Bard

It is said that music has a special magic, and the bard proves that saying true. Diplomats, musicians, scouts and commanders, bards are everywhere in society. A bard's power is in their performance. Through their art a bard may be an emissary of peace or drive a warhost to lay waste.

Bards can bring hope to their allies and despair to their enemies. They are not front-line fighters but with enough of an audience bards can turn even the most hopeless battle around. The greatest of bards have mastered storytelling such that reality itself is no match for them.

Your character is a bard if they rely on words over weapons. A noble bard may inspire the people to rise up against an oppressor, spreading joy and raising spirits. By contrast a selfish bard is someone who manipulates, who takes what those in his sway willingly give, be it gold or their very lives.

Base Stats	Hit Points	Initiative	Magicka	Stamina
	80	6	30	50

Ability	Mod	Cost	Flavour	Rules
Rank 1
The show must go on	10	10	Thank you, you've been a great crowd. No encores.	You receive +10 to your escape roll for every spectator not in combat.
Scene Change – Noisy Tavern	-	10	Barmaid loosen that bodice! I want to see quaffing, people!	It's a friendly brawl! The bard and his allies take 5 less damage from attacks, to a minimum of 1
Scene Change – Peach Blossom Orchard	-	10	Deadly Jade ruminated on the blossoms. Like her, they were pink and about to die.	Two opponents face off, the music filled with tension. Only one person from each side may attack each turn, though they may attack anyone on the opposing team. The person on the bard's side gains +10 to their attacks
Filibuster	15	15	Hit me? And what will that do? It's the economy that's to blame.	Used on Defense.
Almighty Uppercut	10	10	I said no autographs!	Damage
Subtle Charm	10	20	I didn't mean to trespass I just got lost. In your eyes.	You can tell a bare-faced lie and get away with it. If you tell something that is obviously untrue people won't think you're lying, just an idiot.
We will rock you	20	5	I want to hear all the demons in the back!	You receive a skill bonus of +20 to your perform rolls for 10 minutes.
Flourish	15	10	Aha, see? H for Zorro!	Your posturing demoralises your enemy. Your next attack also deals damage to your choice of STA or MP.
Rank 2
Crowd Favourite	10	20	This next one's a little ditty I call saving myself for you.	Your next defense gains bonus +10 multiplied by the number of spectators not in combat.
Dramatic Confrontation	10	20	Then let this be our final battle.	The +10 for this attack is multiplied by the number of opponents you face.
Exeunt Omnes	15	10	Yodelleeeeeeeeheeeeheeeee!	Everyone in combat, friend or foe, must defend or be afflicted with fear.
Improvise	10	10	We've got half a pack of strings and a full keg of beer.	You create an instrument out of sticks and stones for 3 rounds. It grants a +10 weapon mod and a +10 to any perform rolls.
Scene Change – Foreboding Temple	-	10	And then the demon spoke "After ten thousand years I'm free!"	Our heroes confront a grave evil but their cause is righteous. Anytime the bard or one of their allies hits an enemy, they regain 1d10 HP
Instrumental	15	15	I'm going to play my fist on your skull.	Damage.
Travelling Montage	15	30	Later that day as I was regaling the tavern with the tale of my daring escape???	Teleport yourself and up to two friends a short distance. The range of this ability is limited to within the dream.
Rank 3
Stage Fighting	15	30	Take that and that! Haha, you fight like your sister!	Once activated you and your allies may make perform rolls instead of normal attacks. From now on whenever you perform successfully your opponents take 1d20 psychological damage with no defense possible. Lasts 3 Rounds
Intermission	15	50	Ok, wait, time out.	The combat ends. Everyone takes a refresher, during which no one may leave or attack each other. Combat starts up again after one minute.
Last Minute Rewrite	25	25	And then she woke up because??? it had actually been a coma fantasy!	You intervene at the last second to save a character about to be killed off. This round only anytime an effect would kill your target they are reduced to 1HP instead.
Appeal to the Audience	20	25	Is this the untimely end of Carflignon? Vote now!	Lasts 3 rounds. If an enemy hits you they take 5 damage for every spectator not in combat
Scene Change – Plains of Battle	-	10	The armies crashed into each other like storm carried waves.	Sound the drums of war! The bard and his allies are immune to fear, sleep or being dazed.
Encore	20	20	Alright, one more time.	Damage
Understudy	30	5	Ah Bill, I'll raise a drink in your honour. Sorry, I meant Ben.	You call up your adoring fan. This is an NPC who may perform small tasks for you or provide a spectator to your antics. In combat you may call your understudy as a defense, completely negating a single attack against you. You may only do this once per night because now you need a new understudy.