College of Requiems

Tales of heroes long dead and their deeds of glory; the stories of kingdoms that are no more. The songs of the dead are the most haunting of all, and sometimes carry the most power. The College of Requiems is a rare line of interest among the troubadours of the world, or at least those who claim to be a part of it are barely seen among society. This school of study isn’t an official organization, but a loose term for the individuals that possess the interests that define it. 

Bards who belong to the College of Requiems are known as “soulsingers” (or “souloists”), and are often those who have a close connection with death in their lives - ones who have lost a family member at an early age, one who had a close scrape with their mortality, or even reborn fellows who want to know more about what comes after life. These laureates sometimes frequent graveyards, bringing themselves close to the dead to hear what they have to say. Most have a grim respect for death and see it as something to be honored, while others view it as the path to might. Either way, a soulsinger is one to take note of, because they have surely heard things that are not to be sneezed at. 

Boons of the Other Side

When you join the College of Requiems at 3rd level, your close relationship with the dead grants you some of their former traits. You gain the following abilities: 

• You learn two additional languages.
• You learn the spell Speak With Dead, which you can cast as a ritual and always have ready. 
• You can always understand the dead when they speak to you, regardless of language barriers.

Grim Arcana

Also at 3rd level, you gain access to a limited amount of necromantic power. You learn two cantrips of the school of necromancy. In addition to that, as you progress in levels, you learn a number of necromancy spells. You always have these spells ready. 

Bard Level	Spells
3rd	False Life, Inflict Wounds
5th	Blindness/Deafness, Gentle Repose
9th	Revivify, Spirit Shroud
13th	Blight, Shadow of Moil
17th	Danse Macabre, Enervation

 
Upon reaching 11th level, you gain access to more powerful spells fueled by your connection to the dead. Choose a 6th level spell of the school of necromancy. You always have this spell ready. You gain this same feature as you level up further: you choose one 7th-level spell at 13th level, one 8th-level spell at 15th level, and one 9th-level spell at 17th level. 

Tenebrous Hymn

At 6th level, you gain the ability to bolster your allies’ vitality with a song of the afterlife. Choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier that are within 30 ft. of you. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration to grant these creatures a number of temporary hit points equal to two rolls of your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to half your Bard level rounded down, then you must finish a long rest before you can use it again. 

Defiant Lament

Upon reaching 14th level, you are able to use your abilities to temporarily stay the coming of death. Whenever a friendly creature you can see within 30 ft. of you drops to 0 hp or lower, you can use your reaction to make them drop to 1 hp instead. You can use this feature a number of times equal to half your Charisma modifier rounded up, then you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.