Entertainers

Performers of all walks lighten the daily burden of common folk with tales and song, comedy and drama. Yet, within the power of such skilled players also lies the ability to spread news and knowledge, rally the spirit, or incite revolution. Entertainers take a wide variety of forms, from comedians and wandering bards, to evangelists and skilled orators, to fools and scholars. Whatever their path, when entertainers talk, the people listen.

Storyteller CR 1

XP 400

Human bard 2

N Medium humanoid

Init +2; Senses Perception +4

Defense

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 shield)

hp 11 (2d8+2)

Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +2; +4 vs. bardic performance, language-dependent, and sonic

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee rapier +1 (1d6/18–20) or whip +1 (1d3)

Ranged shortbow +3 (1d6/×3)

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with whip)

Special Attacks bardic performance 9 rounds/day (countersong, distraction, fascinate [DC 14], inspire courage +1)

Bard Spells Known (CL 2nd; concentration +5)

1st (3/day)—comprehend languages, hideous laughter (DC 14), ventriloquism

0 (at will)—dancing lights, daze (DC 13), ghost sound (DC 13), message, prestigiditation

Statistics

Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 17

Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 14

Feats Dodge, Skill Focus (Perform [Oratory])

Skills Bluff +8, Diplomacy +11, Disguise +10, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (local) +7, Perception +4, Perform (act) +8, Perform (oratory) +11, Sense Motive +11, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +6

Languages Common, Elven

SQ bardic knowledge +1, versatile performance (oratory)

Gear masterwork studded leather, buckler, rapier, shortbow with 20 arrows, whip, disguise kit, light horse (combat trained) with riding saddle

Boon A storyteller can pass along a small bit of lore or gossip that grants a +2 circumstance bonus on a PC's next Knowledge (history or local) check.

A storyteller is a traveling raconteur, a collector and performer of tall tales, epic poems, and ancient history. They move from town to town reciting their repertoire and picking up new bits of lore and gossip to pass on at the next town. Taverns and inns frequently contain a storyteller entertaining patrons, but storytellers can also be found performing on the street or in market squares. A storyteller could be used as a town crier or herald, or as a revolutionary or rabble-rouser working to stir up public opinion.

A storyteller can be found working for a barkeep (CR 4) or traveling with an out-of-work caravan guard (CR 3).

Minstrel CR 5

XP 1,600

Human bard 6

N Medium humanoid

Init +2; Senses Perception +8

Defense

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +2 Dex, +1 shield)

hp 30 (6d8+3)

Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +4; +4 vs. bardic performance, language–dependent, and sonic

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee mwk rapier +6 (1d6+1/18–20)

Ranged +1 light crossbow +7 (1d8+1/19–20)

Special Attacks bardic performance 24 rounds/day (countersong, distraction, fascinate [DC 17], inspire competence +2, inspire courage +2, suggestion [DC 17])

Bard Spells Known (CL 6th; concentration +10)

2nd (4/day)—calm emotions, enthrall (DC 16), sound burst (DC 16), tongues

1st (5/day)—charm person (DC 15), cure light wounds, expeditious retreat, grease (DC 15)

0 (at will)—ghost sound (DC 14), light, lullaby, mage hand, resistance, summon instrument

Statistics

Str 12, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 18

Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 17

Feats Extra Performance, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (Perform [String])

Skills Acrobatics +10, Bluff +18, Diplomacy +18, Knowledge (nobility) +9, Linguistics +5, Perception +8, Perform (oratory) +13, Perform (sing) +13, Perform (string) +18, Sense Motive +13, Sleight of Hand +11, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +10

Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven

SQ bardic knowledge +3, lore master 1/day, versatile performance (oratory, string)

Combat Gear scrolls of cure light wounds (2), disguise self (2), remove fear (2), pyrotechnics; Other Gear masterwork chain shirt, masterwork buckler, +1 light crossbow with 10 bolts, masterwork rapier, masterwork harp

Boon A minstrel can write and publish a song or story lauding the PCs and their accomplishments, granting them a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks for 1 week.

A minstrel is a professional bard, an accomplished performer used to playing at festivals and lordly tables. He is a versatile performer but specializes in song, story, and especially the playing of the lute, lyre, harp, and other stringed instruments.

A minstrel down on his luck might play for a barkeep (CR 6). Two minstrels could be the apprentices of a celebrity bard (CR 11), while a troupe of three minstrels might play for a noble (CR 10) or even a king and queen (CR 15).

Celebrity Bard CR 10

XP 9,600

Human bard 11

N Medium humanoid

Init +2; Senses Perception +10

Defense

AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +2 Dex, +2 shield)

hp 79 (11d8+30)

Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +8; +4 vs. bardic performance, language–dependent, and sonic

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee dagger +10/+5 (1d4–1/19–20)

Ranged mwk light crossbow +11 (1d8/19–20)

Special Attacks bardic music 30 rounds/day (countersong, dirge of doom, distraction, fascinate, inspire competence +4, inspire courage +3, inspire greatness, suggestion)

Bard Spells Known (CL 11th; concentration +17)

4th (3/day)—dominate person (DC 20), greater invisibility, rainbow pattern (DC 20)

3rd (5/day)—charm monster (DC 19), crushing despair (DC 19), haste, slow (DC 19)

2nd (6/day)—cure moderate wounds, hold person (DC 18), minor image (DC 18), silence (DC 18), tongues

1st (7/day)—charm person (DC 17), cure light wounds, disguise self, expeditious retreat, hideous laughter (DC 17), identify

0 (at will)—dancing lights, detect magic, light, mage hand, prestidigitation, read magic

Statistics

Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 22

Base Atk +8; CMB +7; CMD 19

Feats Arcane Strike, Craft Wondrous Item, Greater Spell Penetration, Magical Aptitude, Spell Penetration, Vital Strike, Weapon Finesse

Skills Linguistics +5, Perception +10, Perform (act) +20, Perform (dance) +20, Perform (sing) +20, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +10, Spellcraft +19, Stealth +15, Use Magic Device +24

Languages Common, Draconic, Elven

SQ bardic knowledge +5, jack-of-all-trades (use any skill), lore master 2/day, versatile performance (act, dance, sing)

Combat Gear scrolls of align weapon, see invisibility, mount, wand of shocking grasp (CL 4, 50 charges); Other Gear +1 chain shirt, +1 buckler, masterwork light crossbow with 10 bolts, daggers (2), cloak of resistance +1, headband of alluring charisma +4, 2,500 gp in jewelry

Boon Knowing a celebrity bard can give PCs a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy checks in a region for 1 month.

A celebrity bard is a legendary performer, and the wealthy and powerful clamor for her to grace them with a performance. Celebrity bards often entertain at the request of a queen or general (CR 12).