A fabled instrument with healing and hypnotic power
“I awoke with teary eyes, a clear mind, and a renewed spirit. The Bard was gone, and my pouch of gold with him. But it was worth it to hear that heavenly sound…”
Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern 5e
The Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern is one of the most powerful DnD 5e magical instruments. It’s shaped like a lute but is smaller, less delicate, and more portable. Like all of the Instruments of the Bards in 5e, the Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern is classified a Wondrous item and is a masterwork of craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty.
Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern History
Mac-Fuirmidh Citterns are named after the elder Bardic college Mac-Fuirmidh. The legendary Bard Falataer of the Moonshaes created seven colleges to test prospective Bards. After graduation from each level, a student was gifted an Instrument of the Bards.
A Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern was rewarded for mastery of the 2nd level. After the decline of the colleges, the cittern and its strange powers became fable.
Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern Spells
A Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern has the spells Barkskin, Cure Wounds, and Fog Cloud in addition to the spells common to all Instruments of the Bards (Fly, Invisibility, Levitate, and Protection from Evil).
You can also play any Instrument of the Bards when casting a Charm spell to give disadvantage to your target’s saving throws.
You can cast each spell once a day using an action.
Barkskin
(Concentration). You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing.
Rock out to turn your skin rock-hard!
Cure Wounds
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.
Patch yourself up with the healing power of music.
Fog Cloud
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured. It lasts for the duration or until a wind of moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per hour) disperses it.
Spread fog with some silky jams!
Disadvantage on Charmed Saving Throws
Charmed. A charmed creature can’t Attack the charmer or target the charmer with harmful Abilities or magical Effects. The charmer has advantage on any ability check to interact socially with the creature.
Charmed saving throws are usually Wisdom.
GameCows Tip: Any charming spell works, but this feature goes especially great with Hypnotic Pattern, which creates a 30-foot cube of charming psychedelic patterns for anyone who sees it!
You must attune to a Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern by spending a Short Rest entirely devoted to it. No tending to wounds, exploring, or anything else. The magical effects won’t work unless attuned! Unattuned also take 2d4 psychic damage unless they pass a Wisdom saving throw.
Form the bond how you wish. Play some tunes on a quiet hilltop, busk on a street corner, or just absentmindedly strum your cittern while reminiscing. A good opportunity for some quality roleplay!
Mac-Fuirmidh 5e FAQ
Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern pronunciation
Mac-Fuirmidh cittern is pronounced /mækˈfɜːrmɪd/ (mæk-FUR-mid ) /sɪtərn/.
Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern 5e cost
The Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern costs 27,000 GP in DnD 5e.
There are lots of other strange DnD 5e instruments like the 5e Zulkoon that you should check out too!
Kendra has always been a hardcore fantasy nerd. Growing up in the worlds of Tolkien, Sanderson, Jordan, and Abercrombie, DnD & board games just came naturally. She and her husband, Bryan, started GameCows.com in 2018 as a fun passion project that just took over their lives. An avid board gamer since childhood and chronic DnD chronicler for more than two decades, she loves to play, write, travel, and learn dead languages.