I have completed building Heljarchen Hall, and hired Gregor as my Steward. He's purchased three chickens, a cow, and a horse for me. However, he's never given me the option of hiring a bard (Oriella). If I kill all my livestock, he only offers to purchase a new cow and horse. I assume this is a bug. Is there a way to get around it, so that I can make him hire a bard for my home?

Thanks

So he never had an option to hire a bard, even before you brought all three chickens? If you are playing on the PC I would be looking for some sort of conflict. Even buying three chickens, you go kill the cow or horse and then wait, the option should return. You should always hire the bard before getting more than one chicken, just in case something goes wrong.

If you have a save game to return to before buying anything, i would try going back and trying again.

Thanks. No, I never had the option to hire a bard, and I don't use any mods that should affect player housing. Reverting to an earlier save game isn't an option to me, as I've played for around 18 hours since buying the livestock from my Steward.

Is there perhaps a way to spawn the bard using console commands?

have you tried killing the livestock... it will read the buy them option maybe allowing you to get the bard

Edit: iirc there was one time where the bug was triggered by buying the horse or carriage first

It seems like he tried that already and it didn't work.

Unfortunately, I have nothing useful to add. You may have to resign yourself to living without a bard. (Although, personally, I find them a bit annoying and never hire them!)

Try killing the horse, I just tried and that was the one that bugged on my game

Um. Your Steward has good taste?