| Ty Beirdd | |
| Leader | Madelyne Jinx-Ech'lir |
| Patron | Valnurana, Goddess of Sleep and Dreams |
| Leadership Style | Elected Autocracy |
| Founder | Ralph Mercadia |
| City | Cyrene |
| Classes Permitted | Bard |
| House Tutor | Riordan |
| Heraldric Arms | Argent, a canton Azure and three harps in pale Gules |
| Icon | None |
- This page is about the House of Bards. For other uses, please see Bards (disambiguation).
Located in the heart of the Vashnars within the Garden of the Arts in Cyrene, members of the House of Ty Beirdd dedicate their lives to their art, no matter if that art is created with paint and canvas or rapiers and song. The House has expanded upon the initial paths offered by the Guild so that all members are encouraged to develop their own unique, artistic passion.
History
Ralph Mercadia (born 5 Sarapin, 264 AF) was a singer and performer. During a casual festival of the arts, he learned the songs of Scarlatti. The God of the Arts encouraged him to continue to develop the lyrical ballads and melodic skills of the Bard. Ralph's labour led to the formation of both the Bard class and Bards Guild. The guild was founded on the 21st day of Mayan, in the year 350 AF. Its arrival had been long anticipated by the world and was received with much enthusiasm and fanfare, befitting of the Guild's nature as the performers and artists of the realms. It was Ralph's dream for the Guild to be like an Academie of Music, seeking potential and talent in new members: "Great artists of today who seek to become better, and the great bards of tomorrow who may someday supercede them."
On 17 Aeguary, 494AF, a giant by the name of Hrakken entered the Garden of the Arts and proceeded to scream and curse Scarlatti, resulting in the demise of the Hall of Arts. Una Brau was slain either by the monster's screaming or the crumbling debris, but either way the damage was done. Ty Beirdd was left without a tutor, her crumpled form trapped beneath the ruins of the estate, unable to be resurrected.
When guilds transformed to houses, Ty Beirdd opened up to accept other classes, recognising that diversity in students is as important as art itself. Additionally their affiliate clan, the Academie of Fine Arts, began accepting students outside Cyrene, thus allowing adventurers worldwide, barring certain restrictions, to study under the teachings of some of the finest adventurer performing artists the realm has known.
Sometime around year 529 AF, during Sancero Velprece's tenure as house leader, the Garden decided to put a restriction on houses, stating that no two a particular city could both accept members of the same class. In an effort to hone and refine the purpose of the house, Ty Beirdd made the decision to return to its guild roots and revert back to only accepting members of the bard class once more, thus resulting in a more streamlined and focused organisation, with a tight-knit community of members that uses their skills and abilities to have a more broad influence on the realm as a whole.
House Leadership
| Bard Lords (Guildmasters) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Term | Comments |
| 1 | Ralph Mercadia | 21 Mayan, 350 AF - 19 Chronos, 365 AF | First Guildmaster of the Bards |
| 2 | Riashain a'Bertal | 19 Chronos, 365 AF - 1 Glacian, 372 AF | |
| 3 | Syrah Ta'sa | 1 Glacian, 372 AF - Valnuary, 378 AF | The only female Guildmaster |
| 4 | Riashain a'Bertal | Valnuary, 378 AF - Valnuary, 381 AF | |
| 5 | Dumas s'Lessen | Valnuary, 381 AF - 16 Glacian, 395 AF | Last Guildmaster of the Bards |
| Provosts of Aestheticism (House Leaders) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Term | Comments |
| 1 | Dumas s'Lessen | 16 Glacian, 395 AF - 9 Lupar, 399 AF | First House Leader of Ty Beirdd |
| 2 | Corwin al'Dejan | 9 Lupar, 399 AF - Valnuary, 427 AF | |
| 3 | Peladoris | Valnuary, 427 AF - 7 Glacian, 451 AF | |
| 4 | Sancero Beaumains Velprece | 9 Glacian, 451 AF - 13 Ero, 533 AF | |
| 5 | Azzad Ravenstar | 13 Ero, 533 AF - 14 Aeguary, 547 AF | |
| 6 | Madelyne Jinx-Ech'lir | 14 Aeguary, 547 AF - Present day | First female Provost of Aestheticism |
Patrons
- Lord Scarlatti
- Scarlatti was the only Patron of the Bards Guild and the initial Patron of Ty Beirdd.
- Lady Selene
- On 5 Daedalan, 371 AF, after Scarlatti fell into a deep slumber, Selene became the new Patron of Ty Beirdd.
- Lady Valnurana
- On 1 Valnuary, 458 AF, the Lady of Sleep and Dreams became the new Patron of Ty Beirdd.
Denizens
Ty Beirdd has several loyal denizens, both past and present, including:
- Moselle, the Ty Beirdd humgii
- lifelike wax sculpture of Oscar Jarrod
- Sam the bartender
- Una Brau, former tutor of Ty Beirdd
Culture
Members of Ty Beirdd are often hired to perform at both public and private events. Bard-classed associates of the House often join House members in grouping together to perform chorales as well, benefiting the audience with an experience like no other.
At the stroke of midnight each 1st of Sarapin, members of the House can be found in Cyrene's Dancing Boar Inn, performing for anyone wishing to attend the annual New Year's Concert.
Another concert, called simply the Ero Concert, held during the month for which it was named, began as a tradition to honour Lady Selene, who was Patron at that time. Initially held in the Garden of the Arts, the venues and themes of the event were later altered at the discretion of the host to allow performers more freedom in both style and subject matter.
In more recent times the event has moved to the month of Valnuary to honour the current Patron. Instead of limiting the event to just concerts, the house also holds games and workshops that promote both creativity and camaraderie amongst the attendees.