Bards
Spanning the traditions of several cultures, the Bards Guild concern themselves with ‘The Word’ in all its forms. Teachers and learners, entertainers and performers, the guild counts amongst its members musicians, keepers of history, scribes, scholars, explorers, poets, dancers, artists, cryptographers, linguists and even those who would just describe themselves as being plain nosey. Indeed, there are those who claim that the guild is dedicated purely to the pursuit of knowledge, while some older hands would maintain that such a pursuit is always secondary to that of understanding.
Whatever their primary aim, the guild is comprised of very many useful people, whether one’s current concerns are business or pleasure. Tracing the history of the guild is problematic, for whereas the modern incarnation's inception can be clearly identified, the gifts and specific skills of the guild trace a lineage back to the earliest recorded histories.
The guild is also often confused with the Great Library, which is in fact a separate organisation. However, the ties between the guild and the Great Library are strong, and it is via the Bards that it is easiest to gain access to the vast store of knowledge held in that hallowed institution.
Master Cosaint
Grandmaster Cosaint hails from the once war-torn isle of Amnor, where he was the keeper of histories and laws, and is largely considered to be the most serious of the Guildmasters. Mostly known as a singer and musician, he can also be convinced to tell stories from a number of different cultures. Rising to the head of the guild following the murder of the previous incumbent, he has endured a number of attacks on his authority and character. While in some parts of Erdreja he is considered a source of wise counsel and comfort, the efforts of his detractors have elsewhere seen him branded as a danger, to the extent that the "Yellow Deceiver" is enshrined as the nemesis of the Lantian Beast Cult. Conversely, he has been recognised by the Dragons faction as a Bard under their traditions, making him one of only two outsiders to have been granted this honour. Alternately reserved and welcoming, there is one thing that guild members have learnt they can count on when it comes to their tall Guildleader - when things get out of hand, Cosaint will disapprove.
Master Kianan
Kianan served Caledonia as her Master Bard for several years, before being elevated to the leadership of the Bards Guild. In that time he raised his clan of wandering gypsies to become the landed Clan McAylwyn, proprietors of the largest inn in all Caledonia - Hearth and Home, a haven for Bards from all walks of life. He is a poet, storyteller and singer-song writer of some renown, dedicating his works to his Ancestor, Queen Cerridwen, the Lady of Wisdom - of whom he is a dedicated priest.
Like the other leaders of his guild, Kianan is not shy of joining the fight for what’s right – and has been seen fighting alongside most of the factions against those that threaten the Heartlands, especially against the Akari menace. He is a familiar sight in many faction lines, his rapier-like wit brandished with no less relish than the sword at his side, the sinister black stripe and fine hat making him most distinctive. His wandering feet still encourage him to roam, and he is rarely in one place for long – except for the long winters spent with his kin at Hearth and Home. Kianan prides himself on being the welcoming face of the guild.