Battlekindred Shared Ability Bard & Paladin

Battlekindred, allows a group of bards to close ranks in combat, arranging themselves back-to-back as combat starts. This prevents a bard in a group of 2 or more from getting flanked. Those with the ability Battlekindred, can aid each other, by attacking critters meleeing with those they're back to back with. They can also choose to use the command Defend to place their shield or even body over someone who just got hit bad, moving that person to the center of the group and out of melee with all critters, (but still at pole and ranged) if there is a group of more than 3 with the battlekindred ability together. Otherwise, if using defend with only 2 battlekindred, then Bard defending goes to melee with all the critters that were on the defended, and parries attacks that were aimed at the now defended.

This ability emerged over time, as travelling troupes of bards evolved a need to protect themselves and their friends from roadside bandits. Paladins observing some bards doing this selfless trick sought to learn it for themselves.