Homebrew Barding Species Details

The city of Dale lay in ruins for almost two centuries, under the shadow of the Lonely Mountain. It was destroyed by the Dragon Smaug when he descended from the north to claim the vast treasure of the Dwarves of Erebor. Five years ago, the Dragon was killed and Men, led by Bard the Bowman, the Dragon-slayer, started to rebuild the city. Since then, Bard has been crowned King, and Dáin Ironfoot, the Dwarf-lord from the Iron Hills, is the new King Under the Mountain. Under their rule, Men and Dwarves have laboured hard, collaborating to rebuild Dale, as they used to do before the Dragon came, and the city is swiftly approaching the glory it attained hundreds of years ago.

Bardings are descended from the same cultural group as the Beornings and the Woodmen of Wilderland. They are rapidly becoming the most powerful group of Men in Wilderland, strategically positioned as they are between the Elven kingdom of the Woodland Realm and the Dwarven Kingdom under the Mountain. Under the guidance of the new king, the city of Dale provides the Dwarves of Erebor with everything from food and clothes to wood and ceramics, in exchange for the many products of their skilful metalworking and stonecraft. Trading with the Elves gives access to the superior quality of their woodworking.

Barding Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about humans, but your human character has these traits.

Clear Eyed

You have proficiency in the Insight skill

Starting Virtue

You gain one Barding Cultural Virtue of your choice.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 1 and you may increase two additional ability scores by 1.

Adventuring Age - 16-30

Bardings don’t usually become adventurers before their 16th year of age, and rarely continue beyond their forties, when they retire to serve their family and folk.

Size

Most Bardings stand between 5 and 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Dalish – an archaic version of the Common Speech.