Even the finest voice is but a simple melody when performing alone. Members of the College of Songbirds train woodland birds to accompany them, honing their own voices along with the bird's. A properly trained and accompanied member of this College can inspire legions of allies while demoralizing entire hordes of enemies.

Songbird Companion

At 3rd level, you gain a songbird companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to perform alongside you. This songbird has the stats of a Raven from the Monster Manual, but shares your Charisma score and is proficient in Performance. Add your proficiency bonus to the songbird’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals four times your bard level. Like any creature, it can spend Hit Dice during a short rest to regain hit points.

The songbird obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the songbird where to move (no action required by you). You can use a bonus action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, or Help action.

If you are incapacitated or absent, the songbird acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself. The songbird never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack.

If the songbird dies, you can obtain a new companion by spending 8 hours performing within a natural environment.

Skill Proficiency

Beginning at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Animal Handling Skill.

Counterpoint of Rest

Beginning at third level, your songbird has learned to accompany you in your performances, enhancing their quality. When play your Song of Rest during a short rest, so long as your Songbird Companion is with you, you may double your Song of Rest dice, granting 2d6 hit points to any ally who uses Hit Dice during the short rest.

The extra hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to 2d8 at 9th level, to 2d10 at 13th level, and to 2d12 at 17th level.

Harmonic Countercharm

Beginning at 6th level, your songbird has learned how to counter charming effects with its voice. In addition to its other commands, you may use your bonus action to order your songbird to begin a performance using the Countercharm Bard Class option. If you choose to use your action to perform the Countercharm in harmony with your songbird, any creatures within 30 feet of both you and your songbird who can hear both songs is immune to being charmed or frightened, and is cured of either affliction if already affected.

Harmonic Inspiration

Beginning at 14th level, your songbird companion has inherited a small measure of your inspirational voice. Your songbird gains a a pool of 4 Songbird Inspiration dice. These dice are d6. When you use your bonus action to inspire an ally, your songbird may, at the same time, grant one of its Songbird Inspiration dice to an ally within 60 feet of it. A creature may have a Bardic Inspiration and a Songbird Inspiration die at the same time, but may only use one at a time on any given action. Your songbird regains its Songbird Inspiration dice after a short rest or long rest.

Minor Chord

Beginning at 14th level, you and your songbird may combine your voices to strike terror in your foes. On your turn, as an action, you may play a minor chord with your songbird by expending both a Bardic Inspiration die and a Songbird Inspiration die. Any enemy that can hear you within 30 feet of you or your songbird must make a Charisma saving throw against your Spell Save DC or become frightened of you for one minute.

Because the minor chord runs counter to a Bard's usual modus operandi, it can be difficult to maintain this demoralizing stance. Any time you use your Bardic Inspiration feature to inspire an ally, any enemy affected by your Minor Chord may make a new save against its effect, with advantage.

This ability counts as a fear effect.