Order of the Scalebearer

Members who align with the Order of the Scalebearer do so because of a desire to protect. An event in their past saw them witnessing death and destruction at the hands of a formidable creature, and they've sworn to bear a shield ("scale") in their pursuit of hunting these creatures down.

Scaled Offensive

3rd-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
When you select this subclass at 3rd level, you may use shield as martial weapons. The damage die is equal to your Hemocraft Die, and the base damage type is bludgeoning.

Rite of the Scale Seeker

3rd-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
Also at 3rd level, you gain the Rite of the Scale Seeker as part of your Crimson Rite feature. When you gain this ability, choose a creature that had a great impact on your life (dragons are the most common, but work with your DM if you want another option). When you activate the Rite of the Scale Seeker, the damage type is the same as that creature's primary damage type. (Red dragons give Fire, Blue dragons give Lightning, etc.)

Rite of the Scale Seeker

The extra damage dealt by your rite is determined by the creature you chose when you gained this subclass.

Bonded Scale

3rd-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
Additionally, starting at 3rd level you can conduct an hour-long ritual to channel your hemocraft energy into a shield, which must remain in your space for the duration. On completion of the ritual, your shield is now a viable option for you (and only you) to channel your Crimson Rite into, following the standard rules for channeling into other weapons. In addition, while you're bonded to your shield you cannot be disarmed of it, and if your turn ends and it is not on your person, you can choose to have it return to you. If you do not have a free hand it simple appears at your feet, in your space.

While your rite is channeled into your shield (and you're wielding it), you gain the following reaction.

• When you take damage, you may use  your reaction to reduce the damage by your Hemocraft modifier. You may also choose to end the Rite currently active in your shield and add the maximum number you could roll on your Hemocraft Die to the damage reduction.
      If the damage you would take is the same type of the Rite currently channeled into your shield, you gain the benefits as if you had chosen to end your Rite, but your Rite remains active.

Scale Scorn

7th-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
You know it's sometimes better to keep dragons and other fearsome enemies at a distance. Starting at 7th level, as an action you may throw your shield with an active Crimson Rite at a point you can see within 60 feet of you. If this targets a creature, make an attack roll against the creature using your regular shield strike. If you target and hit a creature, it takes the normal damage of your shield in addition to the rest of this ability's effects.

Upon reaching its destination, regardless of if the initial attack hit, your shield pulses with rite energy, emitting a burst within 20 feet of it. Creatures in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your Hemocraft save DC, taking damage equal to three rolls of your Hemocraft Die on a failure. On a success, a creature takes half as much damage. The damage dealt is determined by the Crimson Rite active on your shield, and damage dealt by this feature can be used to make a creature with your Brand of Castigation.
    You may use this ability a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per long rest.

Brand of Awareness

11th-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
Starting at 11th level, your branding of a creature gives you extra insight into their movements, allowing you to avoid certain attacks more easily. You had advantage on Constitution, Strength, and Dexterity saving throws you make that are triggered by the creature marked by your Brand of Castigation.

Blood Curse of the Absorbing Scales

15th-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
At 15th level, your mastery of your own energy channeling allows you to steal that of others. You gain the Blood Curse of the Absorbing Scales for your Blood Maledict feature. This doesn't count against your number of blood curses known.

Blood Curse of the Absorbing Scales

As a bonus action, choose one enemy creature you can see within 60 feet. You swap one of your active Crimson Rites to the element matching their primary element (DM's discretion if unsure). Upon activation of this ability, you do not need to roll your Hemocraft Die as part of activating this stolen Rite in a weapon.

Amplify. This element remains a viable Rite option for you for the next 24 hours.

Scale Savior

18th-level Order of the Scalebearer feature
At 18th level, you gain the ability to not only use your bonded shield to protect yourself, but those around you as well. As a reaction when targeted by an Area of Effect ability (Such as a dragon's breath weapon or a spell from an enemy caster), you cause your bonded shield to flare with Hemocraft energy, reducing the damage taken by two rolls of your hemocraft die + your hemocraft modifier for all allies (including yourself) in a 10-foot radius. If this damage is of the same type of the Rite currently channeled into your shield, the radius increases to 30 feet.