College of Mourning

Bards of the College of Mourning are keepers of memory, grief, and sacred transition. They channel the pain of loss into moving performances - dirges that echo in crypts, laments that stir ghosts to weep, and rites that fortify the living through remembrance. These bards do not fear death - they honor it, giving voice to those long silent and drawing power from grief’s transformative force.

Dirgecraft (3rd Level)

You have learned the art of death rites and sorrowful melodies.

You gain proficiency in Religion and one musical instrument of your choice (typically associated with funerals or ceremonial music). Additionally you learn the spare the dying and thaumaturgy cantrips. They count as Bard cantrips for you and don’t count against your number of cantrips known.

Rite of Passage (3rd Level)

As a bonus action, you can perform a ritual phrase, melody, or gesture over a dying or dead creature you can see within 30 feet. One of the following effects occurs (your choice):

  • If the creature is unconscious, it regains 1 hit point.

  • If the creature is dead and died within the last minute, you preserve the body from decay and make it easier to return to life: spells like revivify, raise dead, and resurrection don’t require material components if cast within 10 minutes of this rite.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses on a long rest.

Echoes of the Departed (3rd Level)

You can attune to lingering spirits through performance.

When you finish a short or long rest, you may perform a 10-minute eulogy or dirge to commune with the echoes of the dead. Choose one:

  • Borrowed Wisdom – You gain proficiency in one skill, tool, or language of your choice until your next rest, as a spirit lends you its knowledge.

  • Lingered Emotion – You can cast detect thoughts once without a spell slot. The spell reflects impressions left by the departed or nearby grief.

  • Unfinished Words – You can use message at will for the next hour to communicate with creatures within 120 feet as if they were beside you, flavored as whispered memories.

You may perform this rite once per rest.

Sorrow Made Strength (6th Level)

You can empower your allies by channeling mourning into resolve.

When an ally within 30 feet of you is reduced to 0 HP, you can use your reaction to immediately grant another creature within range temporary hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma modifier, and allow them to move up to their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Additionally, you can expend a Bardic Inspiration die as a bonus action to give one creature of your choice resistance to necrotic damage for 1 minute.

Ghostlight Performance (10th Level)

Your performances can briefly bridge the world of the living and the dead.

Once per long rest, you can perform a 1-minute rite that conjures phantoms of the departed. Choose a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier within 60 feet. Until the end of your next turn:

  • The chosen creatures gain advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed.

  • Their weapon attacks deal an additional 1d8 necrotic damage on a hit (once per turn).

As part of the rite, you may ask a single question to a spirit related to the performance or location, as if casting speak with dead. No components required.

Funeral Refrain (14th Level)

Your mastery over grief transforms endings into a source of power.

When a creature within 60 feet of you dies, you can immediately:

  • Regain a use of Bardic Inspiration, or

  • Cast a Bard spell of 1st or 2nd level you know without expending a spell slot, provided the casting time is 1 action or bonus action.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.