Shield
Shields require the Utilize action to Don or Doff. You gain the Armor Class benefit of a Shield only if you have training with it.
Splint
This armor is made of narrow vertical strips of metal riveted to a backing of leather that is worn over cloth padding. Flexible chain mail protects the joints.
Frost Brand Longsword — 1d8 Slashing, Versatile, Sap (magical)
When you hit with an attack roll using this magic weapon, the target takes an extra 1d6 Cold damage. In addition, while you hold the weapon, you have Resistance to Fire damage. In freezing temperatures, the weapon sheds Bright Light in a 10-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 10 feet. When you draw this weapon, you can extinguish all nonmagical flames within 30 feet of yourself. Once used, this property can’t be used again for 1 hour.
Javelin — 1d6 Piercing, Thrown, Slow
Proficiency with a Javelin allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it. Slow. If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.
Bag of Holding — (magical)
This bag has an interior space considerably larger than its outside dimensions, roughly 2 feet in diameter at the mouth and 4 feet deep. The bag can hold up to 500 pounds, not exceeding a volume of 64 cubic feet. The bag weighs 15 pounds, regardless of its contents. Retrieving an item from the bag requires an action. If the bag is overloaded, pierced, or torn, it ruptures and is destroyed, and its contents are scattered in the Astral Plane. If the bag is turned inside out, its contents spill forth, unharmed, but the bag must be put right before it can be used again. Breathing creatures inside the bag can survive up to a number of minutes equal to 10 divided by the number of creatures (minimum 1 minute), after which time they begin to suffocate. Placing a bag of holding inside an extradimensional space created by a handy haversack, portable hole, or similar item instantly destroys both items and opens a gate to the Astral Plane. The gate originates where the one item was placed inside the other. Any creature within 10 feet of the gate is sucked through it to a random location on the Astral Plane. The gate then closes. The gate is one-way only and can’t be reopened.
Amulet of the Devout, +2 — (magical)
This amulet bears the symbol of a deity inlaid with precious stones or metals. While you wear the holy symbol, you gain a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls and the saving throw DCs of your spells. While you wear this amulet, you can use your Channel Divinity feature without expending one of the feature’s uses. Once this property is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.
- Armor: Heavy Armor, Light Armor, Medium Armor
- Weapons: Crossbow, Hand, Longsword, Martial Weapons, Rapier, Shortsword, Simple Weapons
- Saving Throws: Charisma, Dexterity, Wisdom
- Skills: Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Perception
- Instruments: Pan Flute
- Gaming: Playing Card Set
- Expertise: Investigation, Persuasion
- Languages: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant
Attack with Frost Brand Longsword — +5 to hit, 1d8+2 Slashing
When you hit with an attack roll using this magic weapon, the target takes an extra 1d6 Cold damage. In addition, while you hold the weapon, you have Resistance to Fire damage. In freezing temperatures, the weapon sheds Bright Light in a 10-foot radius and Dim Light for an additional 10 feet. When you draw this weapon, you can extinguish all nonmagical flames within 30 feet of yourself. Once used, this property can’t be used again for 1 hour.
Attack with Javelin — +5 to hit, 1d6+2 Piercing
Proficiency with a Javelin allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it. Slow. If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.
Divine Sense — As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything ...
As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover. You can use this feature {{(modifier:cha)+1#unsigned}} times per long rest.
Lay on Hands Pool — You have a pool of healing power that can restore {{classlevel*5#unsigned}} HP per long rest. As an ...
You have a pool of healing power that can restore {{classlevel*5#unsigned}} HP per long rest. As an action, you can touch a creature to restore any number of HP remaining in the pool, or 5 HP to either cure a disease or neutralize a poison affecting the creature.
Divine Smite — When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal 2d8 extra radiant dam...
When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal 2d8 extra radiant damage to the target plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st (max 5d8) and plus 1d8 against undead or fiends.
Channel Divinity — Your oath allows you to channel divine energy to fuel magical effects. When you use your Channel Div...
Your oath allows you to channel divine energy to fuel magical effects. When you use your Channel Divinity, you choose which option to use. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Channel Divinity again. Some Channel Divinity effects require saving throws (DC {{savedc:cha}}).
Channel Divinity: Abjure Enemy — As an action, you can choose one creature within 60 ft. of you that you can see to make a WIS saving...
As an action, you can choose one creature within 60 ft. of you that you can see to make a WIS saving throw ({{savedc:cha}}). Fiends and undead have disadvantage on this saving throw. On failure, the creature is frightened and its speed is reduced to 0 (and it can't benefit from bonuses to speed) for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. On success, the creature’s speed is halved for 1 minute or until the creature takes any damage.
Channel Divinity: Vow of Enmity — You can choose a creature you can see within 10 ft. of you and gain advantage on attack rolls agains...
You can choose a creature you can see within 10 ft. of you and gain advantage on attack rolls against it for 1 minute or until it drops to 0 HP or falls unconscious.
Harness Divine Power — You can expend a use of your Channel Divinity to fuel your spells. As a bonus action, you touch your...
You can expend a use of your Channel Divinity to fuel your spells. As a bonus action, you touch your holy symbol, utter a prayer, and regain one expended spell slot, which can be no higher than level {{(proficiency/2)@roundup#unsigned}}. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Bardic Inspiration — As a bonus action, a creature (other than yourself) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspira...
As a bonus action, a creature (other than yourself) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspiration die ({{scalevalue}}). 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.
Defensive Flourish — Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the e...
Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the end of the turn. If a weapon attack hits, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration and deal extra damage equal to the number you roll on the die. You also add the number to your AC until the start of your next turn.
Slashing Flourish — Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the e...
Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the end of the turn. If a weapon attack hits, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to deal extra damage equal to the number you roll on the die to the target you hit and to any other creature within 5 ft. of you.
Mobile Flourish — Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the e...
Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 ft. until the end of the turn. If a weapon attack hits, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration and deal extra damage equal to the number you roll on the die. You can also push the target up to 5 ft. plus the number rolled. You can then use your reaction to move up to your walking speed to an unoccupied space within 5 ft. of the target.
Magical Inspiration — If a creature has a Bardic Inspiration die from you and casts a spell that restores hit points or de...
If a creature has a Bardic Inspiration die from you and casts a spell that restores hit points or deals damage, the creature can roll that die and choose a target affected by the spell. Add the number rolled as a bonus to the hit points regained or the damage dealt. The Bardic Inspiration die is then lost.
Cantrips
Vicious Mockery — 60 ft, 1 action
Enchantment cantrip
You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. If the target can hear you (though it need not understand you), it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn. This spell's damage increases by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4), 11th level (3d4), and 17th level (4d4).
Prestidigitation — 10 ft, 1 action
Transmutation cantrip
You create a magical effect within range. Choose the effect from the options below. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its non-instantaneous effects active at a time. Sensory Effect. You create an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect, such as a shower of sparks, a puff of wind, faint musical notes, or an odd odor. Fire Play. You instantaneously light or snuff out a candle, a torch, or a small campfire. Clean or Soil. You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot. Minor Sensation. You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for 1 hour. Magic Mark. You make a color, a small mark, or a symbol appear on an object or a surface for 1 hour. Minor Creation. You create a nonmagical trinket or an illusory image that can fit in your hand. It lasts until the end of your next turn. A trinket can deal no damage and has no monetary worth.
Message — 120 ft, 1 action
Transmutation cantrip
You point toward a creature within range and whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can hear. You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier. Magical silence; 1 foot of stone, metal, or wood; or a thin sheet of lead blocks the spell.
1st Level (8 slots)
Cure Wounds — Self ft, 1 action
1st-level evocation
A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + 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 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.
Command — 60 ft, 1 action
1st-level enchantment
You speak a one-word command to a creature you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. The spell has no effect if the target is undead, if it doesn't understand your language, or if your command is directly harmful to it. Some typical commands and their effects follow. You might issue a command other than one described here. If you do so, the DM determines how the target behaves. If the target can't follow your command, the spell ends. Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within 5 feet of you. Drop. The target drops whatever it is holding and then ends its turn. Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means. Grovel. The target falls prone and then ends its turn. Halt. The target doesn't move and takes no actions. A flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum distance needed to remain in the air. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can affect one additional creature for each slot level above 1st. The creatures must be within 30 feet of each other when you target them.
Bless — 30 ft, 1 action, concentration
1st-level enchantment
You bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 1st.
Thunderous Smite — Self ft, 1 bonus action, concentration
1st-level evocation
The first time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, your weapon rings with thunder that is audible within 300 feet of you, and the attack deals an extra 2d6 thunder damage to the target. Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from you and knocked prone.
Detect Magic — Self ft, 1 action, concentration, ritual
1st-level divination
For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any. The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
Healing Word — 60 ft, 1 bonus action
1st-level evocation
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.
Tasha's Hideous Laughter — 30 ft, 1 action, concentration
1st-level enchantment
A creature of your choice that you can see within range perceives everything as hilariously funny and falls into fits of laughter if this spell affects it. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or fall prone, becoming incapacitated and unable to stand up for the duration. A creature with an Intelligence score of 4 or less isn’t affected.At the end of each of its turns, and each time it takes damage, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. The target has advantage on the saving throw if it’s triggered by damage. On a success, the spell ends.
Sleep — 90 ft, 1 action
1st-level enchantment
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures). Starting with the creature that has the lowest current hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake. Subtract each creature’s hit points from the total before moving on to the creature with the next lowest hit points. A creature’s hit points must be equal to or less than the remaining total for that creature to be affected. Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by this spell. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each slot level above 1st.
Dissonant Whispers — 60 ft, 1 action
1st-level enchantment
You whisper a discordant melody that only one creature of your choice within range can hear, wracking it with terrible pain. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 3d6 psychic damage and must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move as far as its speed allows away from you. The creature doesn’t move into obviously dangerous ground, such as a fire or a pit. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and doesn’t have to move away. A deafened creature automatically succeeds on the save. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.
Unseen Servant — 60 ft, 1 action, ritual
1st-level conjuration
This spell creates an invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends. The servant springs into existence in an unoccupied space on the ground within range. It has AC 10, 1 hit point, and a Strength of 2, and it can't attack. If it drops to 0 hit points, the spell ends. Once on each of your turns as a bonus action, you can mentally command the servant to move up to 15 feet and interact with an object. The servant can perform simple tasks that a human servant could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring wine. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command. If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 60 feet away from you, the spell ends.
2nd Level (5 slots)
Invisibility — Self ft, 1 action, concentration
2nd-level illusion
A creature you touch becomes invisible until the spell ends. Anything the target is wearing or carrying is invisible as long as it is on the target's person. The spell ends for a target that attacks or casts a spell. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 2nd.
Heat Metal — 60 ft, 1 action, concentration
2nd-level transmutation
Choose a manufactured metal object, such as a metal weapon or a suit of heavy or medium metal armor, that you can see within range. You cause the object to glow red-hot. Any creature in physical contact with the object takes 2d8 fire damage when you cast the spell. Until the spell ends, you can use a bonus action on each of your subsequent turns to cause this damage again. If a creature is holding or wearing the object and takes the damage from it, the creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or drop the object if it can. If it doesn’t drop the object, it has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the start of your next turn. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 2nd.
Divine Sense (Paladin)
The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the hallow spell. You can use this feature a number of times equal to 1 + your Charisma modifier. When you finish a long rest, you regain all expended uses.
Lay on Hands (Paladin)
Your blessed touch can heal wounds. You have a pool of healing power that replenishes when you take a long rest. With that pool, you can restore a total number of hit points equal to your paladin level × 5. As an action, you can touch a creature and draw power from the pool to restore a number of hit points to that creature, up to the maximum amount remaining in your pool. Alternatively, you can expend 5 hit points from your pool of healing to cure the target of one disease or neutralize one poison affecting it. You can cure multiple diseases and neutralize multiple poisons with a single use of Lay on Hands, expending hit points separately for each one. This feature has no effect on undead and constructs.
Divine Smite (Paladin)
Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal radiant damage to the target, in addition to the weapon’s damage. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend, to a maximum of 6d8.
Channel Divinity (Oath of Vengeance)
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options. Abjure Enemy. As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer of denunciation, using your Channel Divinity. Choose one creature within 60 feet of you that you can see. That creature must make a Wisdom saving throw, unless it is immune to being frightened. Fiends and undead have disadvantage on this saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is frightened for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. While frightened, the creature’s speed is 0, and it can’t benefit from any bonus to its speed. On a successful save, the creature’s speed is halved for 1 minute or until the creature takes any damage. Vow of Enmity. As a bonus action, you can utter a vow of enmity against a creature you can see within 10 feet of you, using your Channel Divinity. You gain advantage on attack rolls against the creature for 1 minute or until it drops to 0 hit points or falls unconscious.
Bardic Inspiration (Bard)
You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6. Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest. Your Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.
Song of Rest (Bard)
Beginning at 2nd level, you can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points. The extra hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to 1d8 at 9th level, to 1d10 at 13th level, and to 1d12 at 17th level.
Bonus Proficiencies (College of Swords)
When you join the College of Swords at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with medium armor and the scimitar. If you’re proficient with a simple or martial melee weapon, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.
Blade Flourish (College of Swords)
At 3rd level, you learn to perform impressive displays of martial prowess and speed. Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, your walking speed increases by 10 feet until the end of the turn, and if a weapon attack that you make as part of this action hits a creature, you can use one of the following Blade Flourish options of your choice. You can use only one Blade Flourish option per turn. Defensive Flourish. You can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target you hit. The damage equals the number you roll on the Bardic Inspiration die. You also add the number rolled to your AC until the start of your next turn. Slashing Flourish. You can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target you hit and to any other creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you. The damage equals the number you roll on the Bardic Inspiration die. Mobile Flourish. You can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target you hit. The damage equals the number you roll on the Bardic Inspiration die. You can also push the target up to 5 feet away from you, plus a number of feet equal to the number you roll on that die. You can then immediately use your reaction to move up to your walking speed to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the target.
Darkvision (Half-Elf)
You can see in darkness (shades of gray) up to 60 ft.
Fey Ancestry (Half-Elf)
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
The Duelist
Don Juan’s combat style — lock onto a single target with Vow of Enmity, duel them with advantage, and use Blade Flourishes to stay untouchable.
Sworn Strike
- Bonus Action: Vow of Enmity (Channel Divinity — advantage on all attack rolls against one creature within 10ft for 1 minute, no concentration)
- Action: Attack with Frost Brand + Divine Smite + Defensive Flourish. Vow advantage makes crits frequent — all smite dice double. 1d8 slashing + 3 slashing + 1d6 cold + 2d8 radiant + 1d8 slashing(max 41) (1d8 Frost Brand + 3 STR + 1d6 Frost Brand cold + 2d8 Divine Smite + 1d8 Defensive Flourish)
Frost Flourish
- Action: Attack with Frost Brand + Flourish 1d8 slashing + 3 slashing + 1d6 cold + 1d8 slashing(max 25)
(1d8 Frost Brand + 3 STR + 1d6 Frost Brand cold + 1d8 Flourish)
- Defensive — flourish die also adds to AC until next turn
- Slashing — flourish damage also hits all enemies within 5ft
- Mobile — flourish also pushes target + lets Don Juan reposition
- Save Divine Smite for crits (advantage from Vow makes these frequent)
Dissonant Whispers 3d6 +1d6 per level above 1st, half damage on save, no movement. WIS save, target must flee triggering opportunity attacks from adjacent allies. 3d6 psychic @1st level(max 0) 4d6 psychic @2nd level(max 0)
Thunderous Smite Alternative opener when Vow of Enmity is on cooldown — stack with Divine Smite. 1d8 slashing + 3 slashing + 1d6 cold + 2d6 thunder + 2d8 radiant(max 45) (1d8 Frost Brand + 3 STR + 1d6 Frost Brand cold + 2d6 Thunderous Smite + 2d8 Divine Smite)
Situational
- Command: "Flee" or "Grovel" for battlefield control without concentration.
- Cure Wounds / Healing Word: Emergency healing — Healing Word is bonus action at range, Cure Wounds is stronger but costs the action.
Party Synergy
- Dustin’s Hex (WIS disadvantage) makes Dissonant Whispers nearly unavoidable — and the forced movement triggers opportunity attacks from Kürbis and Zarok
- Mindartis’s Hold Person turns Sworn Strike into autocrit territory — paralyzed humanoid = every melee hit within 5ft crits, doubling Divine Smite (2d8 → 4d8), Frost Brand cold (1d8 → 2d8), and Defensive Flourish (1d8 → 2d8). Vow of Enmity advantage is redundant on a paralyzed target, so save Channel Divinity for non-humanoid bosses.
- Zarok’s Aura of Protection boosts Don Juan’s already high saves (+2 to all within 10ft)
- Zarok’s Bless stacks with Vow of Enmity advantage for near-guaranteed hits
- Kürbis’s Storm Aura provides temp HP while Don Juan duels on the front line
- Kürbis’s Reckless Attack draws attacks away from Don Juan, letting him focus on his marked target
Backstory
The Youngest Son
Juan Francisco Montoia De La Roja was born forty years ago in Yartar, the fifth and final child of Duke Ernesto Montoia De La Roja and his wife Elena Del Monte. Two older brothers, two older sisters — all ahead of him in the line of succession. The eldest sons were groomed for politics and statecraft, trained in the workings of power through their father's seat in the Lords' Alliance. The daughters were matched to advantageous families. Juan, the youngest, was given the one thing none of his siblings had: freedom.
He used it to move. From an early age he was fascinated with sports, athleticism, and above all sword fighting — not as duty, but as art. His father, perhaps indulgent of the son who would never inherit, hired the finest sword teachers in Yartar. By the age of twenty-five, Juan could beat every one of them in single combat. He fought the way other men danced — with flair, precision, and an instinct for the theatrical that no amount of drilling could teach.
The Order of the Gauntlet
A swordsman who could beat every teacher his father hired needed something more than practice dummies and sparring partners. Don Juan found it in the Order of the Gauntlet — a paladin order devoted to Tyr, the god of justice. He swore the oath not out of piety but out of hunger: for purpose, for glory, for the kind of fight that mattered beyond the duelling yard.
The order gave him discipline to match his talent and a cause larger than himself. He trained alongside warriors who fought not for applause but for justice, and something in that simplicity appealed to him — even if he never quite lost the instinct to make it look good.
The Assassination
Don Juan came from a noble family in Yartar — a house with old money, political connections, and enemies to match. His father, a man of influence in the Lords' Alliance, and his two older brothers were assassinated. The killings were precise and coordinated — the work of professionals, almost certainly hired by a rival family manoeuvring for power in the city.
His mother, Elena, saw the pattern before the bodies were cold. Three men of the same house, dead within days. She feared a rival family in Yartar was plotting to seize power from their house entirely. The youngest son would be next.
She ordered him to leave. Not to hide — to disappear. To put as much distance between himself and Yartar as possible, until whatever forces were moving against the family had spent themselves or could be identified.
The Grand Dame
The night before he left Yartar, Don Juan went to the Grand Dame — a casino boat moored on the river, run by Lord Drylund. It was the kind of place where the sons of noble families spent their evenings: cards, wine, and the comfortable illusion that luck was a skill.
He went all in. Lost everything.
Whether it was grief, recklessness, or a deliberate attempt to sever the last thread connecting him to the life he was leaving behind, he never said. He walked off the boat with empty pockets. The next day, he was on the road.
The Wanderlust Revue
When the Wanderlust Revue came through Yartar, Don Juan saw his chance. The travelling theatre company was looking for muscle to protect them on the road. He joined without hesitation — a wandering entertainer was invisible in a way a fleeing nobleman was not.
He quickly became friends with Dustin Dwint, one of the Revue's bards. Inspired by Dustin's performances — the way a crowd could be held by a voice and a melody — he understood that fame and glory were not found only on the battlefield. He began an act: flashy bladework, dramatic flourishes, the kind of swordsmanship that made an audience forget they were watching someone who could kill them. It became part of the warm-up show, and the crowds loved it.
But through all the months of travelling, performing, and friendship, Don Juan never spoke of his past. Not of his family. Not of his brothers. Not of Yartar.
Thoughts & Reflections
A Noble Audience
The festival is ideal for our travelling theater group. Don Juan is eager to demonstrate his skills with the sword to Lady Velrosa and enjoy the festivities in the presence of the local nobility. A patron among the landed gentry — now that would be something. Fine wine, fine company, and an audience that appreciates the finer points of swordsmanship. What more could a man ask for?
A Maestro's Craft
¡Ay, caramba! This song we've crafted will surely be a hit! I can already see the joy it will bring to taverns far and wide, with people dancing and reveling to our tune. Dustin's mastery of music and his guidance have been invaluable, truly marking him as a maestro. And Kürbis's spirited performance on the bagpipes has taken our song to an entirely new level. Together, we've created something truly special.
Songs
Composed to be performed on the squares and plazas of Waterdeep, drawing crowds toward the Wanderlust Revue's evening tavern shows.
The anthem of the Wanderlust Revue — a merry band of performers who travelled the Sword Coast bringing music, theatre, and spectacle to every town they visited. Dustin wrote this as a street-performance piece to attract passersby on Waterdeep's busy market squares and funnel them to the troupe's evening gigs. It became their calling card, performed at the opening of every show.