College of the Wordsmith

Bards of the College of the Wordsmith are experts in the art of the spoken and written word. They employ the power of annunciation, articulation, and poetic techniques to bewilder foes and endear allies. Wordsmiths tend to be more empathetic to those around them, looking to diffuse a situation rather than fight.

Bonus Proficiencies

At 3rd level, your training grants you proficiency in one of the following skills:
Persuasion, Deception, Insight, Performance, History, or Sleight of Hand.
You also gain proficiency in the use of a forgery kit.

When you reach 6th level and again when
you reach 10th level, you get proficiency in
another of the listed skills.

Empowered Voice

Through perfect annunciation and understanding of the underlying power that words can have, you can harness your words more effectively than most other creatures.

Starting at 3rd level, when you cast a spell that has a somantic component, you can provide a verbal component instead. If the spell has both somantic and verbal components, you can provide a verbal component only. You cannot do so if you are wearing medium or heavy armor.

Scribed Brilliance

Also at 3rd level, your talent for writing allows magic to permeate longer through penmanship. As an action, you may transcribe a spell you have learned onto an item of clothing, the skin, or an object worn or carried by another creature.

The spell must be a concentration spell that affects the target creature and is treated as casting that spell on said creature. The clothing, object, or skin is treated as magical for the duration of the spell. The spell lasts for the entire duration listed. The spell is thus treated as a magical item instead of a spell and is not affected by Concentration checks. You may only have one scribed spell at any one time but you may cast another concentraion spell in its regular fashion.

At 14th level, you may have 2 scribed spells active.

A Haiku for You

At 6th level, your training in poetic styling has allowed you to find shortcuts in certain spells and streamline their essence into a shorter form.
You may cast spells that require an action to cast as a bonus action instead as long as you meet certain criteria.
* The spell must not be a concentration spell
* The spell must be able to be cast with only verbal components
* You are not wearing medium or heavy armor

Voice of Reason

Through continued training, you learn to use your voice effectively in combat to change the mindset of those in battle. When in combat, you can forgo your movement and action to instead invoke words of power. You learn some words at 6th level, and others at 14th as indicated in their description.

**Commanding Words** (6th level) You channel your voice to speak directly to one creature you can see in range. You may may influence their next action as if using the _Command_ spell

**Guiding Words** (6th level) You speak inspiring words to a creature within 15 feet of you. They gain the effects of the _guidance_ spell

**Beastly Words** (6th level) Your voice with these words is soothing to animals. You may influnce up to 3 animals within 30 feet of you as if casting the _Animal Friendship_ spell

**Hysteric Words** (14th level) Using a string of quickly-voiced words, you casue confusion and hysteria to those around you. Centred on an object not worn or carried by a creature, an area of psychic energy affects creatures within a 10 foot sphere with the effects of the _Confusion_ spell.

**Warding Words** (14th level) Focusing on one creature you can see within 30 feet. You speak a literary mantra of protection. glowing words appear around that creatures body and they are treated as if they are under the effect of the _Primordial Ward_ spell

A Language Written, is a Language Learned

At 14th level, You gain double proficiency in either Insight, Performance, or Persuasion.

You can also understand any language that is written.

Also, after spending 2 hours meditating with a a book of at least 100 pages and written in a language you do not know, you can speak and write in that language as if you knew it. This effect lasts until you either take a long rest or you meditate with another book in a similar manner.