The College of the Wild Call

Bards that hail from the College of the Wild Call learn to listen to nature, call upon it, and command it to do as they bid. Well, I suppose that's one way to give someone the bird...

This subclass was created as part of the Subclasseptember 2022 challenge!

Primal Source

At 3rd level, your links to nature have taught you to channel the primal magic practiced by druids. When your Spellcasting feature lets you learn a bard cantrip or a bard spell of 1st level or higher, you can choose the new spell from the druid spell list or the bard spell list. You must otherwise obey all the restrictions for selecting the spell, and it becomes a bard spell for you.

Woodland Song

Also at 3rd level, your voice has developed to command the spirits of the woodlands. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration to summon a swarm of intangible nature spirits. The swarm remains in your space, crawling on you or flying and skittering around you within your space. You determine its appearance, or you generate its appearance by rolling on the Swarm Appearance table.

When you summon the swarm and as a bonus action afterwards, you can direct the swarm to perform one of the following actions:

• Assist. You direct the swarm to assist a creature within 30 feet. The chosen creature gains advantage on the next attack or skill check it makes before the end of your next turn.
• Attack. Make a ranged spell attack against a creature within 30 feet. On a hit, the creature takes 1d6 slashing damage. This damage increases to 1d8 at 5th level, 1d10 at 11th level, and 1d12 at 17th level.
• Distract. You direct the swarm to distract a creature within 30 feet. The next attack or skill check that the target makes before the end of your next turn has disadvantage.

The swarm remains with you for 1 minute, or until you dismiss it early as a bonus action. The swarm is also dismissed at the end of your turn if you are incapacitated, silenced, or otherwise unable to speak clearly.

Swarm Appearance

d4	Appearance
1	Singing songbirds
2	Skittering squirrels
3	Prankish pixies
4	Slithering snakes

Natural Connection

At 6th level, your connection to the swarm’s spirits strengthens, allowing you to channel magic through them indirectly. As an action, you can see through the eyes of a member of your swarm, allowing you to view from any position within 100 feet of yourself. In addition, your swarm can channel magic in a similar fashion, allowing you to cast spells from any position within 100 feet of yourself.

Wings of Song

At 14th level, you gain a flying speed of 60 feet while your Woodland Song is active, as your swarm uplifts you in a coordinated movement. If you are airborne when your Woodland Song ends, you fall gently to the ground at a rate of 60 feet per round.