Otherworldly Patron: Undying Revised

# Otherworldly Patron

## The Undying

Death holds no sway over your patron, who has unlocked the secrets of everlasting life, although such a prize – like all power – comes at a price. Once mortal, the Undying has seen mortal lifetimes pass like the seasons, like the flicker of endless days and nights. It has the secrets of the ages to share, secrets of life and death. Beings of this sort include Vecna, Lord of the Hand and the Eye; the dread Iuz; the lich-queen Vol; the Undying Court of Aerenal; Vlaakith, lich-queen of the githyanki; and the deathless wizard Fistandantalus.

In the Realms, Undying patrons include Larloch the Shadow King, legendary master of Warlock's Crypt, and Gilgeam, the God-King of Unther.

##### **Undying Features**
| Warlock Level | Feature |
|:----:|:-------------|
| **1st**  | Expanded Spell List, Dread Secrets (1 option), Memento Mori |
| **6th**  | Undying Nature, Dread Secrets (2 options) |
| **10th** | Summon Undead, Dread Secrets (3 options) |
| **14th** | Indestructible Life, Dread Secrets (4 options, improved secrets) |

### Expanded Spell List
Your Undying Patron lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.

##### **Undying Expanded List**
| Spell Level | Spell |
|:----:|:-------------|
| **1st**  | *bane, frost fingers* |
| **2nd**  | *blindness/deafness, gentle repose* |
| **3rd** | *speak with dead, spirit guardians* |
| **4th** | *death ward, Leomund's secret chest* |
| **5th** | *contagion, legend lore* |

### Dread Secrets
At 1st level, your patron has given you access to some secrets concerning the esoteric workings of life and death. When you gain this feature, you learn one Dread Secrets options of your choice (see "Dread Secrets Options" below).
___
Once per turn when you cast a spell with a verbal component as part of the cast a spell action, you can apply one of your Dread Secrets options to that spell, if it meets certain prerequisites. You decide to use the option when the spell finishes casting. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a short or long rest.
___
You gain an additional Dread Secrets option of your choice when you reach certain levels in this class: 6th, 10th, and 14th level. Each option also improves when you become an 14th-level warlock.

### Memento Mori
At 1st level, you have an item bestowed to you by your patron, a reminder that death is always by your side. When a creature within 30 feet of you drops to 0 hit points, as a reaction choose one of the following:

* Regain a number of hit points equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).
* You gain use of the *spare the dying* cantrip for one minute. For you, it has a range of 15 feet.
* You gain ethereal sight for one minute. You can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane while you are on the Material Plane, and vice versa.
___

You have three uses of this feature, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest.

### Undying Nature
Starting at 6th level, you gain a similar undead nature that is reminiscence of your patron. You gain the following benefits:

* You retain your creature type, yet you register as Undead to spells and other effects that detect the presence of the Undead creature type.
* You age at a slower rate. For every 10 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year, and you are immune to being magically aged.
* You have resistance to necrotic damage.
*  You can hold your breath indefinitely.
___

In addition, when you are reduced to 0 hit points, you make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, you drop to 1 hit point instead and you can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

### Summon Undead 
At 10th level, as an action you can summon forth an undead servitor of your patron to do your bidding. The stat block for the undead servitor are detailed below. Choose the creature's form: Ghostly, Putrid, or Skeletal.

The creature physically resembles a humanoid with the chosen form, which also determines some of the traits in its stat block. The creature disappears when it drops to 0 hit points, you summon another servitor, or dismiss it as a bonus action.

The creature is friendly to you and your companions. In combat, the creature shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours.

\pagebreak

It obeys verbal commands that you issue to it (no action required by you). If you don’t issue any, it defends itself but otherwise takes no action.

You have two uses of this ability, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish  a long rest.

### Indestructible Life
When you reach 14th level, you partake of some of the true secrets of the Undying. On your turn, you can use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d8 + your warlock level. Any undead you are controlling within 60 feet regain an equal amount of hit points.

Additionally, if you put a severed body part of yours back in place when you use this feature, the part reattaches.
___
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

## Dread Secret Options
The Dread Secrets feature lets you choose options for it at certain levels. The options are presented here in alphabetical order. They are all magical effects, and each are secrets of the veil between life and death are capable of augmenting your magic.
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* **Secret of Chains.** When you cast a spell that requires a saving throw, you can cause the spell to create translucent chains of negative energy. If the creature fails the spell's saving throw, the creature becomes chained to you and is restrained until the end of your next turn. While chained this way, your speed is halved and you cannot take reactions without dismissing the chains.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, the chains deal 1d8 cold damage upon chaining a creature.
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* **Secret of Decay.** When you cast a spell that requires an attack roll, if the spell hits the target, the creature ages 1d4 years per the spell's level (minimum of 1) and you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to half the outcome. Creatures aged this way gain one level of exhaustion.
___
After you reach 14th level in this class, you age the target by 1d8 years per the spell's level (minimum of 1) instead.
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* **Secret of Devouring.** When you cast a spell that deals damage, if you deal damage to a creature you sap it's life force to regain 1d8 hit points. If the spell reduces a creature to 0 hit points, your hit point maximum is increased by 1d8 until you finish a long rest.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, you regain 2d8 hit points instead.
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* **Secret of Shadow Binding.** When you cast a spell that targets one creature, you can force a creature to make a Charisma saving throw, with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it, against your spell save DC. On a failure, you bind their shadow beneath you, and they are paralyzed until you move. You may only bind one shadow at a time.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, you can bind two shadows at a time and creatures no longer roll the save with advantage if you or your companions are fighting it.
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* **Secret of Vile Darkness.** When you ritual cast a spell or cast spell with the ritual tag, you can create a 10-foot radius sphere of magical darkness to surround you as if the area were under the effects of the *darkness* spell.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, the radius of the darkness increases to 20-feet.
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* **Secret of Whispered Death.** When you cast a spell that targets one creature, you place a deadly curse on the target. At any point, you can whisper a deadly word, consuming the curse and dealing 1d4 necrotic damage to the target. The curse damage cannot be prevented or reduced in any way, including resistances and immunities. The curse ends only when the target dies, you
rest, or you willfully remove it. You may curse a target any number of times, and they are aware of its nature.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, the curse deals 1d8 necrotic damage instead.
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* **Secret of the Yawning Veil.** When you cast a spell and expend a spell slot, you can create an ephemeral fissure between the veil of life and death. You create a wall of misty fog within 15 feet that is up to 20 feet long, 10 feet high, and 1 foot thick. The wall's mist spreads around corners and it blocks line of sight but not movement. Furthermore, the first time a creature enters the wall on a turn or ends its turn there, the creature must succeed a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the wall disperses. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The wall lasts until the start of your next turn.
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After you reach 14th level in this class, the wall disperses after 1 minute instead of at the start of your next turn.

### Undead Servitors

Your undead servitor is an intelligent undead bestowed to you by your patron, much like a familiar, the servitor is meant to aid you in your endeavors. Often warlocks of these patrons will have particular preference of undead, whilst others may not. The personalities of these creatures are determined by the player controlling the undead servitor.

#### Servants of an Undying Court

Many Undying patrons are commanders of vast armies of undead. Among these undead, are the few exceptional servitors, having been able to retain part of their mortal intelligence in their undeath. Often they become minor generals, champions of battle, or dutiful servants of the Undying's court. Which is why, only truly exceptional warlocks within the Undying's graces may summon an undead servitor for themselves.

Sometimes when this happens, the warlock becomes attached to a variety of servitors that are bound to them for eternal servitude. To the Undying, the loss is a drop in the ocean compared to their other undead, which may be even stronger than the simple servitors.

\pagebreak

#### Ghosts, Ghouls, and Bones
Servitors come in many different forms of undead, often chosen to fulfill the weaknesses of the warlock they're bonded with.

Ghosts are often the servants of Undying patrons and warlocks that prefer the ability to have their minions easily navigate difficult terrain, and instilling paralyzing fear within their enemies. Ghosts are often formed from tragedy, many are often very dramatic and melancholic in their attitudes.

Skeletal minions are often spellcasters, their state of decay a symptom of their unnatural longevity in service to an Undying master. Often they are good as academic companions.

Zombies, putrid corpses, are capable of being sickening foes that rend and debilitate their prey as they claw into them. Zombies come from many common walks of life, so they can make for very intriguing minions.

> ##### **Optional Rule: Life in Undeath**
> While these undead may or may not have a choice in their undeath, they will always obey your commands as a warlock. However, much like a follower, a DM and player can choose to play with loyalty as factor. If so, it will only be for narrative purposes rather than anything mechanical, such as following orders in combat or commands to move.
>
> The personality and occupation of the undead servitor can have a wide range, from being a bumbling academic, a ferocious warrior, a stoic noble, or more. You can optionally have your servitor have proficiency in one skill, that you assume they'd be proficient in, such as a scholar having Intelligence (History) that scales with +4 proficiency bonus. Ask your DM when assigning this skill.

##### **Credits**

This subclass was created by Chilroy, otherwise known as Jesse. I can be found as /u/Jagganoth on /r/UnearthedArcana, or on twitter @True_Byrdman. If this contents of this document or any other of mine inspired you, please give credit duly.
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> ## Undead Servitor
>*Medium undead, neutral evil*
> ___
> - **Armor Class** 11 + your proficiency bonus (natural armor)
> - **Hit Points** equal the undead’s Constitution modifier + your Charisma modifer + double your warlock level
> - **Speed** 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (Ghostly only; hover)
>___
>|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA|
>|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
>|15 (+2)|15 (+2)|16 (+3)|10 (0)|10 (0)|9 (-1)|
>___
> - **Damage Immunities** necrotic, poison
> - **Condition Immunities** exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
> - **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
> - **Languages** Common, understands the languages you
speak
> ___
>
> **Incorporeal Movement (Ghostly Only).** The undead servitor can become incorporeal while moving and pass through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. If it ends its turn inside an object, it is shunted to the nearest unoccupied space and takes 1d10 force damage for every 5 feet traveled.
>
>  **Noxious Aura (Putrid Only).** Any creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the undead servitor must make a Constitution saving throw against your
spell save DC. Unless the save succeeds, the creature can’t make more than one attack or take a bonus action on that turn. Creatures immune to the poisoned condition automatically succeed the saving throw.
>
> ### Actions
> ***Multiattack.*** The spirit makes a number of attacks equal
to half your Charisma modifier (rounded down).
>
> ***Chilling Grasp (Ghostly Only).*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +2 + your proficiency bonus, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 1d8 + 2 + half your warlock level cold damage. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be paralyzed until the end of the target’s next turn.
>
> ***Crippling Claws (Putrid Only).*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +2 + your proficiency bonus, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit:* 2d8 + 2 + half your warlock level slashing damage. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or have their speed reduced to 0 until the end of the target’s next turn.  If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, they become poisoned and prone.
>
> ***Grave Bolt (Skeletal Only).*** Ranged Spell Attack: +3 + your proficiency bonus to hit, range 150 ft., one target. Hit: 2d8 + 3 + half your warlock level necrotic damage.