The Ashla School of Bardic Arts, hereafter known as the ASBA, is a school focused on the performance arts. It is located in the city of Seren of Two Moons County, within the Kingdom of Alesia.

We aim to be the premier place to train bardic skills and to provide a resource to fledgling bards seeking patrons or job placement. It is our mission to provide a top education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors, so that they may spread their artistry to the wider world of Elyria.

Departments:

Theatre College:

The Theatre Department focuses on the playwriting, production, and performance of stageplays. Many of which can be seen by the general public at the Brogan Theatre nearby. A student of the Theatre Department can take a variety of classes depending on their goals. A traditional acting student might take classes focused on performance, while a student interested in production would take classes focused on things like lighting, stage setup, props, sound, marketing, advertising, and costuming. This department also encompasses a sub-department of Creative Writing which will focus on the art of writing plays and dramaturgy.

Music College:

The Music Department focuses on building the skills of both instrumental and vocal performances. Auditions are held for ensembles, choirs, soloists, and orchestra. The Musical Theatre sub-department works closely with the Theatre Department to produce musical theatre pieces as well as to train bards for advanced storytelling techniques paired with music.

Dance College:

The Dance department focuses on all forms of dance. Including Ballet, Interpretive, and Traditional. Many nobles enroll their children for a term here to learn the traditional dances for all tribes in order to increase diplomacy amongst the lands. The Dance department is structured to allow for the commoner, noble, and studious bard to learn and perform the dances associated with many tribes throughout Elyria.

Administration Department:

The Administration Department is responsible for all administration, community outreach, advertising, financial matters, faculty, and staff. They handle all registration, class schedules, and after graduation placement.

Ranks:

Ranks are denoted both while attending and post-graduation by a badge they wear on their cloak or livery. A red badge denotes mastery of a particular craft. A blue badge denotes a Bard that has achieved a relative amount of fame and has passed a test of the Bardic college to be promoted to Blue status. A green badge is a bard that has not yet been proven but that has graduated from the ASBA.

Badges

Red Masks: Master Bard of the Theatre College

Red Harp: Master Bard of the Music College

Red Dancers: Master Bard of the Dance College

Blue Masks: A Renowned Actor, Writer, or Producer of Stage Plays

Blue Harp: A Renowned Musician

Blue Dancers: A Renowned Dancer

Green Masks: Theatre Graduate

Green Harp: Music Graduate

Green Dancers: Dancer Graduate

Student Ranks:

Novice: A student taking generalized classes for their chosen focus.

Apprentice: A student who has either begun taking advanced classes or has been taken on as an apprentice by a Master Bard.

Journeyman: A student who is close to graduation and has done their first tour of field work.

Master: A teacher of their chosen focus within the college.

Post Graduation:

The Vitalis Heralds Guild

Once a member of the school graduates they are invited to join the Vitalis Heralds guild. The guild's membership is comprised of bards that have either graduated from the ASBA or bards which have gained renown via other means. It is not required to join the Vitalis Heralds guild post graduation but it greatly increases a bard’s chance of gaining a patron.

Admission to the guild is available via an audition before a board of Master Bards. The guild places its members based on rank into households or businesses. Bards report back to the guild on all placements and information gained during their contract.

They retain 75% of all fees associated with their contract with the other 25% split between the school and guild.

They are required to maintain neutrality in all matters and can be called on to serve as impartial judges in local disputes, contests, or events, by their Patrons. If they do not adhere to this neutrality they will be removed from Guild after an investigation into their actions.

Patrons can be assured that contracts for a bard from the Vitalis Heralds Guild means that they can rest assured in the quality of the bard they contract.