The Elder Colleges

The Seven original bardic colleges (the elder colleges) are the oldest and most prestigious bardic institutions of learning, music, the arcane arts, and stores of knowledge in Aeriador. Some of the colleges date back more than 1600 years and all are at least 800 years old. The original bardic college was founded by the legendary bard, Falataer, who opened his school in city of Azurespire. That college was called Ollamh and it was founded in the year FA 19,473, over 1600 years before present day. At Ollamh, Falataer taught the Seven instruments that bards would learn in their journey, and he taught the arcane arts, and the lore and history of Aeriador. Over time other schools were started by students of Falataer, each choosing an instrument to focus on. Eventually, all Seven instruments were represented by their own schools, and these colleges of the bards became known as the elder colleges, the oldest colleges of bards in Aeriador.

There is a pecking order established within the Seven and with that comes some pride and prejudice. Every college has something they are renowned for, or hold as a point of pride, such as the Fochlucan Lyrists and Scholars of the Fochlucan college, often considered the most well trained spies and scholars within the bardic tradition. Or the libraries of Ollamh and Anstruth, or the beauty of Cli. Each college is also known for their signature instrument, although all instruments are taught at each college. For the Fochlucan College, the bandore; Mac-Fuirmidh, the cithern; Doss, the lute; Canaith, the mandolin; Cli, the lyre; and Anstruth and Ollamh, the harp. Through the traditional path of study, a bard is expected to have a requisite level of arcane knowledge known to matriculate into the college. Without the requisite level of knowledge in the arcane arts, acceptance is unlikely, but not impossible. Generally, admission requirements is broken down by arcane spell levels learned when a bard seeks to take the path of the Harper. For the Fochlucan College, first level arcane spells; Mac-Fuirmidh, second level; Doss, third level; Canaith, fourth level; Cli, fifth level; and Anstruth and Ollamh, sixth level spells. The semi-secret, and semi-organized group known as the Harpers gets their name from the most prestigious of the schools, Anstruth and Ollamh. A bard can follow the traditional learning set forth by Falataer and progress through each school in order of precedence. Following this tradition, bards studied to obtain the rank of Magna Alumnae by attending all seven colleges. Although an honorary rank among bards, it was the only rank allowed to sit on the Council of the High Harpers, and then only if a seat was vacant.

If a bard chooses not to take the path of the Harper, then they can select any college and remain at that college indefinitely. Many bards choose this option and can spend their entire lives learning form or even teach at one college.

The Elder Colleges

* Cli, Anstruth, and Ollamh are all considered the High Bardic Colleges and are the most prestigious of the bardic colleges. This is partly due to their age, all having been established in the First Age of Aeriador.