The Possessed

Some warlocks forge pacts with fey, archfey, or even gods. But there are those whose bonds are far darker—those who surrender their souls to demons and other malevolent entities of the Abyss. These warlocks are not merely servants of their patrons; they are vessels—possessed by the very beings that offer them power. These patrons are ancient, chaotic, and hungry, feeding off the souls, despair, or violence they inspire in mortals. The Possessed warlock, chosen by such a patron, carries this corruption in their body and mind, feeling the weight of their demon’s influence every moment.

From the moment the pact is made, the warlock’s fate is sealed. Their patron imbues them with a part of its essence—its insatiable hunger—and with it, the warlock begins to change. Their appearance distorts in eerie ways, their voice becomes laden with dark power, and their heart beats in time with the pulse of something ancient and terrible. The warlock learns to wield the hunger they’ve inherited, channeling it into devastating powers that reflect their patron’s desires: bloodlust, soul consumption, or the spreading of despair. These warlocks are often seen as walking contradictions—both terrifying and tragic. They are driven by forces beyond their control, their very being torn between their own will and the relentless pull of their demon’s appetites.

Despite this internal struggle, the Possessed are incredibly powerful. With each passing year, their connection with their demon grows, allowing them to access new and more potent abilities. The warlock can choose which aspects of their patron’s hunger to tap into, gaining new strengths that make them ever more formidable in battle. But this comes at a cost—those who associate too closely with such evil forces risk losing themselves entirely, becoming little more than puppets for the insatiable beings who possess them.

Still, there are some who embrace the darkness, lured by the promise of unearthly power. These warlocks, whether driven by revenge, desperation, or ambition, embrace their patron’s demands, seeking to wield their newfound abilities with frightening precision. For them, power is worth any price.

Level 3: Demonic Tongue

The language of demons flows from your lips, ancient and twisted, a constant reminder of your patron’s dominion over you. You gain the ability to speak Abyssal, the language of chaos and madness. When you speak in this tongue, your voice carries an unsettling resonance, dark and guttural, sending a chill down the spines of all who hear it.

Level 3: Demonic Hunger

The demon within you demands sustenance and gives you power in return. As a bonus action, you suffer necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus and you temporarily gain one of the following effects.

Roll a d4 to know which effect you gain. 

On a 1 -  Hunger for Blood: Your veins turn a vivid crimson visible through the surface of your skin. Your eyes gleam with a feral yellow light. You gain a 1d6 bonus to melee attack rolls. On a successful hit, the target takes an additional 1d8 force damage and must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 10 + Charisma modifier) or be Frightened until the start of your next turn.  

On a 2 - Hunger for Souls: A faint, dark mist rises from your body and your eyes are completely white, with no pupil. You can make a Charisma saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell. Additionally, after casting a spell, you may roll a d20. On a result of 17 or higher, that spell did not consume a spell slot. 

On a 3 - Hunger for Despair: Demonic scales spread across your skin, and your eyes turn jet-black. You gain a bonus to your AC equal to your Charisma modifier and can use Charisma saving throws instead of Wisdom or Intelligence saving throws. This effect only works if you are wearing Light armor or no armor.

On a 4 - Hunger's Torment: In moments of desperation, the demon inside you offers clarity. Change this die roll to a 1, 2, or 3.

 

You stay in that form for 1 minute or until you have the incapacitated condition, or die. You can also leave the form early as a Bonus Action.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a Short or a Long Rest. 

Level 6: Demonic Aura

The presence of your patron manifests more strongly in you. When you speak or engage with others, they can feel the oppressive, demonic force that resides within you. You gain advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks.

Level 10: Demonic Connection

Your bond with the demon grows deeper. The demon offers you more control, allowing you to tailor its gifts to suit the battle at hand. 

You gain the ability to select which Hunger manifests each time you activate **Demonic Hunger**. Additionally, at the start of each of your turns while **Demonic Hunger** is active, you can choose which Hunger effect you wish to benefit from.

Level 14: Demonic Osmosis

Your demonic patron’s essence flows through you more freely, enabling you to harness its abilities to their fullest extent. When using Demonic Hunger, you can use one of the following effect that corresponds to your hunger. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a Long Rest.  

- Hunger for Blood: When making a melee attack roll, you can use a reaction to automatically hit. Your weapon deals an additional 6d8 force damage on that attack. 

- Hunger for Souls: If you fail your d20 roll to avoid expending a spell slot, you can use a reaction to succeed instead. 

- Hunger for Despair: When you take damage, you can use a reaction to reduce the damage to 0, the demon's dark power shielding you from harm.