College of Roadways

Many bards are wandering entertainers who travel between towns and villages, inns and taverns. They pay for their way with songs and tales, and must always be ready to entertain the masses at a moments notice. A bard of this college is usually skilled at playing at least one instrument, often many, but their prime instrument is their voice. Masterful storytellers, they enthrall crowds when they speak, and can sway the attitudes of people and groups with just a song.

Since the Cataclysm, bards of the College of Roadways have freely traversed the open roads. Nearly every town and city in the civilized world open their arms to an itinerant bard. A very brave few of these bards will even travel into the Badlands, figuring that even the loneliest people need to be entertained. Just as often they are pulled there by the hope of finding forgotten lore, gleaming treasures, or a tale for the ages.

The College of Roadways is an informal one. Bards of this college are usually trained using the master-apprentice model. Masters teach their apprentices how to play an instrument, techniques for singing and performing, but a great deal about life as well. They must be trained for the life as a roving wanderer. While not expert survivalists, they must be able to camp under the stars, hunt well enough to provide for themselves, and be able to ward off danger. Fortunately, they know bardic magic that augments their abilities, or can be used to enchant and disorient their foes.

They are often jacks-of-all trades, as comfortable at court as they are in a dark and seedy roadside tavern. They are often called upon to be gregarious and social, despite often going for days at a time without seeing another soul. Many a bard of the College of Roadways has a tragic past, something they can innately call upon to fuel their tales, and give them a hefty yet natural sense of pathos and gravitas.

Well Travelled

When you join this College at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in History, Survival and a language of your choice.

Silver Tongued Devil

Beginning when you join this College at 3rd level, choose either Deception or Persuasion. Checks with the chosen skill are made with advantage. At level 10 you may select the other skill and also gain advantage with it.

Deception

Gain advantage on Deception checks.

Persuasion

Gain advantage on Persuasion checks.

Impactful Performance

At 6th level, your performances affect people on a deeply emotional level. By expending a use of your Bardic Inspiration, you may spend an action singing an emotional line from a ballad or reciting a soliloquy from a tragic story. Select a single humanoid within 60 feet of you to make a Wisdom save against your Spell DC. On a failure, the target becomes either charmed or frightened, at your choice, for one minute.

At the end of each of its turns, and each time it takes damage, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. The target has advantage on the saving throw if it's triggered by damage. On a success, the effect ends.

Whatever the Road Requires

Upon reaching 14th level, you can fall back on your life experiences to help you accomplish nearly any task required of you. When called upon to make a saving throw, ability check, or attack roll, you may use your reaction to substitute your Perform skill for the normal bonus. You may do this even if you don't have proficiency in the required check.

If you have expertise on Perform checks, then you may double your proficiency on the check, as normal. If you have an ability, spell, or other condition that gives you advantage or disadvantage on Perform checks, then you apply that as normal. 

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