The Black Flag

The seas are host to all manner of monster, from the singing sirens to the subtle serpents. Yet none are so dreaded - spoken of only in hushed tones, and adept at converting sinners into god-fearing men - as the Kraken.

It is said that there is no true respite from its horrific clutches; those few who escape its grasp cannot count themselves lucky, not when they are fated to spend the rest of their lives in fear of its return. But for those who dare to challenge fate, to willingly join its covenant, to raise the black flag that promises only death - their bounty of souls might perhaps stave off the Kraken’s greed for a day more.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you take this subclass at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in Vehicles (Water) as well as firearms, if they exist in your setting. You also gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

Kraken's Call

The Kraken’s call beckons for you to sate its hunger, sending souls to a watery grave in your stead. At 3rd level, you gain a pool of Tide Points, equal to your Constitution modifier (min: 1) plus your Fighter level. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack as part of the Attack action, you can expend a Tide Point to summon a Spectral Tentacle in an unoccupied location within 5 feet of the target.

Each Spectral Tentacle is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands. See its game statistics in the accompanying Spectral Tentacle stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB) in several places. Spectral Tentacles share your initiative, acting directly after your own turn.

In combat, the Spectral Tentacle shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take another action. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action; however, the Spectral Tentacles generally lack the finesse required to perform tasks that require hands. If you are incapacitated, the Spectral Tentacle can take any action of its choice, not just Dodge.

Spectral Tentacles remain until reduced to 0 Hit Points, or until 1 minute after being summoned. When a Spectral Tentacle dies, it vanishes, leaving only a pool of brackish seawater.

You regain all expended Tide Points when you complete a long rest.

 

Abyssal Adaptation

At 7th level, your body adapts to better serve the Kraken. You gain the ability to breathe underwater, immunity to the crushing pressures of the depths, and resistance to cold damage.

Unrelenting Hunger

At 10th level, you have learned to spur on the Kraken’s hunger, beseeching it to stay and consume more. When a Tentacle would die, you can expend your reaction and one Tide point to leave it with 1 HP instead.

Ocean's Wrath

At 15th level, you gain the ability to manipulate the Kraken’s projections with greater finesse, allowing it greater control over its foes. If a Spectral Tentacle grapples a target that was already being grappled by another Spectral Tentacle, the target becomes Restrained until one of the tentacle’s grapples ends. In addition, your Spectral Tentacles gain the dexterity to perform more complex activities, such as reloading cannons and crewing a vessel.

Kraken's Feast

At 18th level, you gain the ability to manifest the full wrath of the Kraken’s spirit to wreak havoc. As an action, you can summon up to 8 Spectral Tentacles around a creature within 30 feet of yourself. When summoned in this way, the tentacles are Large, move with the target, and lack the Ephemeral property.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest, unless you spend 8 Tide Points to use it again.