Bardic College
Comments from the Finger: You know, I always imagined the Dirge Singer prestige class from 3.5 was basically a thin veneer for a bard of heavy metal. Upon further inspection, I decided that this class could be so much better than that.
College of Dirges
Bards of Songs rarely sing about the death that awaits us all; predominately they sing about heroism. Yet the Bards in the College of Dirges sing melodies of sorrow, love lost, faithlessness, and most importantly, death. It is these songs, written and performed from the depths of the human soul, that bring catharsis to the mourning and soothing to the heartbroken. Dirge Singers can mend the emotionally wounded, or rip them asunder.
Bonus Proficiencies
When you join this college at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Performance. If you already have proficiency in Performance, you may add double your proficiency bonus to checks made with this skill.
Song of Sorrow
Beginning at 3rd level, you may expend a Bardic Inspiration die to lull a single enemy into a deep, inescapable melancholy. As an action, select 1 creature you can see within 30 feet to make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is unwilling to attack any creature for up to 1 minute, and only does so in self-defense. The creature may repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Creeping Dread
Starting at 6th level, when you score a critical hit against a creature or when a creature rolls a 1 on a saving throw made to resist the effects of one of your spells, that creature must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened of you for 1 minute.
Song of Death
Beginning at 14th level, as an action expending a Bardic Inspiration Die, you can sing a melody of death to one creature. If this creature can hear you and is within range, you cast the spell finger of death targeting it without expending a spell slot. After using this ability, you must complete a long rest before using it again.
Changelog: 9/21/15: Creeping Dead now activates when a creature “critically fails” a saving throw.
Song of Death is now finger of death once per long rest.
