Jester, Varient

For as long as time can remember, every king has had one, or several, Court Fools to aid him in entertainment. Not only were they used as pieces of performance, but also as a hidden ally to the King. At birth, they're trained in items such as instruments and knives, actions such as dancing and striking, and perseverance like no other. Despite their harsh treatment, name calling, sullying, and straight abuse, they are very proficient and very lethal assassins. Jesters (Court Fools), tend to purposefully do silly and rather dumb things to try and attract the idea of them being a defenseless, useless, and harmless patron. They are trained to speak in lies and charm the crowd with their speech pattern. A proper Jester can talk his way out of many things, and into many things. They have the ability to lie on the fly and do anything it takes to hide the truth without falter in their words.

This Jester variant is for a more balanced experience, where the Jester fills in the role of a tank / utility party member rather than damage dealer.

Sharp Tongue

Beginning at level 3, you've trained your manner of speech since you were a child. You can only choose one and you cannot change it afterwards.

Voluntary liar

Since a child, you were taught to lie. You were taught to keep a straight face and a sincere voice, even in the face of a lie. You gain proficiency to Deception checks.

Charm of the Tongue

Since birth, you've been born with an unexplained talent to persuade people to do your bidding, or to make them vote in favor of you. You gain proficiency to Persuasion checks.

Masked Predator

As a child, you were gifted a mask that you would wear for all your life. No one has seen under it, and you're not even sure of what you look like. Since this is such a largely known fact for Court Fools, many fear the unknown. You gain proficiency to Intimidation speech checks.

Charm Of The Tongue

Since birth, you've been born with an unexplained talent to persuade people to do your bidding, or to make them vote in favor of you. You gain proficiency to Persuasion checks.

 

Masked Predator

As a child, you were gifted a mask that you would wear for all your life. No one has seen under it, and you're not even sure of what you look like. Since this is such a largely known fact for Court Fools, many fear the unknown. You gain proficiency to Intimidation speech checks.

 

Voluntary Liar

Since a child, you were taught to lie. You were taught to keep a straight face and a sincere voice, even in the face of a lie. You gain proficiency to Deception checks.

 

Twisted Whimsy

At the beginning of level 1, During a short rest, the player of the Jester can make a joke, do a dance, sing a song or recite a poem to elevate the spirits of the other players in game. Every creature that can hear or see you will be healed by 1d4 + proficiency modifier. Yes, you actually have to make the other players laugh in order to heal them.

 

Feather Footed

At the beginning of level 3, the Jester learns how to excel at landing and footwork. The Jester can use your reaction when you fall to reduce any falling damage you take by an amount equal to five times your Jester level.

 

Predator's Glare

At the beginning of level 4, the Jester can target a single enemy. The Jester focuses the their gaze upon a single enemy as an action. When this feature is used the Jester gains advantage on all attack rolls against the specified enemy and disadvantage against all other enemies. this feature ends when the enemy dies or the Jester uses his action to change his focus. This ability may be used a number of times equal to their Charisma modifier per long rest.

 

Dance for me, Fool!

At the beginning of level 5, the Jester jeers his enemy. As an action the Jester can make rude and remarkably insulting comments aloud to a specific target that can hear him and share a common language. The target must roll a Charisma saving throw against the Jester's spell save DC If they fail the roll, they become enraged and will only attack the Jester for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, and each time it takes damage from someone other then the Jester, the target may make another Charisma save. This feature can be used twice at 5th level, three times at 10th level, and four times at 15th level per short rest.

 

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

 

Death's Dealer

The Deck

[01] The Magician

The Jester's weapon counts as a magic weapon and adds +d4 damage of an element of the Jester's choosing for 10 minutes.

[02] The High Priestess

The Jester heals a creature with their next attack, instead of hurting them.

[03] The Empress

The Jester gets a +2 to all saving throws until the beginning of his next turn.

[04] The Emperor

The Jester gains the ability to cast the spell Command with their next action.

[05] The Hierophant

The Jester adds +3 on one Perception, Investigation or Insight check before the roll.

[06] The Lovers

The Jester can use this card as a reaction only when a creature is struck within 30 feet of the Jester by a hit that causes their hp to drop to 0 or lower, the Jester may swap hit points with their ally.

[07] The Chariot

The Jester compels a creature to perfectly mimic what he just did to the best of their capabilities. Unwilling targets have to roll a Charisma saving throw and beat the Jester's spell save DC to not.

[08] Strength

The Jester uses this card to critically hit one attack. In exchange, the unnaturally powerful attack renders both arms are unusable for 6 seconds afterwards.

[09] The Hermit

The Jester gains the ability to telepathically relay information to any creature for 5 minutes within 120ft.

[10] Justice

The Jester targets a creature who has to roll a Charisma saving throw against the Jester's spell save DC. On a fail, the target gets to add no modifiers to attack and damage rolls until the beginning of the Jester's next turn.

[11] The Thief

The Jester can use his action to turn invisible if they are in dim-light or darkness for the next 30 seconds.

[12] The Watcher

For the next 5 minutes you can see through magical and non-magical darkness.

[13] Death

The Jester can use his action to cast Hex on a creature.

[14] The Hanged Man

The Jester gains advantage the next grapple action.

[15] The Moon

When you consume this card all lights within 120ft are snuffed out, magic lights are snuffed out for 10min and non-magic lights are snuffed out forever.

[16] Temperance

The Jester takes no action for six seconds. The Jester gains one spell slot of the Jester's choosing at the beginning of his next turn.

[17] Wheel of Fortune

The Jester gains 5 AC until the beginning of his next turn.

[18] The Star

The Jester starts to shine like a bright light, blinding everyone within 10ft. of the Jester, but not himself, until the beginning of his next turn.

[19] The Sun

The Jester steals a condition affecting a creature and has it affect him instead.

[20] The Fool

The Jester either (a) gains advantage on saving throws associated with a single magical attack, in addition, if the Jester makes a saving throw that would allow them to take half damage they take none or
(b) The Jester can Parry a single melee attack. This ability allows the Jester to roll 1D20+ Dexterity modifier if the outcome is at least half of the attack roll of the enemy the Jester parrys the attack negating it.

Increased Critical Strike

At the beginning of level 9, the Jester's critical hit range increases from 20 to 19-20 with all weapons.

 

Shadow Dance

Beginning at level 10, as an action, the Jester can swap locations with a willing creature seamlessly. Unwilling creatures must make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is seamlessly swapped. On a successful save, the creature is alerted of this action and the Jester takes 3d6 psychic damage for the failed attempt. This feature may be used once per short rest.

 

Creeping Shadow

Once the Jester reaches level 14, the Jester gains the ability to control the shadow of others. If a humanoid within 60 ft. of the Jester casts a shadow that the Jester can see the Jester can attempt to take control of their shadow. The target must make Wisdom saving throw against the Jester's spell save DC, if the target fails then the Jester is able to take control over the enemy as if they were his puppet. This effect lasts for 30 seconds or until the Jester cancels this effect. While this is active, the Jester cannot move from his spot and cannot defend himself. The creature can roll a Wisdom saving throw at the start of their turn to break free early. This ability can be used once per long rest.

 

Laughing Jack

Once the Jester hits level 15, their range of influence increases. The Jester gets a jack in the box, when they start to crank it, it begins to laugh hysterically and uncontrollably during combat. This uses an entire round action. Each hostile creature within a 60 ft. radius of the Jack in the box must make a Wisdom saving throw against the Jester's spell save DC. Enemies who fail the save are now frightened by the Jester. At the beginning of their next turn the Jester's box pops, anyone who is frightened by the Jester and can see the jack in a box takes 8d8 psychic damage.

 

Lunacy In Death

At the beginning of level 17, The Jester learns a spell that can undo death, for a cost. The spell is cast as a ritual for 10 minutes, and once successfully cast will last 24 hours. This spell prevents the Jester from receiving any type of healing, nor will any spell that involves bringing him back to dead have any effect on the Jester until the duration is over. This spell protects the Jester from one death, killing blow or otherwise, as afterwards the Jester springs back to life after 1d6 hours with half their max hp. However, this trip to the other side leaves lasting effects on the Jester. The Jester shows the following signs of lunacy:

• The Jester's life force fundamentally changes, and now counts as an undead instead of what he previously was. He now takes damage from healing spells and heals from Necrotic damage.
• The Jester's sleep cycle reverses to what it used to be. Dead flesh is unaffected by disease and obtains no sustenance of rations. Only blood will do.
• The Jester's appearance is a permanently changed, looking like a dead man walking. The loss of innocence is noticable in that the Jester permanently gains disadvantage on Persuation checks and advantage on Intimidation checks.
• The Jester's outlook on life changes, switching to a Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Evil alignment.
• The Jester is no longer able to cast this spell.

Unveil the Once Hidden

At the beginning of level 19, the Jester may remove his mask once every day to cast to cast 60ft of truesight. In exchange, the Jester rolls all deception checks with disadvantage in the duration while casting. Does not count as spells known nor uses a spellslot, the mask at level 19 is transformed into a magical item with this ability.

 

Perfect Dealer

At the beginning of level 20, The Jester can now consume as many tarot cards as he wishes at the same time in one bonus action.