Meryelle "Mery" Keryndon
Level 4 Half-Elf Sage College of Lore Bard
AC: 13 (Leather Armor) | HP: 30/30 | Speed: 30 ft.
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft; Passive Perception 11, Passive Insight 11, Passive Investigation 14
Str: 8 (-1) | Dex: 14 (+4) | Con: 14 (+2) | Int: 14 (+2) | Wis: 11 (+0) | Cha: 18 (+6)
Languages: Common, Elven, Solamnic, Kharolian, and Draconic
Spell-casting: +6 or DC 14 | 1st 3/4 2nd 0/3 | Bardic Inspiration: 1/4
“My words,” | ‘My thoughts,’ | My actions
Perhaps half an hour later, a nicker from Handsome awakens Mery and she sits up feeling at least somewhat refreshed and returns her bedroll to her backpack, then sits back down on her blanket. She tells her horse, "I've got things a part of me wants to tell them about what I've been through—there's this one story that does a pretty good job of summing my past up. And Janala said that the way to heal from past hurt is not to hide it, that every time we tell our story, a little part of our wound knits back together. She also said it takes courage to heal. And I do want to heal. But I'm equally just so scared..." She shivers. "I think it's fair to say that this is the scariest thing I've ever considered doing. I don't even know if they would recognize any kind of courage except the kind you bring to a battlefield. And even if they did, would they respond to me? I suppose I can understand that people worry about saying the wrong thing, and certainly part of doing the right thing is avoiding the wrong thing. But there are times when just avoiding the wrong thing isn't enough to make anything better. Avoiding the wrong thing never helps to build a bond between people."
Upon finding a twig in her hair, she quickly removes it, then takes her hair out of its bun, spends a few minutes finger-combing it into a semblance of order, and then recreates the bun. Without the aid of a mirror, however, Mery is pretty sure this is probably one of the messiest buns she's ever made.
"I could just give them some guidelines on how I want to be treated and to let them know one big thing isn't okay and explain a few things about Mery's upside-down wonky world. I suppose I'll need to do that anyway. But the story makes the whole thing so much easier to understand."
She then walks over and pets her horse for a few minutes. "So what do you think, big guy? Should I risk it?"
As if understanding the question, Handsome shows his teeth and shakes his head in a big horsey nod.
Actions & Resources
Actions:
Shortbow (simple, ranged, ammunition, two-handed). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, ranged 80/320 ft., one target.
Hit: (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Dagger (light, ranged or melee). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, ranged 20/80 ft., one target.
Hit: (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: (1d4+2) piercing damage.
Bonus Actions:
Healing Word
A creature of your choice that you can see within range regains hit points equal to 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.
Bardic Inspiration (4 per long rest, for 1d6)
As a bonus action, a creature (other than yourself) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspiration die (1d6). For 10 minutes, the creature can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.
Cutting Words (requires use of bardic inspiration)
Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the GM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can’t hear you or if it’s immune to being charmed.
Heat Metal
Until the spell ends (up to 1 minute), you can use a bonus action on each of your subsequent turns to cause this damage (1d8 fire damage for each level the spell is cast at, minimum 2nd level) again.
Ammunition:
14 arrows in quiver, 0 arrow bundles in backpack.
Spellcasting:
Mery is a 2nd-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). She has the following bard spells available for spontaneous casting:
- Cantrips (3/3 slots): prestidigitation, vicious mockery, message
- 1st level (4/4 slots): healing word, hideous laughter, cure wounds, unseen servant
- 2nd (3/3 slots): invisibility, heat metal, enhance ability
Class Features:
- 3/3 Bardic Inspiration, recovered after a long rest
- Song of Rest (Use on any short rest - anyone who hears her performance and chooses to regain a hit die gains an extra 1d6 of HP.)
- Jack of All Trades (add 1/2 proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include your proficiency bonus.)
- Bardic College = College of Lore. Gain expertise in 2 skills you already have proficiency in, and proficiency in 3 new skills. (Choosing Persuasion and Deception for Expertise, adding Nature, Stealth, and Religion for Proficiency.)