Overview

I have compiled for you a selection of features, largely for what my Deus Malus calls "players". I have companions that aid me in this quest for knowledge, and thankfully for you more will come, with time. I have a selection of things for you, consisting of "classes" and "races", though in time my companions should be able to add additional, supplementary compendiums. As for the all other Deus Mali out there (mine calls himself a "DM", but that just sounds silly to me) I have a treasure trove of monsters, magic items, mechanics, and more! It's all in store for you... after the player's things. Apologies, but even deities have to wait in line!

Classes

These "Classes" I have found were developed by a Deus Malus akin to my own, and who I feel a strange kinship to. These include:

• Contractors, nasty little guys that make magical deals with unsuspecting people.
• Poison Warriors, fighters who utilize various poisons to neutralize foes. Hey, I'm one of these guys!
• Shadowcasters, the fools who decided to give up spells entirely in favor of stronger minions (seriously, what's so attractive about having more servants? I don't get it.)

Races

I have to admit, in most of my travels I have had more than a slight amount of struggle attempting to find races other than those I already knew of. But, I have a few for you to peruse:

• Merrow, fierce aquatic warriors.
• Blights, annoying little plant guys
• Monodrones, those dumb police robots
• Insectoids. They're, uh, bugs. That's it.

Merrow

Personally, I have no taste for Merrow. Awful things have a horribly fishy aftertaste. But then again, I reckon you're not here for a culinary treatise. As a Merrow, you gain the following Racial Benefits:

Ability Score Increase Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1

Age As a Merrow, you grow up a slightly longer rate. You reach adulthood at age 25, but live until you are 400.

Alignment Being driven by a mindless urge for slaughter by the Demogorgon or other foul beings, most Merrow tend to be evil. As wild as the seas themselves, they also tend towards chaos.

Size As a Merrow, you have a long, fluid body, and from head to tail measure around 9 feet, though on land you would stand at between 6 and 7 feet. Being strong and bulky, the average Merrow weighs between 250 and 350 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed As an aquatic creature, you excel at swimming and have a swim speed of 40 feet, however on land you only have a speed of 10 feet. Your boots aren't exactly made for walkin'.

Languages As a Merrow, you know Common, Abyssal, and Aquan, though at your discretion you can also choose to know only Abyssal and Aquan.

Powerful Build You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and how much you can push, drag, and lift.

Amphibious You can breathe air and water

Blood Frenzy When a creature you can see within 10 feet of you drops below half of its maximum hitpoints, you can use your reaction to move up to half of your speed and make an attack against the creature. On a hit, the creature takes an extra amount of damage equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this ability once per long rest.

Monodrone

Ah, Modrons. I find it interesting how such a species can continue to exist, despite all the peoples that find them unbearably annoying. But, as a Monodrone, you gain the following Racial Benefits:

Ability Score Increase Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age As a Modron, you have a potentially indefinite lifespan. You reach adulthood at age 20, and have no old age point.

Alignment Being strictly tied to the Plane of Order, Mechanus, almost all (if not entirely all) Modrons are Lawful Neutral.

Size As a Monodrone, your size is Medium. You usually stand between 4 and 5 feet tall, and weigh around 200 pounds due to your metallic internal structure.

Speed You have a walking speed of 30 feet, and a flying speed of 30 feet, due to your back-mounted wings.

Languages As a Monodrone, you know Common and Modron.

Orderly Psyche Your strict adherence to order strengthens your will. You gain a bonus to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws equal to half of your proficiency bonus (rounded down).

Blights

Blights are rather interesting as a whole, with multiple component species that come together to form a surprisingly formidable group of what is essentially angry shrubbery. As a Blight, you gain the following Racial Benefits:

Ability Score Increase Your Constitution score increases by 1

Creature Type Your creature type is Plant

Age As a Blight, you last as long as the ancient trees. You mature at age 30, and usually live until you are about 600 years old.

Alignment Given a generally bloodthristy nature, most Blights are neutral evil, not straying far towards law or chaos.

Size If you are a Twig Blight, your size is small, and you stand between 2 and 3 feet tall. If you are a Needle or Vine Blight, your size is Medium, and you usually stand between 5 and 7 feet tall. Twig Blights usually weigh around 30 lbs, while Needle and Vine Blights usually weigh around 200 pounds.

Speed You have a speed of 30 feet

Languages As a Blight, you know common and one language of your choice.

Fire Vulnerability As a creature of nature, though twisted, fire harms you greatly. You have vulnerability to fire damage.

Nature's Camouflage You have advantage on stealth checks made to hide in greenery that appears similar to you (twigs, vines, or trees, depending on your subrace).

Blindsight As a Blight, you see not with your eyes, but with your perception of the world. You have Blindsight out to a range of 60 feet, but are blind beyond this radius.

Subrace You belong to a subrace of your choice, being either a Needle Blight, a Twig Blight, or a Vine Blight, which are detailed below.

Ants

Ants usually serve a single minded purpose, and often find ways to work with others as a cohesive unit.

Ability Score Increase Your Wisdom score increases by 1

Pack Tactics When another ally is within 5 feet of you and a creature you are attacking, you gain advantage on the attack roll.

Acidic Bite Your bite does some serious damage. You gain a natural weapon, which is a bite attack, which uses strength for its attack and damage rolls and which you are considered proficient in. On a hit, it deals 1d4 + your strength modifier piercing damage and the target must succeed on a saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed save, it takes an additional 1d6 acid damage.

Beetlekin

As a Beetlekin, you're a little more intelligent than your fellow Insectoids, and can weather out even the worst of outcomes.

Ability Score Increase Your Intelligence score increases by 1

Weather It Out When you are subjected to an effect that forces you to make a dexterity or constitution saving throw, you can give yourself a bonus to the roll equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this ability once per long rest.

Pincers

As a Pincer, you're related to the insects such as scorpions and some crabs, which fight using their claws.

Ability Score Increase Your Strength score increases by 1

Toughened Shell At the end of a long rest, you can declare one damage type, choosing from bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. Until the end of your next long rest, you gain resistance to the chosen damage type

*Claws You gain two natural weapons, claws, which use your strength modifier for their attack and damage rolls and which you are considered proficient in. On a hit, they deal 1d4 piercing damage. When you make an attack with your claws in this way, you can use a bonus action to make one additional attack using your claws.

Poison Warrior

A man walks towards a distant castle, his hands fidgeting at his sides. From the darkened woods beside him suddenly looms a snarling Ettin, holding a boulder aloft to strike him. Without much mind, the man holds up his hand, and a puff of mist escapes from it, wafting into the Ettin's nose. The Ettin falls down hard to the dirt, and the man calmly continues on his way.

A grinning elf circles his opponent, looking for an opportunity to strike. As the other gladiator darts forward, he touches the man's neck, sending him collapsing to the ground, a scream frozen on his lips.

A Halfling stumbles from a bar, the poison of alcohol still potent within their veins. Gradually they straighten, and then hold out their hand to see a clear liquid flowing.

Poison Warriors are an unusual group, with most of them obtaining their powers through poisonings gone wrong or magical potions and the like. They possess the power to poison others via their skin and blood, and use these powers to devastating effect.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per Poison Warrior level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + constitution mod
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: hp at level 1 + (1d10 + con mod) for every single level after your first Poison Warrior level

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light, Shields
• Weapons: simple, martial
• Tools: Poisoner's kit

• Saving Throws: Constitution and Dexterity
• Skills: Choose two from acrobatics, athletics, arcana, deception, insight, intimidation, nature, perception, and survival

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a broadsword or (b) a longsword
• (a) a sling or (b) a shortbow with 20 arrows
• leather armor, an explorer's kit, and a poisoner's kit

Poisonous body

Starting at level one, your blood becomes toxic to your enemies. When you are hit by a melee attack, the attacker takes poison damage equal to the amount shown in the Toxin die column of the class table. You are also become resistant to poison damage.

Toxic Unarmed Strikes

Also at level one, you gain the ability to imbue your unarmed strikes with the poison that is within you. Your unarmed strikes deal damage equal to your toxin die when you strike. Your opponent must also make a constitution saving throw contested by your toxin save DC (8 + constitution modifier + proficiency bonus) or be poisoned.

Venomous Archetype

At level two, you can select which of the sects of the poison sects you wish to follow. You can select the Acid Sect, the Fang Sect, or the Claw Sect. You will gain benefits from your sect at 2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, and 18th levels. At level 22 you can select a second subclass, and gain features from it at 22nd, 27th, 33rd, and 38th levels.

Immunity

Starting at level three, your immune system nears perfection. You become immune to poison damage and cannot be poisoned. In addition, you cannot be affected by diseases.

Ability Score Increase

At level 4 and again at levels 8, 12, 16, and 19, you can choose one ability score to increase by two, or two ability scores to increase by one. You can also choose to forgo increase your ability scores in order to obtain a feat. You cannot cause an ability score to exceed 20 with this feature.

Extra Attack

At level five, you can attack twice, instead of once, when you take the attack action on your turn.

Acid Body

When you choose this sect at level two, your toxins become mutated. Whenever you would deal damage using your toxin dice, you can choose to either use poison or acid damage for your toxin dice. You also gain resistance to acid damage.

Corrosive Touch

At level six, you gain the ability to corrode structures. As an action, you can deal acid damage to a solid structure equal to 5 of your toxin dice. The amount increases to 6 Toxin Dice at 9th level, 7 Toxin Dice at 13th level, and 8 Toxin Dice at 18th level.

Acid Maker

At level nine, you gain proficiency in alchemist's supplies as well as gaining alchemist's supplies, if you did not have them already. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for checks using Alchemist's supplies.

Acid Incorporator

At level 13 you become masterful in the use of acid and poison together. Whenever you deal poison damage using your toxin dice, you can add an amount of acid damage equal to half the amount of poison damage dealt, and if you use acid damage, you can add an amount of poison damage equal to half the amount of acid damage dealt.

Serpent's Allies

At level two you become able to cast talk to animals and plants (snakes only) once per long rest. You also get a Serpent Familiar, one snake with a challenge rating of 1/8 or 0 and a size of small or tiny. It is loyal to you, and in combat takes the Dodge action unless you use a bonus action to command it to do otherwise. At 18th level, your Serpent Familiar can be up to CR 1/4.

Serpent's Guile

At level six, you gain proficiency in the deception and insight skills, if you did not have it already. You also have advantage against being charmed and can cast charm person once per day, with your Charisma modifier as the spellcasting modifier.

Serpent's Fangs

At level nine you get rather large fangs, giving you an additional attack option. You can now bite as an attack, which uses dexterity for bonuses, which deals 1d6 piercing damage plus 1d6 poison damage.

Serpent's Gaze

At level thirteen, you gain the ability to project an aura of fear on your prey. As an action, you can force creatures within a fifteen foot cone projected from your eyes to make a charisma saving throw contested by your Serpent Save DC (as detailed in Serpent's Guile) or become afraid of you. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effects on themselves on a success.

Blessing of Ourobouros

At level eighteen, you gain added vitality while immersed in poison. While you are within your Poison Valley or otherwise within a cloud of poisonous gas, you regain 1d4 hitpoints at the start of your turn each round.

Wall Crawler

Starting when you join this sect at level 2, you gain the ability to scale areas like an insect. You gain the ability to walk on walls and ceilings as if they were normal terrain. You also gain an body part from these aspects:

Wasp: A Stinger which uses dexterity for bonuses and deals 1d6 piercing damage on hit and counts as an unarmed strike.

Scorpion: Claws which use strength for bonuses and deal 1d6 slashing damage on hit which replace original unarmed strikes.

Spider: Spinnerets which allow the user to create one 5x5x5 cube of webbing as an action and allows user to walk unhindered within webbing. It also gives a climbing speed equal to your walking speed.

Any of the options above are not normally present and can be manifested as a bonus action.

Insect Familiar

At level six you gain an insect familiar, which is either:

Wasp: Giant Wasp

Scorpion: Giant Scorpion

Spider: Giant Spider

These familiars can be used as mounts. They are fiercely loyal to you. In combat, they only take the dodge action, unless you use a bonus action to command them to take a different action.

Insect director

At level nine you can use an action to command insects nearby to your aid. This creates a swarm of insects under your control for one minute, which you can command using the same bonus action that you use to command your Insect Familiar, otherwise it always takes the Dodge action. You can only use this feature once per long rest.

Improved Transformation

At level 13 your insect body parts get expanded and added to.

Wasp: When you manifest your stinger you can also manifest a pair of clear wasp wings, granting you a flying speed of 30 feet.

Scorpion: When you manifest your claws, you can incorporate your weapons, adding their damage to the attack. You also gain a stinger attached to a long tail, with a range of ten feet, dealing 1d6 piercing damage plus 1d4 poison damage on a hit, and which uses strength for bonuses.

Spider: When you manifest your spinnerets, you can manifest four spider legs attached to your back. You can use them to increase your walking and climbing speed by 15 feet, and you can use them to attack, once per leg, dealing 1d4 piercing damage on a hit for each, using dexterity for bonuses.

Swarm Lord

When you reach level eighteen, you get one of the following benefits based upon your insect type:

Wasp: You gain claws on your hands, replacing your normal unarmed strikes. They use dexterity for the bonuses, and they deal 1d6 slashing damage on a hit.

Scorpion: You gain the armored hide of a scorpion when you manifest. You gain a +2 bonus to your AC and reduce your speed by five feet when you manifest.

Spider: When you manifest, you form a pair of dark eyes above your normal ones. You gain darkvision to a range of sixty feet, or extend the range of your darkvision by sixty feet.

Class Features

As a Contractor, you gain the following class features

Bonds of Trust

Starting when uou choose this Path at 3rd level, when you form a Pact with a willing creature, both of you gain a number of temporary hitpoints equal to your Contractor level until the Pact ends. You can use this feature a number of times per ling rest equal to your charisma modifier.

Guardian of the Fold

At 6th level, you have learned that deeds speak louder than words. As a reaction to seeing a creature take damage, you can transfer the damage to yourself and reduce the total (before calculation) by an amount equal to your Contractor level. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier.

Protective Influence

Starting at 10th level, you become a further protector to those you care for. Creatures within 15 feet of you gain temporary hitpoints at the start of each of their turns equal to your Contractor level. These temporary hitpoints stack with any temporary hitpoints granted by your other abilities. At 18th level, the range of this effect increases to 30 feet.

Trust Beyond Words

Starting at 14th level, you can communicate telepathically with any creature that has formed a Pact with you or has gained temporary hitpoints from one of your features, out to a range of 120 feet.

Faith

At 18th level, the faith your companions place in you strengthens you. While one of your allies remains conscious, you can remain conscious, even if you are reduced to 0 hitpoints. You must still make death saving throws at the start of each of your turns. While you remain conscious using this feature, you have advantage on death saving throws, and all creatures within 30 feet of you of your choice regain hitpoints equal to your charisma modifier at the start of each of their turns.

Harsh Control

When you form a Pact with a creature, it must succeed on a charisma saving throw against your spell save DC or be charmed by you, though they really fear you too much to disobey or not heed your commands.

Extra Proficiencies

At 3rd level, as a follower of the Path of Dominion, you know better than to rely on others. You gain proficiency in martial weapons, medium armor, and shields. In addition, you can choose to use your charisma modifier instead of strength or dexterity when making an attack with a melee martial weapon.

Extra Attack

Starting at 6th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, when you take the attack action on your turn. In addition, you can forgo one of your attacks to allow an ally within 10 feet of you to make a melee attack.

Eternity's Grasp

At 3rd level, when you select this Path, you can grasp others within the coils of Eternity. You learn the Eternal Grasp Pact. This Pact doesn't count against the number of Pacts you know. In addition, two uses of this Pact count as one use when determining your number of active Pacts.

Eternity's Knowledge

Also at 3rd level, your knowledge of life and time has allowed you knowledge you otherwise would not have attained. You gain proficiency in two options between Arcana, History, Nature, Religion, and Survival.

Warping

At 6th level, you have begun to learn how to warp time around you. As a reaction to a creature making an attack against you or a creature you have Pacted with, you can grant a +2 bonus to AC, which lasts until the end of the attacker's turn. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier.

Eternal Vigil

Starting at 10th level, you know time more intricately than almost any being. You gain a bonus to initiative rolls equal to your charisma modifier, and cannot be surprised as long as you are conscious. This benefit extends to a number of creatures you have Pacted with equal to your charisma modifier.

Lengthened Life

At 14th level, you have finally begun to become eternal. You age only 1 year for every 10 years that passes, can't be aged magically, and suffer none of the drawbacks of old age. At 18th level, you no longer age.

Time Shift

As a reaction when a creature is hit by an attack, you can cause the attack to miss. You can use this feature 3 times per long rest.

Pack Tactics

When you choose this Path at 3rd level, you and all creatures you have Pacted with gain advantage on attack rolls when making an attack against a creature while another Pacted creature or yourself is within 5 feet of the creature.

Bestial Followers

Starting at 6th level, you become able to attract animals to follow you. Once per long rest, you can approach a Beast with a CR of 1 or less. If you succeed on an animal handling check to befriend the creature, you can cause it to enter into a special Pact with you. This Pact allows it to understand you, and communicate with you telepathically. In addition, it gains a bonus to its hitpoints equal to your half of your Contractor level. In combat it only takes the Dodge action, but you can use a bonus action to command it to take another action. You can command in this way while commanding other creatures that require a bonus action to command. You can only have 2 creatures Pacted to you in this way.

Additional Tactics

Starting at 10th level, you can use your action to grant you and all creatures you have Pacted with that you can see a +1 bonus to AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls. This bonus ends after 1 minute. You can use this feature once per long rest. In addition, melee attacks made by your Bestial Followers and transformed Advisors are now considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity.

Holy Words

Starting when you choose this Path at 3rd level, you better know the Words of the holy. You become fluent in Celestial. In addition, you can cast Healing Word a number of times per long rest equal to your Charisma Modifier, using your Charisma modifier for the bonus.

Holy Guidance

Starting at 6th level, when you use the Help action as a bonus action or action, you can add 1d4 to the first attack roll, ability check, or saving throw the creature makes. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your charisma modifier.

Holy Rebuke

At 10th level, you have learned to rebuke the wicked for their foul deeds. When a creature that you can see takes damage, you can use your reaction to deal radiant damage to the attacker equal to your Contractor level. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier.

Radiant Gifts

At 14th level, you can magically bolster the abilities of your companions. You learn the Inspiration Pact, which doesn't count against the number of Pacts you know. In addition, two uses of this Pact count as one use when determining your number of active Pacts.

Halo of Power

Starting at 18th level, you can magically manifest your holy power. As an action, you can cause a wave of radiance to explode from your body, granting you the following benefits:

• When you cast Healing Word using your Holy Words feature, it is considered as being cast at 4th level.
• You shed bright light out to a range of 30 feet, and dim light for an additional 60 feet.
• When you cast Healing Word using your Holy Words feature, you can cause another creature you can see to take radiant damage equal to your charisma modifier

These benefits last for one minute or until you become incapacitated.

Unholy Rites

At 3rd level, you can form forbidden Pacts. You learn the Blood Rite Pact and the Alteration Pacts, which don't count against the number of Pacts you know.

Shrewd Pact Maker

At 6th level, your dark knowledge has given you can edge over those you PAct with. Although you still cannot lie, you gain advantage on charisma(deception) checks made to distract a creature from certain elements of the Pact.

Dark Deals

At 10th level, your Pacts have become able to twist those they touch. When you Pact with a creature, they gain resistance to a damage type of your choice until the Pact ends, however they are noticeably transformed in a hideous manner, inflicting disadvantage on any charisma checks besides intimidation with any creature besides you that lacks the Fiend creature type.

Evil Abyss

Starting at 14th level, you can show other creatures the darkest corners of their mind. As an action, you can cause each creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you to make a wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they take 3d8 psychic damage and are stunned for one round, as you show them glimpses of all their dark desires fulfilled. Creatures that succeed on the saving throw take only half damage and suffer no additional effects. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier.

Strength

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature you can see a bonus to damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus (rounded up) for one minute. You also take an amount of necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus, which ignores resistance, immunity, and absorption.

Eternal Grasp

Prerequisites: level 3, Path of the Eternal

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a bonus to movement speed equal to your own for one minute. During this time, you cannot move using your movement speed.

Alteration

Prerequisites: level 3, Path of the Unholy

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus for one minute. However, the creature also becomes hideously transfigured, losing 5 feet of movement speed and suffering disadvantage on charisma checks until the Pact ends.

Blood Rite

Prerequisites: level 3, Path of the Unholy

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see, and grant resistance to a damage type of your choice for one minute. At the start of each of your turns until the Pact ends, you or the creature you Pacted with (your choice) lose a number of hitpoints equal to your charisma modifier at the start of each of their turns.

Inspiration

Prerequisites: Path of the Sanctified, 14th level

As an action, you can target one willing creature you can see and form this Pact. For one minute, the creature has advantage on all ability checks. At the start of each of your turns, you or the creature you Pacted with (your choice) loses a number of hitpoints equal to half of your Contractor level.

Controller

Prerequisites: Level 10, Path of Dominion

As an action, you can form this Pact, and target one creature you can see, even if they are unwilling. They must succeed on a saving throw against your Pact Save DC or be affected as if you had cast the Dominate Person or Dominate Monster spell on them (whichever would take effect from creature type), which lasts for one minute. During this Pact, you are paralyzed.

Fiery Shell

Prerequisites: 8th level

As an action, you can form this Pact, and target one willing creature that you can see and cause it to erupt into flames for one minute. For the duration, they shed bright light in a 10 foot radius and dim light for another 10 feet, and when they hit a creature with a melee attack or are hit by a melee attack, the target or attacker takes 2d10 fire damage. At the start of each of your turns, you take 1d8 cold damage.

Minor Strength

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a +1 bonus to attack rolls for one minute. This Pact has no drawbacks.

Minor Protection

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a number of temporary hitpoints equal to your charisma modifier, which fade after one minute. This Pact has no drawbacks.

Minor Assistance

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a +1 bonus to its next 2 ability checks in the next minute. This Pact has no drawbacks.

Protection

Prerequisites: 6th level

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a number of temporary hitpoints equal to your Contractor level, which fade after 1 minute. When you form this Pact, you take 1d4 necrotic damage.

Assistance

Prerequisites: 10th level

As an action, you can form this Pact, and grant one willing creature that you can see a +2 bonus to all ability checks it makes within the next minute. During this time, you take 1d4 necrotic damage at the start of each of your turns.

A human walks quietly down a lonely road, their shadow stretching out far in front of them as the day draws to a close. They stumble, but before they can fall a hand bursts from their shadow, holding them up until they can support themselves. An eye gleams from the darkness, and the human can hear a faint voice say, "be careful."

An orc is dragged down a shady alley, beating frantically at the hands that hold them. Their captor tries to secure them, but a shadowy blade erupts from their chest, and they fall down with a whimper. As the orc looks up, they see a concerned face, etched in shadow, holding its hand out to them.

A tiefling sits in front of a blazing fire, staring deeply into it. Warriors try to creep up on them, but before they can get close they are cut down, a mysterious and dark assailant striding among them.

Shadowcasters are a unique breed of adventurer, in that they are not very strong. Most shadowcasters possess very little magical or martial skill, however they don't need to, for they have their Shade: a living shadow that protects them until death. Shades can appear in a variety of shapes and sizes, but one fact holds true: a Shade always gets stronger as it gets more detailed, and a detailed Shade can do incredible things.

Shadowcasters are a variety of class based upon summoning, utilizing variously detailed Shades to protect yourself and attack others. However, their Shade can come from a variety of sources. For examples, I will use the Black Sheep, a group of Shadowcaster NPCs I have developed:

Arwin Naga, a Yuan-ti Shadowcaster of the Path of the Guardian, inherited his Shade while he was on the battlefield. A war orphan, he had aimlessly wandered the area, nearly getting hit many times, until a kindhearted enemy found him and, seeing that he was only a child, tried to protect him. The man's own comrades felled him, raging that a traitor could have appeared among their own, but he rose from his death as a Shade bound to Arwin, determined to save him, even after death. The relationship between Shadowcaster and Shade is very good in this case, and they like to sit and have amiable conversations.

Yuloth Kinfeller, a goliath Shadowcaster of the Path of Annihilation, gained a shade through extraplanar contact. His tribe had been tasked for many long years with guarding a portal to Shadowfell, and had fought off attacks from its denizens countless times. Once, a small Shade broke free, and Yuloth ran to slay it. The Shade begged for mercy, pleading for its freedom after being transformed into a Shade from countless years spent in Shadowfell, and Yuloth elected not to slay it. In thanks, it bonded to him, promising to protect him even as he had protected it.

Orville Manyhands, a gnome Shadowcaster of the Path of Strings, only obtained a Shade through much sadness and heartache. As a boy, he and his older brother had been inseperable, always playing together and enjoying each other's company. One day, while playing, Orville took a deadly fall. Without hesitating, his brother reached over the precipice he had fallen from and hoisted Orville up, even though he lost his own balance on the cliff and fell. A heartbroken Orville reached the bottom of the cliff face, and found his brother's broken body. While the tears still sat on his cheeks, a dark vapor rose from the corpse and came to him, and to Orville's ears came his brother's voice, saying, "I'll always protect you."

Samuel Darktouch, a human Shadowcaster of the Path of Curses, gained his Shade through darker means. As a member of the Cult of Whispers, he had been ordered to practice the sacrifice of humanoid beings. Though reluctant, he slew an elf, and it rose again as a Shade. Using forbidden rites, he forced it to bond to him, and it begrudgingly was forced into his service. After many long hours, he finally came to know his Shade, Alven, and they escaped the clutches of the cult. Although unable to break the Bond they had forged, he searches to this day, trying to find a way to free his friend.

Shadowcasters often inherit their Shade during the death of a loved one, or someone who had great interest in protecting them. In other cases, their Shade could have been a mindless aberration or undead, protecting their Shadowcaster out of a sense of duty, or as thanks for giving them purpose. They could even be an ancestor, an ancient progenitor who has made it their duty to pass down the line of their descendants and protect them from harm.

Shadowcasters can also have mixed feelings about their relationship with their Shades. For example, Arwin is great friends with his Shade, and both of them are content with their relationship as it stands. Samuel and Alven, however, have a relationship that has taken many years to improve. Even though Alven has forgiven Samuel for doing what he believed he had to in order to save his own life, she still wants to be free of their Bond and escape to the afterlife, which puts some strain on their companionship.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d4 per Shadowcaster level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 4 + your constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d4 + your constitution modifier per level after 1st

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a sling or (b) a quarterstaff
• (a) a Dungeoneer's pack or*(b)* an explorer's pack
• a dagger

Shade

At 1st level, you are the Shadowcaster of a Shade. This Shade has separate statistics, and is considered to be a humanoid of a race of your choice besides warforged. The Shade has ability scores separate from your own, and with your DM's permission you can either use the standard array or roll stats for the Shade. After this, you can apply up to 2 points of Ability Score Increase from the Shade's race and 1 racial feature of your choice, which cannot be a spellcasting ability. You cannot select darkvision or skill proficiencies as the trait that is derived from the Shade's race. The Shade knows one language its race knows and one language of your choice, in addition to common. The language you choose must be a language that you know.

The Shade has hitpoints at 1st level equal to 10 + its constitution modifier, and gains an additional 1d10 + its constitution modifier bonus to its maximum hitpoints each time you level up. The Shade has standard unarmed AC when you first obtain it, however it can attune to magical armor, in which case it is treated as a creature wearing that armor. Your Shade adds your proficiency bonus to its AC.

The shade has proficiency in stealth and one other skill of your choice, and has proficiency in simple weapons and light armor. The Shade can take the Hide action as a bonus action so long as it is in an area of dim light or darkness (including the Shadowcaster's shadow). Shades cannot wear armor, as they are incorporeal, and all weapons they use are made of shadowy material. Shades have three attunement slots, and can attune to magic items if they fulfill any prerequisites the items may have. Your Shade has normal eyesight for a humanoid, and darkvision out to a range of 180 feet. Your Shade's proficiency bonus is equal to your own.

The shade starts with one melee weapon of your choice, made from shadowy material. This weapon deals necrotic damage instead of bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage. You can summon your Shade as an action, and can command it to take the Attack, dash, help, or hide action (no action required). If no command is given, it will stay as close to you as it can and take either the attack or help action as it tries to protect you. Your Shade can remain active for one minute, until you die, or until you use a bonus action to dismiss it.

Details

Your Shade would be powerless without features, and luckily your focus can hone its features into a defined shape. Your Shade gains one Detail (as detailed at the end of the class description), and gains additional details when specified in the Details column of the class table. You can replace a number of Details your Shade has with other details over the course of a Long Rest (this takes up all of your hours of light activity).

Shade Proficiencies

At 3rd level, your Shade has adapted to intensive combat. Your Shade becomes proficient in martial weapons, medium armor, and shields.

Brutality

Starting when you choose this Path at 3rd level, when your Shade makes an attack with advantage, it deals an additional number of d6s of necrotic damage equal to half of your proficiency bonus (rounded down). You can use this feature twice per round.

Curse

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to curse your opponents. As an action, you can target one creature that you can see and force it to make a saving throw against your Curse DC (8 + your charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus) or suffer from one of the following status conditions: Charmed, Afraid, Poisoned, Stunned, or Paralyzed. These effects last for one minute, or one round if you chose stunned or paralyzed. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your charisma modifier.

Hexes

At 7th level, you have begun to be even more adept at dealing out curses. You learn either the Bane spell or the Hex spell, and can cast it at 3rd level a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier. At 18th level, you learn the spell you did not select at 7th level, and can use it similarly.

Heightened Curses

At 10th level, your curses have begun to have more adverse effects. When a creature gains a status effect from your Curse feature or has the Bane or Hex spells applied to them by your Hexes feature, you can also inflict one of the following effects:

• The target takes 1d4 necrotic damage at the start of each of its turns for one minute
• The target becomes blinded for one minute
• The target becomes deafened for one minute
• The target takes 2d6 necrotic damage at the start of its next turn

Lengthened Curses

At 14th level, your curses last even longer. Any effect your Path of Curses features inflicts last for one minute if it lasted for one round, ten minutes if it lasted for one minute, or eight hours if it lasted for one hour.

Supreme Curse

At 18th level, you have mastered the ultimate curse. When you use your Curses feature, you can choose to invoke a curse of fragility. The creature's strength, dexterity, and constitution scores are reduced to 10, unless they were already lower. Each time you use this curse, you take 5d12 necrotic damage, which ignores resistance and immunity.

Shade Proficiencies

At 3rd level when you choose this Path, your Shade gains proficiency in medium and heavy armor, as well as shields.

Additional Shade Fighting Style

Also at 3rd level, your Shade gains an additional Fighting Style, as detailed in the Fighter Class description, choosing between the protection, defense, and interception styles.

Shadowed Bulwark

At 7th level, your Shade can use surrounding shadows to protect those around it. While your Shade is within an area of dim light or darkness, all creatures of its choice within 5 feet of it gain a +2 bonus to AC.

Restraining Touch

At 3rd level, when your Shade hits a creature with an attack, the creature musts succeed on a strength saving throw against your Shade save DC or be restrained until the start of your next turn. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus.

Restraining Shadows

Starting at 7th level, while your Shade is in an area of dim light or darkness, all creatures of your choice within 15 feet of your Shade have their movement speed halved, and don't benefit from features or actions that inflict disadvantage on opportunity attacks or make creatures immune to opportunity attacks.

Constricting Assault

At 10th level, if your Shade successfully hits with 2 or more attacks within 1 turn, the target must succeed on a strength saving throw against your Shade save DC or be knocked prone and restrained for 1 minute. It can retake the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Ensnaring Gaze

At 14th level, as an action you can cause all creatures that you can see within 60 feet of you of your choice to make a strength saving throw against your Shade save DC. On a failure, they are restrained, and are able to retake the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success. You can use this ability once per long rest.

Primeval Snaring

At 18th level, your Shade becomes even better at ensnaring its victims. Your Restraining Shadows feature no longer requires you Shade to be in an area of dim light or darkness, and each time your Shade hits a creature with a melee attack its movement speed is reduced by 5 feet per hit for one round.

Eyes

Your Shade's eyes become more defined. The range of its darkvision extends to 360 feet.

Mouth

Your Shade's mouth becomes more detailed. It gains the benefits of the "Actor" feat.

Hands

Your Shade's hands become more detailed. Your Shade gains proficiency in the Sleight of Hand skill and martial weapons. If it already had proficiency in Sleight of Hand, its proficiency bonus is doubled when making checks using that skill. If your Shade already had proficiency in martial weapons, it instead adds a bonus to its attack rolls equal to half of your proficiency bonus (rounded down).

Surface

Prerequisites: 10th level

Your Shade's surface becomes more detailed. Your Shade gains a +1 bonus to its AC, and it gains resistance to a damage type of your choice besides psychic.

Teeth

Prerequisites: 7th level, Mouth Detail

Your Shade gains defined teeth. It gains an additional attack, which it can use for any number of its attacks on each of its turns. It deals 1d6 necrotic damage and 1d6 piercing damage on a hit, and your Shade regains hitpoints equal to half of the damage dealt (rounded down). This attack uses strength for bonuses.