Barbarian: Path of the Undead
Death is no end - merely, it is the beginning. Life in itself does not wish to be ended - for life is, in truth, simply the absence of death. Some enter the void calmly, some enter kicking and screaming, and some escape the void... of course, with a little help.
| Barbarian Level | Ability |
|---|---|
| 3 | Soul of Undeath |
| 3 | Ghostly Rage |
| 6 | Soul Shield |
| 10 | Soul Split |
| 14 | Otherworldly Shield |
Undead Only
This subclass ties directly into the idea of escaping death - to use this subclass, you must have the 'undead' creature type. As always, talk with your DM before playing characters with the 'undead' type.
Soul of Undeath
Your survival as an undead is connected to a mystical object in the general area of where your heart once was - your 'Soul'. This soul is the source of your power, and your life. Your soul is the physical manifestation of your ties to the being - whatever it may be - that resurrected you, given to you for reasons unknown. This is replicated in your soul charges, magic outbursts of your soul. Your soul charges are equal to half your Barbarian level, rounded up, and they replenish fully after each long rest.
Ghostly Rage
Beginning at 3rd level, your soul is capable of using its power to act as an asset while you rage. Whenever you make an attack while raging, you may use a soul charge to spawn spectral arms around you, which lash out at your enemies. When the arms spawn, each enemy within a 15-foot radius must make a Dexterity saving throw or take an amount of damage equal to your rage damage bonus in d6s (For example, if you have a damage bonus of +2, that's 2d6), plus your strength modifier and your rage damage bonus.
Soul Shield
At 6th level, you can now reach out with your soul to protect rather than to destroy. While you are raging, you may spend 2 soul charges to send out the power of your soul to grant a number of creatures within 15 feet of you equal to your rage damage bonus your soul's protection. When those creatures take bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, your soul intercedes to absorb the damage. You then take the damage - subtracted by your rage damage bonus - instead.
Soul Split
Beginning at 10th level, your soul has gained such power that you can gift reanimation, in smaller doses, to the dead. At the cost of 3 soul charges, you may cast the animate dead spell on a creature you see. The spell functions as normally, but you may cast it while raging and the casting time is modified to 1 action.
Otherworldly Shield
Beginning at 14th level, your soul has become your guardian, defending you in your moments of need. Whenever you enter a rage, if your hit points are at one half or lower of your hit point maximum, you may spend any number of soul charges and roll that many d8s, gaining that many temporary hit points. These temporary hit points only go away when you take a long rest.