The Bard
The day wears on…
We are crossing a pond half-choked with weeds when a deep, trained voice speaks to us across the water.
"Ah! You must be here for the audition.” High above us, upon a mossy branch, sits a sharp-eyed bard with windswept hair and a cloak of autumn leaves. She gives us one dismissive look before leaping down to our level. "Very well then. Let us see if you have what it takes to keep up with my direction." And with that, she crosses her arms and waits for our performance.
The Challenge
The Bard is looking for the traveller who can win an audience to their side.
Clockwise starting with the Reader, each traveller takes it in turns to read aloud the Bargain/Curse text on the Bard’s Elder Card. Read it in whatever style you wish, but it should be dramatic.
Without discussion, the travellers then count down from three to one, before pointing to another traveller who they think gave the best reading. Travellers cannot vote for themselves.
Success. If one traveller has gained the majority of the vote, then the party has identified a star in its midst. The travellers pass the Challenge.
Failure. If the vote is split and no traveller holds a clear majority of votes, the Challenge is failed.
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HELP FROM AN ITEM
If any traveller carries a FLUTE, they may now add two votes to their score.
If the Challenge (before Item rules) was passed, the performer with the most votes (after Item rules) receives the Blessing of the Bard.
If the Challenge was failed (before Item rules), all travellers suffer the Curse of the Bard. If this is the party's third Curse, click here.
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When a spirit is displeased by the party, it will lay its Curse upon them. Curses have dire consequences. The more Curses a party gathers, the more lives will be claimed in the Heart of the Wood. Furthermore, if a party incurs three Curses, the Wood's spirits will reject them and they will be forced to flee for their lives, ending the game.
When you incur a Curse, place it in a designated area of the table so that all travellers are aware of it.
“Wonderful!” trills the bardic spirit. “We will get back to you before the next moon!” Then, stepping deftly from the branch, she vanishes into thin air.