College of Chords

Many Bard's believe in the power of performance, whether that is a well woven Poem, an intricate dance, or even a fantastical story of Dungeons and Dragons. However, for those who study under the College of Chords, know that within music lies a much deeper magic. While Wizards speak words of magic carved from ancient runes, the very oldest of the College of Chords found the woven magic of the Fae within music chords. While a single chord alone merely plays a simple note, when combined together, and when expressed by a student of the College of Chords, the notes begin to dance together, and create magical effects beyond the usual knowledge of a Bard.

However, much like the Fae Creatures who wove the spells into the Chords, the magic created by Bards of this College is chaotic and unpredictable. As such, the art has slowly faded out, as tales of unintended explosions, and mysterious disappearances spread. Perhaps you can master the College of Chords, or perhaps the Fae will claim another curious soul.

Music Sheets

Throughout the world, music sheets have been left behind, detailing the Chords and Rhythms needed to perform some of the worlds most classic melodies. While for most people, these sheets are merely the very learnings of musicians before them, for those in the College of Chords, you are capable of learning so much more from the Sheets than your average scholar or fellow Bards.

All Music Sheets contain magic, but the spell hidden within the Chords is not clear, until you have spent time studying the sheet itself. As such, Music Sheets are more common than Spell Scrolls, but still require effort to understand the magic behind them.

Upon finding a Music Sheet, you can spend time studying and learning the song, the difficulty of which will be set out by the Dungeon Master. To learn a song, you must choose to study the music sheet for a period of 2 hours, during which you must succeed on a Charisma (Performance) check with a DC of 10 + (Spell level x 2). Once you have done three separate study sessions successfully, you will unlock the spell hidden within the Chords.

Bard spells learnt through this method are automatically added to your spell sheet. However, on a Long rest, you can prepare a number of spells equal to your proficiency modifier that are not in the Bard spell list, that you have the Music Sheet for. These spells cannot be cast using Spell Slots though, and must instead be cast using the Arcane Performance feature.

Arcane Performance

Starting at 3rd level, you begin to learn how to use your Performance skills to cast your spells. 

Casting a spell gained through Arcane Performance expends one of your Bardic Inspiration die rather than a spell slot. Upon choosing your spell, roll 1d4-1 casting the spell at the level of the resulting roll. This works, even if the result of the roll is higher than your usual maximum spell level. If the result of the roll is less than the spell's base level, then the spell fails.

Spells cast using this method are Verbal regardless of if the spell states it or not, and cannot be cast subtly, or stealthily. You may also cast spells not from the Bard Spell List using this feature, but only if you have the spell prepared with the appropriate Music Sheet.

The dice rolled to select the spell level increases to 1d6-1 at 7th level, 1d8-1 at 11th level, and 1d10-1 at 15th level.

Unlikely Encore

Starting at 6th level, whenever an ally successfully makes an action, that required them to make an attack roll using a D20, while they had disadvantage, you may use a reaction at the cost of a Bardic Inspiration die, to allow them to remake that same action with no additional costs.

This means a spell does not need to use a spell slot, and any sort of class action can be reused regardless of it has any uses left, but only if it was used with the original action.

A Grand Duet

At 14th level, your mastery of music has garnered the interest of the very Fae Creatures who wove the magic into the music you play. As such, they have sent one of their younglings to act as your apprentice, and join in with your melodies. As such, whenever you cast a spell that targets a single creature, your Fae partner will join in the melody, and mimic the effects to a second creature of your choice within range. This feature can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency modifier.

The Fae Creature takes on the form of any small animal you desire, and has Hit Points equal to your Constitution Score, and an AC of 12. The creature remains within 5 feet of you at all times, and will not take any action other than to mimic your spells. It cannot be commanded to travel beyond the 5 foot range. If for some reason the creature goes further than 10 feet from you, or if its hit points are reduced to 0, it will return to the Fae Realm. The creature will return at the end of a Long Rest.

At level 20, a second creature is sent to join you, allowing you to mimic your spells to a third target.