College of Skalds

Bards of the College of Skalds are not classically trained singers or musicians. They are instead raised honing their own voice and learning the triumphs, and tragedies of their people. They learn lessons from these tales and weave them into songs of might, wading into battle alongside the warriors and leading them to victory.

A skald, as they are known, is taught to learn a lesson from every scenario, no matter how small. This is how they further hone the songs they perform, expanding the knowledge of their people by adding more and more to the song.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Skalds at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the performance and history skills, as well as medium armor.

Your own voice is your spellcasting focus. Any spell meeting the requirements to be cast with a focus may be cast as long as the skald can speak with no material components required.

Raging Song

At 3rd level, the Skald gains the ability to perform their Raging Song. As an action, the Skald erupts into an inspiring song. Allies that are able to hear the Skald acquire effects based on the Skald's choice of song.

• Song of the Dashing Fox - The Skald sings of a masterful thief, able to move unnaturally fast. Allies gain +5ft to their movement speed.
• Song of the Brutal Bear - The Skald sings of a monstrous barbarian, whose crushing blows devastated foes. On their next melee weapon attack, allies deal additional thunder  damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of +1). Whether the attack hits or misses, this effect then ends.
• Song of the Leaping Horse - The Skald sings of a horsemaster, unable to be hit while on horseback. Allies gain advantage on their next Dexterity saving throw or Dexterity-based skill check.
• Song of the Kind Druid - The Skald sings of a brilliant herbalist, able to cure any ailment. Any allies affected by the blinded, paralyzed, poisoned, or stunned conditions are immediately cured of that condition.
• Song of the Merciful Warrior - The Skald sings of an honorable warrior, who gave quarter to any deserving foe. Allies who are reduced to 0 hit points immediately stabilize, but are left unconscious at 0 hit points. If the creature is slain outright, this song has no effect.

The effect of the song lasts until the start of the Skald's next turn. 

The Skald may perform their Raging Song a number of rounds equal to their proficiency bonus, and regains this ability in full upon finishing a long rest.

The Skald's songs do not interfere with their vocal components of spellcasting. The components are woven into their song, allowing them to cast spells normally even while singing.

The Raging Song and its effect immediately end if the Skald is knocked unconscious, silenced, paralyzed, killed, or otherwise preventing from using their voice. If a creature is prevented from hearing the Skald's song, the effects of the song immediately fade.

Inspiring Song

Also at 3rd level, your song gains the power to inspire others. While you are performing your Raging Song and a creature that you can see within 30 feet of you makes an attack roll or an ability check you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and adding the number rolled to the creature’s roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature cannot be affected by this feature if it cannot hear you.

Empowered Song

At 6th level, while maintaining their Raging Song, the Skald has resistance to nonmagical slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning damage. 

Additional Raging Songs

At 14th level, the Skald gains access to two more powerful songs.

• Song of the Roaring Dragon - The skald shouts a song of the ancient wars of dragons. Enemies that can hear the Skald have disadvantage on their next attack. After the attack hits or misses, the effect of the song fades.
• Song of Harmonious History - The skald weaves two of their other songs together, granting both of their effects until the start of the Skald's next turn.

Each of these songs may only be performed once per long rest.