College of Fine Arts

While some bards are extraordinary singers and masters of their musical craft, those belonging to the College of Fine Arts express themselves through subtler and, in their opinion, more skillfull methods: through threads, ropes and strings, or through paint, sketches and brushes. Most bards would sing of their grand adventures, but those belonging to this college would either thread a perfectly woven loom showing their acomplishments, or elaborate a masterful painting showing perfect mastery of color theory. 

Most are expert craftsmen, fabled and renowned painters, designers, puppeteers or illustratos, but some take to adventuring. Perhaps for the fame, perhaps for the thrill, though either way, their companions are always happy to have a bard of the fine arts amongst them, trapping their enemies and cobbling together companions of silk and thread, or pait and watercolor, to aid them when needed.

Fine Arts Adept

Beginning when you first choose this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with your choice Weaver’s Tools or Painter's Supplies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any checks you make with the chosen tool, and you can use them as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

In addition, as part of a long rest, you can use the chosen tools to either thread together or beautifully paint a companion for yourself, causing the effects of the Find Familiar. The creature you conjure is visibly made of threads and fabric, or wool and buttons, or other similar materials, held together by  magic.

Bardic Lash

Also at 3rd level, you can conjure a lash of either thread or paint to tug at an opponent and suspend it in magic. As an action, choose a creature you can see within 60 feet of you, expending a use of your bardic inspiration. It must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC or become restrained by lashing ropes or string or paint until the beginning of your next turn.

When you reach 6th level in this class and as your magic grows stronger, you can choose two creatures within 30 feet of you instead of one within 60, and at 14th level, you can choose three within 30 feet of you, two within 60 feet of you, or one within 120 feet of you.

Artistic Help

Starting at 6th level, you can weave or paint allies for yourself and your companions. Once per long rest, as part of a short or long rest, you can spend 1 hour either weaving a small loom or painting a small piece, with your chosne fine arts tool. At the end of the process, you temporarily learn one spell of your choice from any class.

The spell you choose must be of a level equal to your proficiency bonus or less, and it must be a spell that summons or conjures at least one creature (consult with your DM to see if the spell is appropriate). Until you use this feature again, the chosen spell counts as a bard spell for you and it doesn’t count against the number of bard spells you know, and you may cast it once until you use this feature again without expending a spell slot. When you cast it this way, it is cast as if it was a spell of a level equal to your proficiency bonus if it isn't already (for example, if your proficiency bonus is 4 and you chose the spell Summon Beast, it is cast as a 4th level spell). Whenever you cast the chosen spell, the summoned creature appears to be made of either threads and fabric, or moving and swirling paint, held together by magic.

Unravelling Barb

By the time you’ve reached 14th level, you can use your magic to turn an enemies’ strike into harmless threads or paint and entrap an opponent in the process. 

Whenever a creature within 30 feet of you or within 30 feet of a creature you summoned makes an attack, you can use your reaction and transmute the attack into threads or paint. Roll a bardic inspiration die, without expending a use. The attack is reduced by an amount equal to the result, and if the attack then misses, threads or paint sprout from the attacker and ensnare the creature, as it becomes restrained until the beginning of your next turn. 

You can use this feature twice, regaining all expended uses when you finish a short or long rest. You can use this feature again by expending a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, or by expending two uses of your bardic inspiration.