College of Iconography

The College of Iconography teaches that performance need not be limited to those who can stand in front of a crowd and put on a show, but anyone who can convey truth and ideals can become icons worldwide. Often hired by the public to create evocative images and craft a simple message into a persuasive icon. They live to convey truth through their art, and would rather been seen as eccentric or even crazy than compromise their art for the masses.

Cadres of the college's members often congregate to share their ideas, debate over forms or techniques, or gain the opinion of a fellow artist, only trusting those with whom they have found a common spirit. Despite this sense of camaraderie, they rarely stay in groups, preferring the inspiration that isolation and exploration can bring.

Quickdraw

When you join the College of Iconography at 3rd level you gain proficiency with Calligrapher's Supplies. Additionally, you can use Calligrapher's Supplies or a suitable writing or painting instrument to craft images quickly. Using this skill, you can draw suitable images to replace the Verbal and Somatic components of any spells you cast with a casting time of 1 action or 1 bonus action.

Icon of Influence

As an action you may expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to craft an Icon of Influence, an arcane mark no larger than a handspan across placed on a surface within 5 feet of you. This mark can have a variety of effects depending on its design. When you reach 3rd level, select two of the following options to learn. You can only have one Icon active at any given time, and each humanoid can only be affected by an Icon once. If they succeed on the save to resist, or the effect ends before the Icon disappears they cannot be affected again. An Icon remains for a number of minutes equal to your Charisma modifier, and can be removed as a bonus action, ending all currently active effects granted by it. Whenever you gain a Bard level you may swap an Icon you already know for another Icon from this list

Icon of Distrust

Choose a humanoid you know of when you place this Icon. Any humanoid who sees the Icon and falls under its influence becomes Frightened of the chosen person for the duration, and distrustful of anything said by that person.

Icon of Emboldened Spirit

 Those under the effect of the Icon gain advantage on saves against being Frightened or Charmed, and gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier plus your Bard level. This effect ends when the Temporary Hit Points granted in this way are depleted or otherwise removed.

Icon of Hatred

Choose a creature you know when placing this mark. Whenever a humanoid sees and falls under the influence of this mark, they become agitated, and feel a sense of hatred toward the chosen creature. They will begin to act in opposition to that creature, performing whatever tasks they might to work against that creature, whether violent or otherwise.

Icon of Hysteria

Whenever a humanoid sees the Icon and falls under its influence they begin to laugh hysterically, as if they find the slightest thing hilarious. Speaking becomes difficult, and they perform menial tasks with difficulty. Any person under the effect of this icon has disadvantage on all skill checks for the duration.

Icon of Serenity

Whenever a humanoid sees the Icon and falls under its Influence they become Charmed by a figure chosen when the Icon is placed. They will feel calm whenever the figure is within line of sight of them, and will gladly do whatever they can, short of bringing harm upon themselves, their property, or their loved ones, to assist that figure.

Icon of Turmoil

Any humanoid who sees the Icon and fall under its influence are filled with irrational and unthinking rage. Any such humanoids will lash out with violent intent at the slightest provocation. The extent of this behavior will vary, depending on the individual.

Icon of Unity

You may choose to denote a specific group, alliance, or a number of people when placing this Icon. Any such group who see and fall under the influence of the Icon will feel a strong sense of unity among others under its influence. Whenever multiple people under the influence of the icon gather and stand adjacent to one another they gain +1 AC, and attacks made by those people have advantage for the duration. Both the AC bonus and advantage are lost when the duration ends, or if a person has no other influenced individual adjacent to them at the end of their turn.

Improved Iconography

When you reach 6th level your Icon of Influence becomes improved. It now can last for up to a number of hours equal to your Charisma modifier, and Icons can now span up to a foot across. You can also learn an additional Icon option, for a total of three. Additionally, your icons have now become imbued with magic, and cannot be erased by anyone aside from you. (If the surface is destroyed, the mark is still considered to be "removed").

Master of Symbology

When you reach 14th level your ability with symbols takes on a new level. You can now place an Icon of Influence at will on any surface you can see within 60 feet of you, embedding the symbol with magical force into the material. Additionally, the symbol can now be up to five feet across, and last for a number of days equal to your Charisma modifier.

When you place any Icon of Influence, you may denote any number of people to be immune to the Icon. Alternatively, you can denote a group of people to be the only individuals affected by it. You may dispel the effects on a person individually, rather than dispelling the entire symbol and all of its effects.