College of Absurdism

For the bards who have witnessed the indescribable and who are still sane enough to conjure up those images in tales or songs, the College of Absurdism welcomes them in with open arms. Bards who typically dabble into the magic of the absurd have seen the infinitude of the universe, have spoken with gods in their truest form, or have been cursed to see the world through a sinister distorted lens. They are able to weave incomprehensible words or images into their performances that could incite fear, confusion, or fascination.

Many bards in this college aren't usually taken seriously and are treated like fanatics or lunatics. These bards carry with them the burden of knowledge or something greater than comprehension and can use this power for positive or negative outcomes. While some people may pass by the ravings of an absurdist bard, others may sit and listen as they become more and more curious about the stories. Many absurdist bards are cult leaders or conspiracy theorists and can be found in libraries pouring over the pages of occult knowledge to affirm their stories. Whether or not people believe in the words of the absurdist bard, they are entirely sincere.

Expanded Spell List

The College of Absurdism lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.

 

College of Absurdism Expanded Spells
Spell Level	Spells
1st	Arms of Hadar, Cause Fear
2nd	Darkness, Mind Spike
3rd	Blink, Hunger of Hadar
4th	Black Tentacles, Shadow of Moil
5th	Contact Other Plane, Enervation

Otherworldly Utterance

You begin to feel a deeper and more potent connection to the stories you weave leaving your mind altered beyond repair. This change to your mind allows you to Telepathically speak to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. If you speak a language the target does not understand, you may expend a Bardic Inspiration die to gain advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks against them for as long as you are speaking to them telepathically in the language they do not understand.

Beyond the Mundane

At 6th level, you have recalled vast amounts of information concerning your otherworldly encounter; you might have had dreams or visions that reinforce what you have seen. Somehow the disturbing and twisted things you harbor have become your new normal. The mundane seems so much more bland and dull. You are able to pick up on details and patterns much easier now and your ability to recall them has improved. You gain the Keen Mind feat with a bonus to your Charisma stat instead of Intelligence. 

Immutable Conscience

At level 14, you have become accustomed to things that normal folks would consider insanity-inducing. Thus, you are now immune to Charmed and Frightened.

Once per turn, as a reaction, you can reflect the source of any effect that would Charm or Frighten you or an ally within 30 feet of you back at the source as the new target. The manner of the spell or ability still applies to the source (ie Spell save DC, Resistances, Range, and Other abilities). If the target does become Charmed or Frightened, it is treated as if you were the origin of the spell or ability. You do not need to concentrate on a spell reflected back this way if it has concentration.