(l-r)Pavarod (Dwarf/Bard), Dominigo (Gnome/Bard), Carrerus (Halfling/Bard)
IN THE REALMS
The halfling bard Carrerus of Amn survived the Death Curse after his adventures in Chult. Sobered by the experience, and wishing to raise gold for others who were suffering, he sought out two other famous bards. Dominigo, a Gnome of Lantan agreed to a tour right away. There was only one choice for the third member of their party: the Falstaffian dwarf Pavarod of Sembia.
Together, the Three Tenors have toured throughout the Dalelands, the Sword Coast, and the Shining South. They have raised thousands of gold pieces to alleviate the suffering of others, enchanted audiences with their music, and braved many dangers of the road and street and stage.
But perhaps the greatest challenge to this party of bards comes from within: Pavarod has been accepting side payments secretly and donating none of it to charity. When their epic journey reaches its crescendo…will the trio find their harmony, or fall into discord?
SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS
Prompted at least partly by our bagpipe-wielding bard, our party playing through Tomb of Annihilation decided that we were a traveling band as well as adventurers. Ever since, I’ve wanted to play through this conceit again. The PCs need not be bards (though they should all have training in the Performance skill), but the conceit of the group not just being murder-hobos, but also traveling minstrels has legs.
That, plus this cartoon of the Three Tenors by Daniela Fernandes-Smith, inspired me to draw this particular Pop Culture Party.
Campaign Notes
I think you could play a party of all bards through Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, or any number of different roleplay/skill challenge campaigns with some success. Bards are so versatile – but you may want to stay away from knock-down, drag-out encounters! Definitely something your DM has to be on board with.
The Pop Culture Party Series follows a similar line to my Motley Crew series. Only while that nerdly rotogravure imagined sci-fi motley crews in Firefly’s ‘Verse, this will imagine various casts of adventure media as D&D characters.
HyperboreanComics 