Surgeons of the River Styx

Dragged from the banks of the Styx, the souls of those who return have been hardened, their bodies coming into line with their newly Achillean soul. This process, called Stygian hardening, is taken advantage of by the slaver-surgeons, pulling those from the banks of the near side back onto the land of life; thus artificially inflating those amongst mortals that have seen the end which awaits us all. This bond between the savior and the dying is what binds the latter, as the immutable laws laid down at the start of our time dictate, that if one is brought back from the brink of death by another, then the saved party must serve that debt of life to their new possessor, with no exception, god or king, slave or soldier. The process of Stygian reclamation binding is costly, timely, and rigorous, with a failure rate upwards of 80% for even the most skilled semi-necromantic healers, with success being worthy of lavish celebration, as a single recovered person can be sold for obscene figures, with the amount of gold that can be received not measured in pieces, but by hundreds of pounds.

Pact of the Brink Debt

The Pactowner may attempt to dominate the mind of the warlock if their demands are refused, forcing the warlock to make a DC18 Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the warlock is confused and disoriented, and on a failure, they are dominated by the pactowner. The warlock, in exchange for obedience, will be outfitted and further trained by their patron, receiving an additional proficiency.

Additional Proficiency

The Warlock is trained or educated in another skill by the contract holder, gaining an additional proficiency.

Stygian Hardening

The warlock gains +1 AC at level 6 as the waters of the Styx begin working their way from their soul to their skin. This increases to +2AC at level 10, to +3AC at level 14, and finally, +4AC at level 20 as it soaks through the flesh. At level 10, this also grants resistance to necrotic damage, for flesh of steel no longer rots.

Iron Flesh Does Not Rot

The Warlock gains resistance to necrotic damage, as their skin turns further steely.

The Soul Drowned Once Will Not Drown Again

When you have to make a death saving throw at the start of your turn, your soul refuses to see the banks of the Ending River once again. You regain 4d6 hitpoints, and have+3 AC until the end of the encounter as your spirit immerses itself once more in the Stygian waters. Can only be used once per long rest.