Harbinger

Where clerics of death tend graves and shepherd spirits, Harbingers enforce mortality.

They are chosen when a soul shows exceptional talent for slipping between moments — rogues whose instincts for timing, positioning, and precision mirror the cosmic rhythm of life and decay. The goddess does not speak in prayers. She speaks in failing pulses, flickering breath, cracking bones, and the hush that follows a final scream. Those who hear her call feel a constant pull toward the brink between living and dying, like a tide dragging them toward a vast and patient ocean.

A Harbinger does not hunt randomly. They are sent after those who defy the natural order: necromancers who bind souls, liches who refuse to fade, tyrants whose cruelty warps the balance of life, prophets who seek immortality, and champions whose continued survival twists fate itself. Some Harbingers even act as merciful blades, ending suffering when life has become a cage of agony rather than a gift.

To mortals, they feel like walking cold.

Level 3: Mark of Ending

3rd-level Harbinger feature

When you choose this archetype, your goddess brands your soul with the authority of endings. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 60 feet. The creature is branded with a Deathbound Mark which lasts for 1 minute or until the creature dies.

While marked:

• You deal extra necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus when you hit it with Sneak Attack
• The creature cannot regain hit points
• You have advantage on your first attack against it each turn if it is below half HP

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Spellcasting

You gain proficiency in either Religion and Intimidation.

Additionally, you can cast speak with dead once per long rest without a spell slot and you have access to Cleric and necromancy spells.

Level 9: Steal the Fading Breath

9th-level Harbinger feature

Your strikes tear fragments of life away. When you deal Sneak Attack damage to a creature, you may force it to make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + proficiency + Dex mod). On a failed save, creatures take additional necrotic damage equal to half your rogue level and have their speed reduced to 0 until the end of their next turn. On a successful save, creatures take half of the extra damage with no additional effects.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Level 13: Soul Severing

13th-level Harbinger feature

Your goddess allows you to partially reap the spirits of the living. When you reduce a creature to 0 HP, you may absorb a fragment of its soul to receive one of the following features for 1 minute or until you replace with it another (no action):

Reaped Power. Gain advantage on attack rolls, Intelligence, and Wisdom saving throws.

Reaped Vitality. Gain temporary hit points equal to your rogue level + Dex modifier the first time your hit points fall below half. If you fall to 0 while this feature is active you can roll any number of dice from your hit pool to regain hit points equal to the amount rolled.

Reaped Terror. Creatures of your choice within 20 feet must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute (affected creatures repeat the save at end of their turn).

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Reaped Power

When you reduce a creature to 0 HP, you may absorb a fragment of its soul to receive one of the following features for 1 minute or until you replace with it another (no action):

Gain advantage on attack rolls, Intelligence, and Wisdom saving throws.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Reaped Terror

When you reduce a creature to 0 HP, you may absorb a fragment of its soul to receive one of the following features for 1 minute or until you replace with it another (no action):

Creatures of your choice within 20 feet must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute (affected creatures repeat the save at end of their turn).

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Reaped Vitality

When you reduce a creature to 0 HP, you may absorb a fragment of its soul to receive one of the following features for 1 minute or until you replace with it another (no action):

Gain temporary hit points equal to your rogue level + Dex modifier the first time your hit points fall below half. If you fall to 0 while this feature is active you can roll any number of dice from your hit pool to regain hit points equal to the amount rolled.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Level 17: Avatar of the End

17th-level Harbinger feature

You briefly embody the primordial force of death itself. As a bonus action, you enter a death-aspected state for 1 minute. 

While active:

• Your Sneak Attack damage becomes necrotic and bypasses resistances
• Enemies within 15 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against your spells or effects
• When you land a critical hit against a creature, it must make a Constitution saving throw (8 + Proficiency Bonus + Dexterity modifier) or take double the damage of the critical hit.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until a long rest.