The Quintessential Bard
| Author | Shannon Kalvar |
| Publisher | Mongoose Publishing |
| Publish date | 2003 |
| OGL Section 15 | qbrd |
The material below is designated as Open Game Content
Chant (Black)
Description: These fell chants snarl with the twisted words of infernal tongues. The chants themselves seem almost poisonous, sickening the soul of good folk. They have the opposite effect on the spirits of those already lost to darkness. Black chant finds use in infernal rituals, dark rites, and in the halls of people whose hearts can no longer withstand the bright light of day.
Rise all Tortured Souls (Perform 3): The first mystery of black chant mimics the rhythm of infernal heartbeats. Every undead or infernal creature within 30 ft. of the bard gains +1 hit points per hit dice. They also receive a +1 evil bonus to attack and damage rolls. Invoking this mystery counts as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Maintaining this mystery counts as a free action. The bard may not invoke any other bardic music ability while maintaining this chant.
Words of the Damned (Perform 6): The second mystery of black chant channels the screams of damned souls into a heart rending shriek. Any good creature within 30 ft. of the bard must make a Will save with a DC equal to the bard’s Perform skill check. Creatures that fail lose 2 hit points per hit dice for 2d4 rounds. Invoking this chant counts as a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. This chant cannot be maintained. Creatures reduced to –10 or lower hit points by this ability die instantly.
The Evil Within (Perform 9): The third mystery of black chant allows the bard to foster the seeds of evil within all mortal hearts. The bard selects one target within a 30 ft. radius. That target must make a Will save with a DC equal to the bard’s Perform skill check. If he fails then his alignment temporarily changes from good to evil as long as the bard maintains this chant. A good aligned target may make a second Will saving throw before taking an evil action to resist the compulsion. Characters with the divine grace special ability are immune to this mystery. Invoking the evil within counts as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Maintaining this mystery counts as a free action. The bard may not invoke any other bardic music ability while maintaining this chant.
Song of the Dying Sun (Perform 12): The final mystery of black chant infuses the souls of the damned with infernal strength. All undead and infernal creatures within 30 ft. of the bard become immune to damage from sunlight. Any restrictions they might ordinarily suffer from sunlight are lifted as well. The creatures only retain this immunity so long as they stay within 30 ft. of the bard. Invoking and maintaining this mystery counts as a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
