College of Literature

The College of Literature is an offshoot of the Wizard School of Divination, bridging the gap between the academic nature of Wizards and the eccentric and creative nature of Bards. Many Bards who enter the College of Literature go in pursuit of creative, yet intellectual endeavors. They can be found tucked away in a library reading or surrounded in mead halls while spinning a wondrous tale.

At times, Bards will join the College of Literature when feeling trapped in an effort to change their fates. While Wizards of Divination seek to see the future, Bards of Literature seek to change it. Working off of a close eye on the things they witness and experiences they endure, Bards of the College of Literature inspire those around them to take a closer look around them and become more than they thought possible before.

Mystic Wordsmith

At 3 level, you become deeply acquainted with the written and vocal components of magic. Your spellcasting focus becomes a spellbook, and you gain proficiency in Calligrapher’s Supplies.

Additionally, you gain the Message cantrip, and you can cast Illusory Script without expending a spell slot. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier. You regain all expended uses of this feature when you finish a long rest.

Fate Revision

At 3 level, your creative writings begin to subtly revise the world around you. When you finish a long rest, roll a Bardic Inspiration die and record the result. As a reaction, you can add or subtract the value to any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see. You may do so after the roll, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. You can affect a roll in this way only once per turn.

At 10 level, you may roll 2 Bardic Inspiration dice and keep both results.

Arcane Plagiarism

At 6 level, you become skilled at analyzing and recording the way in which casters use magic. When a creature casts a spell within 60 feet of you, you may use your reaction to attempt to record the spell you witnessed. This consumes one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration.

• If the spell is of 3 level or lower, you record a copy of the spell in your spellbook. If it is casting a spell of 4 level or higher, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, you successfully create a copy of the spell in your spellbook. You may only record spells up to 5 level.
• A spell copy lasts 24 hours, and you can only carry 1 copy at a time. Casting a copied spell requires expending a spell slot of the same level which the copied spell was cast. This number increases to 2 copies at 10 level and 3 copies at 14level.

Peripeteia

At 14 level, you gain the ability to reverse the conclusion of an ally’s life and turn their demise against the attacker. When an ally is to be reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction at the end of the attacker’s turn to prevent an ally from taking that damage and instead reflect it back to the attacker. The attacker must make a Charisma saving throw, DC 10 + your charisma modifier. The attacker loses hit points equal to what the fallen ally would have lost on a failed save, and half as much on a successful one. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Thoughtful Journalist*

As a bard acclimated to the realm of literature and storytelling, you have a mindful eye towards your experiences and the world around you. Upon joining the College of Literature, you become the party’s designated notetaker and are responsible for providing recaps at the beginning of each session, in character.*

*DM discretion. Not required.