Bard, Cantor

Not all bards draw their powers from arcane sources. Some use song to bridge the gap between the mundane and the divine. For them making music becomes a form of worship as powerful as any prayer. They serve their gods almost like priests, carrying the truth of their belief in their hearts and voices.

The Quintessential Bard
Author Shannon Kalvar
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2003

Bards who draw power from divine sources call themselves cantors. They may be associated with a formal religious organisation. If they are then they most likely do not rise very high in the temple hierarchy. Their sacrifice of song is more valuable to the temple out among the people, where it can inspire others. Trapping a cantor’s voice in the dusty halls of church politics seems almost impious.

Most cantors content themselves with working in small congregations or as part of a larger choral organisation. The intensely personal nature of their worship allows them to largely ignore the social aspect of their faith. A rare few even break with their temples entirely,
pursing their personal faith at odds with the establishment.

Adventuring: Cantors adventure for many reasons. They might be fleeing from a misunderstanding with their home church. Some travel from temple to temple, spreading the joy of their music wherever they go. Cantors also sometimes take long pilgrimages, relying on their native wits and musical abilities to see them to the many holy sites scattered though out the land. In a party the cantor functions like other bards although his magic sometimes differs in its effect.

Role Playing: Cantors possess a deep and abiding faith in a god or an entire pantheon. Every song they sing or spell they cast represents a prayer to their patron figure. This faith forms the core of their outlook on life. It also provides them with solace in times of trouble. A cantor knows without a doubt that his gods hear and answer his prayers.

Benefits: Cantors are divine spell casters. They do not have to make a spell failure check when wearing armour.

Penalties: Cantors must pray for spells like other divine spell casters. The Games Master selects the time of prayer based on the god or pantheon worshiped. Additionally a cantor who displeases his patron may lose his magical abilities until he undergoes Atonement.