| Bards College | |
|---|---|
| Type | District |
| Continent | Tamriel |
| Province | Skyrim |
| Hold | Haafingar |
| Settlement | Solitude |
| Appears in | Skyrim, ESO |
The Bards College is an institute found in the city of Solitude, within the province of Skyrim. The Bards College is well known throughout the province as a prominent institute of music and history for the aspiring bard, or the Skald as they are known in Skyrim. Students of the Bards College are known to be well-trained and successful in their business. Graduates of the Bards College are often employed in various noble households; some have even entertained the Elder Council of the Imperial City.[1] The college is marked by the Flame of Callisos, which is found at the entrance. As long as the flame remains lit, the College will stand.[2]
Further InformationEdit
The Bards College has two known departments: History and Lute (Music). The Bards College, along with many poets and historians, write poems and stories in the Poetic Edda, a collection of endless poems that depict Skyrim's extended history.[3] The Ateia family is a recurring contributor to the Bards College, since their earliest members, Parteron Ateia, who donated his last flute to the Bards College,[4] all the way to Pantea Ateia, who was a dean at the college during the Skyrim Civil War.
HistoryEdit
The Bards College was founded when Skyrim was a part of the First Empire, roughly during the twilight years of Ysgramor's dynasty, and the years following.[1] At one point, Solitude was sacked by Olaf One-Eye in the late years of the War of Succession, and sometime later, Solitude and the Bards College would make a yearly tradition based on Olaf's exploits. The College's students flood the markets to celebrate for a week and end it with the Burning of King Olaf, where everyone gathers at the college courtyard to burn an effigy that depicts King Olaf One-Eye.[5][6] This tradition would continue for many centuries, to celebrate Olaf's victory over Numinex and his ascension to the throne. More and more famous bards and scholars would come from the Bards College, such as Callisos and Morachellis.[1] The now famous Flame of Callisos was named after the alumni.[2]
Many years later, during the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201, the Bards College was administrated by Headmaster Viarmo, who chose to keep the politics of the civil war away from his institute.[7] At this time, Jarl Elisif the Fair had canceled the annual Burning of King Olaf, as she considered it in poor taste after the assassination of her husband, High King Torygg. To persuade her to change her mind, Viarmo had sent a student of the college to find a lost verse of the Poetic Edda, King Olaf's Verse, written by the First Era skald, Svaknir. The student found themselves at Dead Man's Respite, the burial place of High King Olaf One-Eye. The student had brought back King Olaf's Verse and presented it to Jarl Elisif. The burning of the effigy would commence that year, and continue to do so.[6]
Known AlumniEdit
| Known Alumni |
|---|
Known LeadersEdit
GalleryEdit
-
Members of the Bards College
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ a b Walking the World, Vol XI — Spatior Munius
- ^ Giraud Gemane's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ Ateian Fife
- ^ King Olaf's Verse
- ^ a b Events of Tending the Flames in Skyrim
- ^ a b Viarmo's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ Convergence of Maestros — Hartlin Treg
- ^ Headmaestro Catrelle Georick's dialogue in ESO: Greymoor