Elves[]
A High Elf bard is tasked with maintaining and teaching the history of the High Elves of Ulthuan to their brethren. They do so in the form of rhyming couplets easily converted into other languages from Eltharin for ease of consumption by the "lesser races."[4a]
Notable Minstrels[]
- Ricky Martino - A travelling bard from Tilea. Renowned for having tortured Orc prisoners with his songs, forcing them to provide the location of their camp to make his songs stop.[2a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 78
- 2: White Dwarf (AUS) 249
- 2a: pg. 76
- 3: Peasant Knight & The Nocture for Mousillion (Short Story) by Chris Gambold
- 3a: Ch. 2
- 4: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 4a: Campaign map
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Knights of the Grail (RPG)
- 5a: pp. 62-63