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
Musical Bow
Description: A musical bow consists of a single wooden shaft with a taunt string attached to either end. Feathers, carvings, or beads may decorate the shaft of the bow. Gut, twine, or even vine may form the string. Tradition claims that the musical bow represents the oldest form of instrument, potentially even predating the drum and the flute. The performer plays the bow by plucking or sliding a carved stick along the string.
The Song of Life (Perform 3): The first mystery of the musical bow strengthens the spirits of life around the bard. All summoned animals, magical beasts, or plants within a 30 ft. radius of the bard gain +1 hit point per hit dice and a +2 bonus to any save to resist being banished or dispelled. This effect lasts for 3 rounds after the bard stops maintaining it.
The Song of Death (Perform 6): The second mystery of the musical bow strengthens the powers of death and decay around the bard. All undead within a 30 ft. radius of the bard gain the Fast Healing 2 ability for the duration of the song. Invoking and maintaining this ability counts as a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Undead brought to zero or fewer hit points while within the area of effect no longer heal.
The Song of the First Times (Perform 9): The third mystery of the musical bow strengthens elemental spirits around the bard. All elemental creatures within a 30 ft. radius of the bard receive a +4 bonus to Strength and Constitution for the duration of the song. Invoking this mystery is a full round action. Maintaining this mystery is a standard action. The effect of this mystery last for 5 rounds after the bard finishes.
The Song of Storm (Perform 12): The final mystery of the musical bow strengthens the wild spirits of chaos. When the bard begins this song he creates a ‘bonus pool’ equal to his bard level. So long has he maintains this song he can spend some or all of this bonus pool to increase any dice roll made by a chaotic creature within 30 ft. by an equal amount. The bard may choose how much, if any, of the pool to spend on a roll after the creature rolls. Invoking and maintaining this song is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. The bard must end the song when the bonus pool reaches zero.
