The Boatman

Athreos is a patron who has one task and takes solace in completing that task. As one of his chosen, you are to help ferry the dead from the world of the living to the dead. You are not a judge or executioner, just a boatman.

Expanded Spell List

The Boatman lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you: Calm Emotions, Command, Death Ward, Sanctuary, Seeming, Silence, Spirit Guardians, Speak with Dead, Summon Shadow Spirit, Wall of Force

Ferry the Dead

Starting at 1st level, you learn the Guidance and Light cantrips, which count as warlock cantrips for you. You also have advantage on saving throws against any disease.

Additionally, undead have difficulty harming you. If an undead targets you directly with an attack or a harmful spell, that creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC (an undead needn’t make the save when it includes you in an area effect, such as the explosion of fireball). On a failed save, the creature must choose a new target or forfeit targeting someone instead of you, potentially wasting the attack or spell. On a successful save, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours. An undead is also immune to this effect for 24 hours if you target it with an attack or a harmful spell.

Embrace Death

Starting at 6th level, you can help others embrace death by embracing death yourself. You may sacrifice half of your current hit points, rounded up (minimum of 1 hit point), to deal that much necrotic damage to a creature you can see within 60 feet. Alternatively, you could cause a creature you can see within 60 to automatically fail a death saving throw.

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

Nature of Death

Beginning at 10th level, you can hold your breath indefinitely, and you don’t require food, water, or sleep, although you still require rest to reduce exhaustion and still benefit from finishing short and long rests.

In addition, you age at a slower rate. For every 10 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year, and you are immune to being magically aged.

Life and Death

When you reach 14th level, you partake of some of the true secrets of the Life and Death. On your turn, you can use a bonus action to become ethereal (as the etherealness spell). This lasts one minute or until dispelled.

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