Fochlucan Lyrist

Warrior, thief, spy, poet, woodland champion – a Fochlucan Lyrist is all of these things and more.  Only the best and brightest are invited to become Fochlucan lyrists, and those who eventually win the approval of the Fochlucan College's masters are remarkable individuals indeed, skilled in swordplay, magic, and diplomacy.  Those who aspire to join the Fochlucan College face a long and difficult road. The great bards who lead the school choose only individuals who have demonstrated skill at arms and stealth, learning and cleverness, superb talent with the lute and an ear for the stories of old. Finally, all applicants must first study the lore of the druids, learning the ways of growth and the hidden secrets of nature. Few indeed can stand up to the rigorous scrutiny of the Fochlucan masters.

Fochlucan lyrists adventure to gain information. They are spies and rumormongers, ever on the watch for news of events that may upset the balance they seek to preserve. A lyrist can serve as a diplomat, messenger, or assassin, as needed.  The Fochlucans strongly believe in fostering the careers of other adventurers whose viewpoints align with their own, and many lyrists attach themselves to adventuring companies specifically for the purpose of guiding their comrades to oppose the right enemies and advance the interests of the Fochlucan College.  Ultimately, the tradition of the Fochlucan Lyrists is a singular path, where members are devoid of contact from one another, and adherents must practice alone to develop those skills that will serve them best in their chosen role.

Druidic Magic

Your link to the natural world allows you to learn spells from the druid class. When your Spellcasting feature lets you learn or replace a bard cantrip or a bard spell of 1st level or higher, you can choose the new spell from the druid spell list or the bard spell list. You must otherwise obey all the restrictions for selecting the spell, and it becomes a bard spell for you.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the Fochlucan Lyrists at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor.  You also gain proficiency with the Lute.

Obfuscating Melody

Starting at 6 level, you can use your bardic music ability to misdirect others and shift their attention away from you.  As a bonus action, you may expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration die and take the hide action.  When taking this hide action, you make a Charisma (Performance) check instead, and you may attempt to hide while in view of creatures who can see you clearly.  While hidden in this way, you may not use your Bardic Music ability or cast any spell with a verbal component without revealing your location.

Mystical Swordplay

Starting at 14 level, whenever you use a bonus action to give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you can make a melee weapon attack as part of the same bonus action.