Appearance

A gnarled wooden haft twisted with black iron, its spiked head like a knot of roots and thorns hardened into stone. When it strikes, thick black-green sap oozes from the wounds, sticky and stinking of rot. The sap hisses faintly, as though alive.

---

Stages of Power Progression

---

Tier I: Rooted Fang (Unlocked at campaign start)

• Weapon: Morningstar +1 (1d8 piercing).

• Ability – Sapping Blow: On a hit roll of 15 or higher, the wound seeps black sap. The target has disadvantage on their next attack roll.

• Passive – Barkskin Grip: Once per short rest, the wielder can gain +1 AC for 1 minute as their hand hardens into bark.

• Drawback: The wielder’s palm stains with resin, marking them as cursed.

---

Tier II: Sapfang (Unlocked after the warlock slays a creature tied to nature — druid, beast, or treant)

• Weapon: Morningstar +2.

• Sapping Blow Upgraded: On a hit roll of 15+, target takes an additional 1d4 poison damage from the sap, along with disadvantage on its next attack.

• Ability – Binding Resin (1/short rest): On hit, target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength save or be restrained until the end of its next turn.

• Drawback: The wielder’s veins blacken slightly near their wrists, as if sap flows inside them.

---

Tier III: Thorned Maw (Unlocked after the wielder willingly sheds blood onto its roots during a pact rite)

• Weapon: Morningstar +3.

• Sapping Blow Upgraded: On a hit roll of 15+, target takes 1d6 poison damage and has disadvantage on its next attack roll.

• Ability – Sapburst (1/long rest): As an action, the wielder slams the weapon into the ground. A 15 ft. radius erupts with sticky black sap. Enemies in the area must make a DC 15 Strength save or be restrained until the end of their next turn.

• Passive – Rot’s Blessing: Resistance to poison damage.

• Drawback: The wielder’s breath sometimes smells of sap and rot. NPCs notice and recoil.

---

Tier IV: The Witherbranch (Final Form — awakened under the Weeping Moon or by slaying a corrupted treant/ancient forest spirit)

• Weapon: Morningstar +3, magical.

• Sapping Blow Mastery: On a hit roll of 15+, target takes 2d6 poison damage and has disadvantage on all attack rolls until the end of its next turn.

• Ability – Thornheart (1/long rest): Strike the ground. Black roots burst outward in a 20 ft. radius. All chosen creatures must succeed on a DC 16 Strength save or take 3d6 bludgeoning + 3d6 poison damage and be restrained for 1 minute (save ends at end of turn).

• Passive – Hunger of the Roots: When the wielder kills a creature with this weapon, they regain HP equal to half the poison damage dealt.

• Drawback – Forest’s Claim: Each dawn, the wielder must touch soil or wood. If they do not, their veins split and they take 2d6 necrotic damage.

Proficiency with a Morningstar allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

Notes: Bonus: Magic, Damage, Combat, Sap