Whether a Grim Reaper, Executor of the Gods(or a specific god), an Assasin touched by Death, someone like the kid in 6th sense, or whatever else appeals to you — what combination of Class, Race, and Background makes the most sense for your idea of a Death themed Character in Dungeons and Dragons?
If you have a full idea of a character, feel free to explain their backstory and how they got where they are.
Is your character an adventurer kidnapped by a cult and sent into the shadowfell, it’s fell magics exercising some influence ove your character’s being somehow?
Is your character the horseman of death of legend who ushers in the Apocalypse, but who turns out not to be a humanoid on a horse but a centaur disciple of a death god who inadvertently sets a series of events into being that cause the end of the world?
Is your character an old Shadar-Kai who runs a monestary teaching the arts of the Shadar-Kai of the Shadowfell to a group of young apprentices on the Material Plane?
Well, I don’t think my choices were perfect at all, but partly because I think D&D really sucks at some options. The Necromancer and Death Cleric were both plain awful in terms of power and what they could do. I chose the Aasimar, as I feel they’re very aloof but morally neutral, unlike the Tiefling who I (personally) have always viewed as either a villain or an anti-hero. I really hate the lineages and shadar kai (not going into detail as rants never go anywhere). Or I hate the shadar kai as they currently are. The Assassin for class, though I’d really have preferred to choose Necromancer / Death Cleric. Unfortunately 5e has made them worthless except as an underpowered NPC (imo). For the background … I don’t think any one particularly applies. I suppose I’d choose Gravekeeper if that was an option and I could figure out how to make it more interesting to a group of people.
You want a death-themed character? Alright then, let me know what you think:
Rettiss is a chaotic neutral Shadar-Kai, who has been so twisted by the horrors that have plagued her every waking moment, she now sees everyone among the ranks of ordered society as irredeemable.
It all started on the night of the winter solstice, when she was only nine years old. On that fateful night, the cultists of Orcus picked her house as a target, for reasons unknown to us. They set it ablaze, and stood guard around each door, in order to make sure that no one got away. Rettiss and her parents attempted swift escape through the front door, only to come face-to-face with one of the cultists, brandishing a woodcutting axe. Small and agile as she was, Rettiss managed to slip past the axe-wielding brute, but her parents were not so lucky. In front of her they were dismembered for their trouble, and soon after, their killer, hoping to finish the job, gave chase to her, driving her away into the night.
Unfortunately for Rettiss, this wasn't the end of her suffering. So on edge was her community over the threat of Orcus and his cultists that everyone whom she asked refused to grant to her any hospitality whatsoever, fearing that she'd be an agent of Orcus in disguise. Eventually she stopped asking entirely, just ignored other people, thinking them evil on the face of it. When she was sixteen, she did meet one who treated her with kindness, a man by the name of Skiran. However, this friendship didn't last long, for on that very winter solstice, she walked into the town square, only to see him beheaded moments later, as part of an execution. This enraged her so much that she resolved that the executioner, and all those responsible for it, would pay in blood, immediately. So, she sprinted onto the platform, and sucker punched the executioner in the face, before taking his sword and slashing to pieces everyone else on said platform. For her trouble she was chased out of town by the law, as if she needed yet another reason to choose violence.
Now, Rettiss swears the Oath of Vengeance, determined to punish the evil in society for all it has taken. Mostly, she only goes after Orcus and his cultists, but others she deems deserving of her wrath will absolutely not be spared. Though she may be quiet in conversation, cold and composed whenever she does speak, in battle her wrath is frightening to behold, her sword flashing through the air at lightning speed. Whenever she gets into a fight, the end result is invariably an unrecognizable mess on the ground, and an executioner's blade stained with the blood of the fallen. Her signature weapon is the very same executioner's blade she took after Skiran's execution, known by her as Sigil. Enchanted to feed off the blood of those it cuts, resharpening and repairing itself mid-battle, it has no need for such mundane things as grindstones or reforges, only bloodshed.
My usual problem with Hexblade is the theming is just kind of nebulously goth without a real specific niche like the other Warlock patrons, but for this concept that's actually perfect. You can summon ghosts, you're gothy, and you can make your weapon a scythe with some mild flavoring (probably start with a glaive or something) and boom; you're death!
He never gives his name - if he even has one - but he's known in certain circles as The Guide. He's a (raven) kenku, dressed in black wrappings - not entirely unlike a mummy. He carries no weapons, only a stout staff (a quarterstaff, that is - so more like one weapon).
He knows various sign languages, but rarely speaks. He does, however, know the death rite in all languages.
They say where he lies down to rest, plants will wither and die. They say he can walk into shadow and disappear. They say any enemies he slays will have a strange smile on his face.
Once, it is told, The Guide was having ramen at a noodle shop, and a great daimyo made fun of his appearance. The Guide made no move to answer, but one of the daimyo's men told him who he had just insulted. The daimyo rushed home, locked up his mighty castle, and posted guards at all doors and windows. Yet still, the next morning his concubines who had slept beside him found him dead - and with a strange little smile on his face.
The desperate and destitute may ask The Guide for help, and he will never ask for gold or fortune - but it is said the price for his help is a year of your life.
All - or none - of these rumors may prove to be true. But this much is certain: The hoarse *caw* may well be the last sound you ever hear - and you may find that escape from it's terror is enough to make you smile, even when the only way out is death.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Astral elves are immortal (as long as they stay on the Astral plane), so I feel they fit theme of death the best since they do not have to worry about dying from old age, and they have literal ages and eons to ponder about life and death. Shadar-Kai is fine too for the aesthetics, but I prefer not worrying about death a bit more (although I guess any species would not have to worry about dying from old age if they stay on the Astral plane).
Assuming you reach level 20 and continue playing after that, I would say necromancer is the best since you can create the best mook army more efficiently than anyone else (Magen via Create Magen; you can still make an army of zombies via Finger of Death for cannon fodder) since your max HP cannot be reduced. And with epic boon of spell recall and using Wish-Simulacrum, you can create an army of yourself that can further speed up amassing an army. Additionally, with an army of yourself, you will practically be able to dominate and control any undead.
As for background, I recommend just creating your own and pick whatever proficiencies and background features appeal to you the most. I personally lean towards having the trio of perception, insight, and investigation if you are a wizard since you read and gather information a lot, and then if you got all that, I would go for arcana and stealth next. For tools, I lean towards space and/or water vehicles if you are an Astral elf, and the other tool can be anything. For background feature, my two favorites are I'll Patch It! (shipwright) and Adept Linguist (anthropologist). If you install a spelljammer helm onto a water vehicle, you can use I'll Patch It! to make some temporary fixes on your vehicle. Adept Linguist basically lets you talk to anyone, albeit in a very limited way, but it should be enough for you to get through day to day activities without difficulty.
Maledict, is an Haunted One Reborn Death Cleric of The Dead Three, a collective of three, death-themed deities: Bane, the Lord of Darkness, Bhaal, the Lord of Murder and Myrkul the Lord of Bones. The Zhent was born and died under a dark star in Zhentil Keep prior to the Time of Trouble in 1372 DR. It was later animated as a zombie by a necromancer named Marune The Masked to be his servant for years until one day for inexplicable reasons, his consciousness returned and was killed and neatly preserved by a Gentle Repose spell that became permanent due to a Wild Magic zone effect. After a failed attempt to raise Maledict from the dead, he was enterred to be studied later.
Decades pasts and events changed the world but always he felt the dark star watching over him coldly and distantly. Until one day when it beckoned him in the dead of night to return amongs the living. After clawing free from his grave, the Reborn realized he had no memories except for a single name, Maledict.
Soon he started recalling faded memories of a physically painful moment of being crushed to death by Evard's Black Tentacule while a disjointed left shoulder still mark his body dangling. Those who look into his dark eyes can see that Maledict faced unimaginable horror and that he is no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear him, people tend to extend him every courtesy and do their utmost to help him as he wander the world as a result of having been magically resurrected while something went wrong, not knowing who he really was, nor what he will become and having to find who he is today.
I've been playing with the idea of a Reborn that is an amalgamation of many souls in a single body. Perhaps the BBEG was directly responsible for the massacre of a city or town. Resulting in the vengeful souls of the towns people accumulating within a single surviver. I'm thinking an Echo Knight/Ancestral Guardian could be flavored nicely as the many souls working together.
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Whether a Grim Reaper, Executor of the Gods(or a specific god), an Assasin touched by Death, someone like the kid in 6th sense, or whatever else appeals to you — what combination of Class, Race, and Background makes the most sense for your idea of a Death themed Character in Dungeons and Dragons?
If you have a full idea of a character, feel free to explain their backstory and how they got where they are.
Is your character an adventurer kidnapped by a cult and sent into the shadowfell, it’s fell magics exercising some influence ove your character’s being somehow?
Is your character the horseman of death of legend who ushers in the Apocalypse, but who turns out not to be a humanoid on a horse but a centaur disciple of a death god who inadvertently sets a series of events into being that cause the end of the world?
Is your character an old Shadar-Kai who runs a monestary teaching the arts of the Shadar-Kai of the Shadowfell to a group of young apprentices on the Material Plane?
Is your character an apprentice of the above?
Who is your character?
Well, I don’t think my choices were perfect at all, but partly because I think D&D really sucks at some options. The Necromancer and Death Cleric were both plain awful in terms of power and what they could do. I chose the Aasimar, as I feel they’re very aloof but morally neutral, unlike the Tiefling who I (personally) have always viewed as either a villain or an anti-hero. I really hate the lineages and shadar kai (not going into detail as rants never go anywhere). Or I hate the shadar kai as they currently are. The Assassin for class, though I’d really have preferred to choose Necromancer / Death Cleric. Unfortunately 5e has made them worthless except as an underpowered NPC (imo). For the background … I don’t think any one particularly applies. I suppose I’d choose Gravekeeper if that was an option and I could figure out how to make it more interesting to a group of people.
You want a death-themed character? Alright then, let me know what you think:
My usual problem with Hexblade is the theming is just kind of nebulously goth without a real specific niche like the other Warlock patrons, but for this concept that's actually perfect. You can summon ghosts, you're gothy, and you can make your weapon a scythe with some mild flavoring (probably start with a glaive or something) and boom; you're death!
He never gives his name - if he even has one - but he's known in certain circles as The Guide. He's a (raven) kenku, dressed in black wrappings - not entirely unlike a mummy. He carries no weapons, only a stout staff (a quarterstaff, that is - so more like one weapon).
He knows various sign languages, but rarely speaks. He does, however, know the death rite in all languages.
They say where he lies down to rest, plants will wither and die. They say he can walk into shadow and disappear. They say any enemies he slays will have a strange smile on his face.
Once, it is told, The Guide was having ramen at a noodle shop, and a great daimyo made fun of his appearance. The Guide made no move to answer, but one of the daimyo's men told him who he had just insulted. The daimyo rushed home, locked up his mighty castle, and posted guards at all doors and windows. Yet still, the next morning his concubines who had slept beside him found him dead - and with a strange little smile on his face.
The desperate and destitute may ask The Guide for help, and he will never ask for gold or fortune - but it is said the price for his help is a year of your life.
All - or none - of these rumors may prove to be true. But this much is certain: The hoarse *caw* may well be the last sound you ever hear - and you may find that escape from it's terror is enough to make you smile, even when the only way out is death.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I dunno ... it's kinda meh, but there it is.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Astral elves are immortal (as long as they stay on the Astral plane), so I feel they fit theme of death the best since they do not have to worry about dying from old age, and they have literal ages and eons to ponder about life and death. Shadar-Kai is fine too for the aesthetics, but I prefer not worrying about death a bit more (although I guess any species would not have to worry about dying from old age if they stay on the Astral plane).
Assuming you reach level 20 and continue playing after that, I would say necromancer is the best since you can create the best mook army more efficiently than anyone else (Magen via Create Magen; you can still make an army of zombies via Finger of Death for cannon fodder) since your max HP cannot be reduced. And with epic boon of spell recall and using Wish-Simulacrum, you can create an army of yourself that can further speed up amassing an army. Additionally, with an army of yourself, you will practically be able to dominate and control any undead.
As for background, I recommend just creating your own and pick whatever proficiencies and background features appeal to you the most. I personally lean towards having the trio of perception, insight, and investigation if you are a wizard since you read and gather information a lot, and then if you got all that, I would go for arcana and stealth next. For tools, I lean towards space and/or water vehicles if you are an Astral elf, and the other tool can be anything. For background feature, my two favorites are I'll Patch It! (shipwright) and Adept Linguist (anthropologist). If you install a spelljammer helm onto a water vehicle, you can use I'll Patch It! to make some temporary fixes on your vehicle. Adept Linguist basically lets you talk to anyone, albeit in a very limited way, but it should be enough for you to get through day to day activities without difficulty.
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Maledict, is an Haunted One Reborn Death Cleric of The Dead Three, a collective of three, death-themed deities: Bane, the Lord of Darkness, Bhaal, the Lord of Murder and Myrkul the Lord of Bones. The Zhent was born and died under a dark star in Zhentil Keep prior to the Time of Trouble in 1372 DR. It was later animated as a zombie by a necromancer named Marune The Masked to be his servant for years until one day for inexplicable reasons, his consciousness returned and was killed and neatly preserved by a Gentle Repose spell that became permanent due to a Wild Magic zone effect. After a failed attempt to raise Maledict from the dead, he was enterred to be studied later.
Decades pasts and events changed the world but always he felt the dark star watching over him coldly and distantly. Until one day when it beckoned him in the dead of night to return amongs the living. After clawing free from his grave, the Reborn realized he had no memories except for a single name, Maledict.
Soon he started recalling faded memories of a physically painful moment of being crushed to death by Evard's Black Tentacule while a disjointed left shoulder still mark his body dangling. Those who look into his dark eyes can see that Maledict faced unimaginable horror and that he is no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear him, people tend to extend him every courtesy and do their utmost to help him as he wander the world as a result of having been magically resurrected while something went wrong, not knowing who he really was, nor what he will become and having to find who he is today.
I've been playing with the idea of a Reborn that is an amalgamation of many souls in a single body. Perhaps the BBEG was directly responsible for the massacre of a city or town. Resulting in the vengeful souls of the towns people accumulating within a single surviver. I'm thinking an Echo Knight/Ancestral Guardian could be flavored nicely as the many souls working together.