The character will be taking spells to reproduce her Drow heritage (Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire, and possibly Darkness and some illusions) but will mostly focus on spells that deal with the power of words, stuff that could be taken as coincidence rather than obvious magic with occasional exceptions such as some ritual spells.
This is sort of build plan for an active character, but the end character will likely not look much like this.
1st Level Statistics
Half-Elf Bard 1st
Str: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 11
Int: 14
Wis: 12
Cha: 16
HP: 8
AC: 13
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility
Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Short Swords
Tools: Thieves tools, Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Languages: Common, Elvish
Proficient Skills
Deception (Bard) +5
History (Half-Elf) +4
Insight (Acolyte) +3
Performance (Bard) +5
Persuasion (Bard) +5
Religion (Acolyte) +4
Sleight of Hand (Half-Elf) +4
Background: Acolyte
Feats
Spellcasting
Ritual Casting
Bardic Inspiration (3d6)
Equipment
Rapier
Diplomat's Pack
Lute
Leather Armor
Dagger
Holy Symbol
Prayer Book
5 Sticks of Incense
Vestements
Common Clothes
15 GP
Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spells: Faerie Fire, Heroism, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter
Reasoning: Dancing Lights and Faerie Fire are based on her drow heritage. Vicious Mockery, Heroism, Healing Word and Tasha's Hideous Laughter are all language and word based magics.
2nd to 5th Level
2nd Level - Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest (d6), +5 HP
1st Level Spell: Unseen Servant
3rd Level - Bard College: Lore, Bonus Proficiencies (Intimidation, Investigation, Perception), Expertise: Deception, Performance, +5 HP
1st Level Spell: Identify
4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Cha +2, +5 HP
Cantrip: Prestidigitation
2nd Level Spell: Dissonant Whispers
5th Level - Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration, Proficiency Bonus +3, +5 HP
3rd Level: Glyph of Warding
Reasoning: The 2nd and 3rd level here mirror my actual progression in game. Unseen Servant is based on the idea of her using her innate drow magic to create an aid in establishing an atmosphere for her stories (in game, she has used it to fake the presence of incorporeal undead). Dissonant Whispers is my plan for the next spell selection due to a recent battle where I needed to get an enemy to run from me. Meanwhile communication while Glyph of Warding is literally magical writing. The limits on a Bard's spell list are somewhat telling here. Note she does not have Comprehend Languages despite it fitting her theme purely because the party she was in had two other people with access to that spell.
5th Level Statistics
Half-Elf Lore Bard 5th
Str: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 11
Int: 14
Wis: 12
Cha: 18
HP: 28
AC: 13
Proficiency Bonus: +3
Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility
Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Short Swords
Tools: Lute, Mandolin, Flute
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish
Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Jack of All Trades) +3
Animal Handling (Jack of All Trades) +2
Arcana (Jack of All Trades) +3
Athletics (Jack of All Trades) +1
Deception (Bard, Expertise) +10
History (Half-Elf) +5
Insight (Acolyte) +4
Intimidation (Lore) +7
Investigation (Lore) +5
Medicine (Jack of All Trades) +2
Nature (Jack of All Trades) +3
Perception (Lore) +4
Performance (Bard, Expertise) +10
Persuasion (Bard) +7
Religion (Acolyte) +5
Sleight of Hand (Half-Elf) +5
Stealth (Jack of All Trades) +3
Survival (Jack of All Trades) +2
Background: Acolyte
Feats
Spellcasting
Ritual Casting
Bardic Inspiration (4d8)
Jack of All Trades
Song of Rest (d6)
Expertise: Deception, Performance
Font of Inspiration
Equipment
Rapier
Diplomat's Pack
Lute
Leather Armor
Dagger
Holy Symbol
Prayer Book
5 Sticks of Incense
Vestements
Common Clothes
15 GP
Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spells: Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Heroism, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Unseen Servant, Identify
3rd Level Spells: Glyph of Warding
6th to 10th Level
6th Level - Counter Charm, Magical Secrets, +5 HP
2nd Level Spell: Detect Thoughts
3rd Level Cleric Spells: Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse
7th Level - +5 HP
2nd Level Spell: Lesser Restoration
8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Skilled (Arcana, Stealth, Thieves Tools), +5 HP
3rd Level Spell: Bestow Curse
9th Level - Song of Rest (d8), Proficiency Bonus +4, +5 HP
5th Level Spell: Legend Lore
10th Level - Bardic Inspiration (4d10), Expertise (Investigation, Insight), Magical Secrets, +5 HP
Cantrip: Blade Ward
3rd Level Cleric Spell: Beacon of Hope
5th Level Cleric Spell: Commune
Reasoning: The focus is still on knowledge and subtle magics. I've enhanced her healing ability with the knowledge that the character this is based on is becoming the primary healing focus. Skilled gives her more skills, including some ability with Thieves Tools, which I could have gotten from downtime training, but I wanted the Arcana and Stealth as well. Legend Lore, Detect Thoughts and Commune are good information gathering abilities. Bestow Curse is another bit of debuffing.
10th Level Statistics
Half-Elf Lore Bard 10th
Str: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 11
Int: 14
Wis: 12
Cha: 18
HP: 53
AC: 13
Proficiency Bonus: +4
Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility
Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Short Swords
Tools: Lute, Mandolin, Flute, Thieves Tools
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish
Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Jack of All Trades) +4
Animal Handling (Jack of All Trades) +3
Arcana (Feat) +6
Athletics (Jack of All Trades) +2
Deception (Bard, Expertise) +12
History (Half-Elf) +6
Insight (Acolyte, Insight) +9
Intimidation (Lore) +8
Investigation (Lore, Investigation) +10
Medicine (Jack of All Trades) +3
Nature (Jack of All Trades) +4
Perception (Lore) +5
Performance (Bard, Expertise) +12
Persuasion (Bard) +8
Religion (Acolyte) +6
Sleight of Hand (Half-Elf) +6
Stealth (Feat) +6
Survival (Jack of All Trades) +3
Background: Acolyte
Feats: Skilled
Spellcasting
Ritual Casting
Bardic Inspiration (4d10)
Jack of All Trades
Song of Rest (d8)
Expertise: Deception, Insight, Investigation, Performance
Font of Inspiration
Counter Charm
Magical Secrets (Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse, Beacon of Hope, Commune)
Equipment
Rapier
Diplomat's Pack
Lute
Leather Armor
Dagger
Holy Symbol
Prayer Book
5 Sticks of Incense
Vestements
Common Clothes
15 GP
Cantrips: Blade Ward, Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spells: Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Heroism, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Unseen Servant, Identify
2nd Level Spells: Detect Thoughts, Lesser Restoration
3rd Level Spells: Beacon of Hope, Bestow Curse, Glyph of Warding, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse
5th Level Spells: Commune, Legend Lore
11th to 15th Level
11th Level - +5 HP
4th Level Spell: Confusion
12th Level - Ability Score Improvement, +2 Cha, +5 HP
13th Level - Song of Rest (d10), Proficiency Bonus +5, +5 HP
7th Level Spell: Resurrection
14th Level - Magical Secrets, Peerless Skill, +5 HP
6th Level Druid Spell: Conjure Fey
7th Level Cleric Spell: Divine Word
15th Level - Bardic Inspiration (5d12), +5 HP
8th Level Spell - Glibness
Reasoning: Her resurrection and conjuring are still based on the idea of knowing just the right words and telling the right story to bring even the dead back to life, provided she has the right bribe for the ferryman, of course. She is now a possessor of a Divine Word as well. Charisma is now maximum without magical enhancement.
15th Level Statistics
Half-Elf Lore Bard 10th
Str: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 11
Int: 14
Wis: 12
Cha: 20
HP: 78
AC: 13
Proficiency Bonus: +5
Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility
Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Short Swords
Tools: Lute, Mandolin, Flute, Thieves Tools
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish
Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Jack of All Trades) +4
Animal Handling (Jack of All Trades) +3
Arcana (Feat) +7
Athletics (Jack of All Trades) +2
Deception (Bard, Expertise) +15
History (Half-Elf) +7
Insight (Acolyte, Expertise) +11
Intimidation (Lore) +10
Investigation (Lore, Investigation) +12
Medicine (Jack of All Trades) +3
Nature (Jack of All Trades) +4
Perception (Lore) +6
Performance (Bard, Expertise) +15
Persuasion (Bard) +10
Religion (Acolyte) +7
Sleight of Hand (Half-Elf) +7
Stealth (Feat) +7
Survival (Jack of All Trades) +3
Background: Acolyte
Feats: Skilled
Spellcasting
Ritual Casting
Bardic Inspiration (5d12)
Jack of All Trades
Song of Rest (d10)
Expertise: Deception, Insight, Investigation, Performance
Font of Inspiration
Counter Charm
Magical Secrets (Beacon of Hope, Commune, Conjure Fey, Divine Word, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse)
Peerless Skill
Equipment
Rapier
Diplomat's Pack
Lute
Leather Armor
Dagger
Holy Symbol
Prayer Book
5 Sticks of Incense
Vestements
Common Clothes
15 GP
Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spells: Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Heroism, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Unseen Servant, Identify
2nd Level Spells: Detect Thoughts, Lesser Restoration
3rd Level Spells: Beacon of Hope, Bestow Curse, Glyph of Warding, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse
4th Level Spells: Confusion
5th Level Spells: Commune, Legend Lore
6th Level Spells: Conjure Fey
7th Level Spells: Divine Word, Resurrection
8th Level Spells: Glibness
16th to 20th Level
16th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Wis +2, +5 HP
17th Level - Song of Rest (d12), Proficiency Bonus +6, +5 HP
9th Level Spell - Power Word Heal
18th Level - Magical Secrets, +5 HP
9th Level Wizard Spell: Wish
8th Level Wizard Spell: Demiplane
19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Feat: Inspiring Leader, +5 HP
20th Level - Superior Inspiration, +5 HP
Reasoning: It is very difficult to pass up on Wish as the ultimate expression of the magic of language, especially since it can reproduce every other language based under 8th level spell in the game. I also increased her Wisdom and took the Inspiring Leader feat to represent her path as a devotee of a lost goddess. I also imagine her creating Demiplanes through her mastery of storytelling.
20th Level Statistics
Half-Elf Lore Bard 10th
Str: 10
Dex: 15
Con: 11
Int: 14
Wis: 14
Cha: 20
HP: 103
AC: 13
Proficiency Bonus: +6
Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility
Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Short Swords
Tools: Lute, Mandolin, Flute, Thieves Tools
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish
Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Jack of All Trades) +5
Animal Handling (Jack of All Trades) +5
Arcana (Feat) +8
Athletics (Jack of All Trades) +3
Deception (Bard, Expertise) +17
History (Half-Elf) +8
Insight (Acolyte, Expertise) +14
Intimidation (Lore) +11
Investigation (Lore, Investigation) +14
Medicine (Jack of All Trades) +5
Nature (Jack of All Trades) +5
Perception (Lore) +8
Performance (Bard, Expertise) +17
Persuasion (Bard) +11
Religion (Acolyte) +8
Sleight of Hand (Half-Elf) +8
Stealth (Feat) +8
Survival (Jack of All Trades) +5
Background: Acolyte
Feats: Skilled
Spellcasting
Ritual Casting
Bardic Inspiration (5d12)
Jack of All Trades
Song of Rest (d12)
Expertise: Deception, Insight, Investigation, Performance
Font of Inspiration
Counter Charm
Magical Secrets (Beacon of Hope, Commune, Conjure Fey, Demiplane, Divine Word, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse, Wish)
Peerless Skill
Superior Inspiration
Equipment
Rapier
Diplomat's Pack
Lute
Leather Armor
Dagger
Holy Symbol
Prayer Book
5 Sticks of Incense
Vestements
Common Clothes
15 GP
Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spells: Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Heroism, Healing Word, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Unseen Servant, Identify
2nd Level Spells: Detect Thoughts, Lesser Restoration
3rd Level Spells: Beacon of Hope, Bestow Curse, Glyph of Warding, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse
4th Level Spells: Confusion
5th Level Spells: Commune, Legend Lore
6th Level Spells: Conjure Fey
7th Level Spells: Divine Word, Resurrection
8th Level Spells: Demiplane, Glibness
9th Level Spells: Power Word Heal, Wish
Some 5e Builds
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