Path of the Dread Thane

There are warriors who fight with raw strength, others who fight with cunning, and then there are those who fight with terror. A Dread Thane does not simply battle their foes; they unmake their courage. Through guttural chants, resonant war drums of the soul, and voices that echo like doom across the battlefield, these barbarians carve despair into the hearts of all who oppose them.

Legends tell of Dread Thanes who could break an army without striking a blow, their grim chants rising like a funeral dirge as soldiers’ blades clattered uselessly from trembling hands. To follow this path is to embrace the weapon of fear itself, wielding it as surely as any axe or hammer.

Whether revered as war-chiefs whose presence alone can command victory, or reviled as cursed berserkers who sap the will of the weak, Dread Thanes embody the truth that a warrior’s greatest power lies not only in the body, but in the hearts they shatter.

Thrum of War

At 3rd level, Your rhythmic chants conjure an aura of dread that permeates around you. For the duration of your rage you create a 10ft radius aura centred on you that follows you. Creatures you designate that start their turn in the aura must succeed on a wisdom saving throw, the DC is (8 + your proficiency bonus + your constitution modifier). On a failed save the creature is frightened by you until the end of their next turn.

Immutable Will

At 3rd level, you gain immunity to the frightened condition. In addition, while raging, your maximum hit points cannot be reduced by any means.

Lamentation of the Feeble

At 6th level, while raging you can ignore a creature’s damage resistances if the creature is not at its hit point maximum. In addition, you gain a bonus to Insight and Intimidation skill checks equal to your strength modifier. 

Demoralizing Battlecry

Starting at 10th level, your rage reaches into the hearts of all foes. You ignore immunity to the frightened condition. In addition, when you enter your rage you belt out a dreadful roar, creatures you choose that can hear you within 60ft of you must succeed on a wisdom saving throw, the DC is (8 + your proficiency bonus + your constitution modifier). On a failed save the creature takes psychic damage equal to half of your Barbarian level (rounded down) and is frightened by you until the end of their next turn.

Dread Incarnate

At 14th level, no foe can withstand the fear they feel in your presence. Attacks against creatures who are frightened of you take an additional 1d12 psychic damage, and the creature has disadvantage on the next wisdom saving throw they make to resist being frightened.