College of the Dirge
Bards brings joy and happiness to the life of their audience with their cheerful songs and clever comments. They are the vivid embodiment of merriment. But as always, there are exceptions to the rule. And the exception are the members of the College of the Dirge.
These bards voice melodies of not celebration and joy, but of grief and sorrow. These sad wanderers seek to express their grief through songs that teach the heart of their listeners the meaning of true sorrow. Some of them want nothing more than others to understand the depth of a personal loss. A few are sinister creatures who believe that, since joy has been extinguish for them, they must in turn extinguish the joy of others.
Funeral Chants
When you choose this bard college at 3rd level, you learn the toll the dead cantrip. It counts as a bard spell for you, and doesn't count against the number of cantrips known. Additionally, you gain resistance to necrotic damage.
Lullaby of Sorrow
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to evoke sorrow and lament to your enemies. As a bonus action, you can expend 1 Bardic Inspiration die and select 1 creature you can see. The creature needs to make a Charisma saving throw against your spell DC, suffering disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a successful save.
Credits
College of the Dirge version 1.0
- Homebrew made by u/ReualNathanOnyrian
- Image found in Pinterest, unknown source
Song of Horror
Starting at 6th level, you can strike a horrifying chord in the heart of your enemies. As an action, you can select a number of creatures that you can see equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). The creatures also need to hear you to be affected. These creatures needs to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the targets suffer 3d6 psychic damage and are frightened of you for 1 minute. At the start of each of its turn, any creature affected by Song of Horror takes psychic damage equal to your Charisma modifier + half your bard level (rounded down). At the end of each of its turn, it can make another saving throw, ending the effect. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Awakening Dirge
When you reach the 14th level, you learn the danse macabre spell. It counts as a bard spell for you, and doesn't count against the number of spells known. Additionally as a bonus action, you can expend 1 Bardic Inspiration die, giving temporary hit points to all the undead that you raised, be it by spell or another effect, equal to the number rolled in the dice.