Orpheus, Bard of the Muses

Medium humanoid (half-divine), Neutral Good
Challenge Rating: 21 (33,000 XP) • Proficiency Bonus: +7

---

Lore & Background

Born of Calliope, muse of epic poetry, and possibly Apollo himself, Orpheus was gifted a lyre of divine make whose music could charm beasts, move stones, and soften the hearts of gods. He braved the Underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice, nearly succeeding — until a final, fateful glance lost her forever. Slain by the Maenads, his severed head and lyre floated down the Hebrus, still singing, until they reached Lesbos. Even in death, his voice endures, reshaping the world with song.

---

Ability Scores

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
10 (+0)	18 (+4)	20 (+5)	20 (+5)	20 (+5)	26 (+8)

Saving Throws: Dex +11, Wis +12, Cha +15
Skills: Performance +18, Persuasion +15, Insight +12, Arcana +12, History +12
Damage Resistances: Psychic, Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Truesight 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages: Common, Ancient Greek, Celestial, Undercommon

---

Hit Points & AC

HP: 350 (35d8 + 175)
AC: 18 (Cloak of Shadows, unarmored grace)
Speed: 30 ft.

---

Equipment & Magic Items

• Lyre of the Muses (Artifact): +3 to spell attacks, +3 to spell save DC. Casts Charm Person, Calm Emotions, Hold Monster, Mass Suggestion, True Resurrection (1/day each, Cha-based). Playing it as an action forces all hostile creatures within 60 ft. to make a DC 24 Wisdom save or be charmed until the start of Orpheus’s next turn.
• Cloak of Shadows: Advantage on Stealth, resistance to necrotic, immunity to fear.
• Ring of Eternal Song: Enhance Ability (Eagle’s Splendor) at will.

---

Features & Traits

• Legendary Musician: Ignores all components for bard spells.
• Voice that Moves Worlds: Bardic Inspiration die = d12; can grant to all allies within 60 ft. as one bonus action (3/day).
• Nature’s Chorus: Beasts, plants, and even stones behave as if charmed in his presence.

---

Spellcasting

20th-level bard • Spell Save DC: 24 • Spell Attack: +15
Orpheus has the following bard spells prepared (charisma-based):

Cantrips (at will): Friends, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Vicious Mockery, Thaumaturgy
1st level (4 slots): Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Faerie Fire, Healing Word, Silent Image
2nd level (3 slots): Calm Emotions, Detect Thoughts, Hold Person, Suggestion, Enhance Ability
3rd level (3 slots): Dispel Magic, Hypnotic Pattern, Major Image, Sending
4th level (3 slots): Compulsion, Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph
5th level (3 slots): Dominate Person, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Mislead
6th level (2 slots): Eyebite, Otto’s Irresistible Dance, Programmed Illusion
7th level (2 slots): Etherealness, Forcecage, Mirage Arcane, Regenerate
8th level (1 slot): Dominate Monster, Feeblemind, Power Word Stun
9th level (1 slot): Foresight, Mass Suggestion (9th-level), True Resurrection

---

Actions

• Performance of Power (1/turn): Choose one:
  • Hymn of Binding: DC 24 Strength save or restrained until next turn.
  • Dirge of Sorrow: DC 24 Wisdom save or 45 (10d8) psychic damage and frightened for 1 minute.
  • Ballad of Triumph: Allies heal 30 HP and gain advantage on attacks until start of next turn.
• Bardic Inspiration (Bonus Action, 3/day): Grants d12 inspiration die to all allies within 60 ft.

---

Legendary Actions (3/round)

1. Quick Riff: Impose disadvantage on a creature’s next roll or heal an ally 15 HP.
2. Resonant Dissonance (2 Actions): Counterspell or Dispel Magic at 6th level.
3. Inspire Legend (3 Actions): Ally takes an extra action or auto-succeeds on a failed save.

---

Lair Actions

At initiative 20:

• Nature’s Weeping: Enemies in 20-ft. radius DC 24 Strength save or be pushed 15 ft. and knocked prone.
• Soul’s Chorus: Orpheus and allies gain 20 temp HP.
• Melody Beyond Death: True Resurrection (1/day).

---

Mythic Trait — Eternal Song (Recharges after a Long Rest)

If Orpheus is reduced to 0 HP, his body collapses, but his severed head and lyre float into the air, glowing with divine light, continuing to sing. He becomes Incorporeal, regains 200 HP, and gains the following changes:

• Resistance to all damage except force, radiant, and psychic.
• Spell save DC increases to 26.
• Cannot be harmed by physical attacks; he can only be defeated by:
  1. Outperforming Orpheus: Three successful contested Charisma (Performance) checks (DC 26) made at the end of the round by any creature within 60 ft. (failures reset the tally), or
  2. Destroying the Lyre of the Muses: AC 22, HP 75, immune to nonmagical damage.

Eternal Song Actions:

• Haunting Harmony: All enemies in 60 ft. DC 26 Wisdom save or be charmed and incapacitated until damaged.
• River’s Lament: 60-ft. cone, DC 26 Charisma save or 55 (10d10) psychic damage and disadvantage on all rolls until end of their next turn.
• Call of the Muses (Recharge 6): Summons 1d4 spirits of the Muses to grant allies advantage on all attacks and saves for 1 minute.

---

Regional Effects

• Beasts and plants become peaceful within 6 miles.
• Weather mirrors the tone of Orpheus’s song.
• Orpheus can magically hear any music within the region.

Orpheus, The Eternal Bard of the Underworld

CR 19
XP 307,200
Male Demigod Bard 20 (Mythic 6)
CG Medium humanoid (human)

---

Defense

AC 32, touch 24, flat-footed 28 (+8 armor, +8 Dex, +2 deflection, +4 natural)
HP 290 (20d8+160)
Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +20
DR 15/magic and evil
Immune charm, compulsion, fear
Resist sonic 15, necrotic 10
SR 32

---

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Short sword +20/+15 (1d6+6 damage, 19–20/x2)

Ranged

• Sonic Blast (Su): 6d6 sonic damage in a 60-ft cone (DC 27 Fortitude negates).

Special Attacks

• Inspire Courage +8 (Su): Allies within 60 ft. gain a +8 morale bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks.
• Fascinate (Su): Captivates all creatures within 60 ft. (DC 27 Will negates) for up to 1 minute.
• Dirge of Despair (Su): Enemies within 60 ft. must succeed on a DC 27 Will save or be shaken for 10 minutes as sorrowful music fills the air.
• Call of the Muses (Su): Once per day, Orpheus summons ethereal spirits (as summon monster IX) to aid him.
• Mesmerizing Performance (Su): Fascinates all creatures within 60 ft. (DC 27 Will negates) for 1d6 rounds.
• Eternal Song (Su): When reduced to 0 HP, Orpheus’s severed head and lyre continue to perform and cast bardic spells for 6 rounds; physical attacks cannot harm them. Only destroying the lyre truly ends him.

---

Spells Prepared (CL 20th; concentration +28)

• 6th (5/day): mass suggestion, greater heroism, geas/quest
• 5th (6/day): dominate person, hold monster, teleport
• 4th (6/day): greater invisibility, confusion, dimension door
• 3rd (7/day): hypnotic pattern, dispel magic, haste
• 2nd (7/day): suggestion, glitterdust, invisibility
• 1st (7/day): charm person, cure light wounds, disguise self
• 0 (at will): detect magic, daze, ghost sound

Spell DCs = 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier (+11)

---

Statistics

Str 18, Dex 26, Con 24, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 32
Base Atk +15; CMB +21; CMD 38

Feats
Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (short sword), Spell Focus (Enchantment), Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment), Lingering Performance, Extra Performance, Quick Draw, Mythic Spell Penetration

Skills
Perform (singing) +38, Bluff +37, Diplomacy +37, Use Magic Device +36, Sense Motive +28, Knowledge (arcana) +27, Perception +28

Languages
Common, Celestial, Undercommon, Infernal, Abyssal

---

Special Abilities

• Mythic Inspiration (Su): As a swift action, grant all allies within 60 ft. a +6 morale bonus on attacks, saves, and skill checks for 1 round (6/day).
• Lyre of the Muses (Su): +4 wondrous instrument; allows casting mass suggestion (DC 27) 3/day and hold monster 1/day. The lyre is bound to Orpheus’s life force and is his primary focus for magical performances.
• Eternal Song (Su): See above. Orpheus’s music lingers beyond death, inspiring hope and dread.
• Dirge of Despair (Su): See above.
• Call of the Muses (Su): See above.
• Mesmerizing Performance (Su): See above.

---

Mythic Abilities

• Mythic Power (Su): +3 to bardic performance bonuses and spell DCs.
• Mythic Resilience: Fast healing 10 and DR 10/magic.
• Mythic Spellcasting: One extra spell per day at every spell level.

---

Gear

+1 Short Sword, +4 Lyre of the Muses (wondrous instrument), Cloak of Resistance +5, Ring of Eloquence (+6 Perform and Diplomacy), Headband of Alluring Charisma +8

---

Lore

Orpheus, the demigod bard whose music could soften stone and sway gods, journeyed into the Underworld to reclaim his beloved Eurydice. Though his mortal fate was tragic, his eternal song continues—sung by his severed head and lyre as they drift down the river Hebrus, a timeless lament echoing between the worlds of gods and mortals alike.

Orpheus

Orpheus is considered one of the worlds chief poets and musicians and the perfector of the lyre. He can charm the wild beasts, coax the trees and rocks into dance, even arrest the course of rivers. As one of the pioneers of civilization, he is said to have taught mankind the arts of medicine, writing and agriculture. Orpheus was an augur and seer; practiced magical arts, especially astrology; founded or rendered accessible many important cults, such as those of Apollo and Dionysus; instituted mystic rites both public and private; and prescribed initiatory and purificatory rituals.

• Alias: Orpheus the Bard,
• Gender: Male,
• Race: Human,
• Occupation: Musician, Poet, Seeker of Lost Love,
• Religion: Devotee of Apollo and the Muses,
• Allies: The Muses, Apollo, Nymphs, Eurydice, Hercules
• Enemies: The Furies, Hades,
• Abode/Base of Operations: Thracian Mountains, Underworld,
• Nationality: Thracian,
• Languages: Common, Thracian, Ancient Greek,
• Alignment: Chaotic Good,
• Affiliation(s): The Argonauts,The Cult of Apollo, The Bardic College,
• Significant Others: Eurydice (wife, deceased)

Orpheus was the son of Oeagrus, king of Thrace, Orpheus was born in Mount Helicon at Livithra, his mother was Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry. Orpheus learned music from Apollo, who gave him his own lyre (made by Hermes out of a turtle shell) as a gift.

The Argonautic expedition

He joined the expedition of the Argonauts. Chiron had warned Argonaut leader Jason that only with the aid of Orpheus would they be able to navigate past the Sirens unscathed. The Sirens lived on three small, rocky islands called Sirenum scopuli and played irresistibly beautiful songs that enticed sailors and their ships to the islands’ craggy shoals. Once shipwrecked on the rocks, the sailors were destroyed by the Sirens. However, when Orpheus heard the Sirens, he drew his lyre and played music more beautiful than that of the Sirens, thus drowning out their alluring but deadly song.

Death of Eurydice

The most famous story in which he figures is that of his wife Eurydice. While fleeing from Aristaeus (son of Apollo), she strode on a serpent and was bitten, which brought her to her death. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept and gave him advice.

Orpheus went down to the lower world and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone, who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth. But the condition was attached that he should walk in front of her and not look back until he had reached the upper world. In his anxiety he broke his promise, and Eurydice vanished again from his sight.

Death of Orpheus

Orpheus at the end of his life disdained the worship of all gods save Apollo. One early morning he went to the oracle of Dionysus at Perperikon to salute his god at dawn, but was torn to death by Thracian Maenads for not honoring his previous patron, Dionysus.

The Thracian Maenads, Dionysus‘ followers, angry for having been spurned by Orpheus, first threw sticks and stones at him as he played, but his music was so beautiful even the rocks and branches refused to hit him. Enraged, the Maenads tore him to pieces during the frenzy of their Bacchic orgies.

His head and lyre, still singing mournful songs, floated down the swift Hebrus to the Mediterranean shore. There, the winds and waves carried them on to the Lesbos shore, where the inhabitants buried his head and a shrine was built in his honour near Antissa; there his oracle prophesied, until it was silenced by Apollo. The lyre was carried to heaven by the Muses, and was placed among the stars. The Muses also gathered up the fragments of his body and buried them at Leibethra below Mount Olympus, where the nightingales sang over his grave. His soul returned to the underworld, where he was re-united at last with his beloved Eurydice.

Used with permissiom from Paolo

As seen in Paolo’s thread at Dicefreaks

---

Orpheus
Bard 34
DvR0 (hero-deity)
Medium humanoid
Hit Dice	34d6+ 68 (221 hp)
Initiative	+3 (+3 Dexterity)
Speed	30 feet
AC	13 (+3 Dexterity), touch 13, flat-footed 10
Base Attack/Grapple	+22/24
Attack	+ 25 Dagger (1d4 + 3, 19-20×2) melee, or + 25 shortbow (1d6, x3) ranged
Full Attack	+ 25/20/15 Dagger (1d4 + 3, 19-20×2) melee, or +25/20/15 shortbow (1d6, x3) ranged, or spell +24 melee touch, or +25 ranged touch
Space/Reach	5 ft. x 5 ft./5 ft
Special Attacks	Fascinate, Mass suggestion, suggestion,
Special Qualities	Bardic knowledge, Bardic music, Divine bloodline, Divine fascinate, Countersong, Inspire competence, Inspire courage, Inspire greatness, Inspire heroics, Song of freedom
Saves	Fort +15, Ref +21, Will +19
Abilities	Strength 14, Dexterity 17, Constitution 15, Intelligence 18, Wisdom 11, Charisma 34
Skills	Appraise+14, Balance +10, Bluff +22, Climb+7, Concentration +22, Craft (Musical instrument)+16, Decipher script +19, Diplomacy +42, Disguise +17, Escape artist +7, Gather Information +22, Hide +7, Jump +7, Knowledge (arcana)+24, Knowledge (geography)+14, Knowledge (nature) +24, Knowledge (nobility and royalty)+19, Knowledge (religion)+29, Knowledge (the Planes) +29, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Perform (singing) +62, Perform (string instruments)+49, Sense motive +8, Sleight of hand +7, Spellcraft (Charisma based) +42, Swim +7, Use Magic device +22
Feats	Craft wondrous item, Dodge, Empower Spell, Enlarge Spell, Extend spell, Heighten Spell, Improved Counterspell, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Perform, singing), Spell Penetration
Epic Feats	Epic Inspiration, Epic Skill Focus (Perform, singing), Inspire Excellence, Lasting Inspiration, Music Of The Gods, Ranged Inspiration, Reactive Countersong
Climate/Terrain	Ancient Greece or in Hades
Organization	Solitary, or with 1d8 followers, or with Argonauts
Challenge Rating	38
Treasure	see possessions
Alignment	chaotic good

Bardic knowledge: Orpheus’s bardic knowledge check is at +36

Bardic music: Orpheus may use his bardic music ability 34 times per day to produce one of the bardic powers (countersong, inspire competence, courage, greatness or heroics, fascinate, suggest, mass suggest or song of freedom).

Countersong: Orpheus can use his singing (or playing instrument as a second option, if he can’t sing) to counter magical effects that depend on sound (but not spells that simply have verbal components). Each round of the countersong, he makes a Perform check. Any creature within 30 feet of him (including himself) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use Orpheus’ Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher.

If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a non instantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use Orpheus’ Perform check result for the save. Countersong has no effect against effects that don’t allow saves. Orpheus may keep up the countersong for 10 rounds

Divine blood: immune to polymorphing, petrification or any form-altering attack, energy drain, ability drain and ability damage; +10 vs poison, Paralysis, death effects, disintegration; +5 vs binding, soul bind, Temporal Stasis, Trap the Soul; Spell Resistance 25

Divine fascinate: given his lineage, Orpheus may use the ‘Music Of The Gods’ epic feat against those normally immune to mind-affecting effects without allowing them the usual +10 bonus on will save.

Fascinate: Orpheus can use his singing (or playing instrument as a second option, if he can’t sing) to cause up to twelve creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear him, and able to pay attention to him. Orpheus must also be able to see the creatures. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. To use the ability, Orpheus makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, he cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours.

If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to Orpheus, taking no other actions, for as long as he continues to sing and concentrate (up to a maximum of 34 rounds). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires Orpheus to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.

Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.

Inspire competence: Orpheus can use his oratory to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear him. Orpheus must also be able to see the ally. The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with a particular skill as long as he or she continues to hear him. Certain uses of this ability are infeasible. The effect lasts as long as Orpheus concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. Orpheus can’t inspire competence in himself. Inspire competence is a mind-affecting ability

Inspire courage: Orpheus can use his singing to inspire courage in his allies (including himself ), up to six targets, bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear Orpheus singing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears Orpheus and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +4 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability.

Inspire greatness: Orpheus can use his singing to inspire greatness in himself or up to nine willing allies within 30 feet, granting him or her extra fighting capability. To inspire greatness, a he must sing and an ally must hear him sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears Orpheus sing and for 5 rounds thereafter.

A creature inspired with greatness gains 2 bonus Hit Dice (d10s), the commensurate number of temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these bonus Hit Dice), a +2 competence bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves. The bonus Hit Dice count as regular Hit Dice for determining the effect of spells that are Hit Dice dependant. Inspire greatness is a mind-affecting ability.

Inspire heroics: Orpheus can use his singing to inspire tremendous heroism in himself or up to seven willing allies within 30 feet. To inspire heroics, he must sing and an ally must hear him sing for a full round. A creature so inspired gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a +4 Dodge bonus to AC. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears Orpheus sing and for up to 5 rounds thereafter. Inspire heroics is a mind-affecting ability.

Mass suggestion: This ability functions like suggestion, below, except that Orpheus can make the suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that he has already fascinated (see above). Mass suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability.

Song of freedom: Orpheus can use his singing to create an effect equivalent to the Break enchantment spell (34 caster level). Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted Concentration and music, and it functions on a single target within 30 feet. Orpheus can’t use song of freedom on himself.

Suggestion: Orpheus can make a suggestion (as the spell) to a creature that he has already fascinated (see above). Using this ability does not break his Concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect.

Making a suggestion doesn’t count against Orpheus’ daily limit on bardic music performances. A Will saving throw (DC 39) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature. suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language dependent ability.

Possessions +1 silver ghost touch Dagger

Magic Lyre

A gift from Apollo, this lyre adds +10 to a bard’s performance check (not accounted for in the stats above) and adds +2 to DC ST against a bard’s spell.

bard spells know (0-6): 6/5/5/5/5/5/4;

• 0-level: Daze, Detect magic, Light, Lullaby, Read magic, Resistance;
• 1-level: Cause fear, Charm person, Oscure object, Remove fear, Sleep;
• 2-level: Calm emotions, Daze monster, Eagle’s splendor, Hold person, Locate object;
• 3-level: Charm monster, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Cure serious wounds, Remove curse, Speak with animals
• 4-level: Detect scrying, Hallucinatory terrain, Hold monster, Locate creature, Repel vermin;
• 5-level: Dispel magic (greater), Dream, Persistent image, Shadow walk, Summon monster V:
• 6-level: Charm monster(mass), Find the path, Geas/quest, Irresistibile dance

bard spells/day(0-6): 4/7/7/7/7/6/6 Caster level 34°. Save DC: 22 + spell level

epic spells/day: 2. Spellcraft +42.