homebrewersscrapebook

[homebrewersscrapebook]

Warlock of Chance and Misfortune: Jynx

Art by RunMonsterRun

Jynx was once named Jennifer Wynfaire, a travelling performer and carnival charlatan who "predicted" people's futures. She often engineered situations to prove her unique gift for divination and future sight. In truth, Jennifer had been and was always a deeply and harshly jealous woman. She indulged in the desperation of carnival goers, as she predicted either sublime bliss or total ruination in the days or weeks to come. She was a master manipulator and a talented scribe with a gift for forgery, creating letters full of love-felt confessions or horrid accusations to ensure her reputation as a brilliant soothsayer and psychic remained uncontested.

Of course, all good things must come to an end. And Jennifer's came when a disguised Hag slipped into the carnival and watched her scam, scheme, and steal from the needy, the worried, and the lovelorn. Especially when the decision for good and bad fortunes only ever seemed dictated by the amount of money given to Jennifer and not the character of her petitioners. It was the act of self-interest and greed that spurred the obscured Hag into action.

And that was how, mid-prediction over a pauper family's meagre offering of a few copper, Jennifer was struck ill. Her condition never seemed to recover over several days, and no healer could deduce what had befallen the fortuneteller, bar one. A kindly old woman who offered to heal Jennifer on two conditions: one, that Jennifer was never to predict another future after she was healed, and two, that Jennifer was to give her three droplets of her blood and a mouthful of her breath as payment. Delirious and weak, Jennifer immediately agreed to the woman's bizarre terms, kissing the old healer to give the mouthful of her breath and pricking her finger and letting the three droplets fall on the woman's tongue.

By sunrise, Jennifer was completely healed, but when she tried to tell a fortune a day later, she was wracked with pain and lost her voice for a day. Hearing an echo inside her head, No more fortunes, girlie; that was the promise... break it again and I'll break a part of you! Unable to continue performing, she was abandoned by her ringmaster. As night fell, she once more heard the old woman's voice inside her head. Well... Now I don't have to keep tracking you down; you can finally settle your debt! Three great labours of my choosing, and then you earn your freedom! I'll even be generous and give you a little something to ensure your success!

Now going by the name Jynx, the former performer seeks to undermine her capricious and wily patron and ruin the Hag's own schemes as she plots to free herself from this arcane bondage without losing the power she'd been gifted along with it.

Jynx [Jennifer Wynfaire] level 5 Archfey warlock (Pact of the Tome) Character Sheet

Intiative Bonus: +2

Hit Points: 38 [5D8 +10]

Armour Class: 13

Speed: 30ft

Stat Block Str: 8 [-1] Dex: 14 [+2] Con: 14 [+2] Int: 12 [+1] Wis: 10 [+0] Cha: 19 [+4]

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Saving Throws: Str: -1 Dex: +2 Con: +2 Int: +1 Wis: +3 Cha: +7

Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics [+5], Arcana [+4], Deception [+7], Intimidation [+7], Persuasion [+7], Sleight of Hand [+5]. Stealth [+5]

Tool Proficiencies: Forgery Kit, Disguise Kit

Languages: Common, Sylvan

Actions

Dagger: Melee, +5 to hit, 1d4+2 damage, Ranged attack (20/60)

Sling: Ranged attack, +5 to hit, 1d4+2 damage, (30/120)

Spells: +7 to hit, Spell Save DC 15

Eldritch Invocations: Beguiling Influence (Proficiency on Deception/Persuasion skills), Mask of Many Faces (Cast Disguise Self at will without using a spell slot), and Misty Visions (cast silent image at will, without expending a spell slot)

Cantrips: Blade Ward, Eldritch Blast, Friends (pact boon), Mage Hand, Message (pact boon), Ray of Frost (pact boon)

Levelled Spells: Armour of Agathys, Charm Person, Hex, Invisibility, Major Image, and Suggestion

[homebrewersscrapebook]

Beskyr, The Broken Lich Lord of Bones

[art by Epebe]

Beskyr was once a prolific spellsword and magical warlord. A man consumed inside and out by plots, schemes, and dark ambitions. A figure that terrified his allies and his foes with as he strode onto a battlefield, silver blade in hand as sun splashed against his jade armour. For Beskyr held no love nor compassion for those he deemed weak and beneath him, happy to cut down a soldier under his own banner just to get a clear view of a foe so he could strike them down with a bolt of lightning.

His predatory instincts even bled into his politics and allegiances. Poisoning those who he fear threatened by and conspiring and destroying the influence and prominence of many a great lord and house. Rumours have even been bandied about that Beskyr would hire mercenaries and assassins in an attempt to make him appear sympathetic as a victim of "corruption" and "Shadowy Hands" of the Court while alsousing them to take out the sympathetic cells of resistance of the other noble houses.

But all of Beskyr's terror and scheming came undone when it was revealed he had learned of the power to cheat death: Lichdom. At the moment of Beskyr's success, with him pouring his soul into a blood-red ruby, he was assailed by the King Renauld and his Magistrars, an elite unit of magic warriors. Beskyr lost the battle, but his phylactory was lost. Free of the death sentence and mortality, King Renauld had him temporarily petrified and sealed within a deep underground labyrinth. The dark, lightless maze is lined with potent wards and self-sustaining barriers of anti-magic, preventing Beskyr from ever escaping.

Lichdom may grant freedom from death, but it does not grant freedom from time. What eloquence and intelligence the Warlord of Staltvenheim had has eroded completely away, much like his skin, leaving nothing but howling monster in jade full plate rampaging in the dark.

Beskyr, Broken Lord of Bones stat page

Armour Class: 19 [jade full plate armour, enchanted]

Hit points: 180 [19d8 + 95]

Speed: 45 ft

Stat block

Str: 20 [+5] Dex: 14 [+2] Con: 20 [+5] Int: 12 [+2] Wis: 14 [+2] Cha: 18 [+4]

Saving throws: Str +10, Con +10, Wis +7

Skills: intimidation +9, perception +7

Damage Resistances: necrotic, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks

Damage Immunities: poison

Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 120 ft, passive perception 17

Languages: Common, Abyssal, Infernal

Challenge Rating: 14 (11,500 XP)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/a day): If Beskyr fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed

Rejuvenation: If Beskyr's body is destroyed, he will reform around his phylactory in 1d10 days unless it is destroyed (AC 18, 50HP, immune to all non-magical damage)

Enchanted Armour: Beskyr's armour gives him the ability to cast shield (3/a day) as a reaction, adding +5 to his AC until the start of his next turn.

Broken Mind: Beskyr's shattered mind makes him immune to the effects of spells that would read his thoughts or impose the charmed/frightened conditions. His feral nature also means he rolls at disadvantage on Intelligence-based skills or checks.

Innate Spellcasting: Beskyr is a tenth level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (Spell Save DC 17, +9 to hit). He can cast the following attacks

At will: Chill Touch, Firebolt, Shocking Grasp, Toll of The Dead, Sapping Sting

3/a day: Inflict Wounds (3rd Level), Ray of Enfeeblement, Flame Blade, and Cause Fear

1/ a day: Shadow of Moil, Blight, Vampiric Touch (5th level)

Actions

Multi-Attack: Beskyr attacks twice with his Silver Greatsword of Ruin

Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d6 + 5 + 2) slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage. On a critical hit, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or suffer one of the following effects (roll 1d4, reroll on a 4):

Curse of Sickness. The target is poisoned for 1 minute.

Curse of Petrification. The target is restrained for 1 minute as their body begins to turn to stone. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success

Curse of Rage. The target is overcome with uncontrollable fury for 1 minute, treating all creatures as enemies and attacking the nearest creature each turn. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.

Legendary Actions: Beskyr can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be taken at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Beskyr regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Detect. Beskyr makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Move. Beskyr moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Cantrip (Costs 2 Actions). Beskyr casts one of his at-will spells.

Greatsword Attack (Costs 2 Actions). Beskyr makes one attack with his Silver Greatsword of Ruin.

[homebrewersscrapebook]

Swamp Dragon

Description: A Swamp Dragon is a grotesque, draconic predator that lurks in the deepest, most fetid swamps. Its scales are a mottled mix of dark green and brown, slick with slime and algae, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Unlike its majestic cousins, this dragon’s wings are stunted and tattered, barely lifting its bulky frame off the ground, but its powerful legs and webbed claws make it a terror in water and mud. Its breath reeks of decay, and its jaws drip with venomous saliva, a testament to its adaptation to the poisonous environment it calls home.

Swamp dragons are solitary and territorial, hoarding trinkets and bones from their prey in submerged lairs. They are cunning but lack the intellect of true dragons, relying on instinct and brute force. Their presence poisons the air and water around them, driving away all but the hardiest swamp creatures.