College of Runes

Bards from the College of Runes indulge in the study of Rune scribing, with an array of runes at their disposal.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Runes at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the calligrapher's and painter's tools, which you use to draw or inscribe runes on surfaces.

Musical Runes

Also at 3rd level, when you are not in combat, you may play your instrument to imbue either your painter's tools or calligrapher's tools with magic. The chosen tool is then ready to inscribe Music Runes on surfaces. You may choose one soft surface, such as paper, canvas, cloth, etc. and choose one of the two Music Runes to inscribe on that surface.

Discordant Rune

This rune gets inscribed on a surface. When a creature gets within 5 ft. of it, the rune plays a painful, discordant tune that deals 1d6 + your spellcasting modifier Psychic damage to all creatures within 10 ft. of the rune. The rune then disappears.

Harmonious Rune

This rune gets inscribed on a surface. When a creature gets within 10 ft. of it, the rune plays a sweet, harmonious tune that heals every creature of your choice within 10 ft. of it by 2d4 + your spellcasting modifier. The rune then disappears.

Improved Runes

At 6th level, your Musical Runes are improved. Your Harmonious Rune's activation range increases to 10 ft., it's healing range increases to 30 ft., and it heals damage equal to 2d6 + your spellcasting modifier. Additionally, your Discordant Rune's activation range increases to 10 ft., the damage range increases to 30 ft., and it deals damage equal to 1d10 + your spellcasting modifier Psychic damage.

Additional Musical Runes

At 14th level, you learn three extra Music Runes: the Deafening Rune, the Charming Rune, and the Everlasting Song Rune.

Charming Rune

This rune gets inscribed on a surface. It has three charges. When a creature comes within 10 ft. of the rune, it is charmed by you, and one charge is lost. The charm lasts until the rune fades away. When all three charges are expended, the rune fades away, and all creatures that are charmed are not charmed anymore.

Deafening Rune

This rune gets inscribed on a surface. When a creature gets within 10 ft. of it, the rune explodes into the thundering crash of a gong, deafening and damaging creatures within 30 ft. of the rune for 2d8 + your spellcasting modifier Thunder damage.

Everlasting Song Rune

This rune gets inscribed on a creature or wall. When inscribed on a wall, it has three charges. When a creature comes within 10 ft. of the rune, orchestral music plays in that creatures head. A creature affected in this way has disadvantage on all checks that rely on hearing, and when it attacks, roll a d20. On a roll of 5 or lower, the attack misses due to the constant musical distraction. The music stops when all three charges of the rune have been expended. In order to inscribe this rune on a creature, it must be unconscious. When it is inscribed on a creature, the creature is affected as if it was targeted by the Everlasting Song rune on a wall. The creature suffers the same disadvantages as before. The music stops if the creature dies, when you choose it to end, if the creature gets transported to another plane of existence, or if the creature moves at least 10 miles away from the original location where it got affected.