College of the Hearth

Most bards tell tales of grand adventures, mighty heroes, and legends of old. But some bards tell tales closer to home - of the fisherman's son falling into the lake two towns over, of the marriage of MacLeold's daughter to the chieftain's son, or the birth of a blacksmith's daughter. The College of the Hearth is dedicated to celebrating the ordinary, and using songs to spread news between remote villages. Hearth bards can make any space feel like home to their listener, using calming melodies to inspire the warmth and intimacy of sitting with your family by the home fireplace. 

The bards of this college may not have the same respect as their peers in cities and large towns, and their style of sharing is not appropriate for court functions. Even their peers feel they are wasting their talents. However, they can always find a warm bed and warmer welcome in the towns hidden in valleys, remote forests, and on high mountainsides. Hearth bards find fulfillment in the simple joys they bring to others, and often have a one to five year circuit of villages they visit. When they break this circuit, it is usually to discover news of the greater world to bring back or at the behest of a villager seeking a distant relative or family member. 

Home Away from Home

Starting at 6th level, your melodies have become so ingrained with family care that they make the listener feel as though they are home, sleeping in a soft bed under a warm roof. 

Over the course a short or long rest, you and all creatures who can hear you are treated as rolling the highest possible number on the die gained from Song of Rest. Furthermore, you and your companions have any levels of fatigue reduced by 1. Any negative effects are suppressed during any rest when using this feature.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until after you finish a long rest.

Breadwinner

Traveling alone through long stretches of wilderness have made you a hunter by necessity, if not choice.

Gain the Archery Fighting Style and proficiency in Survival and with longbows. This Fighting Style cannot be gained more than once, even if the game allows you to chose again.

Homespun Tale Teller

Starting at 3rd level, your disarming and genuine care for the lives of ordinary folk gains you fast friends. You can quickly spin anecdotes into songs, making strangers feel more appreciated in their daily lives.  

By expending one use of Bardic Inspiration, all creatures who hear a 10 minute performance from the bard make a Wisdom saving throw against the bard’s spell save DC. Those who fail are friendlier towards you for 8 hours.

A Travel Song

At the 14th level, your infectious traveling tunes have a strong effect on others. While you came up with them to pass the time while traveling between one village and another, now their comfort makes your steps (and heart) lighter and surer.  

For as long as the bard can maintain concentration and perform, they and those within hearing range cannot be slowed by difficult terrain or become lost. By keeping their spirits up, they gain advantage against mind altering effects during and for up to 8 hours or when you lose concentration (as if concentrating on a spell).

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until after you finish a short or long rest.