The Canaith Mandolin is an instrument from which spells can be cast, and which makes a bard's charm spells harder to resist.
Description[]
The following is drawn from the Dungeon Master's Guide (2014), p. 176, but some abilities have been demonstrated on-stream. A bard can use an action to play the instrument and cast one of the following spells: Fly,[2] Invisibility,[3] Levitate, Protection from Evil and Good, Cure Wounds (3rd level),[4] Dispel Magic,[5] Protection from Energy (lightning only)
Once the instrument has been used to cast a spell, it can't be used to cast that spell again until the next dawn. The spells use the bard's spellcasting ability and spell save DC. If the wielder uses the instrument as a spellcasting focus to cast a spell with a Charmed effect, targets have disadvantage on the saving throw against it.
A creature that attempts to play the instrument without being attuned to it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d4 psychic damage.[6]
History[]
Exandria Unlimited and Campaign Three[]
Fan art of Dorian and his new instrument, by ElesirArt.[art 2]
In their adventures after Orym, Fearne, and Dorian departed for Marquet, Dariax and Opal robbed Canaith, a performer traveling through Byroden, and took his heavy-looking, deep red mahogany mandolin. Dariax carried the instrument on his back until they reunited with Dorian in Kymal, where Dariax presented the mandolin to Dorian as a gift. The air genasi needed more than one attempt to attune to it, since the first try led to the instrument psychically harming him.[7] However, once he succeeded he gained access to its magic, including the Fly spell, which he used on Cyrus to flee Kymal with their friends.[8]
Dorian kept the mandolin as his main instrument after he gave his lute to Dariax,[9] and after he returned with Bells Hells and updated his outfit, he decided to modify the mandolin too: the instrument was painted blue with sunburst, and a small symbol of blades of grass was added to the back, as a tribute to the late FCG.[10]
Trivia[]
- Outside Critical Role canon, the Instruments of the Bards are the legacy of seven legendary bard colleges after which they are named: Anstruth harp, Canaith mandolin, Cli lyre, Doss lute, Fochlucan bandore, Mac-Fuirmidh cittern, and Ollamh harp.[1] The College of Canaith exists in the world of Toril, but not in Exandria.[11]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See D&D: Dungeon Master's Guide (2014), 5th ed., p. 176.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 2" (E2x02) at 4:36:58.
- ↑ See "Reconciliation" (3x102) at 1:49:12.
- ↑ See "Reconciliation" (3x102) at 2:25:09.
- ↑ See "Broken Roads" (3x92) at 3:33:31.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 1" (E2x01) at 2:13:26.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 1" (E2x01) at 2:02:29.
- ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, Part 2" (E2x02).
- ↑ See "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93).
- ↑ See "Shadows New and Old" (3x96).
- ↑
Canaith on The Forgotten Realms Wiki (note)
Art:
- ↑ Depiction of a Canaith mandolin from D&D: Dungeon Master's Guide (2014), page 176. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
- ↑ Fan art of Dorian and his new instrument, by ElesirArt (source). Used with permission.