Fochlucan Origin

[AntiTrust]

Went looking around and couldn't find the origin of the word Fochlucan (as in Fochlucan Lyricist). Is it purely made up or does it have some history?

[Forrestfire]

For game history, the Fochlucan are the lowest rank (or "college;" an organization of bards of similar rank) of the original 1e bards, which themselves were gotten by taking levels of fighter, thief, then druid (hence the mix of mechanics in the Fochlucan Lyrist). The other ranks, ascending order, were Mac-Fuirmidh, Doss, Canoith, Cli, Anstruth, Ollamh, and Magna Alumnae (not a college, but instead a title; the very highest rank, only gained at level 23). The Old Lore bards of Greyhawk were divided into these seven colleges, as well.

For actual history, these terms came from words for Irish storytellers (https://books.google.com/books?id=uvc7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=the+Fochluc+thirty&source=bl&ots=viD6OeGZqr&sig=QMYgUFxdpUjNc4AcOTry9Y-BQqo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin2Kn08bnJAhWJ4SYKHTfmCcEQ6AEIHzAA#v=on epage&q=the%20Fochluc%20thirty&f=false). A Fochluc could recite 30 stories, a Mac-Fuirmidh 40, a Dos 50, a Cli 80, an Anstruth 175, and an Ollamh 350.

[illyahr]

For game history, the Fochlucan are the lowest rank (or "college;" an organization of bards of similar rank) of the original 1e bards, which themselves were gotten by taking levels of fighter, thief, then druid (hence the mix of mechanics in the Fochlucan Lyrist). The other ranks, ascending order, were Mac-Fuirmidh, Doss, Canoith, Cli, Anstruth, Ollamh, and Magna Alumnae (not a college, but instead a title; the very highest rank, only gained at level 23). The Old Lore bards of Greyhawk were divided into these seven colleges, as well.

For actual history, these terms came from words for Irish storytellers (https://books.google.com/books?id=uvc7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=the+Fochluc+thirty&source=bl&ots=viD6OeGZqr&sig=QMYgUFxdpUjNc4AcOTry9Y-BQqo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin2Kn08bnJAhWJ4SYKHTfmCcEQ6AEIHzAA#v=on epage&q=the%20Fochluc%20thirty&f=false). A Fochluc could recite 30 stories, a Mac-Fuirmidh 40, a Dos 50, a Cli 80, an Anstruth 175, and an Ollamh 350.

The God of Bards (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19127278&postcount=446) is pleased. We bestow upon you good karma for your knowledge of bards.