College of Masks (Obojima)

The College of Masks not only describes the bard, but it also refers to an Obojiman theater tradition where a solitary masked actor plays out a story from the island's myths and folktales, which feature a set of archetypal characters such as the Old Man, the Fish, and the Demon, among others. Throughout the show, the actor artfully shifts between masks depicting each character. Each performance is its own special thing, as no two are the same.

When you join the College of Masks at 3rd level, you gain the ability to weave arcane boons into theater masks, which grant you abilities while you wear them. You craft two masks of your choice, which are detailed under the "College of Masks (Obojima): Masks" spell list. You're able to craft one additional mask of your choice when you reach 7th, 11th, and 15th level in this class. Each time you craft a new mask, you can also replace one mask you've already crafted with a different one. While wearing a mask you gain the abilities granted by it. You can don or swap masks as an action or bonus action. If an ability from a mask requires a saving throw, the DC is equal to your bard spell save DC.

Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to quickly shift your appearance to match that of a person. As an action, you can expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to cast the Alter Self spell, using the spell's Change Appearance option to transform into another humanoid you have seen. When cast in this way, the spell has the following changes:

• It doesn't require your concentration, but you can still end the spell at any time (no action required).

• You gain 5 temporary hit points, and the spell ends early if you lose all these hit points or die.

• You gain new equipment that you would associate with the target and are aware of it possessing, such as its clothing, armor, weapons, and other small belongings. Any equipment gained in this way has no magical properties, even if the original object used by the target does.

• Any equipment you were wearing or carrying merges into your new form and you can't activate, use, wield, or otherwise benefit from any of it.

At 6th level, you gain the ability to enthrall an audience with a dramatic performance. Over the course of 1 minute, you can engage in a captivating performance and attempt to cause nearby creatures to become charmed, frightened, or fall unconscious (your choice). Choose a number of creatures up to your bard level within 60 feet of you that can hear you. When the performance ends, each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be subjected to the chosen condition. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

At 14th level, you gain the ability to give one of your theater masks to an ally within 5 feet of you. As an action, you temporarily release the incantation that binds your theater mask to you, allowing one of your allies to use it. The mask can be used in this way for 1 minute and only one other creature can be designated to use it. Once you've given an ally a theater mask, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.