Collage of Skalds

Skalds are a bard subclass inspired by historical warrior-poets. They combine the martial skills of warriors with the artistic talents of poets and musicians. Skalds excel at inspiring and motivating their allies, making them valuable companions in battle.

Drawing from the traditions of ancient skalds, they are proficient in both combat and magic. Skalds use their weapons and armor to engage in battle alongside warriors, and they possess unique bardic abilities that allow them to inspire those around them. Their charismatic presence can boost the combat abilities and morale of their allies.

Skalds have a knack for storytelling and music, and they use these talents to create legends on the battlefield. Through their words and music, they can temporarily enhance their allies' strength and resilience. Additionally, their musical abilities have a magical quality, enabling them to cast spells that manipulate emotions, inspire courage, and even charm or disrupt foes.

In summary, skalds are warrior-poet bards who blend historical inspiration with bardic magic, using their combat skills and artistic talents to inspire and protect their allies in battle.

Skaldic Inspiration

Skaldic Inspiration: At 3rd level, when you choose this college, you gain the ability to infuse your bardic inspiration with the power of epic tales and battle chants. When you use Bardic Inspiration, you can choose to grant your ally temporary hit points equal to the roll's result, in addition to the usual bonus. These temporary hit points last for 1 hour.

Warrior's Ballad

Warrior's Ballad: At 3rd level, you learn the Warrior's Ballad cantrip. When you cast this cantrip, you create an aura of inspiration and courage that affects your allies within a 30-foot radius. Your allies gain advantage on saving throws against being frightened, and they add your Charisma modifier to their weapon damage rolls. This effect lasts for 1 minute.

 

Battle Verses

Battle Verses: Starting at 6th level, you can recite ancient battle verses as a bonus action during your turn. These verses can take the form of a chant, a poem, or a song. Choose one of the following effects when you recite Battle Verses:

• Verse of Fury: Your allies gain a bonus to their attack rolls equal to your Charisma modifier for the next minute.

• Verse of Resilience: Your allies gain resistance to one type of damage of your choice (e.g., slashing, fire, or thunder) for the next minute.

• Verse of Swiftness: Your allies' movement speed increases by 10 feet for the next minute.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain expended uses after finishing a long rest.

Epic Tale

Epic Tale: At 14th level, your storytelling prowess reaches its pinnacle. As an action, you can tell an epic tale about a great hero or battle, inspiring yourself and your allies. For the next minute, you and your allies within 30 feet of you gain the following benefits:

• Advantage on all attack rolls and saving throws.
• Your attacks deal an additional 1d6 damage.
• You gain temporary hit points equal to your bard level at the start of each of your turns.

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

Skaldic Finale

Skaldic Finale: At 18th level, you can perform the Skaldic Finale, a majestic and inspiring performance that can turn the tide of any battle. As an action, you can start a Skaldic Finale that lasts for 1 minute. During this time, your allies gain the following benefits:

• They have advantage on all attack rolls and saving throws.
• They add your Charisma modifier to their weapon damage rolls.
• They have resistance to all damage types.

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

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Lore at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with three skills of your choice.

Additional Magical Secrets

At 6th level, you learn two spells of your choice from any class. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you but don’t count against the number of bard spells you know.

Peerless Skill

Starting at 14th level, when you make an ability check, you can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration. Roll a Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to your ability check. You can choose to do so after you roll the die for the ability check, but before the DM tells you whether you succeed or fail.