Palace Musician

You learned to perform not in the humble taverns where most of your profession make their living, but in the marbled courts of governors, magistrates, and ministers. You learned not just to perform and entertain but also the arts of courtly manner and intrigue. While customs vary and personal choices range, Palace Bards are welcome in the halls of the wealthy and powerful from Londinium to Linzi. Those trained in foreign music and instruments are routinely sought out to entertain the ever-bored elite.

Skill Proficiencies: Performance, Persuasion

Tool Proficiencies: Two types of musical instruments (of your choice).

Equipment: A musical instrument (one of your choice), letter of recommendation (from a previous noble or administrator you’ve served), a set of fine clothes, and a pouch containing 25 gold coins.

Feature: Desired Entertainer

Palace Musicians are far more uncommon than their tavern kin. It is therefore not unknown for a Palace Musician to find themselves pursued by multiple elites. If a settlement is home to multiple lavish halls you have your pick of where to perform. As long as you perform daily, you will be provided with food and accommodations of a comfortable or wealthy standard.

Suggested Characteristics

While they are desired and respected to a point within the halls of the elite, Palace Musicians are never truly considered one of them. Though they speak familiarly with their fellow courtiers, Palace Musicians understand that they are still viewed as members of the lower class and often lack the haughty attitudes found in those around them.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I am forlorn and my music carries a haunting melody.
2	I never hold my tongue when it comes to bragging about my own exploits.
3	I hold great resentment for those whom I perform for, wishing I was one of them.
4	I cannot stand being second best and will do whatever I can to stay on top.
5	I’ll perform any ballad anywhere for the right coin.
6	I love to share my arts, even with those too illoff to afford me.
7	I am adept at defusing situations before they turn violent.
8	My temper can flare, especially when my work is insulted.

d6	Ideal
1	Love: Love is pure, and I seek to spread it.
2	Knowledge: I seek to learn the words and chords to every song.
3	Infamy: The greatest stories have tragic ends but sometimes they need to be helped along.
4	Riches: Food and lodging is well and good, but who’s willing to pay the most coin?
5	Fame: Wealth is great, but what’s the point if no one knows your name?
6	Loss: While loss is painful, I draw great inspiration from it.

d6	Bond
1	My instrument is an extension of myself.
2	The sounds of nature inspire every chord.
3	My teacher taught me all I know; I owe them everything.
4	I intend to play in the grand palaces of every nation.
5	The gods, who protected me during an ambush.
6	I had a patron at a previous court whom I grew quite attached to.

d6	Flaw
1	I am a perfectionist and will not perform unless I am sure it will be perfect.
2	My patrons offer me bountiful food and a little too much drink.
3	I enraged a previous patron who still has a bounty on my head.
4	I must always see the story to its end, retreating is difficult for me.
5	I have grown to despise entertaining others and lament having no other means of survival.
6	It takes a long time for me to begin trusting my allies.