College of Festivals

Bards of the College of Festivals find their niche with the particular crowds who prefer more alternative entertainment. Their circuses shock and awe townships, troupes of them overwhelm the minds of their audience, and some don't even bother asking the crowd for volunteers before dragging them into the ring. These bards aren't in the business of wooing or courting their prospective spectators, but are instead hellbent on spreading their ideology of pure, unadulterated hedonism.

Bards who choose to follow the teachings of the College of Festivals have little loyalty to anyone or anything, but their common goal of breaking taboos and inspiring others to join in on their cult-like obsession with carnal pleasures drive them to make connections with folk who move in the darker circles of society.

Where these bards arrange festivals, mayhem follows in their wake. Their unending drive to perform and indulge leave the places they visit in various states of ruin, but as long as they're around to enable each other, their festivals aren't likely to stop.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you join the College of Festivals at 3rd level, you gain expertise with Performance and Acrobatics, in addition to becoming proficient with improvised weapons.

Riot Mage

Also at 3rd level, you learn how to lead the festival, entertaining those around you; whether they like it or not. As an action, you designate creatures equal to three times your CHA modifier as your audience, provided that they're within 60 feet and in line of sight. Spend 2 bardic inspiration dice and roll an Acrobatics or Performance check with advantage. If your result is higher than your spell save DC, your allies heal 1d4 + CHA/2 hitpoints, and your enemies take 1d4 + CHA/2 hitpoints in Psychic damage. Enemies that are struck by this damage suffer disadvantage on their next attack roll.

If you fail your Acrobatics/Performance check, you fall prone, and every creature within 5ft of you takes 1d4 of Psychic damage.

These dice increase to 2d4 at level 6, 3d4 at level 10, and 4d4 at level 14.

Bloodsports

At 6th level, you've embraced the less polished facets of the festival. If the audience wants blood, then blood they shall have! As an action, you can voluntarily take 4d4 damage and roll an Acrobatics or Performance check with advantage. Choose either the Charmed or Frightened condition. If you beat your spell save DC, your bloodspray covers every creature within 15 ft of you, charming or frightening them for 1 minute.

If you fail your Acrobatics/Performance roll, you fall prone, and every creature within 10 ft of you takes 2d4 Psychic damage.

Once you use this feature, you must have a short or long rest before using it again.

Dark Carnival

Starting at 14th level, you become able to put on a showstopping performance of miracles, to inspire and terrorize! As an action, use 3 of your bardic inspiration dice, then roll an Acrobatics or Performance check with advantage. If you roll higher than your spell save DC, choose one of these effects:

• Scintillating horrors! Your party appears grotesque and horrifying to your enemies. Any creatures of your choice that are within 30 ft of you have to make a WIS save against your spell save DC. If they fail, they are Stunned for 1 minute. The creatures start rolling to break free of the condition at the end of the next round.
• Impossible contortions! Using seemingly unfeasible acrobatics, you and a number of allies equal to your CHA modifier gain advantage on attack rolls and saving throws for 1 minute.
• Opulent blood fountain! Your skin splits open along the arteries of your arms and torso, turning you into a living font of sanguine showmanship. Voluntarily lose as many hitpoints as you like. For every 10 hitpoints spent this way, you regain 1 level of spell slots.

If you fail your Acrobatics/Performance check, you fall prone, become Stunned for 1 round, and every creature within 20 ft of you takes 8d4 Psychic damage.

Once you have used this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.