As you can see I wish to share a story about a bard. It is a story for three purposes. The first is to let you see one element I include in my stories as DM where I have bards employed by the government as emissaries traveling around the country carrying official messages. Some of these messages are written down and some have to be remembered because they can not be written down. I like the way this allows me to role play government interactions, which are quite frequent in populated areas. The story does not depict how I would expect a party to campaign in my settings but provides a view into how I imagine an emissary would travel around the country doing his job. Bene-Timber will do some adventuring but half the story will be about him just travelling around doing his job.
The second reason is for me to have a little fun writing a story about a bard in general. I am fond of the role playing opportunities in D&D, thus my fascination with bards. I want to share with you a story of my imagination in hope that this will provide you other bard lovers ideas you might wish to add to your own campaigns. It is a bit of my own homebrew bard lore.
The third purpose is to allow us to bounce ideas off one another about bards and D&D lore in general. I invite you to comment in this thread about these things. In this way, the other thread will remain as story content of the adventures of Bene-Timber. And I hope you like and understand the name.
I have written over sixty pages of this story so far and I have posted a little less than thirty of these pages.
As of today, the thirteenth and fourteenth postings, Bene-Timber is about to visit the Magistrate, Lord Ballinor, and later receive instructions to visit a hamlet on the frontier called Pine Mill. On the way he has his first combat encounter.
I use some euphemisms in the story to convey ideas without using vulgar or offensive language. For example, as a Bard, Bene-Timber is quite charming. He often taps into the heart of a lady or young girl he is talking to who becomes overwhelmed with a crush on him. To identify these moments, I typically write something along the lines of, "and she flattened her skirts and stepped back a bit smiling, placing her arms behind her." This is a description of the young woman wanted to make the best impression on Bene-Timber inviting him to stay and talk as long as he would like; she would gladly stand there and listen. Bene-Timber, at this point could request almost anything from the young girl and she would try to do it. However, unlike many or most Bards, Bene-Timber is an official Diplomat-in-Training and the government he works for can not afford for him to become entangled in casual sexual affairs wherever he goes, so he is forbidden to take advantage of these girls in sexual affairs. He is allowed to officially court a young lady but he is forbidden to live a lifestyle of a playboy, so to speak. But, if the young lady could bring him some document for his examination, he might well ask her.
There is also a great deal made of protocol in this story. Bene-Timber is an example of an ideal new member of the Diplomatic Corps, and a very low level official in the government. He is something like a gold bar lieutenant in the army where he has earned the right to be saluted and addressed as 'Sir', but he doesn't have enough experience to be entrusted with the care and responsibility of many men. He wisely recognizes his limits and doesn't push his weight around even though he has a modicum of authority, for the soldier he berates today may be the squad leader that rescues him tomorrow. However, the officials he encounters lie somewhere else on the spectrum, some of them very puffed up and some of them completely unsure of themselves. This is where Bene-Timber's natural leadership qualities come to the fore. He is treated by observant officials with more respect than his rank indicates he should, and he sometimes becomes a leader of higher ranking NPCs in the moment. Some of these officials treat him with respect, but inwardly they resent how easily leadership comes to Bene.
Getting back to his role as a government official, the formality of it is important to people with connections. He begins as a Messenger and Emissary of the Emperor. In practical terms he is just a messenger that is being given time to learn his duties and practice his craft among mostly bureaucrats. These are the most difficult officials because they watch and scheme among one another how they might ally with this fellow and seek to undermine this other poor soul. They are the most likely to take offense for being slighted or gossip about an individual forgetting the protocol of the situation. As he gains experience and makes contacts he will rise in the ranks and given great responsibilities as a Diplomat or Attaché to a foreign land, the Voice of the Emperor.
Cottern, the Steward of Lord Ballinor, is one of these scheming bureaucrats. He is described as a pale, thin man with poor posture. In private he enjoys all the comforts of his high station as a bureaucrat. He sends servants to bring him water or purchase some goods for him in the market. He relaxes in his private office while his scribe is busy taking care of the office duties. He speaks harshly to others beneath him and clearly expects every curtesy required shall be extended to him. Initially he is cautious around Bene-Timber. They have similar position in the government hierarchy and Cottern wants to see if he wants Bene-Timber wants to remember him well on his rise or Cottern would rather see him falter and be discharged as no use to Cottern. Cottern's duties include managing the official calendar of the Magistrate, reminding him of events that protocol requires the Magistrates presence or action. This is why Cottern attends the official banquets to remind the Magistrate of the required business that must be concluded at the dinner meeting. But for this service and the relative comfort this man enjoys, Cottern himself is charged with responsibilities which he is not permitted to delegate. So in the story when Bene-Timber needs his credentials updated, A folder much like a passport, Cottern is required to perform the action and apply his seal. This requires Cottern to come to the office at an awkward hour and he resents it. Cottern's relations with the townsfolk are not warm as suggested in the dialogue Bene-Timber has with Tony when they first meet.
Bene-Timber, in contrast, tries to be friendly and cordial with everyone he meets. He treats the stable hand, Ben, with kindness. He doesn't make the sergeant, Trent, any more uncomfortable than he already is, although he definitely has the power to do so. He doesn't suck up to the Lieutenant or the Captain of the Guard while waiting for the banquet to begin. He is ready to 'turn on' the protocol in an instant if the situation demands it, but he does not want to become boorish by insisting those around observe ever courtesy expected in every moment. He understands these rules were written for official business and should only be invoked when ones authority is ambiguous or unwisely challenged.
I have decided to send Bene Timber on a real adventure and I hope it will begin in a few pages. However, my writing in my master file is several pages ahead of the amount of story I have already posted so it might be a week before you begin reading about this adventure. I hope everyone is enjoying the story for what it is intended to be.
Bene Timber has journeyed to the druid outpost in the deep woods and convinced the leader to allow him to seek after a treasure that is rumored to be in the woods. He has taken his party of five down into the basement of a ruined storehouse and explored all the levels and brought some of the treasure back to the surface. He is discussing how to split the treasure with the druid leader before taking what they can carry back to the Governor of Stonebridge.
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Folks,
As you can see I wish to share a story about a bard. It is a story for three purposes. The first is to let you see one element I include in my stories as DM where I have bards employed by the government as emissaries traveling around the country carrying official messages. Some of these messages are written down and some have to be remembered because they can not be written down. I like the way this allows me to role play government interactions, which are quite frequent in populated areas. The story does not depict how I would expect a party to campaign in my settings but provides a view into how I imagine an emissary would travel around the country doing his job. Bene-Timber will do some adventuring but half the story will be about him just travelling around doing his job.
The second reason is for me to have a little fun writing a story about a bard in general. I am fond of the role playing opportunities in D&D, thus my fascination with bards. I want to share with you a story of my imagination in hope that this will provide you other bard lovers ideas you might wish to add to your own campaigns. It is a bit of my own homebrew bard lore.
The third purpose is to allow us to bounce ideas off one another about bards and D&D lore in general. I invite you to comment in this thread about these things. In this way, the other thread will remain as story content of the adventures of Bene-Timber. And I hope you like and understand the name.
Here are the characters in the story approximately in the order they appear ...
Bene-Timber, Level 1 Bard, Messenger and Emissary to the Emperor, raised in Tahgrum
Andante, Level 7 Bard, Ambassador and Emissary to the Emperor
Aaron Dunbar, Level 4 Fighter & Level 2 Rogue, Shopkeeper and merchant in the Capitol
Illihambur, Level 4 Bard, Merchant from Colorova that deals especially in Tocco Leaf … and information
Dravok, Level 8 Fighter, Master of the Seven Guilds of Tyre from the Sword [Point] Mountains
Emperor Alexander III, Level 14 Paladin, Emperor of Confernos (not seen in the story)
Imperial Chamberlain Richard Cranmer, Level 12 Cleric, Chamberlain of the Empire (not seen in the story)
Gelfin, Level 4 Bard, unofficial Mayor of Smallarfolk
Sergeant Trent, Level 0 man-at-arms
Bartholomew, Level 1 Fighter, soldier in Stonebrifge
Cottern, Level 0 scribe, Steward of Stonebridge
Ben, Level 0 villager, stable keeper in Stonebridge
Peter, boy, Ben's assistant
Tony, Level 0 brewer, Owner of the Green Hawk Tavern and Inn
Timmy, boy, Tony's son
Christina, Level 0 bar maid, Tony's wife
Priscilla, older teenage daughter of Tony
Lloyd Dustilorn, Level 0 Man-at-Arms, Herald for Lord Ballinor
Erick, Level 3 Paladin, Lieutenant in the Guard, raised in Rangoon
Lord Martinex, Level 5 Paladin, Captain-of-the-Guards of Stonebridge, raised in Derlin
Magistrate (Lord) Ballinor, Level 7 Paladin, Governor of Stonebridge
Flint, Level 5 Ranger, Watcher of the Orcs from Pine Mill
Joseph, Level 3 Cleric, Order of Demeter in Stonebridge
Jacob, Level 2 Cleric, Order of Demeter in Stonebridge
Barker, Artisan, Unofficial Mayor of Pine Mill
Thomas Quintus, Level 5 Cleric, Master of the Order of Demeter in Stonebridge
Sommerbee, Level 5 mage, former Court Mage of Stonebridge, (deceased under unknown circumstances, not seen in the story)
Finlock, Level 4 mage, Court Mage of Stonebridge
Jaffort, Level 3 fighter, Lieutenant in the Guard (former)
Isabell, Seamstress/tailor
Gordon, Leather worker
Moses, Level 0 merchant, Owner of the best (and only) dry good shop in Stonebridge
Renlamay, Tinkerer, Isabell's husband
George Smith, Level 0 smith, proprietor of the only armor shop in Stonebridge
Fred, boy, assistant (apprentice) to George
Fordair, Level 2 Rogue
Gillfort, Level 2 Druid, from Tanalee near Hollibliss (a holly grove)
Jackwon, Level 2 Barbarian, from near Hollibliss
Tucker, Level 2 Wizard
Vallen, Level 2 Paladin , from near the Capitol
Dravist, Level 2 Cleric, from Derlin the port city, family of shipbuilders
Baruch, Level 2 Cleric, Order of Demeter in Stonebridge
Cyrus, Level 3 Cleric, Order of Demeter in Stonebridge
Manahem, Level 1 Cleric, Order of Demeter in Stonebridge, raised in Jinngoton
Sergeant Edmund Slox, Level 0 man-at-arms
Timmino Bouch, Level 0 man-at-arms
Howard Fletcher, Level 0 man-at-arms
Unichai, Level 0, Manager of the commercial warehouse in Wool Corner
Red, Level 0, Manager of the looms in Wool Corner
Jorden, Level 0 brewer and owner of the tavern in Wool Corner
Qonteygo, Level 4 Rogue, Manager of the Adventurer's Guild House in Stonebridge
Torimar Ugechee, Level 9 Wizard, trained Tucker (not seen in the story)
Sergeant Stuart, Level 2 Fighter, Sergeant in Stonebridge
Canadro, Level 0, man-at-arms in Stonebridge
The beekeeper and his wife
Gough, Level 3 Fighter, Member of the 3rd Bears Army Unit - Deserter, originally from Rottscald
Alnifolia, Level 5 Druid, Master of the Druids of the Dark Wood
Palustris, Level 3 Druid
Laevis, Level 2 Druid
Marogred, Level 3 Rogue, pretending to be a level 1 druid from the Sword Mountains
Petrus, Richest Merchant in Stonebridge
Dust Man, a minion from the elemental plane of air trapped in the deep woods
I have written over sixty pages of this story so far and I have posted a little less than thirty of these pages.
As of today, the thirteenth and fourteenth postings, Bene-Timber is about to visit the Magistrate, Lord Ballinor, and later receive instructions to visit a hamlet on the frontier called Pine Mill. On the way he has his first combat encounter.
I use some euphemisms in the story to convey ideas without using vulgar or offensive language. For example, as a Bard, Bene-Timber is quite charming. He often taps into the heart of a lady or young girl he is talking to who becomes overwhelmed with a crush on him. To identify these moments, I typically write something along the lines of, "and she flattened her skirts and stepped back a bit smiling, placing her arms behind her." This is a description of the young woman wanted to make the best impression on Bene-Timber inviting him to stay and talk as long as he would like; she would gladly stand there and listen. Bene-Timber, at this point could request almost anything from the young girl and she would try to do it. However, unlike many or most Bards, Bene-Timber is an official Diplomat-in-Training and the government he works for can not afford for him to become entangled in casual sexual affairs wherever he goes, so he is forbidden to take advantage of these girls in sexual affairs. He is allowed to officially court a young lady but he is forbidden to live a lifestyle of a playboy, so to speak. But, if the young lady could bring him some document for his examination, he might well ask her.
There is also a great deal made of protocol in this story. Bene-Timber is an example of an ideal new member of the Diplomatic Corps, and a very low level official in the government. He is something like a gold bar lieutenant in the army where he has earned the right to be saluted and addressed as 'Sir', but he doesn't have enough experience to be entrusted with the care and responsibility of many men. He wisely recognizes his limits and doesn't push his weight around even though he has a modicum of authority, for the soldier he berates today may be the squad leader that rescues him tomorrow. However, the officials he encounters lie somewhere else on the spectrum, some of them very puffed up and some of them completely unsure of themselves. This is where Bene-Timber's natural leadership qualities come to the fore. He is treated by observant officials with more respect than his rank indicates he should, and he sometimes becomes a leader of higher ranking NPCs in the moment. Some of these officials treat him with respect, but inwardly they resent how easily leadership comes to Bene.
Getting back to his role as a government official, the formality of it is important to people with connections. He begins as a Messenger and Emissary of the Emperor. In practical terms he is just a messenger that is being given time to learn his duties and practice his craft among mostly bureaucrats. These are the most difficult officials because they watch and scheme among one another how they might ally with this fellow and seek to undermine this other poor soul. They are the most likely to take offense for being slighted or gossip about an individual forgetting the protocol of the situation. As he gains experience and makes contacts he will rise in the ranks and given great responsibilities as a Diplomat or Attaché to a foreign land, the Voice of the Emperor.
Cottern, the Steward of Lord Ballinor, is one of these scheming bureaucrats. He is described as a pale, thin man with poor posture. In private he enjoys all the comforts of his high station as a bureaucrat. He sends servants to bring him water or purchase some goods for him in the market. He relaxes in his private office while his scribe is busy taking care of the office duties. He speaks harshly to others beneath him and clearly expects every curtesy required shall be extended to him. Initially he is cautious around Bene-Timber. They have similar position in the government hierarchy and Cottern wants to see if he wants Bene-Timber wants to remember him well on his rise or Cottern would rather see him falter and be discharged as no use to Cottern. Cottern's duties include managing the official calendar of the Magistrate, reminding him of events that protocol requires the Magistrates presence or action. This is why Cottern attends the official banquets to remind the Magistrate of the required business that must be concluded at the dinner meeting. But for this service and the relative comfort this man enjoys, Cottern himself is charged with responsibilities which he is not permitted to delegate. So in the story when Bene-Timber needs his credentials updated, A folder much like a passport, Cottern is required to perform the action and apply his seal. This requires Cottern to come to the office at an awkward hour and he resents it. Cottern's relations with the townsfolk are not warm as suggested in the dialogue Bene-Timber has with Tony when they first meet.
Bene-Timber, in contrast, tries to be friendly and cordial with everyone he meets. He treats the stable hand, Ben, with kindness. He doesn't make the sergeant, Trent, any more uncomfortable than he already is, although he definitely has the power to do so. He doesn't suck up to the Lieutenant or the Captain of the Guard while waiting for the banquet to begin. He is ready to 'turn on' the protocol in an instant if the situation demands it, but he does not want to become boorish by insisting those around observe ever courtesy expected in every moment. He understands these rules were written for official business and should only be invoked when ones authority is ambiguous or unwisely challenged.
So it finally arrived, for those of you who were so patient.
Bene-Timber had his first real combat encounter in post #20. He showed he is more than a pretty face (with a Charisma of 17).
From this encounter you get to see how appearances can make a big difference to certain characters in certain situations.
I have decided to send Bene Timber on a real adventure and I hope it will begin in a few pages. However, my writing in my master file is several pages ahead of the amount of story I have already posted so it might be a week before you begin reading about this adventure. I hope everyone is enjoying the story for what it is intended to be.
Bene Timber has journeyed to the druid outpost in the deep woods and convinced the leader to allow him to seek after a treasure that is rumored to be in the woods. He has taken his party of five down into the basement of a ruined storehouse and explored all the levels and brought some of the treasure back to the surface. He is discussing how to split the treasure with the druid leader before taking what they can carry back to the Governor of Stonebridge.