College of Chains

A dwarven miner striking rock in rythym, bolstering his companions. A drow elf, singing softly to inspire hope among her fellow captives. A dragonborn noble secluded and kept from others who learns to express themselves through music. All of these bards share a common feature of using their music to free themselves from the chains that held their lives. They inspire others captive with them to push forward and carry on. They posess incredible mental fortitude, with the ability to never give in even in the face of defeat.

Bards of the College of the Chain are rare, but skilled improvisers with a talent for lifting spirits in even the most dire of circumstances. Look to a Bard of the College of Chains to keep your party focused and on track, and to support you no matter what.

Versatile Music

Your time in captivity has granted you the ability to create beauty from nothing. Starting at 3rd level when you take this subclass, as long as you are not incapacitated, unconscious, restrained, or silenced, you have the ability to create music with your hands, feet, or other improvisational tools which you can use as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. You can use this feature if you have a free hand, or with a hand that is not carrying a weapon, shield, or magic item. Merely being able to speak does not activate this feature.

Song of Perseverance

At 3rd level when you take this subclass, you gain the ability to bolster your comrades through your music. As a Bonus Action on your turn, you can begin a Song of Perseverance. To benefit from your song, creatures must be within your songs range (15ft at 3rd level) and be able to hear you. 

When activated, choose a number of creatures who can benefit from your song to gain temp hp equal to your bard level. They lose this temp hp early if they leave your songs range, or can no longer hear you.

Additionally, if a creature who is in range of your song and can hear you is dealt damage that would reduce them to 0 hp, you can immediately use a reaction and expend a bardic inspiration die to reduce the damage taken by the die amount. If this prevents them from being reduced to 0 hp, they can immediately use their reaction to make a melee attack, and add the bardic inspiration die to the damage roll if the attack hits.

Your song lasts for 1 minute, and can be ended early on your turn no action required. Your song ends early if you are unconscious, incapacitated, silenced, or otherwise unable to produce music. Any remaining temp HP disappears when your song ends. You can begin a song of perseverance twice per short or long rest.

Resounding song

At 6th level, the range of your Song of Perseverance increases to 30ft.

Inspired Vitality

Starting at 6th Level, your Song of Perseverance is strong enough to inspire your allies to draw on their innate strength. When you give an ally within your songs range bardic inspiration, they may use their reaction to immediately expend and roll a hit die, and gain the roll plus their constitution modifier HP.

Rising Inspiration

At 6th level your inspiration becomes stronger, and bolsters your allies offense and defense. If an allied creature who can benefit from your Song of Perseverance uses a bardic inspiration die for an attack roll or saving throw, the total on the die is added to the damage dealt on an attack roll, or the total on the die is subtracted from the damage taken (if any) from the effects of that saving throw to a minimum of 0 damage.

Booming Melody

At 14th level, your song reaches its peak form. The range of your Song of Perseverance increases to 60ft.

Tempo of Freedom

At 14th Level, your Song of Perseverance gains tempo and intensity, inspiring those around you to break free from their bonds. Immediately when you start your Song of Perseverance, or as a Bonus Action on any of your future turns while your song is active, you can expend a Bardic Inspiration die to give a number of creatures who can benefit from your Song of Perseverance equal to your Charisma Modifier a special inspiration die (d8). This special inspiration die can be used similar to a bardic inspiration die on a saving throw, attack roll, ability check, damage roll or healing roll. When used, the special inspiration die grants temp hp equal to the die roll which can add to temp hp granted by your Song of Perseverance.

Additionally, when you activate this feature any creatures of your choice who can benefit from your Song of Perseverance that are affected by the restrained or grappled condition can immediately use their reaction to make a save against the conditions source at advantage.

This feature can only be used once per long rest.