Stories of Vaywn: College of Echoes

The **College of Echoes** is a bard subclass that delves into the mystical properties of sound and resonance. Bards who join this college learn to harness echoes, weaving them into their performances to create powerful and eerie effects. These echoes might be the lingering remnants of a past event, the resounding call of a future yet to unfold, or the spectral reverberations of the present moment. The bard uses these echoes to amplify their music’s power, creating performances that can inspire, terrify, or enthrall those who hear them.

In Dungevista, where the very walls seem to hum with forgotten songs and ancient chants, Bards of the College of Echoes find themselves particularly attuned to the city's unique acoustics. They often perform in forgotten cathedrals, abandoned theaters, or deep within the Dungeon’s echoing chambers, where the sounds of the past still linger. Through their connection to these resonances, they can unlock the secrets of the city, tapping into the memories embedded in stone and shadow.

Flavor and Playstyle:

The College of Echoes Bard is a master of sound, using the haunting echoes of Dungevista's Dungeon to manipulate reality and influence both allies and enemies. This subclass emphasizes control, with abilities that can disrupt enemy actions, empower allies, and even twist the fabric of reality itself. In the setting of Dungevista, Bards of the College of Echoes might be seen as mysterious figures, their songs and stories resonating with the hidden powers of the Dungeon. They are performers who understand that music is more than just sound—it's a force that can shape the world, echoing through time and space to leave a lasting impact on the city and its denizens.

Roleplay Features and Additional Flavor:

1. Echoes of the Past: As a Bard of the College of Echoes, your performances might be influenced by the remnants of past events. You may find yourself unconsciously singing songs from long-forgotten times or reciting the words of ancient figures. This connection to the past can make you a valuable resource for uncovering hidden lore or solving ancient puzzles. However, it can also be unsettling, as these echoes might carry emotions and memories that are not your own.

2. Haunting Performances: Your music and voice carry a haunting quality, as though layered with the voices of those who came before you. In roleplay, your performances might evoke strong, sometimes unsettling, emotions in those who hear them. Your allies might find your songs inspiring yet eerie, while your enemies could be unnerved or even driven to madness by the echoes you conjure. The mysterious nature of your performances can lead to both admiration and fear.

3. Resonant Memories: The echoes you summon aren’t just sounds—they’re fragments of memory and emotion. You might experience moments where you are overcome with visions or sensations from the past, whether they belong to you or to others. This connection to resonant memories can be a double-edged sword, offering you insights into hidden truths but also exposing you to the pain and sorrow of those long gone.

4. Echo Manipulation: Your mastery over echoes allows you to manipulate sound in ways that defy logic. You might be able to throw your voice, creating disorienting auditory illusions, or use echoes to amplify your music’s effects, making them linger long after you’ve finished playing. In roleplay, this ability to control echoes can make you a master of deception and distraction, as well as a powerful force on the battlefield.

5. Echo-Laden Equipment: Over time, you might find yourself drawn to instruments and artifacts that carry their own resonances. These could be ancient instruments with their own histories or enchanted items that vibrate with hidden power. In roleplay, these items might act as conduits for your powers, allowing you to tap into even greater echoes or channel the memories of their previous owners.

6. Whispers in the Dark: The echoes you command are not always benevolent. Sometimes, they carry the voices of the lost, the tormented, or the vengeful. You might find yourself haunted by these whispers, particularly in places where great tragedy has occurred. In roleplay, this could manifest as a constant presence at the edge of your perception—faint voices that grow louder in times of stress or danger. These whispers can offer cryptic warnings or attempt to lead you astray.

7. Echo-Infused Magic: Your spells often carry a resonant quality, with each incantation leaving behind an echo that lingers in the air. These echoes can have subtle effects, such as causing spells to last a moment longer or influencing the minds of those affected. In roleplay, you might describe your spellcasting as a symphony of layered sounds, with each spell building upon the echoes of the last, creating a crescendo of magical energy.

By embracing these roleplaying features, your Bard of the College of Echoes can become a uniquely mysterious and powerful character, whose connection to the past, present, and future sets them apart in the world of Dungevista. Your performances will be unforgettable, leaving a lasting impact on both your allies and your foes

Echoing Performance:

At 3rd level, when you join the College of Echoes, you learn to manipulate the lingering echoes of your voice and music to enhance your spells and abilities. When you use your Bardic Inspiration, the target also gains a spectral echo that follows them. For the next minute, the target can roll an additional 1d6 and add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw they make. The die changes to a d8 at 6th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.

Resonant Spells: Also at 3rd level, you gain access to new spells that reflect the sonic and reality-warping nature of your subclass. The following spells are added to your Bard spell list:

• 3rd Level: Shatter, Silence
• 5th Level: Clairvoyance, Fear
• 7th Level: Phantasmal Killer, Greater Invisibility
• 9th Level: Hold Monster, Synaptic Static

Dissonant Echo

At 6th level, you can use your echoes to disorient and weaken your foes. As a reaction when a creature within 60 feet of you fails a saving throw against one of your spells, you can force that creature to reroll the saving throw with disadvantage. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.

Echoes of the Past

At 14th level, your connection to the echoes of the Dungeon deepens, allowing you to tap into the knowledge and power of those who have come before. As an action, you can call upon these echoes to gain advantage on all ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws for 1 minute. During this time, you also have resistance to psychic damage, and creatures that attack you have disadvantage on attack rolls. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.