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A Fochlucan bandore (pronounced: /ˈfxlkɑːnFOKH-loo-kan[8] about this audio file listen) was a masterwork magic bandore and one of the Instruments of the Bards.[5][6][4][1]

Description[]

Fochlucan bandores were 3-string instruments similar to lutes.[5] It was fashioned from striated maple wood and inset with tiger's eye stones.[4]

Powers[]

Fochlucan bandores were superior in every way to ordinary bandores.[1] Like other Instruments of the Bards, they could only be used properly by bards, and could be dangerous if anyone else attempted to play or even carry them.[5][1]

Bards wielding a Fochlucan bandore had their charming abilities greatly amplified by their magic.[1]

Like all Instruments of the Bards, these bandores had the capability of storing spells. A bard playing a Fochlucan bandore could invoke the spells fly, invisibility, levitate, protection from evil and good, entangle, faerie fire, shillelagh and speak with animals each once a day, until the instrument recharged its magic at the next dawn.[1] However, earlier Fochlucan bandores, those found before the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, could only cast cast light, flare, mending, and message, each one a day.[5][6][4]

History[]

The first Fochlucan bandores were created by a legendary bard in the Moonshae Isles named Falataer. He used them to test and reward the students of the Fochlucan level of his bardic college,[5][6][9] which came to be regarded individually as a legendary bard college in its own right.[1][10]

Over time, other bards have copied the original design, while retaining the original name in Falataer's honor.[5][6][9]

Appendix[]

Behind The Scenes[]

The illustrations of this instrument within the Player's Handbook 2 and Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition are actually representing a bandura rather than a bandore, which is a wholly different stringed instrument that frequently gets misnamed as such.

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 176. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  2. BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  3. Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K. C. Stephens, John Snead (March 2007). Magic Item Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 161. ISBN 978-0-7869-4345-6.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 160–161. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Richard Baker (November 2004). Complete Arcane. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 148. ISBN 0-7869-3435-2.
  7. Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, James Wyatt (March 2009). Player's Handbook 2. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 210. ISBN 0-7869-5016-4.
  8. Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Andy Collins, Eytan Bernstein, Frank Brunner, Owen K. C. Stephens, John Snead (March 2007). Magic Item Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7869-4345-6.
  10. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
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