Base Class: Warlock
The Hades Patron forges a chilling bond between a Warlock and the very essence of Hades, the Underking. These warlocks become dread commanders of the dead, wielding enchanted playing cards as vessels for captured souls. Through dark rituals, they imprint the essences of fallen creatures onto these cards, transforming them into loyal undead servants. With a mere gesture, they unleash these spectral forces, commanding legions of shadows to overwhelm their adversaries. More than simple summoners, they can tap into the very core of their captured undead, briefly embodying their powers and strengths. These warlocks carry an aura of deathly authority, their presence a constant reminder of Hades' dominion over the realm of mortals, and the shadowy armies they command. They are not merely necromancers, but sovereigns of shadow, their power drawn directly from the Underworld's lord.
The path of the Hades Patron is one of somber power and chilling command. They walk a line between the living and the dead, their cards a grim testament to the souls they have claimed. The whispers of the Underworld guide their actions, and the shadows themselves bend to their will. They are feared and respected in equal measure, for they hold the power to raise armies from the dust and embody the very essence of death. Their pact with Hades grants them not just power, but a profound understanding of the cycle of life and death, and the chilling truth that all souls eventually fall under the Underking’s gaze.
Elara stood amidst the ruins of the once-proud city, the acrid scent of smoke and death thick in the air. The bandit lord, Kael, had thought himself invincible, his brutish warband terrorizing the countryside. But Kael had underestimated Elara, the woman with eyes like polished obsidian and a deck of cards that whispered secrets of the dead. She had watched as Kael’s men fell, one by one, their life essence draining away, imprinting onto the cards she held.
Kael, his face a mask of terror, charged, his greatsword raised. Elara calmly drew a card, the image of a hulking minotaur etched upon its face. She pressed the card to her brow and for a moment, the air shimmered, and her form seemed to swell. The minotaur's strength surged through her, and she met Kael’s blow with a guttural roar, her hands now gnarled and powerful. Kael’s sword shattered against her transformed hands. With a flick of her wrist, Elara threw the cards into the ground. From the shattered earth, the ghostly forms of a dozen dire wolves and a towering ogre rose, their spectral eyes glowing with an unholy light. Kael's screams echoed through the ruined city, a testament to the power of the Hades Patron, and the chilling efficiency of Elara's infernal legion.
Level 3: Call of Hades
At 1st level, you gain the ability to animate powerful undead creatures and store them within enchanted playing cards.
When a creature dies within 30 feet, as a bonus action, make an Arcana check (DC 8 + creature's CR - your Warlock level) to capture its essence. Success imprints it onto a card, granting it Undead Fortitude. Card storage is Charisma modifier + Warlock level. 15 zombies can be instantly stored per card.
Level 3: Hades Legion
At 3rd level, you can summon the undead stored within your cards.
As an action, you can throw a card onto the ground within 30 feet to summon its contained essence. If the card holds a creature with a CR equal to or greater than half your Warlock level, you summon that creature, and can summon a number of these powerful undead equal to your Charisma modifier. If the card holds a creature with a CR lower than half your Warlock level, that creature is summoned instead. Should the card contain 15 zombies, all 15 are summoned simultaneously. The summoned creatures are under your control for 1 hour or until they are reduced to 0 hit points. This can be used as many times as your Charisma modifier and resets when you complete a long rest.
Level 3: Hades Spells
The magic of your patron ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Warlock level specified in the Hades Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
| Warlock Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Inflict Wounds, Ray of Sickness, Blindness/Deafness, Darkness |
| 5 | Animate Dead, Bestow Curse |
| 7 | Dimension Door, Blight |
| 9 | Hallow, Contagion |
Level 6: Hades’s Dominion
At 6th level, you can draw upon the essence of the creatures in your cards.
- Using a bonus action, by holding a card, you can channel the essence within, granting yourself one of three boons: the creature's resistances and immunities, its actions and traits, or its ability scores. You can use this effect a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier per short or long rest, but only once per individual card.
- Furthermore, the Arcana check DC required to capture undead is improved, specifically reduced by your Charisma modifier.
Level 10: Command of Hades
At 10th level, you gain masterful control over your undead.
As a bonus action, you can issue a single, complex command to all summoned undead within 60 feet, directing them through a series of actions or a strategic maneuver, which they will execute to the best of their ability. Moreover, the duration of your Hades Legion summoned creatures is significantly extended to 8 hours, allowing for prolonged command over your undead forces.
Level 14: Eternal Servitude
At 14th level, you enhance the persistence of your undead and the potency of your dominion.
When a creature summoned by your Hades Legion is reduced to 0 hit points, its essence returns to the card from which it was summoned, allowing for its future reanimation. Additionally, the duration of your Hades Dominion effect, where you embody the essence of a captured creature, is increased to 10 minutes, allowing for prolonged use of their abilities.
Comments