Bard Muse - What does it Mean?

[Dante Majiko]

I'll be making a Bard for my next campaign, and I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how to make the choice of Muse *matter* for my character. I don't mean mechanically, but as a character (or ideal) your character can look up to.

What does the choice of Muse even *mean* to Bards in Golarion? What does it mean to non-Bards? Is it as relevant (in conversation for example) as a Wizard's School or a Sorcerer's Bloodline? Do you usually have Muses be teachers or mentors for your Bard? Or inspirations that your Bards have been able to directly interact with? I wanna hear about what Muses your Bards have had, and how your GMs have integrated them into campaigns!

And if you want to suggest ideas for me, the Muse will start as a Maestro, but I'm adding Polymath at 2nd level. The character is a Nidalese Human in a Kingmaker Campaign if that helps.

[Bizzare Beasts Boozer]

They give a few examples of what a muse could be for each one. They specifically call out a choral angel or the goddess Sheyln as examples, being both distant and aloof but also intractable with (depending on the heights your campaign reaches)

But it is just as possible that your muse is another bard or a beautiful royal who you want to impress. In that way I'd say it's closer to a wizard school than a bloodline, it's not the source of your power but a way of relating to it.

If you want your muse to be relevant to your character consider why they are inspired by them. What is it that makes them want to write songs as a maestro? Or to study throughly as a polymath?

If you want to make your muse relevant to the campaign, then discuss with your GM, but I can imagine a kingmaker campaign where your settlement becomes renowned for its bardic college. Or if you want a more personal connection, speak with them about a possible Brevoy or First World individual who might have inspired you.

[GM_3826]

The concept of muses is basically a narrative hook to get players thinking about what their character is passionate about. There's no actual flavor restriction requiring your muse to be something concrete. When you get right down to it, each of the muses are just a way to categorize different kinds of bards—performers, scholars, skalds, etc. But you're encouraged to think about what your muse may be, as many artists have something that moves and inspires them, and bards are no different.

Bizzare Beasts Boozer wrote:

If you want to make your muse relevant to the campaign, then discuss with your GM, but I can imagine a kingmaker campaign where your settlement becomes renowned for its bardic college. Or if you want a more personal connection, speak with them about a possible Brevoy or First World individual who might have inspired you.

In addition to this, depending on whether or not your character is simply ethnically Nidalese (like Ulthun II) or also Nidalese in nationality, it would make sense for your muse to be Desna. Desna encourages her followers to express themselves through art and song, so many of her priests are bards. A goddess of travel would suit you well, as you're a long way from home. Lastly, the Nidalese specifically worship her as a goddess of dreams, and starting a new kingdom is certainly an ambitious dream. In this case, your faith would be very strong and a major part of your character. My bard's muse is Shelyn, and that is basically how I play it.

On the other hand, if your character is native to Brevoy and simply Nidalese in ethnicity, it makes a good deal of sense for your muse to be someone in Brevoy you feel you're doing a great service to as vassal. First World could be tricky as your character is not from the Stolen Lands, but maybe you lived along the border of the Stolen Lands and Brevoy or another River Kingdom. In that case, a naiad queen, who actually provide unique benefits to bards as a muse, would be perfect. but talk to your GM. Your GM will need to make them a part of the campaign, and you'll need their permission given the advantages such a muse would provide.