A warrior, a lover, a poet, a gadfly who defies the gods. A psychopomp.
A skald. A weaver of mighty magics, who can calm a raging sea, cause trees to bear fruit or bring down lightning from the heavens with his voice.
Orpheus, Vainamoinen, Taliesin, Finrod Felagund...now THEY were bards.
None of this namby-pamby, wishy-washy high mediaeval minstrel-rogue rubbish.
Bards should be Prestige Classes with nigh-impossible entry requirements.