College of Calligraphy

While many other Bardic Colleges focus on bright and flashy art forms such as music or dance, bards of the College of Calligraphy focus their talents on a more subtle art. The simple act of drawing a pen or a brush over a surface is refined to a breathtaking degree, and the elaborate symbols written by these movements would put even a wizard's tome to shame. By mastering the refined art of calligraphy, these bards are able to draw on the primordial powers of the universe and bind them within their scriptures. A single elegantly written word could contain the power of a wildfire, or be able to twist the very minds of those who read it. This power is so great that many of those who practice this art live secluded lives, living away from others who might abuse this knowledge, as unlike other bards, they don't need an audience to practice their art.

Mightier Than The Sword

When you join this college at 3rd level, you learn to master the subtle art of calligraphy. You gain proficiency with Calligrapher's Tools, and whenever you use them to make a skill check, you add double your proficiency bonus. In addition, you can use Calligrapher's Tools as an arcane focus.

Symbols of Power

Also at 3rd level, you learn several Symbols of Power, ancient writings that contain magical potential. At 3rd level you know three symbols, and learn an additional symbol at 7th, 11th, and 15th level. You can replace any symbol you know with a different one after finishing a long rest.

As an action, you can expend a Spell Slot of 1st level or higher to use your Calligrapher's Tools to inscribe a symbol you have learned onto a surface within 5ft of yourself. The surface must have at least a 3 by 3 inch solid section smooth enough to write upon. If the surface is on an unwilling creature or on something an unwilling creature is wielding or wearing, you must make a spell attack roll against their AC in order to successfully draw it.

The writing lasts for a number of days equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one), unless specified to be destroyed earlier. A creature can use an Action to erase or smudge a symbol, destroying it. No more than a number of symbols equal to half your Charisma modifier (rounded up, minimum of one) can exist at once. If you try and draw an additional symbol, one of the existing symbols of your choice is destroyed.

Symbols of Power:

• Cut. As a Bonus Action, you can cause each object and creature within 5 ft of the symbol to take an amount of slashing damage equal to four of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). The symbol is then destroyed. This damage is magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances or immunities.
• Travel. As long as you are within 120 ft of your symbol, you can use a Bonus Action to teleport to a space within 5 ft of it. The symbol is then destroyed.
• Protect. When you draw this symbol, choose a damage type. The next time the surface the symbol is inscribed upon would take damage of that type, it instead takes half damage (rounded up). The symbol is then destroyed.
• Burn. As a Bonus Action, you can cause the surface the symbol is written upon to burst into flame. The surface takes an amount of fire damage equal to three of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). If the surface is flammable, it ignites. The symbol is then destroyed. Alternatively, you can choose for the symbol to create a harmless flame that is a color of your choice that sheds bright light for 30 ft and dim light for an additional 30 ft. The flame lasts until the symbol is destroyed.
• Freeze. As a Bonus Action, you can cause the surface the symbol is written upon to rapidly drop in temperature. The surface takes an amount of cold damage equal to three of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). In addition, any liquids within 30 ft not containing or being contained within a creature freezes solid. The symbol is then destroyed.
• Shock. As a Bonus Action, you can cause the surface the symbol is written upon to become electrically charged. The surface takes an amount of lightning damage equal to three of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). In addition, when the symbol is activated, any metal object weighting 10 lbs or less within 10 ft of the symbol flies through the air in a straight line towards the symbol, stopping early if it impacts a solid surface. This movement is not enough to deal damage if it strikes a creature. If the object is being held by a creature, the must make a Strength saving throw or have the object be pulled out of their grasp. The symbol is then destroyed.
• Lie. The illusion of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon appears, centered on the symbol. The illusion must fit within a 15 ft cube. You decide what the illusion looks like and what sounds, if any, it makes. The illusion can contain movement, such as leaves blowing in the wind or running water, but cannot react to outside stimuli. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and any noise it makes sounds hollow to the creature. The illusion lasts until the symbol is destroyed.
• Track. As long as the surface that this symbol is written upon is within one mile of you, you can use a Bonus Action to determine the direction and distance of the symbol relative to yourself. You also know if the surface is moving, in what direction, and how fast.
• Alert. When you draw this symbol, choose a creature type: aberration, celestial, elemental, fey, fiend, or undead. Alternatively, you can name a specific creature that you have met once before. The first time a creature matching the category you specified is within 30 ft of the symbol, you hear a small bell ring that only you can hear. The symbol is then destroyed.

Detailed Flourish

At 6th level, you learn to add extra detail to your symbols of power, granting further customization. Whenever you draw a symbol that activates an effect under a certain condition, such as using a Bonus Action to activate it, you can spend an extra minute to add an additional trigger. You may only add one additional trigger per symbol. Triggers can include, but are not limited to, touching or standing on the symbol, removing an object covering the symbol, approaching within a certain distance of the symbol, seeing or reading the symbol, or manipulating the surface on which the symbol is written. You can further refine the trigger so the symbol activates only under certain circumstances or according to physical characteristics (such as height or weight), creature kind (for example, the symbol could be set to affect aberrations or drow), or alignment. You can also set conditions for creatures that don’t trigger the symbol, such as those who say a certain password.

Cyphertext

Also at 6th level, you learn to blend your symbols into their surroundings, hiding them from prying eyes. When you draw your symbol, you can choose to spend an extra minute crafting it to be less noticeable. Your symbol cannot be noticed unless a creature succeeds on a Perception or Investigation check against your Spell Save DC.

Compound Scripture

At 14th level, you have mastered the art of constructing your Symbols of Power to the point that you can break them down and combine them with other symbols to form whole new words. When you take an Action to draw a Symbol of Power, you can choose to grant that symbol the properties of two symbols you have learned. If one effect is triggered, the second effect also triggers at the same time, and if the symbol is destroyed, both of the symbol's effects are ended.