Dreadful Ambition. As a bonus action, the apprentice necromancer can expend a spell slot to cause its melee weapon attacks to magically deal an extra 7 (2d6) necrotic damage to a target on a hit. This benefit lasts until the end of the turn. If the priest expends a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the extra damage increases by 1d6 for each level above 1st.
Spellcasting. The apprentice necromancer is a 5th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). The apprentice necromancer has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, toll the dead, mage hand
1st level (4 slots): false life, ray of sickness, mage armor
2nd level (3 slots): web, ray of enfeeblement
3rd level (2 slots): animate dead, vampiric touch
Sickle. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4) slashing damage.
Description
In service to a necromancer wizard, the apprentice is often tasked with lesser chores like procuring corpses from graveyards and maintaining the lair's cover and defenses. If found while their master is away, the apprentice necromancer will call upon the skills they've learned to drive intruders away.
When confronted, the apprentice necromancer will try to stop opponents in their tracks by casting web and successively targeting them with ray of sickness, chill touch, or toll the dead. The apprentice will usually have at least one skeleton nearby to assist, and will fight to the death if cornered.
Some necromancers, like Losser Mirklav in Waterdeep, will employ two apprentices at a time.
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