Due to your cynicism, deadpan wit, ruthless cunning, and constant chain smoking, you've been labeled as a warlock, exorcist, and con man despite your deep desire to make a positive impact. Riding the line between acclaim and criticism, Arcane Investigators take a grittier approach to the Bard lifestyle through a sober insight into the twisted world we live in.

Sober Insight

You have a knack for seeing things as they are. You can add your Charisma modifier to your Intelligence and Wisdom checks.

Occult Spells

Your experience with the occult ensures you always have certain spells ready. When you reach a Bard level specified in the Occult Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.

Occult Spells
Level 3 - Thaumaturgy, Detect Evil and Good, Protection from Evil and Good, Augury, Nystul's Magic Aura
Level 5 - Magic Circle, Remove Curse
Level 7 - Banishment, Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
Level 9 - Contact Other Plane, Dispel Evil and Good

Contract Creatures

You can summon creatures to aid you in various ways, whether they are willing or not. You can cast the Find Familiar and Planar Ally spells once per long rest without expending a spell slot.

Dreamwalk

You can visit other planes of existence in your sleep. Provided you are not receiving input via the Dream spell or a similar effect, an illusory duplicate of yourself appears in a plane you have visited before. Alternatively, you can visit a person you are familiar with if they are on another plane of existence regardless of your familiarity with that plane. You can move, speak, and use the senses of your illusory duplicate, but cannot cast spells through your illusory duplicate. This effect lasts for 1 hour unless you decide to end it early or you are woken up. 

Mental Discipline

You've honed your fortitude against extraplanar forces. You gain proficiency with Intelligence and Wisdom saving throws.