By Crystal “Cressida” Welch
This past weekend at Feast of Chimeron 27, I decided it was time for a new tradition, one that I hope catches on with other nations. Instead of a bardic competition for the title of Royal Bard of Chimeron, I thought we should stop competing and start recognizing the many different talented bards in the Realms. Instead of a title, bards who participate in the new Bardic Exhibition will receive a sash and an unique event badge. This year only, we offered a fancy sash to the first ever participants, as well as this year’s FOC badge, a golden rowan leaf. It was all very well received as I had ten different bards, including new bards and returning bards, participating. I received feedback that because of the new format, several bards were willing to take up their songs and stories once more without fear of embarrassment in a competitive setting. I was also approached after by several newbies who now want to become bards after seeing everyone perform. It has been my goal for a little while now to find a way to encourage bards to do what they do and to reward them for it. I hope the success I saw this weekend continues on for many years and that one day I will see the sashes filled with badges.
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| Aiden performs an original historical ballad |
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| Fortuna returns to the bardic stage for the first time in several years |
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| Sharlindra tells the tale of a time she seduced an army of Drow |
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| Tarnisha leads the hall in a classic Chimeronian favorite |
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| Sharlindra plays the part of "Buttercup the Dwarven Woman" in Cressida's improvisational bardic |
All photo credits: Dennis and Kim Coffey
This past weekend at Feast of Chimeron 27, I decided it was time for a new tradition, one that I hope catches on with other nations. Instead of a bardic competition for the title of Royal Bard of Chimeron, I thought we should stop competing and start recognizing the many different talented bards in the Realms. Instead of a title, bards who participate in the new Bardic Exhibition will receive a sash and an unique event badge. This year only, we offered a fancy sash to the first ever participants, as well as this year’s FOC badge, a golden rowan leaf. It was all very well received as I had ten different bards, including new bards and returning bards, participating. I received feedback that because of the new format, several bards were willing to take up their songs and stories once more without fear of embarrassment in a competitive setting. I was also approached after by several newbies who now want to become bards after seeing everyone perform. It has been my goal for a little while now to find a way to encourage bards to do what they do and to reward them for it. I hope the success I saw this weekend continues on for many years and that one day I will see the sashes filled with badges.
