College of Archives

The College of Archives is home to bards who weave spells not only through song and speech, but through the written word. These arcane scribes see magic as literature made manifest—spells are stories waiting to be told, and scrolls are the pages on which reality is rewritten.

By mastering the art of spell writing, these bards can transcribe their magic into temporary scrolls, allowing others to cast their spells or saving magic for the perfect moment. Whether wandering poets, war chroniclers, or ghostwriters of prophecy, bards of this college use their knowledge of language, narrative, and performance to shape the world around them—one verse, stanza, or page at a time.

Their tools are quills and ink, their battlefield a blank page, and their power lies in the permanence of story.

College of Archives Features

Spellwright's Quill

3rd-level College of Archives feature

You gain proficiency with calligrapher’s supplies if you don’t already have it. You can use calligrapher’s supplies as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

You also gain the ability to transcribe your magic into written form. When you finish a long rest, you can create a number of Temporary Spell Scrolls equal to your proficiency bonus. To do so, you must expend a spell slot for each scroll created and expend one use of Bardic Inspiration per scroll.

Each scroll contains a bard spell you know of a level equal to or lower than the expended spell slot. A creature holding the scroll may cast the spell using your spell save DC and spell attack bonus. The scroll disintegrates after use or at the end of your next long rest. Scrolls are considered magical consumables and can be gifted or sold.

Writer's Insight

3rd-level College of Archives feature

Your deep understanding of narrative and language gives you unique communicative power. You learn the spell comprehend languages, but it does not count against the number of spells you know and may cast them without expending a spell slot a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest. 

Narrative Resonance

6th-level College of Archives feature

When a creature uses one of your Temporary Spell Scrolls, you regain one expended Bardic Inspiration die. You may only benefit from this feature once per turn.

Additionally, your words take root in others. As a bonus action, you may spend a Bardic Inspiration and choose one creature you can see within 60 feet of you. Roll the Bardic Inspiration die. That creature must subtract the number rolled from its next saving throw before the start of your next turn.

Master Scribe

14th-level College of Archives feature

Your scrolls take on legendary permanence. When you create a Temporary Spell Scroll, you can choose to make one Enduring. This scroll last 7 days instead of until the end of your next long rest and now making a Temporary Spell Scroll does not require a Bardic Inspiration to create, only a spell slot. You can only have a number of Temporary Spell Scrolls and Enduring Spell Scrolls equal to your proficiency bonus (if you make a spell scroll beyond your limit, the oldest created spell scroll is instantly destroyed).

In addition, once per long rest, you may cast a spell from your Temporary Spell Scroll or Enduring Spell Scroll, without consuming the spell scroll.