Warlocks are mages who are not afraid to look for the secrets of power outside the norms of established society. The Academy of Mystics may provide paths to magical prowess — but they also slap shackles on freedoms of choice and personal sacrifice, all because of so-called philosophical considerations of aftershadow and ethical spellcraft. Warlocks know that there are other avenues, even if they come at a price.
For their part, Academy wizards and Cahedrists generally assume warlocks are relics of the past, misguided — bordering on dangerous — individuals hoping to once more bring about a resurgence of Velthorian culture, or at the very least invite in the very creatures that legend holds destroyed one or more of the great empires of the past. Most warlocks in Narenfel draw their power and support from one of these patrons.
The Hungry Gods (Velthorian Gods)
The Hungry Gods are beings of ancient power that exist outside or apart from the Narenfelian Pantheon. They are referred to as the Velthorian Gods by Maugtheni Cahedrists, since they are believed to have first been worshipped (and summoned) during that Kingdom’s rise to power millenia ago, and by subsequent civilizations since. In fact, Ennu myths and legends that have been passed down in Thellan folklore blame the destruction of that Empire on the demons of Velthor, which sages believe is a reference to the Hungry Gods.
Since that time, the Hungry Gods — or “the Nine” as they are often referred to — have become synonymous with weal and destruction. Their individual names are rarely spoken, so as not to attract their undo attention to this mortal realm. The term “Hungry Gods” is a reference to beings perpetual desire to grow in strength and power within the mortal realms, because it is believed that as the numnber of followers increases, the wards that protect this realm from their manifestation here weaken.
The following excerpt is from Ptologrommet’s seminal work “Beings Of Power”, originally published by the The Citadel of Ineffable Truth.
“…It is useful to outline the Nine in terms of their Name (which many dare not speak), their Aspects (which attracts followers like bees to dark honey), and the Lore which surrounds them (which I have tried my best to separate from the dogma of their cultists). I list them here in alphabetical order, not in terms of power, for that I believe fluctuates and has fluctuated greatly depending on the zeal of their cults.
Blegeer’nar
Aspects: Artifice and invention, magic and ancient knowledge
Blegeer’nar manifests as an ancient dracolich. Meticulous and systematic, Blegeer’nar is a relentless artificer, fusing ancient knowledge into crafting intricate and expansive infernal devices of metal, magic and bone to further his agendas. Though he remains draconic in overall form and size, most of his remains have been replaced and encased in manufactured and articulated elements of bones and whirring pieces of metal, giving him the appearance of an undead machine. Ever the planner, Blegeer’nar knows that his power increases the more mortals say his name; as a result, he has created devices that affect mortal minds, causing them to continuously repeat his name.
Evungrell, the Spreading Void
Aspects: An escape from pain, forgetfulness, sleep, eternal rest
Evungrell is a hideous mass of purple and black bulbous eyes surrounding a hooked, gray beak and a train of thousands of black, wisplke tendrils. Evungrell attracts warlocks and acolytes with painful memories or physical handicaps that they wish to escape, at any cost — which she is only too happy to accommodate. Lore speaks of her demense, where she tends to ever-growing rows of acolytes, each nestled in fetal position, like a some kind of human crop, caressing their skulls with her powers and freeing their minds of pain, suffering — and all conscious thought.
Knass-ko-Knoss
Aspects: Dominance, might, and mastery
Knass-ko-Knoss is a towering war elemental — a collection of spiked armor, hooked blades, souls and rage, fused together by countless millenia of battle. He is brutal and direct, attracting those who seek unbridled dominance and mastery of all. Weakness is never tolerated, and acolytes who succumb to it face harsh and unyielding punishments. Those who venerate Knass-ko-Knoss often seek for ways to embue their armor and weapons with their Patron’s spirit, carrying his power out into the world.
Onsu-sabeth
Aspects: Cunning, the Hunt, the joy of cruelty and pain
Onsu-sabeth is a tireless predator, ever-stalking in search of prey. Though she is perfectly capable of changing forms (and does if it suits her hunt), she generally prefers her natural form — a gargantuan dragon-wolf, with a canine body covered in both green-black scales and bristling black fur, and six legs than end in poisonous, black iron talons. Onsu-sabeth is cunning and cruel, preferring powerful opponents, to better relish their demise. She seems to attract warlocks who are themselves cunning, or who think and scheme to outwit her. To these, she gives power freely — and smiles as she savors the long game.
Rastagland the Changeling
Aspects: Transformation, disease, poison, masochism
Rastagland is a vaguely humanoid mass of oozing diseased pustules, slime-drenched lobes, and cocooning masses of writhing appendages. It is believed by Rastagland’s acolytes that each of these masses are foul admixtures of puss and the essence of souls that serve him, slowly transforming into their “higher form” through Rastagland’s excruciating presence. Metamorphosis focuses on continuous and agonizing pain – thus attracting a specific breed of follower.
Sabhat-in-Goh
Aspects: Music, passions, perfection
Sabhat-in-Goh is rarely depicted, and is instead imagine as “the conductor”, a dark, man-shaped vibration in the fabric of reality. His followers believe that they are instruments in a grand symphony of Sabhat-in-Goh’s making, and in fact, most claim that they are always aware of their master’s music in the recesses of their mind, unlocking the passions and manifesting the steps needed to bring the world to a state of perfection. Artisans, musicians and the obsessed seek out Sabhat-in-Goh as their muse.
Shadra Grek’sis
Aspects: Desire, greed, secrets, contracts
Shadra Grek’sis is quiet and unassuming, charismatic, perhaps even charming. To every potential acoltye or warlock he reveals himself to, he appears as a member of that species, male or female, but always with a quick smile and a mantle of soft-spoken trust. Through this facade and skillful manipulation, he learns of his target’s wants and needs, and offers them the help they desire — secrets, spells, powers, wealth. These of course come at a price — a price which involves the zest, essence and memories of the recipient, which Shadra Greksis covets and collects. Unlike many of the Hungry Gods, Shadra Grek’sis maintains a convivial relationship with those who serve him, though to be sure, it is only because honey attracts more flies, and more flies represents more power.
Urth-sess of the Deep Night
Aspects: Dreams, domination, malice, madness, chaos
Urth-sess of the Deep Night lurks in the deep, stagnant and lightless waters of her domain, wrapping her watery clutches into and around the souls of any who are unlucky enough to catch her attentions. In form, she is elemental and dark, roiling waters that swirl with hateful tendrils of malice, chaos and madness. Few warlocks or acolytes seek out Urth-sess — Urth-sess finds them in their dreams, and never lets go, goading them to advance its own ineffable, cruel agendas.
Sooloos Sanaa
Aspects: Reflections, the hidden, vanity, eternality
BLOOD MAGIC
Warlocks who have Velthorian gods as patrons use blood (usually their own) as a focus for their spells. For each spell that a warlock casts, they take self inflicted damage equal to the level of the spell cast. For example, a 2st level spell would cause 2 points of damage, a 1st level spell cast at 3rd level would cause 3 points of damage, and a cantrip would cause no damage. This damage must be paid for with actual hit points (not temporary hit points), nor can it be reduced or redirected. Though this magic takes a toll on the caster, it is exceptionally potent. Warlocks of the Hungry Gods gain +2 to their spell DC and their spell attack modifier. Additionally, they do not create or affect the magnitude of a node.
Hungry God warlocks draw from unique extended spell lists associated with the specific being they enter into a pact with, as well as receiving abilities at 6th, 10th and 14th levels.
EXPANDED SPELL LISTS FOR THE HUNGRY GODS
Blegeer’nar Expanded Spell List
1st charm person, hellish rebuke
2nd enthrall, hold person
3rd fear, glyph of warding
4th banishment, compulsion
5th antilife shell, geas
Knass-ko-Knoss Expanded Spell List
1st absorb elements, armor of agathys
2nd enlarge/reduce, silence
3rd hunger of hadar, blinding smite
4th dimension door, staggering smite
5th animate objects, enervation
Shadra Grek’sis
A scaled fiend with a fiery aura from then Nine Hells, Shadra Grek’sis is a known purveyor of secrets and spellcraft, as well as a skillful manipulator of fears, insecurities and weaknesses. Unlike most of the other Nine, Shadra Grek’sis maintains a more convivial relationship with those who serve him, though to be sure, it is only because honey attracts more flies, and more flies represents more power.
Shadra Grek’sis Expanded Spell List
1st burning hands, command
2nd heat metal, scorching ray
3rd fireball, elemental weapon
4th fire shield, wall of fire
5th flamestrike, immolation
Crhk-shi’krum
Like the sound of his name, Crhk-shi’krum is often simply called “The Storm of Hate”. Of the Nine, Crhk-shi’krum is the most alien, crackling with primordial chaos and lightning — and only basic intelligence. It is this primordial essence that attracts warlocks however, for those who can find a way to commune and interact with this being find themselves empowered with deeper energies. This is difficult — even for other residents of Carceri, where Crhk-shi’krum wanders endlessly.
Crzk-shi’krum Expanded Spell List
1st absorb elements, fog cloud
2nd dust devil, shatter
3rd lightning bolt, thunderstep
4th elemental bane, storm sphere
5th cloudkill, destructive wave
Evungrell, the Spreading Void
Floating silently across the Grey Waste, she is a hideous mass of purple and black bulbous eyes surrounding a hooked, gray beak and a train of thousands of black, wisplke tendrils. Evungrell tends to her ever-growing rows of acolytes, each nestled in fetal position, like a some kind of human crop, caressing their skulls with her powers and freeing their minds of pain, suffering — and all conscious thought. Though extreme, Evungrell often attracts warlocks with painful memories they wish to erase, at any cost.
Evungrell Expanded Spell List
1st cause fear, arms of hadar
2nd blindness/deafness, silence
3rd fly, vampiric touch
4th banishment, black tentacles
5th modify memory, synaptic static
Onsu-sabeth
Onsu-sabeth is a tireless predator, stalking the moonless night of the Abyss, ever in search of prey. Though she is perfectly capable of changing form (and does if it suits her hunt), she generally prefers her natural form — a gargantuan dragon-wolf, with a canine body covered in both green-black scales and bristling black fur, and six legs than end in poisonous, black iron talons. Onsu-sabeth is cunning and cruel, preferring powerful opponents, to better relish their demise. She seems to attract warlocks who are themselves cunning, or who think and scheme to outwit her. To these, she gives power freely — and smiles as she savors the long game.
Onsu-Sabeth Expanded Spell List
1st bane, hideous laughter
2nd dragon’s breath, ray of enfeeblement
3rd slow, speak with dead
4th blight, stoneskin
5th contagion, hold monster
Ur’th-sess of the Deep Night
In the stagnant and lightless recesses lower Pandemonium, the nightmarish Ur’th-sess of the Deep Night lurks, whispering frenzied threats unto itself and any who find themselves near. Madness, chaos and darkest terror ripple outward from its form — a malevolent water elemental, wrapped in the form of a nightmare aboleth. Few warlocks seek out Ur’th-sess — Ur’th-sess finds them in their dreams, and never lets go, goading them to advance its ineffable, cruel agendas.
Ur’th-sess Expanded Spell List
1st witch bolt, hideous laughter
2nd darkness, crown of madness
3rd bestow curse, dispel magic
4th banishment, phantasmal killer
5th maelstrom, dream
Yrgash’Sharl
Amid the mix of toxic ice and fiery snow of lower Gehenna, Yrgash’Sharl spends his days and nights scrying the prime material planes (and in particular, it seems, Narenfel), searching for secrets and things meant to stay hidden. Such things are not important of themselves, but Yrgash’sharl feeds on the knowledge of things that others do not know. The deeper, darker or more potentially damning the secret, the more sustenance he draws. Yrghash’sharl barely resembles anything sentient — he is a writhing mass of fleshy pink tubers and tentacles, interspersed with needle thin spikes. How he scries or gathers his information is a mystery, but he is drawn to those with secrets they wish hidden, and sometimes becomes patron for such — all the while feeding on them.
Yrgash’Sharl Expanded Spell List
1st comprehend languages, detect magic
2nd detect thoughts, see invisibility
3rd clairvoyance, nondetection
4th ice storm, locate creature
5th contact other plane, scrying
Rastagland, Pustule of Souls
Amidst the elemental chaos of Limbo, Rastagland is a maelstrom of oozing, popping pustules, each filled with a foul admixture of puss and essence of souls he has devoured or that serve him still. It is believed that he started life as a titan, but is now only vaguely recognizable as humanoid — absurdly obese, and layered in strata after strata of disease-filled carbuncles, each writhing under the agony of the soul trapped inside, waiting for a chance to break free and end their suffering. Only the most desperate of warlocks seek Rastagland as a patron; even among the Hungry Gods, Rastagland has a reputation as a devourer of his followers. Service to him is likely to be short.
Rastagland Expanded Spell List
1st ray of sickness, chaos bolt
2nd ray of enfeeblement, levitate
3rd blink, counterspell
4th blight, elemental bane
5th contagion, telekinesis
Soul Dampening
By channeling the vitality of your soul to your patron, you can dampen Common Magic spells that you cast. When you cast a1st or 2nd level spell, you can take an additional point of damage per level of the spell to dampen it, incurring no increase in magnitude for an existing node (or avoiding creating one if no node is present).
Disciple of Hunger
Starting at 10th level, you gain an ability based on the particular Hungry God patron you have chosen.
• Blegeer’nar: You are immune to charm effects, and any charm-based spells you cast have a +2 to your spell DC.
• Knass-ko-Knoss: You gain proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons.
• Shadra Grek’sis: You are immune to fire damage. Additionally, when rolling any fire damage, ignore all 1s and 2s, and make them 3s.
• Crhk-shi’krum: You are immune to lightning damage. Additionally, when rolling any lightning damage, ignore all 1s and 2s, and make them 3s.
• Evungrell: You do not dream, cannot be visited in a dream (per Mythdrigg ability) nor can you be affected by sleep-based spells. You gain proficiency on stealth checks. If you already have proficiency, you gain double proficiency on stealth checks.
• Onsu-Sabbeth: Your fingernails become iron sharp and poisonous. You may choose to attack with them, doing 1d10 slashing damage, plus an additional 1d6 poison damage. While attacking this way, on a natural 20, your target must make a constitution saving throw, or take 1 point of exhaustion.
• Ur’th-sess: Mind-altering enchantments and charms are ineffectual on you — you are already caught within the web of something far worse. When you are targeted with such a spell, you are instead healed a number of d8 equal to the level of the spell.
• Yrgash’Sharl: You cannot be surprised by non-planar creatures, nor can you be scryed upon by anyone other than Yrgash’Sharl. Additionally, if you attack while hidden, you gain an additional 2d6 damage to your attack against an unwitting target.
• Rastagland: You are immune to poison damage. Additionally, as an action, if you touch a creature, they must make a Constitution save (at your spell DC) or take 2d10 poison damage (half damage if they make their save).
Siphon Soul
Starting at 14th level, your relationship with your patron has intensified, allowing your patron to siphon away a portion of your soul in order to remove up to two points of exhaustion. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
OTHER PATRONS IN NARENFEL
The Archfey
Few warlocks in the nations of Narenfel are associated with Archfey patrons, in large part because there is little knowledge of Elflawvin and whatever powers they might serve, not to mention a long-standing societal tabboo against them. Warlocks who serve an Archfey patron are usually considered Shadari, regardless of whether or not that is in fact true.
The Fiend
There are a wide assortment of fiends from virtually every level of the lower planes, many of which are only too happy to enter into contracts with those who walk the mortal planes. As such, all the suggestions and opportunities outlined in the players handbook are open to warlocks of Narenfel.
Thilfel, Lord of Dissension: A denizen of the Nine Hells, Thilfel seems to have taken a particular interest in the lands of Narenfel over the course of the past several millenia, during which time he has made innumerable deals with unsuspecting (and suspecting) mortals for power, wealth and long-life. Invariably, these deals always come with a price that sows unrest, discord and distrust.
The Great Old One
Much has been lost since the Turning, and fragments and artifacts of early civilizations like Lazmaranth, Ennu and Wyntiri may hold keys to connections outside Cahedra-defined cosmology. Such connections are as rare as they are ineffable.
Oaz: Other than a few artifacts that have survived since the early dynasties of the Ennu empire, little is known about Oaz, save for that it is depicted as a scaled spider with batlike wings that strove against both Ashblack and Sheysun in the earliest days before the Dominions were created and the Wheel and Spindle was established.
Ghloomdred of Night: The strange shifting shadows that are the ibn-Or are both alien and feared. In part due to their repulsed invasion during the Shadow War, and in part because they are assumed to be linked with the deceptive magics of the Shadari and the Elfawvin. Ghloomdred of Night — also known as The Lightdrinker (both of which are titles, as it is unclear if ibn-Or have names in way we know them) — is a keeper of secrets for those willing to defy tabboos of interaction with the ibn-Or.
THE REN SPIRIT
Legends state that the Ren Spirit was once a paladin lord by the name of Ren, a man both generous and benevolent, until he and an adventuring party chanced upon a treasure of surpassing beauty and corrupting magic deep within the ruins of Everlock. An insidious lust gripped the paladin, and a spirit of unsurpassed malice rippled across his face, replacing every vestige of goodness with a utter malice and greed. Before they knew what was happening, he hacked down those who had ventured with him into the swamp and disappeared — presumably with the treasure.
In the time since, the legend of the Ren Spirit has made its way across the land, traveling from alehouse to alehouse, waystation to port, city to hamlet, generation to generation. Mothers invoke the Ren Spirit to frighten their children into submission, and adventures whisper of strange transformations of their comrades who suddenly and completely turn their back on friendship and humanity for some unholy desire.
Across the nations of Narenfel, there are numerous small shrines now erected to the Ren Spirit, each adorned a blacked talon clutching and orb, a talisman to ward off the greed, malice and mistrust that the Ren Spirit is rumored to engender. Within the shrines are offerings of money and personal effects — tokens left by passing travelers to appease the Ren Spirit, in the hopes that its eye and ire passes over them as they wander past.
Warlocks who choose the Ren Spirit for a patron share the Ren Spirit’s raw desire for malice and greed, or perhaps hope to avoid its clutches by becoming one with it. Like their patron, most warlocks of the Ren Spirit openly appear to be gentle, kind or giving, but are more deeply — perhaps even secretly — filled with darker, more insidious emotions.
Expanded Spell List
1st compelled duel, dissonant whispers
2nd invisibility, pass without trace
3rd incite greed, nondetection
4th compulsion, phantasmal killer
5th scrying, modify memory
Weal & Woe
Starting at 1st level, once per long rest, you may invoke the spirit of your patron, doling out woe to those nearby and channeling their misfortune into your personal advantage. As a bonus action, you cause all friendly targets within 50ft of your to have disadvantage on their next attack; you gain +2 for each such target to every roll you make until the start of your next round (attacks, saves, damage, etc.)
Spirit Step
Starting at 6th level, you may use a bonus action to silently teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see (as per the Misty Step spell). This requires no casting, nor spell slots. If you choose to teleport behind a creature, you may additionally make an attack with advantage, or attempt to steal something from their person, in which case you would make a sleight of hands check at advantage, contested by the target’s Wisdom (perception) check. You may do this a number of times per long rest equal to your proficiency modifier.
Poison Words
Starting at 10th level, you may channel your malice to sustain both you and your patron. You may use a reaction to make an semi-substantial verbal attack against an intelligent target within 30 ft. of you who can hear you, cloaking them momentarily in a shadowy, shifting aura. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. It takes 5d10 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. If it fails its save, it is charmed, takes only the actions you choose, and doesn’t do anything that you don’t allow it to do. During this time you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Visage of Malice
Starting at 14th level, you can shift your visage to reveal your connection to the Ren Spirit. Each creature of your choice that is aware of you and within 120 feet must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become Frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, it is immune to your Visage of Malice for the next 24 hours.