Warlock (Dark Matter/Skyward)

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Overview & Creation

When most people of the ‘verse stare up at the night sky, a twinkle of wonder and curiosity glistens in their eyes; warlocks, however, shudder at the black chasm of the sky, for they have seen what dwells in the great beyond and know the horror that awaits travelers to the stars. Warlocks that travel the ‘verse in search of eldritch secrets often uncover things far more terrifying than they bargained for. Out among the stars, the antediluvian patrons are more ancient, more enigmatic, than terrestrial beings, and offer darker secrets to their followers. These patrons might be colossal alien beasts, strange entities sequestered away within stars or black holes, or the ever-present Void itself.   Otherworldly Patrons The beings that serve as patrons for warlocks are mighty inhabitants of other planes of existence—not gods, but almost godlike in their power. Various patrons give their warlocks access to different powers and invocations, and expect significant favors in return. Some patrons collect warlocks, doling out mystic knowledge relatively freely or boasting of their ability to bind mortals to their will. Other patrons bestow their power only grudgingly, and might make a pact with only one warlock. Warlocks who serve the same patron might view each other as allies, siblings, or rivals.

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Class Features

Otherworldly Patron   At 1st Level, you have struck a bargain with an otherworldly being of your choice, such as The Fiend. Your choice grants you features at 1st Level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.   Eldritch Invocations     In your study of occult lore, you have unearthed Eldritch Invocations, fragments of forbidden knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability.   At 2nd Level, you gain two Eldritch Invocations of your choice. Your invocation options are detailed at the end of the class description. When you gain certain Warlock levels, you gain additional invocations of your choice.   Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the invocations you know and replace it with another invocation that you could learn at that level. A level prerequisite in an invocation refers to Warlock level, not character level.   Pact Boon   At 3rd Level, your otherworldly patron bestows a gift upon you for your loyal service. You gain one of the following features of your choice.   Pact of the Chain   You learn the Find Familiar spell and can cast it as a ritual. The spell doesn’t count against your number of Spells known.   When you cast the spell, you can choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following Special forms: imp, Pseudodragon, Quasit, or Sprite.   Additionally, when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one Attack of its own with its Reaction.   Pact of the Blade   You can use your action to create a pact weapon in your empty hand. You can choose the form that this melee weapon takes each time you create it. You are proficient with it while you wield it. This weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming Resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.   Your pact weapon disappears if it is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or more. It also disappears if you use this feature again, if you dismiss the weapon (no action required), or if you die.   You can transform one Magic Weapon into your pact weapon by performing a Special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a Short Rest. You can then dismiss the weapon, shunting it into an extradimensional space, and it appears whenever you create your pact weapon thereafter. You can’t affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way. The weapon ceases being your pact weapon if you die, if you perform the 1-hour ritual on a different weapon, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it. The weapon appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when the bond breaks.     Pact of the Tome   Your patron gives you a grimoire called a Book of Shadows. When you gain this feature, choose three Cantrips from any class’s spell list (the three needn’t be from the same list). While the book is on your person, you can cast those Cantrips at will. They don’t count against your number of Cantrips known. If they don’t appear on the Warlock spell list, they are nonetheless Warlock Spells for you.   If you lose your Book of Shadows, you can perform a 1-hour Ceremony to receive a replacement from your patron. This Ceremony can be performed during a short or Long Rest, and it destroys the previous book. The book turns to ash when you die.   Ability Score Improvement     When you reach 4th Level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two Ability Scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.   Mystic Arcanum   At 11th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical Secret called an arcanum. Choose one 6th-level spell from the Warlock spell list as this arcanum.   You can cast your arcanum spell once without expending a spell slot. You must finish a Long Rest before you can do so again.   At higher levels, you gain more Warlock Spells of your choice that can be cast in this way: one 7th-level spell at 13th level, one 8th-level spell at 15th level, and one 9th-level spell at 17th level. You regain all uses of your Mystic A rcanum when you finish a Long Rest.   Eldritch Master   At 20th level, you can draw on your inner reserve of mystical power while entreating your patron to regain expended Spell Slots. You can spend 1 minute entreating your patron for aid to regain all your expended Spell Slots from your Pact Magic feature. Once you regain Spell Slots with this feature, you must finish a Long Rest before you can do so again.

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Starting Equipment

You start with the following items, plus anything provided by your Background. • (a) a Light Crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon • (a) a Component pouch or (b) an arcane focus • (a) a Scholar's Pack or (b) a Dungeoneer's Pack • Leather Armor, any simple weapon, and two daggers

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Spellcasting

At 1st Level, you know two 1st-level Spells of your choice from the Warlock spell list.   You learn a new Warlock spell every time you gain a level from 2 through 9, as well as at level 19. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what's shown in the table's Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 6th level, for example, you learn a new Warlock spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Level.   Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the Warlock Spells you know and replace it with another spell from the Warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have Spell Slots.     Spellcasting Ability   Charisma is your Spellcasting Ability for your Warlock Spells, so you use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your Spellcasting Ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a Warlock spell you cast and when Making an Attack roll with one.   Spell save DC = 8 + Proficiency Bonus + Charisma modifier Spell Attack modifier = Proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier   Spellcasting Focus   You can use an arcane focus as a Spellcasting focus for your Warlock Spells.

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Subclass Options

The Singularity

Most denizens of the galaxy think that the ravenous chasms known as black holes are simply portals to the Void, formed from the collapse of particularly large stars. This theory brings them a sense of understanding to these dangerous galactic phenomena, and imparts a sense of control and comfort to those who would otherwise despair in the face of such a terrible, destructive force of nature. However, the small group of warlocks who draw their power from these black holes know better: The Singularity is intelligent, malevolent, and, above all, hungry.  

The Star

It is impossible to comprehend the unbridled power contained within a star: an infinity of nuclear reactions, a constant explosion, unceasing for millennia—the ultimate inferno. It’s no surprise that someone would seek to harness some of this power for their own. With the right words of forgotten lore, warlocks can do just that, drawing some small fraction of the howling flames into themselves. The Star is not a sentient patron, it doesn't demand sacrifices or worship from its warlocks; it is a beacon in a sea of black, a force of nature that will long outlive any living thing. Though the annals of history do not recount their battles, warlocks of The Star have waged endless war with those of The Singularity, who seek to plunge the galaxy into perfect darkness.