Has anyone ever heard a war chant sung by people who are actually about to go into battle, actually
about to kill and be killed? I am not talking roleplaying combat, I mean like, say Zulu war chants.
I have (albeit in recording not EVEN in person) and they reach down to the base of your skull and
fire up your adrenal system like smelting furnace fed with pure oxygen. Thoughout the history of
warfare music has stirred the soul and adrenal system's of the fighters. I have NEVER imagined a
Bard as a fop frequenting taverns but rather as one of the fighters, one with a gift for inspiration
of his or her comrads, firing up their spirits before and DURING battle. Do we imagine a Viking
warchant being maintained during battle by someone hanging at the back "you go guys! Give it to
them! yah, you show em!" or by one of the fighters risking his life with the rest of them, giving
meaning and weight to his song of inspiration? OF COURSE the enemies seek him out before the others,
he is the inspiration making them a cohesive fighting machine!
Bards belong in battle, wearing every protection his or her comrades are wearing, sure, maybe his or
her swordplay is a little weaker, but he or she makes up for it with *that song*.
Foppy tavern frequenters are fine for some but look for Tszaaz the Battle Bard standing shoulder to
shoulder with his comrades doing his best to inspire them. Then tell me that's not roleplaying.

Tszaaz