Bard Subclass - College of the Dirge
Overview on Subclass
The College of the Dirge is a bard subclass that focuses on grief and loss, specifically the loss of close friends and family, though many bards of this class feel loss on a grander scale, the loss of a culture, a language or a people. Many bards in this subclass are historians focusing on researching and restoring what has been lost to time.
These bards often gather around funeral homes, libraries, and colleges. Although charismatic like all other bards, these bards tend to focus on comfort and empathy than grandiose performance.
Members of this college tend to be solitary, preferring to join with a temple or funeral home if settling down at all. Most end up being wanderers, heading towards sites where death is heavily felt.
Subclass bonuses
Bonus Profiencies
Joining this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in history, insight, and one other of your choice. If you are already proficient in history or insight, you may choice two other skills to gain proficiency in.
Banshee Wail
Like the bean sí or bean chaointe of Irish folklore, Dirge bards have an innate connection with death. Starting at 3rd level, when an ally falls unconscious due to falling to zero hit points, as a reaction, you can let out a wail that brings soul back to body, spending a Bardic Inspiration. That ally can role one of your Bardic Inspiration die as a hit point die to see how many hit points they heal.
The Bell Tolls for You
At 6th level, you learn the Toll the Dead, Spare the Dying, and Chill Touch cantrips. These spells count as bard spells for you but don't count against the number of bard spells you know.
Hero's Lament
At 14th level, before you enter a battle, you can spend 10 minutes inspiring your companions, reminding them why they fight and imbuing their spirit with deep ties to life. When you do so, you can choose up to six friendly creatures (which can include yourself) within 30 feet of you who can see or hear you and who can understand you. Should any of these six fall to 0 hit points, your song binds soul to body and they will stabilize, instead of making death saving throws. The song lasts for a number of hours equal to one-half of your charisma modifier, and you can perform this once per long rest.