New Bard College: College of the Songbird

There are some bards that focus not on the powers of magic, weaponcraft, or intrigue, but on the very songs and music that give them power. The College of the Songbird is one such college, whose dedication to music manifests, uniquely, through the presence of a companion songbird, a representation of the bard's very soul and bound intimately to them. This songbird - known as a lyric bird - strengthens the bard's repertoire of pieces and performance abilities, and helps them dedicate themselves to supporting others, even granting them a slightly greater reserve of inspiration to further empower those around them. Bards of this College tend to focus more on singing and wind instruments, but any performance style can work in combination with the help of their companion.

Duettist

Upon entering this College at 3rd level, you gain the signature duet companion of your College - a lyric bird (see sidebar) that can perform beside you. You and your lyric bird have advantage on Charisma (Performance) checks when performing with each other.

Your lyric bird has its own initiative and can take actions independently of you, but you can freely give it orders during your own turn. If your lyric bird is reduced to zero hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. It returns at the end of a short or long rest.

While you are without your lyric bird, your performance is less effective than usual; your Inspiration Dice becomes a d4 until you complete a short or long rest, including dice you have already given to other creatures that haven't been used yet.

You also gain proficiency and expertise with Performance, if you don't have it already, as well as expertise with one musical instrument you're already proficient with.

Inspiring Duet

At 6th level you gain one additional use of Bardic Inspiration (your maximum is now equal to your Charisma modifier plus 1). In addition, your lyric bird can also use Bardic Inspiration as an action, drawing from the same dice pool as you. You cannot use this feature to have your lyric bird give you Bardic Inspiration dice, nor can you inspire your lyric bird.

Grand Symphony

At 14th level, both you and your lyric bird can each expend one bardic inspiration die (two Bardic Inspiration dice total) as an action on your turn to grant any number of creatures of your choice within 60ft who can hear or see either of you an inspiration die, including you and your lyric bird. When an ally uses the inspiration die granted by this feature, they can roll this die twice and take the better result.

You and your lyric bird must both be conscious and within 5ft of each other to use this ability. You can use this ability once, and you regain it at the end of a long rest. When you use this ability, neither you nor your lyric bird can use Bardic Inspiration until the start of your next turn.

You also gain another use of Bardic Inspiration, taking your maximum number of Inspiration dice to your Charisma modifier plus two.