Post by Masterbard Alyster Darkharp on Jul 8, 2007 19:28:42 GMT -5
This is some info that Ed Greenwood gave in reply to a question somewhere, thought it might be useful for some aspiring bards to help build background stories.
Fochlucan: The college of Fochlucan once stood on the northeastern edge of Silverymoon. After it closed, the college stood empty for many years before being reopened as Utrumm’s Music Conservatory. Utrumm’s Music Conservatory has since been moved to Southbank, and Fochlucan has been reborn as the House of the Harp. (See Elfsong, pages 10, 171, and Silver Marches, page __.)
MacFuirmidh: The college of MacFuirmidh once stood on the isle of Alaorn in the Moonshae Isles, south and east of Caer Callidyrr. (See Elfsong, pages 170-171.)
Doss: The college of Doss once stood in the shadow of the High Lady’s Castle in the city of Berdusk where Twilight Hall, the base of the western branch of the Harpers, now stands.
Canaith: The college of Canaith now lies in ruins along the northern stretch of the Hillstrail about 70 miles south of Zazesspur, its long-abandoned buildings put to the torch during the Black Days of Eleint in 1347 DR. (See Elfsong, pages 175.)
Cli: The college of Cli once lay within the eastern reaches of Baldur’s Gate, but its buildings have long since been torn down and replaced. The only remnant of this school is Elfsong Tavern, an adventurers’ drinking-place and hiring house notable for the ghostly elven female voice (once a student at the college) that can be heard from time to time. (See Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast, pages 17-18.)
Anstruth: The college of Anstruth once stood in the heart of Sundabar’s trade ward. As recently as 1364 DR, only one building remained, a once-beautiful structure converted into a warehouse. The founding of the Silver Marches confederation and the refounding of Fochlucan in Silverymoon has given renewed energy to efforts by a handful of bards to refound Anstruth. (See Elfsong, pages 154-156, and Silver Marches, page __)
Ollamh: The college of Ollamh once stood on Rivon Street in Waterdeep’s Trade Ward, where the House of Song, guildhall of the Council of Musicians, Instrument-Makers, and Choristers, now stands, although many mistakenly believe it lay in Castle Ward, where Halambar Lutes & Harps now stands. In 1366 DR, Danilo Thann and members of the above-mentioned guild refounded the college as New Ollamh, located in Waterdeep’s Castle Ward in the old Cliffride villas of Heroes’ Rest and Stormwatch. (See Elfsong, pages 217, 243, City of Splendors: Campaign Guide, pages 40-41, 46-47, and City of Splendors: Waterdeep, pages __, and Dragon #__, page __.)
These are references to the Bardic Instruments and where they came from I found in another forum.
According to Magic of Faerun, a bard from the Moonshaes named Falataer created the first of the "Instruments of the Bards", one of which is the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Complete Arcane, a bard named Falataer created the first of the "Instruments of the Bards", one of which is the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Complete Adventure, a Fochlucan lyrist is a bard/druid trained at the Fochlucan College, often in the use of the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Silver Marches, the Focluchan (spelled that way) bardic college was in Silvery Moon, though it exists now as The House of the Harp.
What does Fochlucan (or Focluchan) mean? Why is the creator of the bandore from the Moonshaes and the college in Silvery Moon?
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Falataer created first Instruments of the Bards to use them as reward [and testing] to students in his bardic college which was divided into seven levels of skill to mimic the old system in which a bard would study in seven bardic colleges, each improving his skill untill he would attain the Magna Alumnae degree. The seven colleges (and order in which bard would attain them) were:
- Fochluhan (located in Silverymoon)
- Mac-Fuirmidh (located on Moonshae islands)
- Doss (located in Berdusk)
- Canaith (located near Zazesspur in Tethyr)
- Cli (Baldur's Gate)
- Anstruth (located in Sundabar)
- Ollamh (located in Waterdeep)
So Falataer called his seven instuments Fochuchan Bandore, Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern, Doss Lute, Canaith Mandolin, Cli Lyre, Anstruth Harp, Ollamh Harp presumably to honor the memory of those seven ancient Bard colleges [and he created instruments those colleges were known for].
Fochlucan: The college of Fochlucan once stood on the northeastern edge of Silverymoon. After it closed, the college stood empty for many years before being reopened as Utrumm’s Music Conservatory. Utrumm’s Music Conservatory has since been moved to Southbank, and Fochlucan has been reborn as the House of the Harp. (See Elfsong, pages 10, 171, and Silver Marches, page __.)
MacFuirmidh: The college of MacFuirmidh once stood on the isle of Alaorn in the Moonshae Isles, south and east of Caer Callidyrr. (See Elfsong, pages 170-171.)
Doss: The college of Doss once stood in the shadow of the High Lady’s Castle in the city of Berdusk where Twilight Hall, the base of the western branch of the Harpers, now stands.
Canaith: The college of Canaith now lies in ruins along the northern stretch of the Hillstrail about 70 miles south of Zazesspur, its long-abandoned buildings put to the torch during the Black Days of Eleint in 1347 DR. (See Elfsong, pages 175.)
Cli: The college of Cli once lay within the eastern reaches of Baldur’s Gate, but its buildings have long since been torn down and replaced. The only remnant of this school is Elfsong Tavern, an adventurers’ drinking-place and hiring house notable for the ghostly elven female voice (once a student at the college) that can be heard from time to time. (See Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast, pages 17-18.)
Anstruth: The college of Anstruth once stood in the heart of Sundabar’s trade ward. As recently as 1364 DR, only one building remained, a once-beautiful structure converted into a warehouse. The founding of the Silver Marches confederation and the refounding of Fochlucan in Silverymoon has given renewed energy to efforts by a handful of bards to refound Anstruth. (See Elfsong, pages 154-156, and Silver Marches, page __)
Ollamh: The college of Ollamh once stood on Rivon Street in Waterdeep’s Trade Ward, where the House of Song, guildhall of the Council of Musicians, Instrument-Makers, and Choristers, now stands, although many mistakenly believe it lay in Castle Ward, where Halambar Lutes & Harps now stands. In 1366 DR, Danilo Thann and members of the above-mentioned guild refounded the college as New Ollamh, located in Waterdeep’s Castle Ward in the old Cliffride villas of Heroes’ Rest and Stormwatch. (See Elfsong, pages 217, 243, City of Splendors: Campaign Guide, pages 40-41, 46-47, and City of Splendors: Waterdeep, pages __, and Dragon #__, page __.)
These are references to the Bardic Instruments and where they came from I found in another forum.
According to Magic of Faerun, a bard from the Moonshaes named Falataer created the first of the "Instruments of the Bards", one of which is the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Complete Arcane, a bard named Falataer created the first of the "Instruments of the Bards", one of which is the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Complete Adventure, a Fochlucan lyrist is a bard/druid trained at the Fochlucan College, often in the use of the Fochlucan Bandore.
According to Silver Marches, the Focluchan (spelled that way) bardic college was in Silvery Moon, though it exists now as The House of the Harp.
What does Fochlucan (or Focluchan) mean? Why is the creator of the bandore from the Moonshaes and the college in Silvery Moon?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falataer created first Instruments of the Bards to use them as reward [and testing] to students in his bardic college which was divided into seven levels of skill to mimic the old system in which a bard would study in seven bardic colleges, each improving his skill untill he would attain the Magna Alumnae degree. The seven colleges (and order in which bard would attain them) were:
- Fochluhan (located in Silverymoon)
- Mac-Fuirmidh (located on Moonshae islands)
- Doss (located in Berdusk)
- Canaith (located near Zazesspur in Tethyr)
- Cli (Baldur's Gate)
- Anstruth (located in Sundabar)
- Ollamh (located in Waterdeep)
So Falataer called his seven instuments Fochuchan Bandore, Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern, Doss Lute, Canaith Mandolin, Cli Lyre, Anstruth Harp, Ollamh Harp presumably to honor the memory of those seven ancient Bard colleges [and he created instruments those colleges were known for].