Skald
Skald: A Skald was a person throughout the dark ages and medieval era of Scandinavia who sang songs, played instruments, told stories, recited poetry, led dances, recounted the Eddas and Sagas, made people laugh, and remembered the histories that were passed down orally from master to apprentice. A Skald was also many other things besides, including a messenger, battle strategist, magician, embassador, advisor and more. In Brittian his counterpart would have been called a Scop or perhaps a Bard depending on what period and place he was from, but always his role in society was much the same. He was respected and esteemed across the western world and it is said that although the Irish Bards were often battle strategists and frequently accompanied thier armies into battle, they went unarmed because no man from either side would harm them so high was thier status in Irish culture.
After the Flight of the Earls when the Bardic schools of Ireland collapsed, much of the traditional music, song, stories, and other vauluable traditions of that part of the world were lost forever, of which we now have only pieces and snippets of what once were vast stores of knowledge and art. The same can be said to have happened to the traditions, music, song, stories, and knowledge of the Scandinavian peoples, but for a much different reason. The abandonment and loss of these arts in Scandinavian culture can be (not unfairly) linked to the widespread forced and or willing adoption and spread of christianity and the subsequent sometimes violent suppression by the church of anything deemed of pagan origin. I leave it to the dilligent and descriminating scholar to decide which culture suffered more damage to its heritage.
Skalds in the SCA: In the SCA Skalds are in essence continueing the traditions of old by performing the same services that thier ancient counterparts did. Although they don't take part in real battles, they have the opportunity to strategise to thier hearts content in the entertaining mock battles held within the SCA and though they are no longer immune to attack, they fight which makes it all the more enjoyable.