College of Blood

Some Bards that have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into their craft find that they can push themselves just a bit further to bolster their allies or hinder their enemies. While one Bard might charm an aristocrat or have a crowded tavern stomping their feet to the rhythm, Blood Bards focus on weaving their own lifeblood into their music to empower their magic, spells that heal or harm. Blood magic is frowned upon in many circles, but Blood Bards let their art do the talking.

Level 3: Phantom Ballad

As a Bonus Action, you can summon a “phantom instrument” for one minute. You are proficient with this instrument while you are holding it, and as a magic action you can make a ranged spell attack toward one creature within 60 ft of you as a discordant note rings in their ears. On a hit, the attack deals Necrotic damage equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die + your CHA modifier.

 

Level 3: Hemorrhaging Crescendo

As a Bonus Action, you can expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration; roll the die and take Necrotic damage equal to the result, which can’t be reduced in any way to gain one of the following results until the start of your next turn.

Empowered Blood. If you cast a spell that deals damage, add the Necrotic damage you took to the damage of that spell.

Blood Curse. If you cast a spell requiring a target to make a saving throw, you can impose a penalty to one of the targets equal to your CHA modifier (min 1). If the spell targets multiple creatures, you can only target a number of creatures equal to your CHA modifier (min 1) to impose this penalty.

Refreshing Blood. If you cast a spell that restores hit points, you can grant temporary hit points to the target equal to the Necrotic damage you took. If the spell targets multiple creatures, you can only choose a number of creatures equal to your CHA modifier (min 1) to gain this benefit.

Level 6: Inspiring Sacrifice

As a Bonus Action, you can roll one of your Bardic Inspiration die, and take Necrotic damage equal to the roll, which can’t be reduced in any way. Then, you can empower one ally of your choice for one minute. For the duration, when that ally makes a damage roll, they deal extra Necrotic damage equal to your CHA modifier (min 1).

Dirge of Dread

Whenever you cast a spell that deals damage, you can force every creature within 30 ft of you to make a WIS saving throw equal to your spell save modifier or be frightened of you until the end of their next turn. If the target succeed the save, they are immune to this ability for the next 24 hrs.

You can use this ability a number of times equal to your CHA modifier (min 1). You regain all expended uses of this ability on a long rest.

You can use this ability only once a turn.

Level 14: Final Encore

When you would fall to O hit points, but not killed outright, you can take a reaction to expend one Bardic Inspiration die; roll the die. Instead of dropping to 0 hit points, you drop to a number of hit points equal to the number rolled + your CHA modifier (min 1).

You then gain 2 levels of exhaustion.

Macabre Reprise

When you cast a spell that deals damage, you can change that one of that spell’s damage type to Necrotic for this casting only. You can only use this feature once per turn. You have a number of uses equal to your CHA modifier and regain all expended uses on a Long Rest.