Urban Skald (Skald Archetype)
Just as barbarians and bloodragers moved to the city, so too did the skalds, but they have discovered a new weapon.
Not content to merely sing the praises of themselves, their allies, and their ancestors, these skalds have learned how to disrespect their foes, becoming hecklers, protest leaders, and satirists.
Whether they developed this ability in response to the cutthroat attitude of city folk, or in response to authority figures treating their immigrated communities unfairly, they specialize in calling out failings real and imagined, using them against their enemies when not bolstering their allies.
Much in the same way that their barbarian and bloodrager counterparts have more focused rages, so too is the rage-focused performances of an urban skald able to focus in on bolstering a single physical aspect of allies.
Where they really shine is infuriating their foes instead, making them lose focus on mental and magical tasks, not to mention defending themselves.
Going beyond mere insults, these skalds can outright ostracize a foe, shredding their confidence and even causing their allies to hesitate to help them physically or with beneficial spells alike.
Aware of the dangers of speaking out, they have also learned to use their allies as cover to avoid direct reprisal from those they viciously detract.
More debuff-centric than the standard skald, you’ll probably be using their various heckling performances to debuff sentient foes while using more traditional buffs to aid against others, all the while sticking close to allies to strike while benefiting from their protection.
While I’ve really talked a lot about the theme of culture clash and political unrest in this past several entries, particularly this one, because it’s impossible not to in this current day and age. However, it is entirely possible to run one of these characters without that theme if you are not willing or comfortable in exploring that, so keep that in mind. Remember that tabletop rpgs are just as much about escapism as they are about recontextualizing bad things in a way that can be easily dealt with.
While not as struggling as much as other aquatic refugees, the cecaelia that fled the thalassic behemoth Ocean-Drinker have had it just as bad dealing with bigoted authorities in the shallows of their new coastal city homes. Some have turned their frustrations into protests and heckling of the surface leaders, turning to bardic magic and warrior fury.
Normally a rabble-rouser and braggart, Mogan has grown quiet and secretive recently, avoiding the usual drinking halls and taverns to ply the alleyways after dark. In truth, the poor man has been taken over by a hellwasp swarm, intent on working a great evil through him.
Red Town is the common name for the lower district of Alberes, so called for the violence, but also the wine shipments that are unloaded there. When avoiding a fight, it is traditional to engage in “insult combat”, trying to defeat foes by shaming and embarrassing them into submission, though more often than not this leads to actual fights anyway.