Contents

Between history and myth

As you might have guessed by now, to build a compelling Norse setting you need to find your own sweet spot between historical accuracy and a timeless, mythical world. Mythology is a living and breathing fantasy setting of its own. Finding inspirations is easy enough, and the Nine Realms would be a rather interesting twist on classic D&D. There’s also much to be said about actual history, though, that is often overlooked. It can be an unending source of inspiration for your setting, and it’s not limited to the snowy wastes of Scandinavia.

Historical vikings were Middle Age raiders, colonizers and wayfarers. No seas were fearsome enough to stop them: as you might have heard, they were probably the first to land in North America. Wherever they went, they did so with a fierce combative spirit. As different groups spread throughout the world, they conquered (being a fundamental presence in the history of England), pillaged, found new homes and sometimes even put themselves in service of others (you might want to look up the Varangian Guard, for some interesting Bizantine Viking action). Weaving some magic in these already fascinating scenarios could really make for fresh and exciting campaigns. The Nine Realms and our real planet could exist at the same time.

Imagine your Norse character finding themselves at odds with Bizantine politics, or meeting North American tribes, or sieging European castles, all while wielding the magic from their homeland – and their enemies could be wielding their own magic too. Let alone, Ragnarok may be actually coming, in some form or another.

Creatures Pronouns

Official books refer to creatures with "it" in features descriptions, but we chose to use "they" for creatures and "it" for objects, since the majority of creatures we refer to are humanoids anyway.

Artificer

The Artificer could seem out of place in a Norse setting. There are, however, some pretty outstanding figures in norse mythology that call back to its identity: the legendary dwarves, master craftsmen of the artifacts wielded by the gods.

The Mastersmith follows that very path, beginning the outstanding project of a masterpiece weapon to rival those of the dwarven smiths. The weapon gains unique properties depending on its damage type, and even magical powers based on mythical weaponry. It is a combat-oriented Artificer, branching out on its original support role, and can change its weapon into another at any time, diversifying its playstyle.

We expanded on some already existing Artificer features, which are very reminiscent of Norse mythology, like throwing and recalling one’s weapon, to better develop the concept.

Extra Attack

5th-level Mastersmith feature

You can attack twice, rather than once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Improved Masterpiece

9th-level Mastersmith feature

Your smithing mastery rivals that of the mythical dwarven artisans, who gifted the Gods their legendary artifacts. Your Masterpiece Weapon cannot be destroyed, except when you create another one.

Additionally, your Masterpiece Weapon gains one of the following features while you are wielding it, based on the type of damage it deals.

Slashing Damage: Attacks you make with this weapon are swift and wide, giving you the chance of hitting multiple enemies at once. The first time on your turn that an attack you make with this weapon hits, you can choose another creature within 5 feet of the original target and within your reach. If the original attack roll would hit the second creature, make a damage roll against that target as well.

Bludgeoning Damage: Enemies hit by this weapon are pummeled and battered, unable to keep their focus. The first time on your turn that an attack you make with this weapon hits a creature, the target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they have disadvantage on the first attack they make until the end of their next turn. Additionally, if the damage dealt by this attack causes the target to make a Constitution saving throw to keep concentrating on a spell, they make the saving throw with disadvantage.

Piercing Damage: Your masterpiece cuts the wind and smashes the bone, inflicting grievous wounds from afar. This weapon has a normal range of 60 feet and no long range. Additionally, attacks made with this weapon score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. When you reach 15th level in this class, this weapon has a normal range of 120 feet and no long range.

Legendary Masterpiece

15th-level Mastersmith feature

Your weapon becomes legendary, manifesting aspects of the mythical artifacts of the sagas. While you're wielding your Masterpiece Weapon, you gain one of the following features, depending on the type of damage of your Masterpiece Weapon:

Aspect of Gramr (Slashing): You can cast the steel wind strike spell once without expending a spell slot and using your Masterpiece Weapon in place of the spell's material components. When you cast the spell this way, you use your Masterpiece Weapon to make a cleaving attack against all the targets of the spell. Follow the spell's description, with the following exception:

• The attacks you make are melee weapon attacks made with this weapon, instead of melee spell attacks.

Aspect of Mjollnir (Bludgeoning): You can cast the destructive wave spell once without expending a spell slot. Follow the spell's description, with the following exceptions:

• You strike the ground with your Masterpiece Weapon when you cast the spell.
• The spell deals 5d6 thunder damage and 5d6 lightning damage, instead of the damage types listed in the spell's description.

Aspect of Gungnir (Piercing): You can cast the conjure volley spell once without expending a spell slot and using your Masterpiece Weapon in place of the spell's material components. After you cast the spell, your Masterpiece Weapon flies back into your hands.

 You can't use this feature again until you complete a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 5th level or higher.

Barbarian

The Barbarian is the quintessential viking. The official class is heavily inspired by the Norse myth of the berserker – a raging warrior who feels no pain – and most of its subclasses cover many other popular viking tropes. Creating your own viking Barbarian is easy enough with already released content, so we decided to go in a slightly different direction, starting with a gameplay idea: an anti-magic barbarian.

In Norse mythology, before the death of Ymir and the birth of the realms from its corpse, there was but an endless void, Ginnungagap. This primordial abyss still tries to devour creation and restore that all-encompassing nothingness. In some interpretations of Norse sagas, the Giants are agents of Ginnungagap, thus enemies of the gods and their creation.

You can see why the Ginnungagap was the obvious narrative tie-in for our barbarian, and a perfect driving force behind its powers.

Primal Path

Path of Ginnungagap

Willing or unwilling, barbarians who follow the path of Ginnungagap are agents of the primordial nothingness that birthed the universe. With every action they strip something out of creation, pushing it ever so slightly to return to the void. They wield emptiness as a weapon, consuming magic and feeding on its energy, sapping the life force out of their foes and feasting on it. Theirs is a path that brings destruction without renewal.

Null Warrior

3rd-level Path of Ginnungagap feature

The nothingness of Ginnungagap shields you from harm, consuming magical and physical threats alike. While you are raging, you have advantage on saving throws made to resist spells and magical effects.

Additionally, while you are raging, if a creature targets you with an attack and scores a critical hit, you can use your reaction to turn that hit into a normal hit. Any effects triggered by a critical hit are canceled. You can only take this reaction once per rage.

Magic Syphoning

6th-level Path of Ginnungagap feature

You have learned to briefly harness the Void, allowing you to snuff magic before it is unleashed while bolstering your battle rage. While you are raging, when a creature you can see within 60 feet of you begins casting a spell, you can take a reaction and attempt to interrupt the casting of that spell. Make a Constitution check. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a success, the spell fails and has no effect,

and the next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack, that attack deals extra damage equal to double the spell's level.

Once you successfully interrupt the casting of a spell, you can't use this feature again until you take a bonus action to enter a rage.

Spell Eater

10th-level Path of Ginnungagap feature

The Void within you can now consume ongoing magic and use it to fuel itself and your own resilience. As an action, you can target one creature, object or magical effect within 30 feet of you. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make a Constitution check. The DC equals 10 + the spell's leveI. On a successful check, the spell ends. You regain a number of hit points equal to your barbarian level + the sum of the levels of the spells you ended, and you gain the same amount of temporary hit points.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Herald of Ginnungagap

14th-level Path of Ginnungagap feature

While you are raging, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can empower the attack to rend space and time from your target. The target creature must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is under the same effects of the slow spell for 1 minute. On a success, the target can't take reactions until the end of their next turn. The target can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect of this feature on themselves on a success.

The DC of saving throws forced by this feature equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Bard

Classic D&D Bards already take a lot from Norse myth: they are artisans of stories and songs, singers of legends and mythical undertakings, much like the skalds of that time. We decided to take this concept a step beyond, merging it with the Norse obsession for fate.

A Bard from the College of Fate sings the party's deeds in advance – knowing its stories will become reality – and incites its companions to write their own legend. Prophecy mechanics are never easy to implement in RPGs, and we wanted the archetype to have a distinct feel of predicting the future beforehand and then watching it come to pass, as opposed to retroactively realizing a non-existent prediction, so we came up with this original mechanic.

Some dice are rolled at the end of each rest, as the Bard tells stories of what will happen. The numbers are recorded, symbolizing various prophecies; when they come up in a roll, the character realizes they are in the middle of the story told by the Bard, and gains some unique effects. The main challenge was to not make the Bard into a mere enabler of the mechanic without any active part in it.

It ultimately came out as a bit convoluted, and we realize that it will require a bit of bookkeeping from the players (you will find a helpful tool for that at the end of this supplement), but we hope you will appreciate the novelty of it. The subclass probably gives its best in a full-fledged campaign: its functioning needs to be warmed up to, but it can pay off very well in both mechanical and narrative terms.

Bardic College

College of Fate

To inspire greatness, a bard sings of fearless heroes and fabled deeds of the past or of an imaginary world. Those who belong to the College of Fate don't dwell on history or imagination: they sing of the future. They compose what still has to happen through the uncompromising power of their art and will, peering into the unknown and warping reality to resemble their fiction. Their signature is etched on the patterns of the Norns, and their companions know they will achieve godly undertakings, becoming more and more exalted as their already written story manifests in reality.

Song of Exalted Destiny

3rd-level College of Fate feature

When you rest and get ready to face the challenges of the day, you get inspiration for your art, knowing full well that what you play and sing will eventually come to pass, and what mighty glory it will bring upon your witnesses. When you finish a short or long rest, roll 3d20 and record the numbers rolled (reroll any doubles until all the numbers are different). These are your destiny dice. When any other creature of your choice makes an ability check, an attack roll or a saving throw, if the number rolled on the die is the same of one of your destiny dice, the matching destiny die is expended, and the creature that rolled it becomes exalted for 1 minute or until they become unconscious or are incapacitated.

When an exalted creature uses your Bardic Inspiration die on an ability check, an attack roll or a saving throw, they can roll the Bardic Inspiration dice twice and pick the best result.

At any point while a creature is exalted, they can gain one of the following benefits of their choice:

• They heal a number of hit points equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point).
• When they are hit by an attack, they can use their reaction to gain a bonus to their AC equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die, potentially causing the attack to miss. This bonus lasts until the start of their next turn.
• When they roll for the damage of an attack, that attack deals bonus damage equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die.
• When they make an ability check and that check fails, they can reroll the check and must use the second roll. The rerolled ability check can be the one that caused the destiny die to be expended.

Once an exalted creature has gained a benefit of this feature, they can't do so again until they become exalted again.

When you finish a short or long rest, any unused destiny die is lost.

When you reach 6th level in this class, you roll 5d20 when you finish a short or long rest instead of 3.

Song of Certain Doom

3rd-level College of Fate feature

Your stories tell of the deeds of your allies as well as the doom of your foes. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration and choose a creature within 60 feet of you that you can see, to which you recite their imminent failure. The next time that creature is hit by an attack or fails an attack roll, ability check or saving throw, they realise the truth in your words and become frightened of you. This effect lasts for 1 minute, or until the creature scores a critical hit. At the end of each of their turns, the creature can make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect on a success.

Grandiose Destiny

6th-level College of Fate feature

The divinatory and fate-shaping capacities of your art are even more astounding, granting new benefits to your allies and extending those benefits to yourself. When an exalted creature chooses a benefit from your Song of Exalted Destiny feature, the following options are added to the list:

• They can take the Dash action as a bonus action once. This Dash does not provoke opportunity attacks.

• They can take a reaction to make one weapon attack.
• When they make a saving throw and the save fails, they can reroll the save and must use the new roll. The rerolled saving throw can be the one that caused the destiny die to be expended.

Additionally, each time a destiny die is expended, you can gain one benefit from the list of your Song of Exalted Destiny feature or from the list of this feature, as long as you do that while the creature who expended the destiny die is exalted.

Fate of the Exalted

14th-level College of Fate feature

As the tales you weave become truth and the heroes you sing of carve their legend, you go beyond the limits of your form, channeling your will and mastery to briefly force the hand of the Norns themselves. When you or a creature you can see makes an ability check, an attack roll or a saving throw, you can cause the attack to hit, or the check or save to succeed. You can use this feature after you see the roll, and after the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Cleric

The official Cleric class has many domains, most of which are general enough to be easily tied to your deity of choice, and some of which even mention Norse gods. Instead of trying to link specific divine powers to our viking Cleric, we worked on their very approach to religion.

Seidr is the old norse magic, teached to Odinn by Freyja herself. Through its intoxicating rites, shamans could access the spirit world and receive visions, or manipulate the strands of fate to bind blessings and curses to others. It is a visceral and physical type of magic, closely related to the Vanir gods and, in some interpretations, to the Norns themselves: there is plenty of options for which god your cleric will be devoted to, and from whom they will receive the secrets to master the old rites.

We wanted the Seidr domain to feel like receiving foresight and blessings from another realm, thus the idea of tying boons and curses to visions randomly gained each day through a religious rite. These visions can also serve as a narrative tool to the DM, who can freely exchange our prompts for something more story relevant.

Incorporating a collective ritual was also a main focus for us. We wanted a subclass that could really give flavour to an adventuring party, with daily rituals that every character would have reason to attend, eventually growing into a group tradition and making the Cleric feel like an indispensable and wise figure.

Channel Divinity: Fated Confrontation

2nd-level Seidr Domain feature

Druid

Druids did not exist during the Viking age, having instead been an important figure within Celtic society many centuries earlier. Lacking a direct parallel in Norse society, we looked elsewhere, digging through Norse mythology and folklore.

We thought about a Druid subclass based on the "cursed warriors" of legends, which were the ones to actually give rise to the myth of the berserker. They were allegedly shapeshifting warriors, wearing bear, wolf or boar pelts on their head and fighting in a psychedelic-fueled frenzy.

The first version was a Druid-Barbarian hybrid, which was extremely vicious and fun. Being in its special form, however, prevented you from casting, and there were many situations in which the best play still was to revert to Druid form and cast high level spells. In short, Druid is a full caster, no matter how you try to spin it.

The final version of the Circle of Fury draws from those early ideas and incorporates it within a more classical Druid framework. It is a controlled lycanthrope who, even though it likes to be in the middle of the action and get its hands dirty, works with the base class ability to cast spells, turning the Druid into a more primal and savage spellcaster.

Druidic Circle

Circle of Fury

Druids of the Circle of Fury have unleashed their most feral instincts, and their connection to the natural realm is an unusual and frightening one. Violent and unyielding, their bestial forms awaken their inner predator without sacrificing their humanlike shape. They embody both the primal strength of the wild and the cruelty of man, fearlessly dominating the battlefield, stalking and felling their foes as prey. They feed on their own savagery to empower their magic, relentlessly chasing blood to quench their thirst. They are the cursed berserkers of legend.

Feral Form

2nd-level Circle of Fury feature

Amidst the secrets of the land, you unearthed your inner predator and understood how to channel its fury in battle. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to turn into a humanoid-beast hybrid, rather than assuming a beast form.

While in your feral form, you retain your game statistics, but you assume a form resembling that of a lycanthrope, and anything you are wearing or carrying isn't transformed with you. The transformation lasts for 10 minutes. It ends early if you dismiss it (no action required), are incapacitated, die, or use this feature again.

You can't transform if you are wearing medium or heavy armor.

Whenever you assume your feral form, choose one of the following werebeast forms to draw your strength from.

 Berserkr. You assume the form of a bear-humanoid hybrid. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of your Strength modifier whenever you make a Strength check, an attack roll based on Strength, or a Strength saving throw.
• Whenever a spell or feature rolls dice to determine the amount of hit points you regain, you add your proficiency bonus to the number rolled.
• When you cast a druid spell of 1st level or higher, you gain temporary hit points equal to 3 x the spell's level.

Ulfhednar. You assume the form of a wolf-humanoid hybrid. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier whenever you make a Dexterity check, an attack roll based on Dexterity, or a Dexterity saving throw.
• Your speed increases by 10 feet.
• When a creature takes damage from an attack you made, a spell you cast or a feature you used, the next attack roll made against that creature before the start of your next turn has advantage. If more than a creature took damage from the same source, choose one to be affected by this feature.

Jofurr. You assume the form of a boar-humanoid hybrid. While in this form, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of your Constitution modifier whenever you make a Constitution check, an attack roll based on Constitution, or a Constitution saving throw.
• When a creature takes damage from a spell you cast for the first time on your turn, you can attempt to shove them. They must succeed on a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC or be knocked prone.
• When you go unconscious as a result of having 0 hit points while in Jofurr form, even if you lose your Feral Form, you have advantage on Death saving throws you make until you become stable or go back to consciousness.

Eldritch Wail

6th-level Circle of Fury feature

You are dread incarnate, and your war cries are enough to break the bravest of souls. While you are in your feral form, when you cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you can use your reaction to let out a horrifying howl. Creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they take 3d6 psychic damage and their movement speed is reduced to 0 until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, they only take half damage and their speed isn't reduced.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Predatory Leap

10th-level Circle of Fury feature

The world is your hunting ground. As an action while you are in your feral form, you can jump to an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you, provided there is a clear and unobstructed path to it. Each creature within 10 feet of you when you land must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they take 3d8 thunder damage and are knocked prone. On a successful save, they only take half damage and aren't knocked prone. You then gain 5 temporary hit points for each creature that was forced to make this save.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Circle of Fury and lycanthropy

The Circle of Fury initially had a feature preventing it from being cursed with lycantrophy, as we thought that having both "forms" would be awkward from a narrative standpoint. We eventually decided to remove the feature, leaving the choice to player and DM. Maybe you want to have both forms, with true lycanthropy being the more feral one, or maybe you want the Circle of Fury form to be your "curse" and to effectively be immune to other kinds of lycanthropy, or something else entirely. It's up to you!

Apex Predator

14th-level Circle of Fury feature

You are the might of nature made manifest. While in your feral form, you gain one of the following bonuses, based on the shape you assume:

Berserkr. You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage.

Ulfhednar. When you force a creature to make a saving throw, that creature makes the save with disadvantage if you have two or more allies that are within 5 feet of that creature.

Jofurr. If you would drop to 0 hit points as a result of taking damage, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. Once you have used this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Fighter

Given that there is no shortage of options for bloodlusted warriors in the official content, we sticked to the Fighter’s identity and made it into a more tactical kind of skirmisher, also drawing from popular figures like shield maidens.

We envisioned an honorable warrior, striving to follow the path of Heimdallr, the Watchman of the Gods and guardian of Asgardr. What starts out as an inspiration could eventually become a real source of power, as the class takes on some supernatural notes. Maybe Heimdallr himself will at some point bestow his powers on the character, to reward their deeds and discipline.

This Fighter's main role is to guard and protect the party, both in and outside of combat. Its core feature works with defensive fighting styles, turning them into more active and engaging abilities. You will want to always stand by your companions' side to truly get the most out of this subclass.

Monk

Even though we always picture axe-wielding vikings, hand-to-hand combat was actually part of ancient Norse martial culture. We researched glima, a nordic martial art that serves as both a sport discipline and a fighting technique, and we found it to be the perfect fit for a viking monk.

Glima is all about trying to overpower the opponent with grabs and throws, often using their own strength against them. This concept gave us the perfect opportunity to go for a grappling and shoving focused monk, a playstyle that is a fan-favorite for many martial players, even though it is fairly hard to implement in a practical way. This subclass tries to bring to the table the right tools to let you go toe to toe with any enemy, strengthening your grappling and shoving options. You will be able to cling to your opponents and throw them around without ever letting up.

The monk class was born from the shaolin monk concept, but it has already strayed pretty far from that original idea. Our Norse monk follows the guidelines of more modern monk concepts, which center their identity on a spiritual and balanced approach to combat, without necessarily tying themselves to eastern martial arts tradition. "Ki" could be reflavoured as any other type of energy or inner focus. For the name, we referred to the broader meaning of "glima", which is "struggle", in a both physical and spiritual sense.

Master Wrestler

17th-level Way of Struggle feature

You can use a bonus action to spend 3 ki points and enter a state of heightened focus. For one minute, you gain the following benefits:

• You have advantage on all checks made to initiate or maintain a grapple.
• You have advantage on all checks made to shove a creature.
• You can't be shoved, and you are immune to the grappled condition.
• When a creature escapes your grapple, you can immediately use your reaction to attempt to grapple that creature.
• You don't suffer penalties to your movement speed while you are grappling a creature that is no more than a size larger than you. When grappling a creature two sizes bigger than you, your speed is halved instead of being 0.

Once you have used this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Paladin

Paladins are warriors who fully embody their ideals with their actions, never straying from their path. Týr is the perfect example of this archetype in Norse mythology, as a force of justice who doesn't falter even when sacrificing his own body. Honor, for a viking, should be upheld in all kinds of fights, even verbal ones. The Oath of Honor pushes the player to be the figurehead of the party when it comes to negotiations and social affairs, other than their leader in combat.

The feature Mark of the War God is a kind of reenactment of the myth of Tyr and Fenrir, where Tyr willingly gave up his own hand to distract the beast and let his companion imprison it. The Paladin chooses an enemy to pin down and never lets up on them, seizing useful opportunities for the party to attack. It is a different take on the aura that Paladins often gain at 7th level.

This is a Paladin who never backs down, always aspiring to Valhalla, and eventually becoming worthy of fighting alongside the Valkyries.

Ranger

A Ranger is a traveler and a trailblazer. We thought that the aspect of Norse mythology better representing this identity would be the World Tree Yggdrasil, which connects the realms through its branches and offers infinite paths to journey through.

The Treestrider can teleport attacks, items, allies and spells through summoned branches of Yggdrasil. Even the legendary squirrel Ratakoskr gives a helping hand, carrying messages and items across the realms for the party. At high levels, the Treestrider is able to fully channel the powers and wisdom of Yggdrasil, having access to a single daily cast of either the Teleport, Divination or Legend Lore spells.

Having tested the archetype in combat, we found that these features have a profound impact on both the fight and the playstyle of the class. The Ranger stops being a jack-of-all-trades and assumes the mantle of a commander or supporting presence, playing with the battlefield and enriching combat opportunities for the whole party. Keep in mind: this subclass might not be the best suited for you if you don't like the role.

Ranger Conclave

Treestrider

Treestriders have ventured beyond the boundaries of their world by communing with Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Within its roots and branches, these rangers find countless doors to cross over to other realms and obtain a newfound awareness, provided they are capable enough to brave the twisting paths. These mystical travelers can be warriors, manipulating the battlefield to their advantage by summoning projections of the World Tree; knowledge-seekers, walking the paths of Yggdrasil to uncover its wisdom; or even caretakers, tending to their companions through their all-reaching magic. Their home is everywhere, and their own roots keep growing deeper.

Yggdrasil Magic

3rd-level Treestrider feature

You learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Yggdrasil Spells table. Each spell counts as a ranger spell for you, but it doesn't count against the number of ranger spells you know.

Yggdrasil Spells

Ranger Level	Spells
3rd	comprehend languages, message
5th	misty step
9th	clairvoyance
13th	banishment
17th	scrying

Branches of the Ash

3rd-level Treestrider feature

Your connection with the World Tree allows you to invoke its extensions to take advantage of their ubiquity. As an action, you can conjure a number of Branches of Yggdrasil equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) within 60 feet of you. A Branch of Yggdrasil has the following properties:

• It occupies a 5-foot-radius, 10-foot-high cylinder.
• It is considered a magical effect for all rules purposes.
• Objects and creatures can move through it and can occupy the same space it occupies as though it wasn’t there.
• It can be targeted by attacks and spells and can be subjected to any damaging effect or spell. It has an AC of 10 + your proficiency bonus, and taking any amount of damage causes it to disappear. It is immune to psychic damage.
• If, at any time, it's more than 120 feet away from you, the Branch of Yggdrasil disappears.

For 1 minute after you expend a use of this feature, you can conjure one Branch of Yggdrasil in a space within 60 feet of you without expending a use of this feature. You can do this once per turn, as part of any other action. After this minute, all Branches of Yggdrasil disappear. You can make any or all Branches disappear at any time (no action required).

You can't conjure a Branch of Yggdrasil behind total cover.

When you expend a use of this feature, any Branch of Yggdrasil previously conjured disappears.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Undying Connections

11th-level Treestrider feature

The extension you conjure are difficult to sever and grant you even more possibilities, as your grip on the World Tree strengthens. Any creature of your choice (including you) can interact with your Branches of Yggdrasil in the following additional way:

• When you cast a spell, you can choose a Branch of Yggdrasil within 5 feet of you that you can see and another Branch within 60 feet of you that you can see. The spell is cast as if you were occupying the same space of the chosen Branch that is within 60 feet of you. Once you cast a spell this way, the chosen Branch of Yggdrasil that is within 5 feet of you disappears.

Additionally, when a Branch of Yggdrasil would disappear as a result of taking damage, make a Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the Branch of Yggdrasill doesn't disappear. The DC of the save equals 10 or half the damage inflicted to the Branch of Yggdrasil, whichever is higher.

The Wells of Mímir, Urdr and Hvergelmir

15th-level Treestrider feature

Yggdrasil is held by three strong roots, each of which reaches one distinct well in three different Realms. You are able to use your connection to the World Tree to briefly tap into the powers of those wells. When you use this feature, choose one of the following options:

• As you reach into the immense wisdom of the Well of Mímir, you can cast the legend lore spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell.
• As you reach into the Well of Ur∂r, from which the Norns tend to the World Tree, you can cast the divination spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell. The spell puts you in contact with one of the Norns.
• As you reach into the Well of Hvergelmir and follow its world-spanning rivers, you can cast the teleport spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell.

Once you have used this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Sorcerer

Raw, powerful magic permeates Norse mythology, offering many different opportunities for a Sorcerer archetype. We explored different ideas for its magical origins, such as the elemental forces of fire and ice, or even the more primal energy of creation.

At last, we chose its source of magic to be Helheimr, the realm of the dead. A Helsoul is eerily reminding of a Draugr or a ghost, as the magical energy of Helheimr changes its very nature. It is representative of the many depictions of undeath found in the Norse myths.

The subclass has its core in necrotic damage and curses. Having access to an alternative type of transmutation metamagic, it is able to turn elemental damage into necrotic, which is needed to trigger Putrefy or to gain useful damage rerolls from its Eye of the Draugr curse. With Putrefy, we tried to steer away from save-or-suck mechanics, implementing a minor effect even when the opponent rolls a successful saving throw.

The Helsoul also gains access to a rather important out-of-combat ability, being able to cast Speak with Dead even when there is no body to be found, given that it met the target at least once. This could be a major narrative tool, for both player and DM.

Commune With Hel

6th-level Helsoul feature

Your direct link to Helheimr allows you to call upon the souls of the deceased to gain information. When you cast the speak with dead spell, you can target any creature that you have met at least once and you know has died. You follow the description of the spell, with the following exception:

• You briefly summon the spirit of the deceased and receive your answers from it, effectively making it so you don't need the body of your target for the spell to work.

Putrefy

6th-level Helsoul feature

When you deal necrotic damage to a creature, you can use your reaction and have the necrotic energy cling to their body to putrefy parts of it. Choose one of the following effects:

• The hands of your target rot and lose their grip. If the target creature is holding a weapon or object, they must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they drop whatever they are holding. Whether they save or fail, they have disadvantage on attack rolls they make for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, they can make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect on themselves on a success.
• The legs of your target yield and crumble. The target creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they are knocked prone. Whether they save or fail, their movement speed is reduced by 10 feet for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, they can make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect on themselves on a success.
• The eyes of your target grow dull and weary. The target creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they are blinded for 1 minute. On a success, they have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, they can make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, ending the effect on themselves on a success.
• Your target weakens, as necrotic energy seeps through their muscles and very bones. The target creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, their armor class is reduced by 2 for 1 minute. Whether they save or fail, they have disadvantage on Strength (Athletics) checks for 1 minute. At the end of each of their turns, they can make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, ending all effects on themselves on a success.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Necrotic Transmutation

6th-level Helsoul feature

When you deal acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison or thunder damage to a creature, you can spend 2 sorcery points to change that damage type to necrotic instead.

When you use this feature on a spell, you can't use any Metamagic option on the same casting of the spell, with the exception of Metamagic options that can be used even if you have already used a different Metamagic option during the casting of the spell.

Deathguise

14th-level Helsoul feature

You completely manifest your undead nature, becoming an apparition of death, a dreadful spirit which only presence is enough to drive a mortal insane. As a bonus action, you can twist your body into an undead form for 10 minutes. While transformed this way, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your sorcerer level + your Charisma modifier.
• You can use the life essence of the living to fuel your magic. When a creature affected by your Eye of the Draugr feature drops to 0 hit points, or when a creature fails a saving throw forced by your Putrefy feature, you regain 1 sorcery point.
• Your body becomes unnaturally strong and resistant. You have advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws, and you gain resistance to necrotic and poison damage.
• Your nature becomes akin to that of an undead monster. You cannot be charmed, frightened or poisoned, and you are immune to exhaustion.

Additionally, when you use this bonus action, up to five creatures of your choice within 60 feet of you that can see you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they are frightened of you for the duration of your transformation. A creature cursed by your Eye of the Draugr feature automatically fails this saving throw. At the end of their turn, a frightened creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on themselves on a success.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest, unless you spend 5 sorcery points to use it again.

Tide of the Dead

18th-level Helsoul feature

You can summon a fraction of Náströnd, the sea of corpses, urging the deceased to fight one last time in your servitude. As an action, you can target an area 90 feet across. Skeletons, zombies and other undead rise up from the ground, recalled from Helheimr, swarming the targeted area. Choose one of the following effects when you use this feature:

Interposing Dead: The corpses shield you and your allies, protecting you from attacks from afar. When creatures of your choice within the area are hit by any attack, you can roll a d20. On a 12 or higher, the attack misses, hitting a corpse instead of the target creature.

Clinging Dead: The corpses grasp and hang onto your enemies, hindering their movements and actions. The area becomes difficult terrain for all creatures of your choice, and those creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks and saving throws based on Strength and Dexterity. Additionally, creatures of your choice within the area that are concentrating on a spell must make a Constitution saving throw at the beginning of each of their turns to maintain concentration on that spell.

 Overwhelming Dead: The corpses flock to your enemies and submerge them under a wave of rotting flesh. Up to five creatures of your choice in the area must make a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, they fall under the weight of the corpses and become blinded, prone and restrained for as long as this effect is active. A submerged creature is considered being behind full cover. A submerged creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of their turn, ending the effect on themselves on a success.

Clawing Dead: The corpses reach out and attack your enemies with nailless claws and rotting teeth. Creatures of your choice that are within the area when you choose this effect take 4d6 necrotic damage.

 At the beginning of each of your turns, you can change the active effect of this feature. Only one effect can be active at a time.

This feature's effects last for 1 minute, after which the sea of undead crumbles to ash, returning to the land of the dead.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest, unless you spend 7 sorcery points to use it again.

Warlock

The Warlock is a class that is often portrayed as an agent – be it reluctant or compliant – of terrible and villainous entities. Norse mythology is packed with these kind of destructive forces, so we felt that we would be doing a disservice by only dedicating this archetype to one of the many mortal enemies of the gods: should it be Fenrir or Jormungandr, Nidhoggr or Surtr? And the list does not even end there.

We have always been fascinated with multi-choice classes, so we seized the occasion to include all of these monstrous being in a single archetype. Choosing a wolf patron makes you into a relentless predator, especially effective against restraining abilities; the wyrm gives you wings, the ability to move underwater and to imbue your spells with poison; the giant is a martial class, granting you some of the tools available to the Hexblade, but focusing more on offense. The common theme is to feel like an unstoppable force, just as these patrons are.

Each patron aids a different type of playstyle, be it melee, ranged, or a mix of the two. The wolf has some minor synergies with the Pact of the Chain, while the giant was created with the Pact of the Blade in mind, but could also work with a more creative flame blade build. We hope this subclass opens the way to some pretty fun characters, both mechanically and narratively.

Wizard

Wizards in D&D are the scholars of magic. They approach the art methodically, exploring its meaning and inquiring its secrets. Odinn himself shares this analytical and unyielding outlook. In this same search for power and knowledge, he once hung himself from a branch of Yggdrasil. On the brink of death, he had an epiphany: he saw and understood the runes, and he finally obtained mastery of magic, which then he passed down to mankind.

We wanted our Norse wizard to walk down Odinn's path, mirroring his exploits and relentless chase for understanding. We rendered this mechanically by creating a fully choice-oriented progression. As the character learns and assimilates spells, it also delves into the hidden meaning of the runes, understanding more and more, and shaping its growth around these hand-picked powers.

This subclass is intended to be played over and over while never being exactly the same, as the player chooses and mixes different runes to create a personalized playstyle for their wizard. We do realize that there might be unintended consequences and undesirable combinations, but we thought the concept and effects to be fun enough to go through with the idea. We leave you the sacred duty and pleasure to work with your DM to work out the details, if you will need to.

Wizard School

Runeseer

Runeseers embark on a journey of understanding, as Odinn once did. They inquire the nature of magic and reality, meditating on their highest form of expression: the futhark runes. Within their sounds and shapes, different answers and revelations await each different mind and set of questions. Shining the light of intellect and intuition on the unknown and unfamiliar, Runeseers carve their own path of magic and develop their own concept of reality. At each step, they find a new intuition; at each crossroad, a new epiphany. At the end of the road, never truly in sight, they can discern the distant promise of omniscience.

Scholar of the Runes

2nd-level Runeseer feature

You study the hidden power of the runes to gain knowledge and power. You learn two runes of your choice from among the runes described below, and each time you gain a level in this class, you can replace one rune you know with a different one from the list of runes available to you. When you reach certain levels in this class, you learn additional runes.

The following runes are available to you when you learn a rune. Learning a rune unlocks its power and grants you the corresponding feature. You can learn each rune once,

unless the rune specifies differently. If a rune has a level requirement, you must be at least that level in this class to learn the rune. If a rune requires a saving throw, you use your spell save DC.

Fehu. This rune reveals prosperity and success. When you use a spell slot to cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you have advantage on the next attack roll or ability check you make until the end of your next turn.

Thurisaz. This rune warns of looming enemies and danger. You can add your proficiency bonus to initiative rolls you make.

Ansuz. This rune lauds the infinite wisdom of the Allfather. When you learn this rune, you add to your spellbook one wizard spell of a level for which you have spell slots. You can learn this rune up to a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier, choosing a different spell each time. If you replace this rune, the associated spell disappears from your spellbook.

Raido. This rune announces an eventful journey. On your first turn after having rolled initiative, or when you take the Dash action, your movement speed is increased by 10 feet until the end of your turn.

Kenaz. This rune points to the enlightening power of the torch. You gain darkvision up to a distance of 60 feet. If you already have darkvision from other sources, its maximum distance is increased by 60 feet. As a bonus action, you can see through magical darkness to a distance of 60 feet for one minute. For the duration, you are under the effect of a Detect Magic spell. At 6th level, you are also under the effect of a See Invisibility spell. You can't take this bonus action again until you finish a short or long rest.

Eiwaz. This rune connects the living and the dead through the World Tree, giving you glimpses of forgotten knowledge you couldn’t otherwise possess. You have advantage on all Intelligence (Arcana), Intelligence (History), Intelligence (Nature) and Intelligence (Religion) checks you make.

Peorth. This rune revels in the pleasure of recreation. When you use your Arcane Recovery feature, add 1 to the combined spell slot levels you can recover. You can learn this rune more than once.

Hanging from the Tree

6th-level Runeseer feature

Gazing into the Waters Below

14th-level Runeseer feature

You learn one of the following runes.

You can only replace a rune from this feature with another rune from this feature. You cannot replace any other rune with one from this feature.

Uruz (14th level or higher). This rune beckons a mighty, untamed force. When you cast a spell that deals damage, you can reroll a number of the damage dice equal to the level of the spell slot you used to cast the spell. You must use the new rolls.

Othala (14th level or higher). This rune honors the binding duty of heritage. While you are concentrating on a spell, you can use an action to touch a willing creature with an Intelligence score of 10 or more. That creature now keeps concentration on that spell for you, and uses all rules for concentrating on a spell in your place, making it so you can concentrate on a different spell. If that creature is ever more than 90 feet from you, the concentration on the spell is dropped. Once you take this action, you can’t take it again until you finish a long rest.

Ingwaz (14th level or higher). This rune praises the might of the legendary Ingwaz, progenitor of kings. As an action, you can gain the following benefits:

• You summon a spectral apparitions of Ingwaz’s sword, for which you use the description of the Mordenkainen’s sword spell.
• You become clad in a magical, translucent armor. As long as you aren’t wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 14 + your Intelligence modifier.
• You are invested by Ingwaz's might. You gain 30 temporary hit points.

This effect lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you lose concentration, as if you were concentrating on a spell.

Once you take this action, you can’t take it again until you finish a long rest.