Parents are brewers and own a pub. As a child he realised he could easily get drunk peoples attention by doing silly performances and loved it.

He thinks very highly of himself and loves praise and attention, but he has good values and morals and not the type to get jealous.

Crystal interactions

• Memory of Departure - Remembered being in a small town, leaving his parents' tavern. Everyone in town knew him as the funny guy, the silly child who grew up and became a handsome, entertaining man. It was the morning after a big farewell party, everyone was invited. His dad gave our free beers. Now they're cleaning up the mess. His mother packs him extra food, and he heads out to gather stories. He feels like every story that's been told here has been told a hundred times, all the songs played a thousand times, and he's looking for something new. Bids farewell to his father and mother, and leaving with a stranger who arrived a few weeks ago who told him about other cities, another bard who had traveled more, and he decided to do the same.
  • Felt Resolve from the crystal to achieve his aims; it wants to hear the stories and songs, too!

Tuck Ashford, Gone Bard Mentor

Tuck showed up at Barlorak's parents' pub one evening looking like he'd walked through three countries and enjoyed every step. Small even for a gnome, quick smile, quicker mouth. He sat down, ordered the cheapest drink, and somehow ended up being the most entertaining person in the room within ten minutes.

He was a bard who'd spent decades traveling. Not for fame, but to find stories on the edge of being forgotten. Dying veterans. Remote villages. Overlooked people. He'd preserve their accounts and move on. He worshipped Oghma the way most people breathe, constantly, without thinking about it.

He stayed four months. Taught Barlorak everything. Made inappropriate jokes through most of it. Meant every word underneath.

He was also being followed, though he never said so directly. Some of the stories he carried were dangerous, proof that powerful people had worked hard to erase certain things from history. Tuck had found those accounts. Which made him a problem.

One morning he was gone. On the bar was his Drum of Illusions, wrapped in cloth. And a note.

You were always better than you knew. I just said it out loud.
The road will teach the rest.
If you ever lose your footing, go to Luma. Ask for Hillyknot.
Don't look for me. I mean it.
— Tuck

Barlorak went to Luma. He's still looking for Tuck.