Base Class: Bard
Bards of the College of the Silver Word learn an ancient, primeval art: the power to shape reality through speech alone. The true origins of the Silver Word are lost to time, yet those who master even a fragment of its power can alter the world around them with just a sentence. Some bards with the Silver Word speak truths, some speak lies. No matter what kind of bard you are when wielding the Silver Word, one thing is for certain. What you speak is always true.
Silver Speech
3rd-level College of the Silver Word feature
Whenever you give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you can accompany it with a Silver Word. Choose one of the following declarations:
Affirmation. When the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die, it also gains temporary hit points equal to the number rolled + your Charisma modifier. Additionally, if the roll was made for a saving throw, the creature can immediately end one condition currently affecting it (your choice) if the saving throw succeeds.
Denial. When the creature uses the Bardic Inspiration die on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, one hostile creature of your choice within 60 feet takes psychic damage equal to the number rolled + your Charisma modifier. Additionally, if the roll was made on an attack, the target of that attack has disadvantage on its next attack roll before the end of its next turn.
Distortion. When the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die, it can immediately move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks. Additionally, if the roll was made for an ability check, the creature treats a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Silver Word
Your voice can persuade reality to change for a brief moment.
As a bonus action (or reaction when a creature you can see within 60 feet fails a roll), you may speak a short declarative sentence, no more than a brief phrase, that momentarily reshapes the world to align with your words. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. You may also expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to use this feature again.
Silver Word Options:
Rewrite Perception. You overwrite what someone believes is happening. A creature may resist with a Wisdom saving throw equal to your Spell Save DC. On a failure, it behaves as though your statement is true for a short time. This can meaningfully impair actions, positioning, spellcasting, or decision-making, but does not completely dominate a creature or replicate high-level spells like dominate person. Examples: “You don’t see me.” (You become briefly unnoticed.) “You already missed.” (An attack falters mid-swing.) “You’re bleeding.” (The creature clutches phantom wounds, treating itself as injured.)
Correct the Scene. You adjust physical details of the environment to support your claim. The change must be plausible, nonmagical in origin, and limited in scale. You cannot create complex machinery, large structures, or magical artifacts. Examples: “That door was unlocked.” “There’s cover there.” “The floor is slick.” “This contract was unsigned.”
Override the Moment. You contradict a recent failure. When a creature within range fails an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check, you may declare otherwise and force a reroll. The new result stands.
Mistake Immunity
6th-level College of the Silver Word feature
Your certainty shields you. When you fail a D20 test, you can use your reaction to declare why you do not. You reroll the D20 Test and add your Bardic Inspiration to the result. You must use the new result. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.
Additionally, you cannot be charmed or frightened while conscious.
Sovereign Word
14th-level College of the Silver Word feature
Your Silver Word now defines reality. When you use the Silver Word Feature:
- The duration increases to 1 minute (no concentration required).
- A number of creatures equal to your Charisma Modifier of your choice within range are affected.
- Affected creatures have disadvantage on their saving throws against Silver Word.
- The range and strength of Correct the Scene increase to allow more intense changes that last for 1 minute.
- Override the Moment now allows creatures to reroll with Advantage.
Additionally, once per long rest, when a creature fails its saving throw against your Silver Word, you may declare that change to be permanent.