Bard

This page is about the class. For other uses, please see Bards (disambiguation).

The Bard class was a formalisation of the wisdom of the Great Bard, Scarlatti, God of the Arts. During a casual festival of the arts, Ralph Mercadia, long a singer and performer, learned the songs of Scarlatti and was encouraged to continue to develop the songs and skills of the Bard by that ancient deity. Thus in 350 AF was born the class of Bard.

For nigh six hundred years the singers and performers swashbuckled their way through the world. Accomplished vocalists, yet their music was lacking. Roguish acrobats, yet their movement was inhibited. Limited by the confines of their art, they could not fell the great threats of the world. Their vivid voices could move a mortal heart, but could never touch a beast's soul. Their sublime harmonics heralded music's irrepressible might, but they had no meaning.

Refined by the gift of the Great Bard in the year 948 AF, the talents of Sapience's Bards were transformed from swashbuckling skalds into keepers of legacy. Wielding the lethal art of the Bladedance and its corresponding bladesong, with rapier in hand it is the Bard who composes great works to bolster ally and devastate foe. And in their chronicling of history is the most grandiose of all their arts: the Saga. Famous and pivotal tales that shaped Sapience in the Modern Age, the history of the new era is foundation to all the Great Bard believed mortality capable of achieving.

But in the mountain city of Cyrene stands an edict most different. Bards of lowland cities recite Sagas of the land. Those of Cyrene are bound to but one, singular epic: the life and legend of Black Pazuzu, Prince of Woe. Spanning the length and breadth of the fell demon's existence from beginning to end, it was Cyrene who shouldered the burden of Achaea's most ancient evil. And in so doing they alone may tell the tale of his terrible sin.

A Bard's skills include Bladedance, Composition, and Sagas. A fledgling Bard possesses Bladedance and Composition, and gains Sagas upon embracing class.

Woe is an alternative iteration of the Sagas skill and is exclusive to Cyrene.

Abilities in Battlerage

Moulinet	Slash your opponent with a long, looping cut.	Level: 6
Syntax:	MOULINET <target>
Required:	14 rage
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	16.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
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Details:	The moulinet is a circular cut, using the wrist to quickly slash down the length of your target's body.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Trill	Your opponent's psyche is no match for your voice.	Level: 10
Syntax:	PLAY TRILL AT <target>
Required:	28 rage
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	41.00 seconds
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Details:	A high-pitched chant that will make your target forgetful for a short time. Gives affliction: Amnesia
Note:	{{{note}}}

Resonance	Shatter a denizen's shield with your voice.	Level: 20
Syntax:	PLAY RESONANCE AT <target>
Required:	17 rage
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Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
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Details:	Use your rage and the pitch of your voice at exactly the right frequency to resonate with a denizen's shield, causing it to shatter.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Howlslash	Voice and blade, working as one.	Level: 35
Syntax:	HOWLSLASH <target>
Required:	36 rage
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	23.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	Use the power of your voice to distract your target before attacking with a vicious strike.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Cyclone	Repeatedly slash your target as you spin.	Level: 50
Syntax:	CYCLONE <target>
Required:	25 rage
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	23.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
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Details:	Spin in a tight circle, slashing out with your blade as you pass by your target. Opponents that are too stunned or clumsy to avoid the brunt of the onslaught will take substantially increased damage. Uses afflictions: Clumsiness or Stun
Note:	{{{note}}}

Charm	Lull your victim into serving you.	Level: 65
Syntax:	CHARM <target>
Required:	32 rage
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	43.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	A beguiling song that charms your victim, making it fight for you for a short time. Gives affliction: Charm
Note:	{{{note}}}

Related Artefacts for Bards

Artefact	Description
Artefact Rapiers	a blackened rapier: Dmg: 57; To-hit: 168; Spd: 238 An Eagle's Scream: Dmg: 60; To-hit: 173; Spd: 242 A Soulpiercer: Dmg: 63; To-hit: 184; Spd: 246
A glass rose	Doubles the length of time aria will stay active on a target.
A golden pendulum	Reduces the time between harmonics being called, and their arrival.
Silver tuning fork	Doubles the lifespan of a composition.
A moon-and-star insignia	Allows bards to compose performances with an additional movement.