Seekers of the Song

Beyond magic, beyond sound, beyond good or evil, lies music so profound and powerful that even deities quake at its sound. This primal music - of unknown origin and with no limit to its power - is incomprehensible to the mortal ear. To some who hear a fragment of this music, it becomes beauty incarnate, and they devote their lives to its discovery. These seekers wield the power of music in ways that amaze even the most skilled bards.

United only by their quest, seekers of the song have incredibly diverse goals and motivations. Some black-hearted seekers know that this primal music is power, and they lust after it in hopes of turning it against their many enemies. Others search for the music to bring joy and peace. Most have more moderate aspirations and seek the music because it moves them. Regardless of their goals, seekers of the song rarely work against one another - each hoping that another seeker will uncover another piece of the primal music and share it with the rest.

The song never leaves a seeker, and its power can have strange effects on their souls. Some retire from society, seeking the silence of distant monasteries or mountaintops from which to better concentrate on the music they once heard. Others remain unchanged to outward appearances, yet the music remains in the back of their minds at all times. Some talk to any who will listen about the importance and beauty of the primal music, while others cannot seem to find the words to express what this music means to them or to the world.

Every seeker of the song must have at least one bard level, but beyond that, their stories and careers differ wildly. Many begin their adventuring careers as bards, drawn to music from their earliest days. Others come to the class after adventuring as fighters, rogues, clerics, or members of other classes for most of their careers, with little idea that the primal music will become their chosen path. Although at least a few seekers emerge from every class, few wizards or sorcerers take up the pursuit; members of these classes are more likely to devote themselves to traditional spellcasting rather than the strange pull of the primal music.

Virtuoso Performance

With an impassioned soliloquy or a haunting melody, the bard can create magical effects beyond the power of inspiration. The virtuoso performance can be used by expending use of bardic inspiration or a spell slot of the appropriate level. Although many of the names refer to musical performances, the virtuoso isn't actually so limited—for example, an actor could perform a "sustaining soliloquy" rather than a sustaining song.

At 3rd level the Bard learns the following Performances: Sustaining Melody, Jarring Noises, and Sharp Note - 3rd level spell slot / one use of bardic inspiration

At 9th level the Bard learns the following Performances: Mindbending Dirge, Magical Hymn, and Song of Fury - 6th level spell slot / two uses of bardic inspiration

at 15th level the Bard learns the following Performances: Ballad of Revealing - 9th level spell slot / three uses                   of bardic inspiration

 

Bardic Knowledge

At 3rd Level add your bard levels to any knowledge check as a bonus.

Song of Arcane Power

A bard can expend 1 use of bardic inspiration and as a bonus empower their spells and songs through their performance. Roll a d20 and add your perform skill before the action is taken. The result is a bonus that can be added to a spell or song's save DC or it's damage.

Combined Spells

A bard of crafts and tunes combine two types of bardic music or spells to provide the benefits of both. The bard chooses two music abilities and/or spells and activates both using the same action. If either or both require concentration, the bard can maintain concentration on both by using one action each round to concentrate.