Gourmet

The last thing you want to see when your people are hungry and raiding or your keep is being besieged by the Valorean Legion is another thug with a sword or spear. The world needs diplomats, ones bearing gifts, particularly tasty ones.

This perspective is one shared by the famous gourmet chefs of Bruttomesso. While something like a formal school is rare in the nation, Brut gourmets (Vigni word, one enthusiastic in good food and wine) got their start decades ago by competing with one another to make the best inns, taverns, and ristorantes for newly wealthy thieves and pirates to spend their coin. Over time this evolved into an art form, one that the carefree and bold Brut people *needed* to share with the world.

While early gourmets set up shop in other cities, it was only a matter of time before their show needed to travel. Taking up residence on ships, caravans, or sometimes creating their own wagons of food and culture, gourmets travel the world supplying the isolated peoples of Ahrd with delectable foodstuffs and potent drinks, often shared by mighty adventurers (sometimes hired as cooks, or often hiring their own protection!).

You can count when the going gets rough and blood starts to boil, a gourmet will be the first to break bread and share wild tales of their travels to make friends and spread cheer where bloodshed would instead be a near certainty. But any on the road knows that violence is inevitable in the wilds of Ahrd, and the happy and full bellies of their muscle provide a greater boon than even the mightiest magics.

## Bard: Gourmet

**Fidelity Bonus**: Brut humans receive Inspiration at the start of every session.

**Designers Note**: While Gourmets retain spellcasting, and within these rules you will see references to spells and spellcasting, a Gourmet is not magical by trade. The effects of the Bard spells you cast will be from a variety of foods, drinks, and ingredients you carry or create as appropriate for your trade, or explained using your superior cooking skills. You will also be required to use the correct tool set as your spellcasting focus (noted in your Culinary Focus).

### Culinary Focus

When you select Gourmet at level 3, you can solidify your culinary path.

* **Cook**- You specialize in the main course of the meal, any may focus in dishes native to your homeland or where you studied such as the expert salted fish of Khiiar, the myriad cheeses of Vigneau, or the dry rubbed barbecue of the Faarhad tribes.
	+ You gain proficiency in any Cook's Utensils. This is your spellcasting focus.
	+ You have expertise with this tool, as well as with the Survival skill.
	+ **Spice it Up**: After finishing a long rest, spending 5-10 minutes working with your tools over edible food (including prepared portions like rations) will allow you to enhance it. A number of creatures equal to half your bard level gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier plus your proficiency bonus.
* **Brewer**- You specialize in the creation of potent libations, typically with a focus on what the locals love such as Eldiri wines (oft replicated by the Vigni), Mutan moonwater, or Elish Ales.
	+ You gain proficiency in any Brewer's Supplies. This is your spellcasting focus.
	+ You have expertise with this kit, as well as with the Medicine skill.
	+ **Carouse**: Choose one creature within 5 feet. That creature must take a dexterity saving throw or gain advantage on all charisma checks and saves, and disadvantage on all wisdom checks and saves for the next hour. A creature can willingly fail the dexterity save. A creature immune to the poisoned condition is immune to this effect. Once this feature is used you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.

* **Pastry Chef**- You specialize in the delight of sweet and salty treats, typically with a focus on what is trending with the wealthy, such as Valorean tarts, Vigni cakes, or Khiiar salted taffy.
	+ You gain proficiency in any Cook's Utensils. This is your spellcasting focus.
	+ You have expertise with this tool, as well as with the Performance skill.
	+ **Tricky Treats**: You can spend an extra 10 minutes when crafting a treat to cast a spell that has a casting time of one action and targets only one creature into the treat. The spell consumes a spell slot as normal, and requires all components. When the treat is finished, eating it will cast the spell on the consumer. If a saving throw is required for the spell, a creature takes these saves with disadvantage. Once this feature is used, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest. The magic in the treat dissipates after this rest.

### Gourmand

Starting at 6th level, the Gourmet learns to enjoy their own fruits as much as they enjoy their creation, and puts this love into their foods. When a creature is healed by a spell you cast, that creature also gains temporary hit points equal to the level at which the spell was cast. Additionally, you know the **Create Food and Water** spell as well as additional spells based on your Culinary Focus, and can cast each spell once per day without spending a spell slot.

 Brewer
 Pastry Chef

At level 11, you add **Heroes' Feast** to your Gourmand spells.

### Uplifting Aroma

At 14th level, the smells surrounding you snuff out the dingy scent of caves, keeps, and swamps, and remind your companions of hearth and home. When a creature that can smell you makes a saving throw, ability check, or attack roll, you can use your reaction and spend a use of Bardic Inspiration to add your Bardic Inspiration dice to that roll.