College of Necromancy

Bonus Spells

At the levels listed, you gain access to additional necromancy-themed spells. These are always prepared and don’t count against the number of spells you can prepare.

• 3rd Level: Animate Dead, Speak with Dead

• 5th Level: Danse Macabre, Revivify

• 7th Level: Blight, Guardian of Faith

• 9th Level: Raise Dead, Negative Energy Flood

Undead Minstrels (3rd Level)

You can use your Bardic Inspiration to raise a whimsical undead minstrel to aid you. As an action, expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to animate a skeleton or zombie (CR 1/4 or lower) within 30 feet. It follows your verbal commands, acts on your initiative, and takes the Dodge action if not commanded. A body is not required to use this feature as a skeleton or zombie may burst from the ground if one is not available.

The undead exhibits bizarre behaviors (e.g., singing off-key, dancing awkwardly), granting you advantage on Charisma (Performance) checks in social situations where such antics might entertain or distract.

Your undead minstrel can serve as a spellcasting focus for your Bard spells while within your line of sight.

Final Performance: When the minstrel drops to 0 HP, it theatrically collapses. One ally within 5 feet of it gains advantage on their next attack roll or ability check before the end of their next turn.

You can use this feature once per short or long rest.

Performance of Creation (6th Level)

When you or an ally within 30 feet takes damage, you can use your reaction to command an undead minstrel you control to intercept. The undead moves to the target (expending its reaction and movement), and the incoming damage is reduced by your Charisma modifier + half your Bard level (rounded down).

The undead takes the reduced amount of damage instead. If this damage reduces it to 0 HP, it triggers its Final Performance.

Eerie Duet (10th Level)

You can cast Speak with Dead at will, without expending a spell slot, but only on corpses you have animated. These conversations often reflect the quirky personality your undead exhibited in undeath and they will treat you as an ally even if you are the cause of their death.

Necrotic Conductor (14th Level)

When you use your Undead Minstrels feature, you can animate up to two undead creatures (zombies or skeletons). At 18th level, this increases to a number equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of two).

All minions must be within 30 feet of you and act as a single unit, sharing initiative and responding to the same command issued as a bonus action. They retain the spellcasting focus and Final Performance traits.

Final Curtain Call (14th Level)

When one of your undead minstrels is reduced to 0 HP, it erupts in a burst of necrotic energy. Each creature of your choice within 5 feet must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC = your spell save DC) or take necrotic damage equal to your Bardic Inspiration die, or half as much on a success.

You can trigger this effect a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per long rest.