Cecilia

Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman and an avid lover of music during her life. According to legend, when the musicians played at her wedding, she joined them in singing rather than listening quietly (which would have been the proper thing to do). Cecilia and her new husband were later discovered to be Christians and executed by the Roman authorities.

Cecilia has been remembered fondly by Christians throughout history as the “patron saint of music,” and there have been numerous music festivals held in her memory over hundreds of years and throughout many different genres of music.

Cecilia as an Elder. Cecilia’s greatest regret in dying so young was that she never got to experience all the different types of music that the world had to offer. Since dying, Cecilia has spent much of her time in eternity sampling different instruments and styles of music. If you were to ask Cecilia what her favorite song was, she would reply that, the more songs she hears, the harder it becomes to choose a favorite.

Roleplaying Cecilia. Cecilia is a consummate artist. She notices music wherever she goes, and usually can’t help but play a couple of notes on any instrument she passes by. Cecilia is a team player and knows how to work toward a goal, but she is also easily distracted if she comes across an instrument or style of music she has never encountered before.

Cecilia

Medium Humanoid, Chaotic Good

Armor Class: 14

Hit Points: 72 (16d8)

Speed: 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	18 (+4)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	21 (+5)

Saving Throws: Dex +9, Cha, +10

Skills: History +12, Performance +15, Persuasion +15

Senses: passive perception 11

Languages: Common, Latin, Italian, German, French

Challenge: 10 (5,900 XP) Proficiency: +5

Features

Bardic Inspiration (5/Day): As a bonus action, Cecilia strums a chord imbued with magical energy, targeting a creature within 60 feet who can hear her. This creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d12.

Special Equipment: Cecilia carries a custom guitar, which was crafted for her by a famous deceased musician who has continued to build instruments in Heaven as a hobby. This guitar grants Cecilia a +3 bonus to her spell attack rolls and spell save DC (already included in her spellcasting feature).

Spellcasting: Cecilia is a 16th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Charisma (+13 to hit, DC 21), and she has the following bard spells prepared.

At will: dancing lights, minor illusion, vicious mockery

charm person, thunderwave

1st level (4 slots):

2nd level (3 slots): shatter, enhance ability

3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, hypnotic pattern

4th level (3 slots): confusion, dimension door

5th level (2 slots): mislead, hold monster

6th level (1 slot): irresistible dance

7th level (1 slot): forcecage

8th level (1 slot): mind blank

Actions

Learn Instrument: If Cecilia spends 1 minute touching an instrument, she gains proficiency with it. If she uses this ability on an object that is not an instrument, she nonetheless finds a way to make improvised music with it. Either way, the object may be used as her spellcasting focus for the next hour, or until she uses this ability again.

Secret Chord (Recharge 5-6): As an action, Cecilia unleashes a powerful blast of music from her guitar. Each creature of her choice within 60 feet that can hear must make a DC 21 Intelligence saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) psychic damage on a failed saving throw, or half as much on a successful one. If the damage taken from this effect is equal to or greater than half of a target’s remaining hit points, that target must also succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or be Stunned until the end of its next turn.

Azrael's Guide to the Apocalypse, printed page 233.