The Darkwood Choir

The Darkwood Choir is not a single patron, but a gathering of Ancients, whose influence has shaped events in the past with previous followers. Amongst these spirits of chaos, tricksters and judges, storytellers and harbingers of endings, all seek influence over you. These are the last remaining spirits of their former selves that have all abandoned their forgotten realms, temples, forests and heavens. 

The Warlocks and Witches of your coven bond with a single Patron.

You were chosen by eight.

Whether through fate, bloodline, prophecy, or some flaw in the weave of magic itself, your soul has become the meeting place of the Darkwood Choir. Each member vies for influence, lending you fragments of their immense power while shaping your appearance, thoughts, and personality whenever they take hold.

The Choir’s members are:

* Neamhain, the Maiden of Becoming

* Yarnspinner, the Mother of Stories

* Morrighan, the Crone of Endings

* The Smiling Man, Lord of Temptation

* The Nameless Monster, Endless Hunger Incarnate

* Shezmu, the Leonin Judge

* St. Vodnik, the Grung Patron of Lost Causes

* Huxian, the Fox God of Change

A Disciple of the Darkwood Choir are never really alone, but are instead the host to an endless conversation and shouting match of conflict between the Patrons, all trying to gain influence and waiting for the opportunity to guide the next spell. While some offer help, others are tied to deceit. Some demand justice, while whispers of want and desire offer a decadent trimming to their dressing. While each is their own spirit and entity, they are all singularly bound to you.

As your bond with the Choir deepens, you gain knowledge of these manifestations and learn that they are far more than just borrowed power. You will earn trusts and forge relationships that grant you Blessings while giving you greater control over their gifts. There will be a day when the Choir ceases to see you as merely their vessel, but instead their Chosen, a leader capable of uniting their eight voices into a single chorus. 

To wield the Darkwood Choir is to stand at the crossroads of myth and identity, forever asking the same question: When eight souls share one body… which one is truly you?

Level 3: Choir Manifestation

Beginning at 3rd level, the voices of the Darkwood Choir awaken whenever you draw deeply upon your pact magic.

Whenever you cast a Warlock spell of 1st level or higher, you can invoke the Darkwood Choir as part of the casting. Roll a d8 on the Choir Manifestation table. The result determines which patron becomes your Active Manifestation.

Your Active Manifestation lasts for 1 minute or until you invoke the Darkwood Choir again.

You can invoke the Darkwood Choir a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

While a manifestation is active, your appearance, demeanor, and magical presence shift to reflect the patron currently at the forefront of the Choir. These changes are primarily narrative until you gain additional features from this subclass.

Beginning at 6th level, whenever your chosen First Confidant becomes your Active Manifestation, you gain the benefits granted by your First Confidant feature.

If you invoke the Darkwood Choir while another manifestation is already active, the previous manifestation immediately ends and the new manifestation begins.

### Choir Manifestation Table

| d8 | Patron |
|:--:|--------|
| 1 | **Neamhain**, the Maiden of Becoming |
| 2 | **Yarnspinner**, the Mother of Stories |
| 3 | **Morrighan**, the Crone of Endings |
| 4 | **The Smiling Man**, the Gentleman Behind the Smile |
| 5 | **The Nameless Monster**, the Endless Hunger |
| 6 | **Shezmu**, the Lion of Judgment |
| 7 | **St. Vodnik**, the Patron of Lost Causes |
| 8 | **Huxian**, the Fox God of Change |

Level 6: First Confidant

Beginning at 6th level, choose one member of the Darkwood Choir to become your First Confidant.

Your First Confidant is the patron with whom you have forged the deepest bond. Whenever your chosen patron becomes your active Choir Manifestation, you gain its Passive Boon and Empowered Manifestation as described in that patron's feature.

At 10th level, your Second Voice feature deepens this bond, allowing you to permanently retain your First Confidant's Passive Boon and replacing its Empowered Manifestation with its Ascendant Manifestation whenever it manifests.

You can choose only one First Confidant unless another feature of this subclass allows you to do otherwise.

Huxian

Passive Boon

You learn the Silent Image spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Stealth skill. If you already have proficiency, you instead gain Expertise.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While Huxian is your active Choir Manifestation, illusion and instinct become one.

Once per short or long rest, when a creature you can see targets you with an attack, you may use your reaction to invoke Fox’s Gambit.

Choose one:

• The triggering attack is made with disadvantage.
• You immediately move up to 15 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, Huxian no longer waits for fate to choose him.

Trickster’s Prerogative.

Once per long rest, immediately after rolling on your Choir Manifestation Table, you may ignore the result and choose Huxian as your active manifestation instead.

You must decide before applying the rolled manifestation.

 

Morrighan

Passive Boon

You learn the False Life spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain resistance to necrotic damage.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While Morrighan is your active Choir Manifestation, your magic carries the certainty of fate.

Once on each of your turns, when you deal damage with a Warlock spell, you can add your Charisma modifier to one damage roll of that spell.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, while Morrighan is your active Choir Manifestation, fate itself shields you from an untimely death.

When this manifestation begins, if you haven’t used this feature since your last long rest, when damage would reduce you to 0 hit points, you instead drop to 1 hit point.

After using this feature, Morrighan immediately relinquishes control. Roll on your Choir Manifestation Table to determine which patron manifests next.

 

Neamhain

 

Passive Boon

You learn the Druidcraft cantrip. It counts as a Warlock cantrip for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock cantrips you know.

Your walking speed increases by 10 feet.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While Neamhain is your active Choir Manifestation, you can cast Misty Step without expending a spell slot.

Once you cast it in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, while Neamhain is your active Choir Manifestation, your connection to the Maiden allows you to move with effortless grace.

You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.

This flying speed lasts until Neamhain is no longer your active Choir Manifestation.

 

Shezmu

Passive Boon

You learn the Command spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Insight skill. If you already have Proficiency in this skill, you instead gain Expertise.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While Shezmu is your Active Choir Manifestation, your words carry supernatural authority.

Once on each of your turns, when a creature fails a saving throw against one of your Warlock spells, you may pronounce judgment upon it.

Until the start of your next turn:

• The creature cannot take Reactions.
• The creature’s speed is reduced by 10 feet.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, your judgment becomes absolute.

When you pronounce judgment, choose one of the following additional sentences:

• The creature has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes against one of your Warlock spells before the end of your next turn.
• The creature cannot benefit from invisibility until the start of your next turn.
• The creature cannot regain hit points until the start of your next turn.

 

St. Vodnik

Passive Boon

You learn the Cure Wounds spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Medicine skill. If you already have Proficiency in this skill, you instead gain Expertise, allowing you to double your proficiency bonus on Medicine checks.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While St. Vodnik is your Active Choir Manifestation, your compassion manifests as miraculous protection.

When a creature you can see within 30 feet would be reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to invoke St. Vodnik’s blessing.

That creature instead drops to 1 hit point, and immediately gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

 Ascendant Manifestation (10th) Level

Beginning at 10th level, while St. Vodnik is your active Choir Manifestation, his miracles become symbols of enduring hope.

Whenever you use St. Vodnik's Blessing, the chosen creature also ends one of the following conditions affecting it:

• Blinded
• Charmed
• Deafened
• Frightened
• Poisoned

In addition, until the end of that creature's next turn, it has resistance to all damage.

The Nameless Monster

 Passive Boon

You learn the Ray of Sickness spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you already have Proficiency, you instead gain Expertise.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While the Nameless Monster is your Active Choir Manifestation, your magic feeds upon the weakness of others.

Once on each of your turns, when a creature within 30 feet of you is reduced to 0 hit points, you may use your reaction to consume part of its fading essence.

Choose one of the following benefits:

• Gain temporary hit points equal to your Warlock level + your Charisma modifier.
• The next Warlock spell you cast before the end of your next turn deals additional necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, the Monster’s appetite becomes impossible to satisfy.

Whenever you use Consume Essence, you gain both benefits instead of choosing one.

In addition, Consume Essence can now affect a creature within 60 feet of you.

 

The Smiling Man

Passive Boon

You learn the Charm Person spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Deception skill. If you already have Proficiency, you instead gain Expertise.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While the Smiling Man is your Active Choir Manifestation, creatures that fail a saving throw against one of your Warlock spells become deeply unsettled by your presence.

Once on each of your turns, when a creature fails a saving throw against one of your Warlock spells, choose one:

• The creature cannot take Reactions until the start of its next turn.
• The creature subtracts 1d4 from the next saving throw it makes before the end of your next turn.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, your smile becomes impossible to ignore.

Whenever you activate your Empowered Manifestation, you may also choose one of the following:

• The creature is Frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
• The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you until the end of your next turn.

A creature immune to being frightened ignores the first option.

 

Yarnspinner

Passive Boon

You learn the Guidance cantrip. It counts as a Warlock cantrip for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock cantrips you know.

You gain Proficiency in the Performance skill. If you already have Proficiency in this skill, you instead gain Expertise, allowing you to double your Proficiency Bonus for any ability check you make using that skill.

 

Empowered Manifestation

While Yarnspinner is your active Choir Manifestation, your words strengthen those around you.

When a creature you can see within 30 feet hits on an attack roll or saving throw, you can use your reaction to inspire them.

That creature gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until the start of your next turn.

 

Ascendant Manifestation (10th Level)

Beginning at 10th level, while Yarnspinner is your Active Choir Manifestation, your stories inspire many instead of one.

Whenever you use your Empowered Manifestation, choose a second creature within 30 feet of you.

That creature also gains temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus.

 

Level 10: Second Voice

By 10th level, your First Confidant no longer leaves you completely.

You permanently retain your First Confidant's Passive Boon, even while another patron is manifested.

Whenever your First Confidant becomes your active Choir Manifestation, replace its Empowered Manifestation with its Ascendant Manifestation.

The remaining patrons continue to grant only their Passive Boons when manifested.

Level 14: Grand Chorus

At 14th level, you have mastered the discord within your soul. The Darkwood Choir no longer struggles for control. Instead, you conduct its voices as one.

Whenever you roll on your Choir Manifestation Table, roll two d8s instead of one. Choose either result to determine your active manifestation.

If one of the results is your First Confidant, you may choose that patron's Ascendant Manifestation.

Additionally, once per long rest, you can invoke the Grand Chorus as a bonus action.

For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:

• You gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.

• You have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration on Warlock spells.

• Whenever you cast a Warlock spell, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1).

• Your active Choir Manifestation cannot be changed against your will.

When the Grand Chorus ends, immediately roll on your Choir Manifestation Table and accept the result.